Sunday, November 29th 1981
Delacour Manor
The next morning was one of those where Florence woke up burning in need, her body reacting to the sex dreams she'd had all night long.
She knew if she looked in the mirror her eyes would be the lightest shade of green – the eyes that Severus loved.
She'd dreamed of him, again, of spending time with him, studying by his side, discussing spells, and making love – his groans as she licked down his body and took his dick in her mouth were still fresh in her mind and she knew she'd have to do something about the need running through her body; so she got up and went to the bathroom to shower and give herself an orgasm or two.
Twenty minutes later, Florence went downstairs. She had just reached the last step of the staircase when she saw Eileen walking out of her fireplace.
"Good morning, godmother," she smiled.
But Eileen looked concerned: "Flor, Remus sent me a message saying that you're going to the castle this afternoon."
"Yes. I was going to tell you this morning, during breakfast," she hesitated, the reality that she'd be going to Hogwarts in a few hours nearly paralyzing her, "Am I doing the right thing?" she whispered, second-guessing her decision.
Eileen looked at her with compassion, "What does your heart tell you, dear?"
"My heart tells me the same thing it has always told me: to go to your son, to fight for this love, to marry him," she sighed, "But hearts can make dumb choices."
"Your father is gone, Flor," Eileen reminded her with a smile, "Go to Hogwarts and make that dunderhead I have for a son apologise to you!"
"I will try. But what if-"
Eileen hugged her tight, interrupting her, "He won't hate you, dear. Severus is absolutely crazy for you, everything will be alright."
"I hope you're right, godmother."
Then they both walked to the sofa, sitting there to wait for the breakfast table to be set by the elves.
"Will the boys still be going to the day care centre during the day?" Eileen asked.
"Yes. I'd like to ask you to pick them up at the castle by Floo every morning and take them back in the evenings, if you can."
"Of course. I can do that. And when things get better with Severus and you need me to bring them home for a night, just send me a Patronus," she winked at Florence.
Florence just smiled and blushed at her innuendo.
"And how are the kids feeling about staying in Hogwarts for a month?" Eileen asked.
"I'm terrified they'll have their hearts broken," Florence ran a hand down her face, clearly anxious, "They are so excited that they'll be seeing their dad every day."
"Every day, uh?" Eileen looked contemplative, "You know, Flor, Severus has been blind when it comes to the twins so far, but he will find out the truth after a day of James looking at him."
"I know!" she exclaimed with an exasperated sigh, "Remus told me to just let it happen."
"And I agree with him. Severus won't break the boys' heart. He'll go nuts once he learns they are his and–"
"Will break my heart instead?" Florence whispered.
"No. He will be angry though," Eileen grimaced.
Florence was about to say something when the boys ran downstairs, all dressed up and ready to go.
"Look at that!" Eileen exclaimed, "That is not something we see every day! You two up and dressed without us having to bribe you out of bed!"
"Morning mum and grandma!" they said in unison, stopping in front of them.
"When are we leaving?" asked James, bouncing on his feet, anxious to go, "Now?"
"No, just after lunch, love," said Florence, seeing how they both looked suddenly very disappointed.
"Why?" they asked at the same time.
"I still have things to organize," she kissed them both, "Now, go wake up Uncle Remus and let's have breakfast."
And the boys walked back upstairs, their heads down in dejection.
By lunchtime, Florence felt a little more certain of her decision of going to Hogwarts.
Knowing Severus, she was expecting him to be distant at first, and most certainly unpleasant – for he had always hidden his insecurities behind anger and rudeness; but she hoped once he saw she was there to talk to him, he would open up.
And she was going to hold into that hope with all her might, for the alternative scenario ended up with her leaving the castle miserable and her kids with their little hearts broken.
Hogwarts
Severus was able to finally have more than just four hours of rest; but when he woke up just before one in the afternoon, he immediately felt that something wasn't right. His skin was itchy and his cock rock hard, his first instinct was to run his hands down his chest but he hissed in pain.
"Bloody hell!"
The touch of his own hands on himself felt coarse and irritating – even worse than the day before.
He frowned, wrapping a hand around his dick and tugging – stopping almost instantly for it felt like jerking off with sandpaper.
"What the fuck?" he looked at his hands, but there was nothing wrong with them.
He remembered the night before, how he had only managed to find some relief after filling his mind with memories of Florence, and he wondered (not for the first time) if she maybe hadn't cast on him some sort of sexual punishment curse she'd invented herself.
It wasn't completely impossible; she was clever enough to do that and he had hurt her enough to justify her doing so.
But if that was the case, Severus had no reason to worry, for a year ago he had developed a potion that would break nearly any curse – something handy to have when one worked for Voldemort.
