Author Note: Sorry this one is mostly filler, with a few directional developments, I promise more horrifying, heart racing, exciting, tear jerking and happy crying moments are around the corner... thank you for reading!

Chapter 42. Risk

"Well, that's added an unexpected complication," Severus exhaled. "But congratulations." Astrid shook her head at his words, not only was she in disbelief it could happen again after only one time, but she was horrified at the timing, so much had happened, had changed, since her and Lucius' passionate courtyard meeting. The timing was less than ideal, her little family had been split, torn apart. She couldn't even see her first born; what if they took away the second as well? She groaned and put her head in her hands.

"You don't seem to be… pleased." Severus concluded from her body language. "An accident I presume? I'm trying to think of a time when he would have had the chance…" Snape trailed off realising he'd voiced too much, become too curious.

"The night of… well, the astronomy tower…" Astrid wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand as she pulled her knees up to her chin. "Lucius found me in the castle… we weren't careful, but I didn't think it would take as quickly the second time… it's not that I'm not glad, or grateful… I'm just… worried." She sighed. She didn't know why she was telling Snape this, but it felt comforting to talk to somebody, get it off her chest. She felt she had to keep quiet around others about her relationship with Lucius, about Everly's parentage. No one liked his name even being mentioned, especially her father and Lupin.

"They obviously didn't teach you very well about the birds and the bees in school." Severus breathed after a short silence. Astrid smiled briefly but it dropped from her face quickly.

"I don't know if I can do this again… and all by myself… again." She shook her head. "What if they take this baby away just like they did with Everly?" She questioned, mainly to herself, she didn't expect Severus to answer. Snape remained silent; it was a high probability that the Dark Lord would. Severus knew she needed comforting, but he also knew it was not his place, or even speciality. No, comforting was not something he was good at. But he was good at scheming, planning, meticulous details were his forte.

"I'm going to go have a think over this new… element of our situation… I trust you will be okay in your own company?"

Astrid just nodded.

Severus paced in the study downstairs for what felt like hours, he went over every possible scenario, every complication that could arise from each one… When his brain had finally settled on the best course of action, he opened a bottle of cherry wine from Dumbledores stash, pouring himself a large glass he sat at the desk and drank it. He needed it to give him the strength and confidence to tell Astrid what must be done. He had already guessed her response… shouting… screaming… attempts at violence perhaps, he knew she had the beaters bat up there somewhere. As the sun began to set over the castle a house elf delivered two plates of food to him. He ate his with another, smaller, glass of wine. And once he finished, he sighed deeply, picked up Astrid's plate, and made his way up the stairs.

He found her curled up in the centre of the bed, she had surrounded herself with various cushions and had begun reading a book about the history of the castle. She barely acknowledged his existence as he perched on the edge of the mattress, she just glanced up at him and then back to her book.

"The house elves have prepared you a plate, eat, you will need your strength," Severus sighed as he put the plate down on a large plump cushion.

"I'm not hungry." Astrid said simply, not even casting her eye over the plate. "You have had your think?"

"Yes." Severus said. "I have thought about every possibility, and sadly this is the best one…"

"You're not going to ask me to terminate my child are you Severus?" Astrids deathly stare looked at him as she lowered her book. "I am not above murdering you in your sleep."

"I'm not a monster, despite what you might think," Snape sneered. "I have been trying to conjure a way to keep the Dark Lord from taking your child the moment they are born."

"You think he will?" Astrid asked worriedly, closing her book.

"I know he will." Severus sighed closing his eyes. "He already uses Lucius' two children as bait and blackmail, a method of control and torture, a third will just add more opportunity."

"What do you suggest?" Astrid sighed, rubbing her hand over her forehead.

"In time I will inform the Dark Lord, but… I will tell him that I fathered the child."

"No." Astrid shook her head; the idea made her sick to her stomach. "Not a chance, it would destroy Lucius."

"It is possible for me to inform him… however his occlumency is not as strong as it once was… it increases the risk a great deal." Severus sighed, pinching his nose. Astrid paused for thought.

"If you tell him, I'll play along with it. Otherwise, it's a no." Astrid sighed, she picked up her book once more and opened it. Severus stood without another word, retreating back to the safety of the office. Astrid reached across to the plate of food and grabbed a chip, she raised it to her lips and took a bite as she watched Severus slink away through the drapes.

He never returned that night, Astrid didn't know where he slept, nor did she care.

The rest of her weeks until term started where rather repetitive and boring. Severus had left her a trunk of new clothes, so she could at least dress now. She spent her days reading rare and fantastical books and looking out the large window over Hogwarts grounds, dreaming of her little family, reunited. She rarely saw Severus, he was in and out now and then, slept in an armchair in the corner of his office so that Astrid could feel more comfortable.

