Chapter Twenty Four
Elaine sat in the hospital wing, waiting for Poppy to finish with yet another student that had come in for tremors. Both women knew where they came from, but neither said anything; Poppy worked and Elaine sat watching, wanting the war to be over. When the student left, Poppy finally walked over to her.
"How can I help you today, Mrs. Davies?" She asked curtly.
"I need - uh." She stopped as another student walked in. "Go help her." Poppy eyed her, but went over to the girl who'd entered, leaving Elaine lost in her thoughts.
It must be stress, she had told herself over and over in the last week since she'd realized. She had no other symptoms. You didn't get sick with Rowan either,her mind told her, and she did her best to shove the thought out of her mind.
She'd spent the past week checking over and over, waiting for the bleeding to begin, but nothing had happened. Severus had noticed the change in her, she thought, for he'd started to give her odd looks each time they passed each other without speaking. Elaine had finally given up and gone to Madame Pomfrey, but each time she was about to speak to the healer, another student had entered.
Elaine told the other woman that the students came first, and although she was aware the woman was dying to know why the headmaster's lover (which was, somehow, common knowledge) was doing there. Elaine wondered if pregnancy was one of the things going through her head. It sure hadn't been going through hers in the past month since learning of the Horcruxes and her brother's impending death.
Once the student left, Elaine followed Poppy into her office and sat down into one of the chairs. "I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant," she blurted. Poppy's eyebrows rose, but she cleared her throat, calmly sitting down on the other side of her desk. "I'm not usually late, but I am. I'd cast the spell, but I had a healer do it last time too and I don't want to get it wrong before I tell Se- the father."
Poppy looked her over and heaved a sigh, rising from her seat again. "Revelio graviditatis," she stated, and Elaine's stomach lit up with a small glow. Poppy's eyes met hers. "Congratulations," the healer stated, opening a chest with a tap of her wand and withdrawing several potions vials. "I'm sure you know how this goes. Once a day with meals." She handed them over. "Come back when you've run out."
Elaine accepted the vials, her mind blank. She bid Pomfrey a soft goodbye and walked out. Somehow she made it back to her rooms in her dazed state. She opened the door and took a step back in surprise, for Severus was sitting at her desk. She went into the bathroom and stashed the vials under the sink before coming back out.
"What were those?" Severus questioned, when she sat down in a chair.
"It was nothing," Elaine said, crossing her legs and looking at him. "What can I help you with, headmaster?"
"Really, Elaine?" Severus snapped at her. He took a minute, and just shook his head. "I came to speak with you, since you've been doing such a good job of avoiding me, the dark lord is beginning to wonder if you've defected to the other side."
"And if I have?" Elaine demanded, looking him directly in the eyes. "If I've changed my mind?"
"Then you've signed both of our death warrants, you stupid girl!" He rose, going to stand by her fireplace and looking in at the flames. "Rowan is safe, but you and I are not. If you don't stay on our side we will both be killed."
"All three of us will be," Elaine said softly. Severus looked at her sharply.
"Did he - Rowan isn't coming back is he?" Elaine just shook her head. "Then who is the third person?" He walked over to her and took a chair so he was seated in front of her. "Elaine, you need to speak to me. Is someone else in danger?"
"Our - our baby."
"Our-" Severus froze, his eyes dropping to her stomach. "You're - this is a joke?"
"It isn't," Elaine told him, and broke down. "What are we going to do with a baby in this mess, Severus?" She felt his arms wrap around her as she cried.
"I hear congratulations are in order." The cold voice made Elaine jerk her head up, and she was surprised to see Aurora Sinistra standing in front of her, a couple books in her arms.
"I-"
"Of course, your first child is far away from you, is he not? Are you sending this one away when he's born?"
"Aur-" But the African woman shot her a cold smile and exited the staff room. Elaine heaved a sigh, dropping her head into her hands.
It had only been three days since learning of her pregnancy, and it had spread through the school. Elaine feared the day the dark lord would learn of it, and she'd be asked if she was willing to give this child over to him. The answer was no, but there was no way she could tell the dark lord that and leave with her life.
Severus hadn't had much to say to her, or to anyone, for that matter. He'd kept to himself since he'd gotten the news, and although he'd comforted her during her breakdown, she knew neither of them were prepared for the shit storm this pregnancy would bring.
She left the staff room and passed Draco, who was standing by the door, looking nervous. She paused, looking at him. "Do you need something, Mr. Malfoy?" she questioned him. He just held out a letter to her, and she took it, surprised to see it addressed to her in Narcissa's hand.
"She asked me to give that to you," he said quietly. "Your mail's being searched. Mine isn't."