Florence might be brilliant, but so was he.
2 p.m.
Dumbledore, Pomfrey and McGonagall waited by the doors of the castle for Florence and her kids to arrive.
"Why isn't Severus here, Headmaster?" asked Pomfrey, "I thought he'd be here."
"I'm afraid he's not in the castle, Poppy. Alastor Moody called him a few minutes ago. The aurors' office has received a lead that might take them to finally capture Bellatrix and her husband."
"I hope they get her this time," said McGonagall, "Just to think of the things she did to dear Alice and Frank," she shivered at the thought, "That woman is a monster!"
"I, too, hope they catch her, Minerva," Dumbledore agreed before changing the subject: "How long has it been since you last saw the boys, Pomfrey?"
"A couple of weeks, Headmaster. They are amazing little boys! So young and already so powerful," she said, smiling, "Both of them are Animagi, did you know that?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore excitedly, "Three years old and registered Animagi, now that's incredible!"
"I can't wait to meet them!" exclaimed McGonagall, "Do they look like their father?"
Dumbledore laughed: "That they do, Minerva! That they do."
"Those boys are amazing kids. I can't believe how adorable they are, considering who their father is," said Pomfrey.
"Absolutely, Poppy. Although Florence tells me James can be as stubborn as his father," Dumbledore looked at the road that led to the gates, "And here they are!" exclaimed the headmaster pointing at the carriage that was getting closer to the castle.
Florence sat beside Eileen in the thestral carriage, looking at James and Nicholas sitting across from them.
I hope I'm doing the right thing.
It was just too obvious who the boys' father was, there was no denying, both of them looked a lot like Severus, specially with their hairs long.
"Look, boys!" said Eileen as they approached the castle.
And both kids stared at the huge building in awe.
The carriage reached the Viaduct and James turned to his brother with a frown, Dad's not here. He said through their bond.
I thought he'd be. Replied Nicholas, equally disappointed.
Florence couldn't hear their mental talks unless she applied Legillimency, but one look at their sad faces and then at the Entrance Door, not seeing a man that she'd hoped would be standing there, and it was clear what had got them down.
"Hey, my loves, you'll see him at another time," she said reassuringly – while at the same time hoping their paths never crossed.
"But we thought dad would be here..." said James, looking down at his hands.
Florence felt a cold prickle of fear down her spine, "Boys. You know you can't call him 'dad' when you see him."
"We know, mum," the kids replied in unison.
"We just wished he had been here," added Nic, looking as sad as his brother.
Eileen looked at Florence, noticing her goddaughter was beginning to question having gone to the castle in the face of her sons already being disappointed.
"We know he might avoid you, dear," Eileen whispered to her, "You have to stay and try."
"I know," Florence replied, reminding herself she knew she was doing the right thing.
When the carriage stopped in the Entrance courtyard, Florence jumped out first, helping Eileen down before each of them got one of the boys.
McGonagall frowned as she watched them walk closer.
"What on Godric's name- Albus!" she exclaimed, "Those are not- they're- are they... Severus's kids?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes, they are, Minerva," nodded Dumbledore, "And he doesn't know."
"Doesn't know? Is he fricking blind?" McGonagall nearly shouted, not taking her eyes away from them.
"Well, he hasn't seen them in about six months," explained Pomfrey, "They've changed quite a bit in that time. Their hairs weren't as long as they're now."
"Oh, my Merlin!" whispered McGonagall as she watched them approach, "It's preposterous to even think anyone would ever believe Sirius fathered them!" she frowned, "Why is she bringing them here? After hiding them for so long..."
"To wake him up," said Dumbledore, "Severus thinks there's not much to live for now that he hurt Florence's feelings. But he doesn't see she loves him, and that all she wants is for him to apologize. That's why she's here."
By then, Florence, Eileen and the kids were close to them and McGonagall walked towards them, glancing at Florence with incredulity, shaking her head, as she wasted no time to take Nick from her arms.
"Hello! What's your name little angel?"
"I'm Nicholas."
And Pomfrey took James from Eileen. "Hi, Jamie!"
"Poppy!" he shouted happily.
"How are you, my dear?" asked Dumbledore, looking at Florence, who sighed and forced a smile, before replying: "Feeling a little more sure of what I'm doing," she quickly glanced around, asking herself if she wanted Severus to appear or not, "But not fully."
"Where's my son?" Eileen asked, noticing the way Florence was looking around.
"He's out hunting with Moody."
That had Florence looking at him with worry, "Bella?"
"Maybe," he replied, "But he went with the aurors, dear, he'll be fine."
