Hogwarts
Draco followed his godfather through the castle as if he had been Imperioed. If Snape walked into the Great Lake, he'd certainly follow without questioning and drown.
They had murdered Dumbledore – he had helped his godfather kill the man. His plan had worked – and yet, Draco didn't feel victorious, he felt nauseous and disgusted with himself.
The loud sound of a dog howling, and his aunt laughing loudly, snapped Draco out of his stupor.
Bellatrix had set Hagrid's Hut on fire – and by the sounds of it, Fang was locked inside.
"What the fuck?" Draco whispered, trying to understand how she could be that happy for roasting a living dog inside its own house.
"SNAPE!" they all suddenly heard Harry Potter scream.
"Go on, Draco." Severus ordered. "Follow the others."
The blond boy nodded, but he didn't move, he didn't want to leave his godfather's sight, something was telling him he shouldn't disapparate without him.
"Crucio!" yelled Harry.
But Severus just defended himself with a flick of his wand.
"No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!" he shouted over the rushing of the flames, and Hagrid's shouts as he tried to get to his house and free his dog who still cried desperately from inside the burning building.
"Incarc-" Harry roared.
But Severus deflected the spell with an almost lazy movement of his arm. "Close your mind, you idiot! I can sense your spell ten seconds before you cast it!"
"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him. "Fight back, you murderer! He trusted you! He told me to trust you! Stupe-"
"Blocked again and again and again!" Shouted Severus, sneering as he deflected Harry's spell once more, he needed to make the stupid teen understand: "Until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!"
"Fight back! You coward!"
"Coward, you called me, Potter? Your godfather would never attack me unless it was two on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"
"Crucio!" Cast Bellatrix out of nowhere.
And Harry fell onto the grass, screaming in agony.
"No!" roared Severus, stopping the woman's curse himself. "Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord – we are to leave him! Get the fuck out of here! Disapparate!"
Draco was still frozen in place, his eyes on Harry lying curled on the dark grass, trembling from the pain of the curse and from the sobs that tore from his throat. Then he watched the dark-haired boy push himself to his feet again and stagger blindly towards Severus, the man he certainly now hated as much as he hated Voldemort himself.
"Sectumse..." Harry began.
But Severus flicked his wand and the curse was repelled yet again; throwing Harry back to the ground a couple of feet away from them now and Draco could see his face contorted, full of rage.
"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?" Severus voice was back to its soft and dangerous tone.
"Y-you?" Harry asked, completely shocked.
"Yes. I knew you had my potions book… since Slughorn began telling me how amazing you were in potions, that you had inherited Lily's talent for potion-making. I knew it from the beginning. Yes, Potter, I'm the Half-blood Prince."
"Kill me then," panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, only rage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward -"
"DON'T!" screamed Severus, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog still stuck in the burning house behind them – "CALL ME COWARD!
Florence was watching that whole scene with her heart in her throat; she knew her husband hated to be called 'coward' for it reminded him of his own father. She unblocked her mind and saw him look her way immediately.
Yes, I'm still here. Go, Severus. I'll handle Harry.
He narrowed his eyes, replying angrily: Of course you're still here.
She didn't reply, sensing he was in one of his worst moods – with reason, understandably.
Just go, Severus. She said.
Then he turned his back on Harry and pulled Draco along with him, following the other death eaters.
Florence waited until they were far away enough not to see her, and then she ran to where Harry was sobbing.
"Are you all right, dear?" she asked, kneeling by his side.
"He… he killed Dumbledore!" the boy cried. "I couldn't… I didn't do anything!"
"Come on, dear. Let's get you up." she helped him stand up. "Now, run to the castle and tell the others. I'll stop the fire at Hagrid's."
The boy looked at her, grabbing her arm, suddenly suspicious: "Did you know?"
"No! Of course I didn't." She lied, and her tear-filled eyes helped her sell that lie convincingly. "I'm as shocked as you."
He seemed to believe her, "I'll tell the others!" and then ran to the castle.
And Florence apparated home.
Near the Astronomy Tower, Hermione stood beside Prof. McGonagall as did many others, students, aurors and Order members – Remus Lupin, the Weasley twins, Alastor Moody, Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt; they all stared at Dumbledore's lifeless body lying on the ground at an odd angle.
Madam Pomfrey had been called and she kneeled beside him, tears running freely down her face.
"Not even Florence would be able to heal someone killed by the Killing Curse."
"Florence!" McGonagall whispered, suddenly remembering about the mediwitch. "Where is she?"
Flitwick replied: "I haven't seen her or Severus since I went to the dungeons to call them and passed out."
"I saw her last when she sent Ginny and me to the dungeons to look after you, Prof. Flitwick." Said Hermione.
McGonagall worried, looking at Remus, "Do you think they took her? She's a beautiful woman..."