The first of September came and students trickled into Hogwarts, there were notably fewer in the Great Hall when Astrid was escorted by Severus down to the feast. He did a small speech, which came across ominously, and introduced the Carrows as the schools' new professors. He didn't stay for the food once the sorting had taken place. He couldn't withstand the deathly stares from the students and staff, the looks of disgust and scorn. He trusted Astrid to return to their chambers when the feast was over. She had been granted the privilege of being able to venture out when she would like that very day, the Carrows along with some other death eaters, loyal followers and dementors had secured the castle and its grounds. It would be impossible for her to escape now. She still wasn't allowed a wand, not by Severus' order, but by the Dark Lords. Magic wasn't required to teach the history of it, and so she was still living without basic spells and charms.

Ginny was the first one in Astrids classroom the next morning, twenty minutes early, the young girl was eager to hear from the missing professor. She had been presumed dead. Opening the door she ran up to the professor, throwing her arms around her tightly.

"Astrid!" She gasped, "When I saw you at the feast, I could hardly believe it, we all thought you to have perished at the wedding,"

"Ginny!" Astrid smiled, holding the girl by her shoulders. "Are you okay? Did everyone get to safety?"

"Yes, but Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run…" Ginny said sadly. "What happened to you?"

"Corban Yaxley took me, at the wedding, took me to him, I saw Everly there… but I'm here now, not by my own choice, but it keeps Everly and me alive…" Astrid sighed, missing out a few details.

"I'm so sorry professor… Is she with… her father?" Ginny asked. Astrid nodded and fanned at her eyes as she tried to keep tears at bay. It was hard to talk about. "Then at least you have comfort that she's with family and she's okay."

"Yes, you're right… Ginny, tell me about your family, everything, are Bill and Fleur alright?"

By the end of the first week of the term, things at Hogwarts had turned to hell. The Carrows terrified the student body, they established themselves by torturing a first year in the middle of the Great Hall on the second day of the school year. Muggle born students were imprisoned on arrival, leaving only the pure and half-bloods.

Amycus took it upon himself to change Defence against the Dark Arts, to just The Dark Arts. He was teaching students how to use and harness dark magic, usually on other students. Staff could no longer hand out their own detentions, instead students were sent to the Carrows for 'punishment', which usually involved the cruciatus curse. Astrid had given no detentions for that exact reason, she overlooked lateness to her class, as well as forgotten assignments and essays. She couldn't bare the thought of sending one of the children to face such pain.

Alecto taught Muggle studies, but rather than teaching the students about muggles, she taught them that muggles were filth. All other teaching staff remained the same, even to Astrids surprise, Hagrid. Everyone at the school hated Snape, even the twins. He was rarely ever seen outside of the headmaster's office.

Astrid dismissed her class for the day and walked the corridors back towards the stone gargoyle that guarded the way to her chambers, it was her only safe space in the school, though she was grateful she had one, students and staff had been dragged out of their own beds in the middle of the night by Amycus. Astrid was grateful for the protection her position brought her; it was pretty much the only benefit, for she too had been outcasted by the majority of students and the other staff members. They found out pretty quickly where she retired to at night, and they all made their presumptions. Though she told the few who asked she was being forced, they didn't truly believe her, she had after all had a baby with a known death eater…

"Well, well, well… Professor Moody or is it Malfoy, Snape? Sometimes I forget." Amycus greeted her with a sick smile as he rounded a corner and walked beside her, he looked her up and down, in her emerald green mid length dress.

"What can I help you with, Professor Carrow?" She breathed, holding back the urge to roll her eyes. Astrid quickened her pace, wanting to get back to Snapes office as quickly as possible to escape the despicable man. But he only sped up next to her.

"Word is… you're up the duff with Snape's kid," Amycus said as he licked his lips. Astrid stopped in her tracks, Amycus did too as he faced her.

"He told you that?" Astrid questioned, her chest rose and fell quickly. She had the overwhelming urge to press her hand against her stomach protectively, but wouldn't give him the satisfaction of highlighting her hidden bump beneath her dress.

"He told the Dark Lord this morning, but… word travels quick," Amycus sucked his teeth. Astrid decided to carry on walking, she would have a fierce word with the headmaster when she got to her destination, he hadn't given her any forewarning.

"You gonna have my kid next, huh?" Amycus laughed, calling down the corridor after the retreating young woman. Students' ears absorbed his words, and then their eyes followed the young professor as she practically ran back to Snapes office.

"You told him? And you didn't warn me! Amycus just ambushed me in the corridor, shouting about it! In front of students!" Astrid yelled at Snape as she walked through the door. Severus looked indifferent to her shouts, he simply set his quill down calmly.

"You came up in conversation when I met with the Dark Lord this morning, so I mentioned it. It wasn't planned." Snape sighed, rolling his eyes. Astrid grabbed a book from the nearest table and threw it at him, but with his wand he deflected it away. She picked up another and took aim.

"Did you tell Lucius? The truth?"

"I did, he was most surprised, somewhat shocked… but happy," Severus drawled. Astrid threw the second book at him. This one was so badly thrown Severus had no reason to deflect it, it fell short of his desk by a couple of feet.

"I wanted to tell him!" She yelled with tears in her eyes. She knew it wasn't possible, Lucius was never going to hear about her pregnancy from her own lips, but it still hurt none the less. She picked up another book as the hormones raged inside her.