"Ah, well. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy," Elaine said. He just nodded and walked away as fast as possible. Elaine stashed the envelope in her robes and continued on to her rooms, waiting until the door was locked behind her before opening it.
Elaine,
Draco has sent word about the pregnancy to me, and while I am sad you did not feel you could come to me, or just haven't had the chance, I am happy for you.
The dark lord has been wondering where you've been, and Severus has been questioned intently. I don't know what happened between the two of you, however, whatever it is does not earn the man torture, and I am sure you agree with that assessment.
There are rumors the Potter boy was seen in the Ministry a few months ago, and the rumors are truth. He and two others used polyjuice potion and broke into the office of Dolores Umbridge, and stole - I hope you are seated - Alastar "Mad Eye" Moody's eye off her door.
Although the women is foul and certainly makes the dark lord's plans easier, she is not, nor will she ever be, a death eater. Still, avoid her as much as possible; she is on the warpath for you after her attempts to prove you a mudblood were not successful. She will use this pregnancy against you, somehow, and I do not wish that for you or for Severus.
Any mail you wish to have sent to me can be sent through Draco, or you could come see me yourself, I will be happy to have our weekly tea again.
Signed,
Narcissa Malfoy
Elaine folded up the letter and tossed it aside, the words burning in her brain. Severus was being tortured for her supposed defection, and he hadn't said a word to her about it. Why? She knew he was used to taking everything on himself, but she'd told him she'd be there to take it on herself, too.
Except she hadn't been. She'd been focused on Severus not telling her everything - but Dumbledore had made him promise he wouldn't. She let out a groan, dropping her head on her arms. She had to go forgive him, now, but the question was, would he forgive her?
She stood, pushing her chair back, and headed to his office. She was standing outside about to knock when she heard Alecto Carrow's voice coming from the inside.
"Of course, if you ever need it, I am here for your comfort," the woman was saying, and Elaine could picture her cozying up to Severus. "The mudblood could never truly satisfy you, could she?"
"I will ask you again, Alecto," Severus's cold voice said, "to leave my office and not to return with this - proposition."
"You will regret this!"
"I'm sure," Severus's voice said dryly as Alecto swung open the door and spotted Elaine standing there. "Thank you for opening the door for my lovely woman, Alecto. You will have a nice day?"
The death eater stormed away, and Elaine slowly clicked the door shut behind her. "Are you sure you won't regret that?" she asked him, jerking her head to the door. "She's sure to go to the dark lord-"
"Who won't give a damn as long as I continue to run this school the way he wants it run," Severus said smoothly. "What brings you here?"
"Narcissa wrote to me." She looked at him carefully. "She says the dark lord has tortured you for information about me." Severus's eyes flickered, and Elaine took this as a confirmation. "Why didn't you tell me?" she snapped.
"Because you didn't need to know," he told her. "I was handling the situation myself, and there was no need to bother you with it."
"Severus-"
"The next question," he continued, as if she hadn't spoken, "is whether or not we should go to him ourselves with your pregnancy before someone else does."
"I will think about it," Elaine said. She stood. "May I use your floo to go see Narcissa?" Severus nodded towards the fireplace, and she quickly thanked him before leaving for the Malfoy Manor.
"Madame Davies." She had almost gotten out when the dark lord's high voice came from behind her. She turned slowly, wiping her mind clear of any thoughts she'd had. "What brings you here this evening?"
"I had come to speak with Mrs. Malfoy," Elaine responded, bowing slightly. "If I had known you were here I would have requested a meeting with you, as well, to clear up this misunderstanding that has been going around."
"Misunderstanding, is it?" In two steps he was standing before her and into her mind. Unbidden, her meeting with Pomfrey came to the front and he took a step back, smirking. "I understand now."
"You do?" Elaine croaked, attempting not to let her fear show.
"You were afraid that Severus will not be a good father with his upbringing, are you not?" Elaine could only nod, even if that was far from the truth. "Well well well."
"My lord." He turned around to see Lucius walking toward them, and the dark lord turned back to Elaine.
"We will finish this after Christmas, yes?" Elaine nodded weakly, and the dark lord smirked again. "Good." And then he was gone, marching ahead of Lucius into the man's office.
Back at Hogwarts, Elaine sank onto Severus's couch, shaking head to toe. The man himself wasn't in there, and so she took this time to collect herself.
Christmas came and went with the news that Luna Lovegood had been abducted and now was in the Malfoy Manor's cellar. Elaine was sitting with Severus when Phineas Nigellus Black's figure came rushing back into his portrait, seemingly out of breath.
"Professors. I have news on the Potter boy."
So after this, I actually have the next several chapters written, and just need to do the final battle, which in theory is the easiest part... ha. However, while I finish this, my other story, "Creating a Future," will be on hiatus. Sorry for those of you reading that one!