"No." Remus replied, shaking his head. "You were her teacher, professor. You know how powerful she is. It would take more than five death eaters to abduct her." He looked at Pomfrey, who was putting Dumbledore body in a less awkward position, and then he whispered the question everyone else was thinking: "Who did this?"
"IT WAS SNAPE!" they suddenly heard Harry shout as he ran towards them. "He killed Dumbledore! SNAPE DID THIS!"
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Remus asked, confused.
"I saw him doing it! He cast the killing curse! Snape killed Dumbledore..." Harry's voice broke. "And he begged, Dumbledore begged Snape not to do it, but the bastard did it anyway!"
Hermione frowned, quickly looking at Fred Weasley – and he had looked at her at the same time. They didn't have to use Legilimency to know they were both wondering – and fearing – the same thing: if Snape had done that, did their boyfriends know?
"But… that doesn't make any sense." Remus was saying, shaking his head. "Are you sure of it, Harry?"
"YES!" the boy vociferated." I SAW HIM DO IT!"
"But... Albus trusted him!" McGonagall shouted. "We all trusted him! He was like a son to me! For years we... Albus always defended him!"
"That's why Florence is missing." Pomfrey whispered, not wanting to believe that was true. "She went with him."
Remus shook his head faster; something wasn't adding up to that story. Florence would never have agreed to her husband killing the headmaster.
Harry was the one to speak on her behalf: "No. She didn't leave with the death eaters. I saw Madam Delacour just now... she was crying and said she didn't know anything."
Remus still shook his head. "If Severus is behind this, like you said... then she knew. Trust me."
"The Enchantment." Added Slughorn. "They've got a mind link."
Remus nodded.
"I always knew Snape couldn't be trusted!" growled Alastor Moody. "It'll be my pleasure to hunt him down! From now on, Snape and that bitch Delacour are our number one targets!"
Hermione discreetly pulled Fred into an empty hallway, looking into his eyes silently – in a rare moment of her life when she didn't know what to say.
"Do you think..." she finally whispered.
"That Harry's telling the truth?" Finished Fred, nodding, "I don't see why he'd lie."
"But... what will... what does that... Why?" she struggled to form a question.
Fred looked at her with compassion, the ever-eloquent, always-has-an-answer Granger, had lost her words at the thought that both their boyfriends knew beforehand about what had happened that night and didn't tell either of them anything.
"There's only one thing we can do, Mione: ask them." He picked up his wand and cast a Patronus message, a beautiful German Shepherd Patronus listened to his caster's words before disappearing in the night.
Snapes' family home
James and Nicholas walked downstairs to grab another piece of Tiffany's white chocolate and nuts pie, when they saw, surprised, that their mother had gotten home.
Florence was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, mud-stains on her pants, looking outside with a cup of tea apparently forgotten in her hands.
"Mom?" Nicholas called, but she didn't seem to listen, completely absorbed by whatever it was she was looking at; he looked at his brother.
This is weird, man.
What do you think happened? James asked.
Don't know. Mom's wearing pants – that alone is a reason for concern.
True.
They walked to her and stopped each on either side of her.
"Mom," Nicholas began. "What's..."
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed James, making Nick look outside the window.
"Is that... the Dark Mark? Over Hogwarts?" Nicholas asked.
Florence nodded slowly, her voice heavy with worry: "Yes. It's done, boys: Dumbledore's dead."
The twins shared a glance.
Shit. Dad did it. James said.
Nick nodded, We're officially on the bad guys' side now.
Then each held one of Florence's hands, trying to comfort her and themselves, as they thought of their future.
Mione and Fred won't ever look at us again. Said James, his feelings of despair adding to Nicholas' own sadness.
Nick closed his eyes briefly, I hope Fred still wants to marry me in a few years.
James looked at him, unable to hide his surprise. "What? You were talking marriage and you didn't tell me?"
Florence frowned. "Marriage? What? Nicholas?" she looked at him.
"Fred proposed to me." Nick smiled, with a hint of sadness.
His mother exhaled, happy and heartbroken at the same time. "And what did you say, love?"
"I said yes, of course."
"Did you get rings?" she asked.
"I bought his and he bought mine, but we didn't get to exchange them." Nicholas explained. "We were going to do it in July, during summer vacation, when all his siblings will be home... but I knew it wasn't going to happen for I knew dad was going to kill the headmaster and... well... Fred probably hates me now."
Florence pulled Nick to a hug. "I'm sorry you're suffering, baby." Than she turned to James. "You too, honey. I saw Mione tonight, and I made sure she was out of harm's way."
"Thanks, mom." He whispered, hugging her tight.
Nicholas joined their embrace and she closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks, the way they were comforting her reminding her of another time, many years before, when they also had helped her through a difficult night.