"Really, Astrid? Control yourself. I bring good news from today, perhaps you're not in the right state of mind to hear it now though?"

Astrid lowered the book sceptically.

"What news?"

"The Dark Lord was pleased… I convinced him to send a little present… come Saturday he is sending Wormtail with Everly, you will have her for the day and then she will return to Malfoy Manor."

"This Saturday? I get to see Everly?" Astrid choked, she smiled and pressed her fingers to her lips, eyes watering.

"Yes, this coming Saturday." Severus almost cracked a smile at Astrid's joy as he picked up his quill and carried on writing his letter. He hardly realised Astrid approach his side, until her shadow cast over his parchment, looking up he met two grateful ocean blue eyes.

"Thank you, Severus," Astrid breathed, reaching out she gave his arm a squeeze.

Severus nodded, and watched her retreat up the stairs to the headmasters' chambers, her steps were the bounciest than he had seen since their arrival to Hogwarts.

"Oh, my darling, oh I missed you… look how big you are," Astrid exclaimed as she planted the child with sweet little kisses. Everly laughed at the tickly feeling. She had taken Everly tightly into her arms on the floor of the office and Wormtail slinked away to the corner. Severus watched with one eye from his desk, he pretended to be busy to give the two a moment to themselves.

The mother and daughter pair cuddled, laughed and played the entire day. Astrid sat on the floor and watched as her daughter played with wooden cubes, which she stacked gleefully.

"She used to be so tiny, and now… she's chasing me around," Astrid sighed mostly to herself. "Do you remember when she was sick all over you?" Astrid stifled a giggle as she glanced up at Severus. He simply gave her a disapproving look before returning to his work, hiding the slight curl of his lip. Eventually the day came to an end and the mother and daughter pair fell asleep together in bed that evening.

When it was time for Wormtail to return to Malfoy Manor, Severus growled at him as he attempted to take the stairs, making Pettigrew recoil and slink away. Severus stood from his desk and climbed up to the mezzanine, slipping behind the drapes his eyes fell on the sight of Astrid laid on the bed, Everly tucked into her side. With a sad sigh he reached down and plucked the sleeping child from her mother's side and returned her to Wormtail regretfully.

The days and weeks following Everly's visit where dark, not just because of the Carrow reign of terror, but because Astrid had a taste of happiness, a slither of a moment with her daughter, before she was taken away once again.

"Professor Moody," Neville's voice was almost a whisper as he approached the young professor after class. She sat at her desk, her arm propped up on her elbow, chin resting in her hand as she graded essays.

"Yes, Mr Longbottom?" Astrid asked, glancing up at the boy.

"Me and some others…. We were going to restart that… extra-curricular club… in the room of requirement… I was wondering if you'd be interested in giving a helping hand?" he murmured, looking over his shoulder to be sure the classroom was empty as he spoke.

"Would I even be welcome? I'm hardly popular with the student body right now," Astrid sighed as she went back to her essays.

"The people that matter know the truth professor, they know you're not here by choice… and if they've still got a problem then forget them… look we need you professor… with Harry gone, you're the only one who can help us fight back," Neville spoke sadly.

"Do you realise how dangerous it would be? For you guys and for me? If the Carrows found out… if we were caught… I don't even want to think what they would do Neville." Astrid shook her head, discouraging him. "You would be putting yourself at risk of serious harm Neville, I'm not playing around. I'm sorry I just don't think it's a good idea."

"I know but… never mind… I just thought we could do something…" Neville sighed as he trudged out of the classroom, throwing his backpack over his shoulder frustratedly.

Astrid sat curled up in the arm chair opposite Snapes desk, a book in her arms as Snape elegantly etched letters to Pius with his quill and ink. She nibbled on her lip and furrowed her brows as she read an astronomy book about dark matter.

"Is something in that book confusing you professor?" Snape asked as he glanced up at her.

"What? No, I did advanced astronomy at Beauxbatons," Astrid told him with an insulted scowl.

"Then perhaps something is on your mind?" Snape paused his writing to give Astrid his full attention, it was clear something was bothering her.

"Mr Longbottom wants to restart Dumbledores Army…" Astrid sighed, "I of course told him it was a foolish idea, he wanted me to help… I told him no of course."

Severus looked to be in though for a moment as he stared off to the side, his brow furrowed slightly. Astrid's eyes fell back on her book until Snape's voice recaptured her attention.

"Officially as headmaster I'm not condoning it, but if Mr Longbottom wanted to restart his little group… then I could cast a blind eye to it… if he can keep it hidden and secure then it could become an asset in the future… should we need it." Severus said as he returned to his letter.

"You want me to tell him yes?" Astrid asked, deciphering the man's words.

"No, I want you to tell him to go ahead but without your help, if they get caught… I can handle the Carrows and sort appropriate punishments, if you get caught… it's an entirely different situation Astrid, do you understand?"

Astrid nodded, she wasn't in the mood for a lecture, so she remained quiet and went back to her book. The next day Astrid encouraged Neville to restart the DA, but informed him that she could sadly not be a part of it. Neville understood, and soon students were vanishing off to the seventh-floor left corridor after lessons.