November 1991

Hogwarts' dungeons

Early evening

"Did you find out who let the troll loose inside the castle two days ago?" asked Florence, as she lay in bed with her husband, her head on his chest, her legs entwined with his.

"Yes." Severus replied, lazily caressing her naked body. "Quirrell did it."

"Why would he do that?" she lifted her head from his chest to look at him.

"My guess is he was looking for the philosopher's stone, but Dumbledore disagrees, he says it was an accident."

"There's definitely something off with Quirrell." Florence said.

"What do you mean, love?" he frowned.

"He looks at me... weirdly."

"Every man with eyes looks at you, Flor." Severus chuckled, moving his hand down her curves, touching her ass, just enjoying how relaxed he felt after two hours of passionate sex.

"No, Sev... This is different; he looks at me with something akin to curiosity and not desire."

"I'll make him stop looking at you, don't worry." He said, a little angry.

"Oh, will you now?" she smiled, kissing upwards from his chest to his lips.

"You can be sure of it; you're mine – everyone knows that by now! And I agree that he's weird, Flor, but he won't be here much longer. After all, the DADA teachers only last a year."

"Thanks to daddy-dearest cursing the position." She bit his bottom lip.

"Yep." Severus paused. "I can only imagine the kind of teacher your father would be... Torturing the students, casting spells and letting them struggle to get rid of them. Just like he did with you." He caressed her face, lovingly.

"Can't say his methods don't work " She chuckled. "I learned."

"Yeah." He brushed her hair away from her cheek and kissed her deeply, making her sigh and rub against him. "Last month I talked to Dumbledore about Quirrell, but he just said the man is eccentric."

Florence sat on top of him, touching his hard abs. "Maybe I'm seeing things... It's been so long since we had to worry about the war... and we've become careless as the years went by."

"Careless is an understatement." Severus snorted. "The whole wizarding world has heard about the twins and knows of at least one of the many theories about us."

"I like the vampire one." She smiled, leaning over him and kissing his chest. "The whole being locked up in the dungeons and bitten thing... sounds naughty and sexy." She wiggled over his quickly-hardening cock.

He chuckled. "Are you staying the night here, love?"

"Yes. You mother is at our house with the kids." She kissed his jaw. "I'm all yours for the night." She whispered, sitting on top of him and easily getting his cock inside her pussy, moaning.

"Aren't you sore?" he asked, groaning as her hot channel gripped his cock.

"Yes, I am a little." She leaned forward, kissing his lips. "But I love it."

He rolled them over on the bed and made love to her for another hour, until they were both too hungry to think about sex.

December 1991

Snapes' family home

Severus woke up and stared at the vaulted ceiling above the bed, feeling the warm body of his beautiful wife beside his and sighing contently.

"Hmm, don't you look happy this morning." Whispered Florence, rubbing her nose on his chest.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he replied, touching her hair. "All our kids are home for the Holidays, and I had a great night with a gorgeous woman."

"Really? Who is she?" she asked jokingly, kissing down his chest and moving lower, pulling his sweatpants down.

His breath hitched, knowing what she was about to do; a soft moan left his lips when he felt her nuzzling his sack with her nose for a second before sucking one ball into her mouth. "Oh, fuck." He gasped. "She's a sexy witch I'm lucky to have married... ten years ago."

She sucked and licked his other ball and moved up, closing her warm and wet lips around his cock under the duvet, tasting his precum and humming in appreciation.

"Give me that pussy, Flor; I want to taste you as you suck me." he ordered.

She threw the soft duvet onto the floor, gave his dick one last lick and kneeled on the bed, removing her nightgown and her knickers.

"Fucking sexy." He groaned, touching her breasts and teasing her nipples, pulling her onto his chest and sucking on them hard, making her moan and tremble in pleasure, needing more. He alternated between her pebbled nipples, and she tried to sit on his cock.

"No no no." He said, stopping her. "Turn around, put that delicious mouth on my dick and let me taste that pussy."

She quickly obeyed him, straddling his shoulders and feeling his tongue between her legs before she had his dick back into her mouth.