"You've always helped me heal, boys." Florence whispered. "You may not even remember, but... you were my strength many many times." She paused, looking at them and taking a breath, before continuing: "The night the Potters died, I sat right here on an armchair, watching the village celebrate my father's demise – while I felt nothing but despair... Lily and James were dead, Sirius in Azkaban, Severus had accused me of sleeping with Remus and I had lost a baby."
"What?" the twins asked in unison.
"Lost a baby?" asked Nick, at the same time that James asked: "Sleeping with uncle Remus?"
Florence and Nick looked at James with equal annoyed green eyes.
Really, dude? Nick asked. That's your concern?
"Sorry, mom. Go on." James whispered, forcing himself to look regretful.
Florence could see he was faking his apology, but she let it go.
"Why did you lose the baby, mom?" asked Nick. "Stress of the war?"
She shook her head, tears falling as she remembered that night.
"I don't think I've ever told you this... but the killing curse that took Lily's life exploded Harry's bedroom and hit me."
They both tensed up.
Mom could've died. Said James to his brother, absolutely terrified.
And Nick looked at him equally scared and they both hugged her closer.
Florence closed her eyes, surrounded by the love of her sons.
"I didn't die, obviously, but the baby didn't make it." She finished in a soft whisper. "And as I sat here that night, feeling so lost and heartbroken, you two walked downstairs in your jammies, complaining about the loud fireworks, and sat on my lap, falling asleep in my arms," she smiled. "So cute and sweet you were... you helped me heal that night."
"But did you have an affair with uncle Remus?" James asked in a low voice.
Nicholas groaned in annoyance.
Florence rolled her eyes. "Of course not, James! Your father was always irrationally jealous. Like someone else I know." She glared at him.
"Mom. Where's dad?" whispered Nicholas, worried.
She sighed, heavily concerned. "Probably reporting to my father right now." Her eyes filled with tears. "Severus had to do a horrible thing tonight, boys. Dumbledore was the closest thing he's ever had of a father figure." She looked at them. "He's gonna need us."
Right then a Patronus dog entered the living room and Florence felt Nicholas tense up.
When the Patronus stopped in front of Nick, it spoke in Fred's voice: "What's going on, Nick? Dumbledore is dead and Harry's saying your father killed him! Your mom's gone too! Please, help me understand this! Tell me it's not true!"
Florence looked at him when the dog disappeared.
"What do I tell him, mom?" Nick whispered.
"The truth, baby."
"He'll hate me." Nick closed his eyes, and Florence wiped the tears that fell down his face.
"Yes, he will. But there's nothing to be done about that right now."
Nicholas nodded slowly and cast his own Patronus dog, sending his boyfriend a short message: "Yes, it's true. I knew it was going to happen, I didn't know it would be tonight though." He stopped, realizing there was a lot he wanted to say, but he knew nothing would save his relationship. "I love you." He finished in a whisper. And the dog Patronus left.
Nicholas turned to his mother and cried on her shoulder.
Florence hated seeing him so sad, but she had her hands tied. "I'm sorry, baby." She whispered.
Suddenly they heard the sound of someone apparating in the backyard.
"Severus." Florence said, going quickly to the back door, opening it and watching a dark masked figure walk towards the house.
He stopped as soon as his feet crossed the threshold, looking at his wife and the twins.
She raised her hand to remove his Death Eater mask, revealing his bloodshot eyes – filled with pain and despair.
"Oh, love..." she whispered.
Severus fell onto his knees and she kneeled in front of him, embracing him tightly as he cried against her neck.
"I got you, my love." She said, caressing his hair. "You're home, Sev."
The twins watched that scene frozen in place; they had never seen their dad crying like that, much less kneeling on the floor of their family house, being comforted by their mother, as they both cried over the death of the great wizard – and friend – that their father had had to murder.
Everything will change now. Nicholas said.
James gulped and nodded. Yes. Everything. And for the worst.
Meanwhile, in Hogwarts
Fred and Hermione stared silently at the empty space Nicholas' Patronus had been.
"What the fuck?" She whispered.
"It's true then. Snape killed Dumbledore." Fred whispered, his head spinning at what that meant for him and Nick – but he only saw one solution. "It's over." He said so low and so painfully that Hermione almost didn't hear it. "I can't see him anymore..."
Hermione gasped as she realized what he was saying, and she shook her head: "I don't... I don't want to break up with James."
Fred wiped his eyes and scoffed, "And do you think I want to be away from Nick? We were planning to get engaged next month for fuck's sake!" He nearly shouted, his voice breaking from the emotional pain.
Hermione hugged him, they were the only ones who understood one another's pain in that moment.
"What's happening here?" they heard someone ask, before seeing it was Lupin.
Remus looked at the two of them, reproachfully, "Now is not the time to sneak away for a snogging session, kids."
Fred looked at him in shock, "What? No! This..."