She shook her head, knowing that if Alastor Moody could, he'd order the aurors to take Severus to Azkaban as well.
"Mummy! Look at this!" shouted Nicholas, and she walked towards her sons who had just found out that the gargoyles could talk.
"How's Severus taking the news she is here to help him?" Eileen asked Dumbledore when Florence was away.
"As you can imagine: he's furious."
"He's never been a kid to accept help easily."
"Our Flor has a challenge ahead of her," he smiled, looking at Florence as she laughed with her kids.
Eileen sighed, "He'll either make it very easy for her or... he'll doubt her reasons to have come here and end up hurting her even more," she paused, grimacing, "And I'm afraid we both know which path he'll choose."
Third floor
Florence's quarters
Eileen was helping the boys organize their things in what would be their room for as long as they were in the castle.
"Will we see dad today?" asked Nicholas.
"I don't think so, honey," said Eileen, "Dumbledore said he's not here, he's out catching some bad guys."
"Wow! Dad's so cool!" said James with awe.
"Yeah!" agreed Nick, smiling.
Eileen just nodded, beginning to wonder if Florence wasn't right in her fear that those two little boys might end up getting their little hearts crushed by Severus' lack of sensitivity.
In the living room, McGonagall was staring at her, a question in her eyes, so Florence decided to just say it: "They're not Sirius' children."
"I noticed," the professor said with a snort, "It's obvious from a mile away. How can Severus possibly not see that?"
"I've been asking that myself since the day they were born. Eileen and Remus think that now that we're here, he'll notice and..." Florence paused, "I just fear that he'll hate me."
McGonagall shook her head, "I don't think he'll hate you."
"After what I heard him tell Florence," said Pomfrey, "I wouldn't put it past him to be an absolute asshole about it."
Florence just nodded, the need to just get her kids and go back home starting to grow stronger.
McGonagall frowned, "Why did you hide them from him?"
"I... have my reasons," Florence said, glancing at Dumbledore who, imperceptibly, shook his head, meaning to say she shouldn't say anything about her father.
"I don't mean to pry, my dear," continued McGonagall, "But Eileen and Remus are right: Severus will find out the truth with you three living here so close to him. James looks like a miniature version of him!"
"I'm here to help him and hear an apology. After that, when we sit down to talk, I'll tell him the truth. Now, if I don't hear an apology... I'll just try to keep James as far away from Severus as I can until we go back to our lives in a month."
McGonagall noticed her sadness as she spoke, it was clear that if Severus didn't take his head out of his ass, he'd be making Florence as miserable as himself.
"We'll leave you to organize your things, dear," said Dumbledore, opening the exit door, "Your fireplace is connected to the kitchens so you can order food anytime you want, but I'd love if you had some meals with us in the Great Hall, Florence."
"I will, Headmaster," she replied, nodding.
"Severus will probably be back before nightfall," he continued, "If he needs any medical attention, I'll let you know."
"Yes, please do," Florence said and Pomfrey nodded enthusiastically, receiving puzzled looks from the others.
"What?" asked Pomfrey, going to the door, "I don't want Severus cursing in my infirmary. She claims to love him – let her take care of him!" she pointed at Florence.
They all laughed and nodded in agreement.
"Can't say I blame you, Pomfrey. He knows how to be a pain..." Florence said, stopping by the door after they walked to the corridor. "Thanks for accompanying me, see you later," and she closed the door, touching her forehead to the wood and taking a deep breath, just listening to the boys playing in their room, hoping that Severus got back to the castle soon and in one piece.
In the dungeons
5 p.m.
Severus stumbled out of his fireplace and fell onto the armchair, closing his eyes due to the pain irradiating from the wounds on his back.
"Accio one Wiggenweld Potion," he gasped, and a small vial flew from his stores to his hand, "Accio one Painless Sleep Potion."
He drank them both and sat more comfortably on the cushioned seat, just breathing and waiting for the concoctions to take effect.
Bellatrix and Rodolphus hadn't been at the house the aurors and he had stormed, but the mission hadn't been a complete failure for there had been some followers of Voldemort there – only they weren't people, they were werewolves.
And five people against four werewolves didn't make the best of odds for the people.
Luckily, he hadn't been bit, just deeply scratched down the side of his back – and the wounds hurt and bled, and he knew they would leave a very big scar.
He had apparated out as soon as Moody had and, afterwards, they called the Werewolf Capture Unit to deal with that problem.
"Fuck," Severus growled, knowing he'd probably have to pay Pomfrey a visit later – his inner voice reminding him that there was another mediwitch around that day.
Florence, most certainly, has already arrived.
And then he passed out.