"Fuck, Sev!" she moaned, feeling his hand on the back of her head, forcing her down on his cock and she opened her mouth, sucking on him as he ate her up.

She took him down her throat and swallowed, making him groan and intensify his attack on her pussy. She let his dick slip from between her lips and moaned loud, moving her hips against his tongue and screaming as her body trembled, taken by a strong orgasm.

He fisted his hand in her hair again and pushed her head down, his tongue still working on her entrance as Florence sucked on his cock, between whimpers and gasps.

She arched when he thrust two fingers inside of her, the hand in her hair preventing her from taking her mouth away from his cock. He moved his hips up, fucking her mouth and when he felt he was going to cum, he sucked on her clit and pressed on her g-spot, making her cum with him, muffling her moans with his spurting dick.

"Fuck!" he gasped as he finished cumming down her throat, removing his hand from her hair, quivering in pleasure as Florence still sucked on him, cleaning him up.

Then she turned around and fell onto his chest, breathing as fast as him.

"Good morning, love." He whispered, kissing her lips, sharing their tastes.

"Good morning indeed." She replied, "But we'd better clean up before the kids wake up."

"Yes. I can help you shower, love." He smiled naughtily and Florence ran to the bathroom, giggling, being chased by him.

After another love-making session under the shower spray, Severus walked into the bedroom, fully dressed in jeans and a sweater, and then he heard a conversation from the other side of the door:

"You're the oldest, James. You see if they're awake." Said Nicholas.

"I'm not getting in there!" Exclaimed James. "I've been traumatized enough! Elizabeth, you go!"

"Why me?" the girl asked. "Chris go! He's four, he hasn't caught them doing it yet."

Severus laughed and decided to surprise them, opening the door all of a sudden and glaring at them, saying: "Good morning."

But none of them fell for his attempt of intimidating them, so he chuckled. "Good morning, kids."

"Does that door-opening scare work with your students?" asked Liz in a bored tone, "Cause it's lame." Then she smiled and hugged him. "Morning, dad."

"Daddy!" Exclaimed Chris, the only brown-haired kid in the corridor.

"Morning, Chris." He picked the boy up and took two steps back to let the kids enter the room, but none of them moved.

"Is mom dressed?" Asked James, his arched eyebrow copying his father's signature move.

"Would I be here at the door, if she weren't?" asked Severus.

"Ok! We get it, dad! Geez!" said James, entering the room. "Good morning."

"Good morning, dad." Said Nick, hugging his father.

Florence laughed, walking out of the bathroom in a long-sleeved fluffy white cashmere dress. "I can't believe I'll say this but: I missed this stupid argument of yours." She pulled James into a tight hug, kissing his cheek. "Look at you two." She said, hugging Nicholas next. "My babies." She smiled. "Not babies anymore. You're almost my height already!"

"Don't start, mom." James rolled his eyes.

She hugged them again, together. "I love you, boys."

"We love you, mom." They said in unison, knowing she loved when they did that.

Florence sniffed against their shoulders.

"You're crying, mom?" Asked Nick, looking at her.

"You two are so tall and handsome..." She touched their cheeks. "I'm so glad you're home."

Nick kissed her cheek and Liz walked to Florence, hugging her. Then Severus walked close to her and Chris gave his mother a kiss too.

James glanced at his father, motioning his mother's emotional state, but Severus pointed a finger at him.

"She birthed and raised you, you hug her and make her happy."

Florence laughed and kissed James's cheek again.

Then they heard from downstairs: "Where are my boys?"

"Grandma is here!" shouted Chris, jumping from his father's arms and running downstairs; James, Nicholas and Elizabeth followed him.

Severus turned to Florence, wrapping his arms around his wife: "You look beautiful this morning, love." He whispered before kissing her.

"I'm so happy, Sev. Waking up, making love, seeing the children... can you believe the twins are thirteen? And how tall they are?" she kissed him again. "They'll be as tall as you."

He hoisted her up, making her wrap her legs around his waist and deepening the kiss. "I think we'll be late for breakfast." He said, kissing down her neck.

"And why is that?" She fisted a hand in his hair, sighing in pleasure when he bit the curve of her shoulder.

"OH C'MON!!" they heard James shouting from the door. "Can't you two just stop? Ughh! I knew I should've asked Tiffany to come get you!"

"I'll remind you of those words when you have a girlfriend, Jamie!"

"You're married, dad! Ten years! It shouldn't be like that anymore."

"It's not my fault you have a hot mom." Severus replied, winking at Florence.

"AARGH! That's it, dad! Gross!" James shouted, going back downstairs.

Florence laughed hard and they followed their son.

March 1992

Hogwarts

Florence walked into the Potions lab to talk to her husband but she didn't find him alone, Hagrid was there, talking to him.

"Hello, Florence." Greeted the half-giant.

"Hi, Hagrid." She smiled. "How's Norbert? I believe he must've hatched by now."

"Oh, yes, he did! A couple of weeks ago, actually. And he's three times his size already!"

"And have you told Dumbledore about him?" she asked.

"Yea. The Headmaster won't let me keep 'im." He said, visibly upset. "Says it's too dangerous for the students."

Florence touched his arm, "I'm sorry to hear that, but he's right, you know."

"I do, yeah."

She was about to ask what he was doing in the dungeons, when her eyes fell on three vials on her husband's desk and she gasped. "What are those?"

"They're exactly what you think they are." Said Severus.

Florence carefully picked up one of the crystal vials and observed the beautiful silver liquid inside. "What happened, Hagrid? What killed a unicorn?" she whispered, looking at her husband in concern.

Hagrid hesitated, then he whispered: "The centaurs have a theory." He paused. "Firenze says it was... You-know-who."

"What? How?" asked Florence.

"Firenze says he saw a dark hooded creature hunt down a unicorn, but before they could do anythin' to protect it, the thin' killed it and then Harry..."

"Harry? What does Harry have to do with this?" she interrupted.

"He saw this dark creature leanin' over the unicorn corpse and... drinkin' its blood."

Florence froze, turning to look at her husband and setting the vial on the desk again.

"Anyway." Continued Hagrid. "I'll be goin' now. Dumbledore helped me harvest the blood and asked me to deliver those for yeh."

"Thank you again, Hagrid." Said Severus.

Florence forced a smile and waved Hagrid goodbye. When he left and the door closed behind him, she whispered: "Unicorn blood, Severus. He's drinking unicorn blood."

He shook his head. "We don't know if..."

"Yes, we do know." She interrupted him. "I know Firenze, he is a very wise centaur. If he says it's my father, then it is him." She paused, looking at the vials. "How is he corporeal though?"

"He must have possessed someone."

"Why is something telling me that Quirrell is involved?" she whispered.

"You just don't like him, love." He touched her back. "Quirrell used to teach Muggle Studies, he was a Ravenclaw student, he's not the kind of person that would follow your father."

"Pettigrew was a Gryffindor and a Marauder and yet..."

"Alright. I get it, Florence." He interrupted her. "I'll try talking to Quirrell again, see if I can find out anything." He pulled her closer, feeling her fear and nervousness. "Hey, love. The Mark is still grey. He's not back."

"Yet, Sev. He's not back yet." She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest.

"You know we have a plan."

"I know. But I can't stop fearing for you, for our kids. We are so happy, we have such a beautiful family..."

"We are and we do. And we'll fight for them, Flor." He pulled her chin up and kissed her softly. "Together."

"Together." She replied, before kissing him again.

June 1992

Snapes' family home

Thursday

3 a.m.

Florence couldn't sleep or read or pay attention to whatever was playing on TV. She was worried, her heart telling her that something bad had happened; she could feel it.

Severus had said he'd go home for dinner that night, and then he didn't – without telling her why.

So she decided to go to Hogwarts – at least to check if all was fine with him. She went upstairs and changed her clothes. Quickly going back downstairs, and calling Tiffany.

"Keep an eye on Liz and Chris, Tiff. I have to go to Hogwarts, but it probably won't take me long to come back." and going into the fireplace with some Floo powder, she called: "Severus' quarters."

When she opened her eyes and saw her husband's living room, she walked out of the fireplace and called his name, but he wasn't down there.

So she walked out of his quarters and went towards the third floor, looking for him or Dumbledore. The corridors were nearly empty at that time of night, only prefects and some snogging couples were around.

"Mediwitch Delacour." She suddenly heard her name being called in that familiar voice and turned around quickly.

"Prof. Snape." she looked at both sides of the corridor before running to him.

"What are you doing here, Florence? Has Pomfrey called you?"

"No. I just had a bad feeling. Is everything all right? Why would she call me?"

"Let's go to my quarters."

They quickly walked into his living room. Severus locked the door and they sat on the sofa in front of the unlit fireplace.

"I've found out how your father was killing and drinking unicorn blood in the forbidden forest." Severus said, his voice heavy with worry.

"How?"

"Quirrell. The stuttering lunatic was serving as a host for some part of your father's soul."

"What?" she asked in fear and surprise. "So I was right to think there was something weird with him." She whispered, fear filling up her heart.

"Yes, but he's gone." He took her left hand in his, looking at her wedding ring and knowing that what had happened that night could potentially affect their family.

"Gone? How?" she asked, frowning.

"Harry, somehow, found out about the philosopher's stone and thought I was trying to steal it to give it to your father."

Florence exhaled. "Well, it's good to know that he believes you're a bad guy."

"Yeah, I know. I don't like it, but I know it's good for future plans. Anyway, he followed someone – that he thought was me – down to where we were hiding the stone. Granger and Ronald Weasley helped him pass the tests the other teachers and I had set to protect the stone. When he got to the last one, he found Quirrell and they had some sort of fight that Harry won, somehow."

"A fight? How is Harry?" she worried.

"He's fine. He'll spend the night in the hospital wing. We have Potions finals tomorrow morning and I used that as an excuse to ask Pomfrey about him. She assured me he'll be able to take the exam tomorrow."

"I could…" she said.

"You know you shouldn't go there, Flor." Severus interrupted her. "The boy's fine."

She paused, scooting closer to him, looking at the empty fireplace.

"Do you think I did well by bringing Harry to Hogwarts?" she asked after a while, uncertain. "Wouldn't he be safer at Ilvermorny?"

"Flor, we both know this is what James and Lily would've wanted." Severus stopped her. "Seeing Harry in Gryffindor would make them very happy."

"Yes. I know. But it can't be a coincidence... my father appearing in Hogwarts right when Harry is here."

"Maybe it is... I believe the stone was what your father was after. And when he saw it would take a while to acquire it, he used his plan B to survive: the unicorn blood."

"So Harry is safe here?" she asked, noticing her husband hesitation. "Severus?"

"Well, yes. As long as Dumbledore starts being more careful when he hires his teachers."

He got up and so did Florence, helping him unbutton his vest, looking very worried.

"He saw us, Severus." She whispered. "That's why he looked at me weirdly. It wasn't Quirrell looking at me – it was my father! He heard the rumours and he saw us..."

He sighed. "I know, love." puling her into a hug, smelling her hair and trying to be strong for the both of them. "We knew this would happen... we let the rumours run free..."

"I know." She whispered, rubbing her nose on his neck.

"We have our plan, and it hasn't changed: I'll talk to him when he returns. Specially now that he saw us..."

She closed her eyes, hating that she had to agree with him.

"Yes, I know. But what if he doesn't let you speak? What if he just..." she held his face with both hands, kissing him deeply. "I don't want to lose you." She whispered.

"You won't, love. We'll stand together." he touched her cheek, looking into her eyes. "Remember that I promised you that? At our first night as a family in our house, with the twins asleep between us; I promised you that I wouldn't let anything destroy our family."

She nodded, but a tear fell from her eyes and he held her tightly against his chest.

"I love you." She whispered. "We'll stand together."

"Always." He replied, closing his eyes and focusing on the feeling of her body close to his, his fears mixing with hers as they silently comforted each other.