"We were dating James and Nicholas." Said Hermione, the past tense making her heart clench as she heard herself using it.
Remus nodded, remembering that he had heard about that, and then he frowned, casting a silencing charm, before speaking: "How much do you two know about the twins?"
"We know who their parents are." Said Fred.
Remus kept looking at them sternly: "Did you know about tonight?"
Both of them shook their heads quickly.
"Did you?" Hermione asked.
Remus sighed. "No. And I am as confused as you two." He looked at the teenagers again, realising they looked more heartbroken than confused. "You just broke up with the boys, didn't you?"
Both shook their heads. "We haven't actually broken up yet." Said Fred. "But... Nick has confirmed that his father has indeed killed the headmaster... so..." he cast another Patronus and looked at Hermione. "C'mon, Mione. You know you have to."
She nodded, tears rolling down her face as she cast her Patronus – and both men gasped, for it wasn't the delicate otter that flew out of her wand.
"A bear." Whispered Remus, remembering that James's animagus form and Patronus were a bear.
"Yeah." She whispered as her Patronus disappeared with her message to James. "It changed after... after a while." She stopped, not wanting to tell them it had changed after she had made love to James for the first time.
"Do you mind if I wait here for their answers?" asked Remus.
Both shook their heads.
And they waited.
Snapes' family home
Many minutes had passed, and Florence still held her husband on the floor of the living room. But he had stopped shaking.
Are you well enough to stand up, Sev? She asked him through their bond.
He shook his head. Get me a Dreamless Sleep Draught, Flor. I don't want to think about what just happened. I don't want to think about the consequences. Just for tonight. I want to forget everything.
"Of course, love." She whispered, turning to Nicholas. "Go downstairs, get a vial of Dreamless Sleep Draught and a Calming one."
Nicholas nodded and ran to the lab.
"You saved him, Sev." Florence told her husband, caressing his hair. "We both know his death would've been terrible... the curse would've shut down his body..."
"I know. But still, it was my wand that killed him." He choked on the emotion boiling inside of him. "Dumbledore believed in me, he gave me a second chance when I needed it. We're only together because of his meddling!"
"I know." She whispered, crying alongside him.
Severus shook his head, "I need to shower before taking the potions. I feel disgusting." He said, trying to get up but stumbling.
"Let me help you, dad." offered James, holding his arm.
And he draped his arm over his son's shoulders, "Thank you, Jamie."
Florence watched them walk slowly upstairs and picked up Severus' mask, standing up and looking at it, running her fingers along the intricate carvings, absentmindedly.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the lab, Nicholas received a second visit from the dog Patronus of the man he loved: "I never thought I'd say this, Nicholas, but... we're over."
Nick froze, his heart breaking in a million pieces as he stared at the silver dog who continued its message:
"I don't think my love for you will be enough to convince my parents that me marrying the son of Dumbledore's murderer is a good thing."
And just like that the dog disappeared, leaving Nick under the impression that there was more to be said, but Fred had chosen not to say anything else.
He emerged from the lab, carrying the two potions for his father, and found his mother standing with the death eater mask in her hand.
Florence looked at him and she knew something had happened, "He broke up with you, didn't he?"
Nick nodded, "Just now. By Patronus."
She grimaced. "I'm sorry, baby. Maybe in a few months we'll be able to reveal to some people the truth about what happened tonight. But we can't tell anyone anything for now."
Nick just nodded silently again, pulling her into a hug.
"We'll be ok, won't we, mom?"
But Florence shook her head, looking into his green eyes. "I don't know, Nick. I won't lie to you, son: I don't know if we'll ever be ok again."
He gulped nervously, whispering: "I'll take this upstairs." And he took the two vials to his father.
James helped his father into the bedroom and Severus let go of his shoulders, "I can shower by myself."
"I'll stay here, dad," said James, sitting on a chair by the small table near the window. "Call me if you need anything. I won't mind seeing your naked ass if that means you don't die by hitting your head on the toilet."
Severus snorted, leave it to James to make him smile that night. "Thanks, son." He replied and walked to the bathroom.
A minute later, James felt his body grow cold as he watched a bear Patronus enter the room; he knew whose that was and, by the misery coming from his twin brother through their bond, he could easily guess what the bear was there to do.
"James." The Patronus said in Hermione's voice. "Your brother told Fred that he knew about tonight, so I can assume you did too. It hurts me to say this but... it's over between us. If your father did kill Dumbledore and you knew, that tells me you agreed to his actions."
And the bear disappeared, without a goodbye, without angry words – it just vanished.
He sat frozen, looking at the empty space where the bear had been, in confusion.
"You got one too, I see." He heard Nicholas say from the door.
"Yeah. But..."
"It felt like there was more to be said." Nick nodded. "Same with what Fred sent me."
Right then, Florence showed up at the door and she could tell something was going on with the twins, but she decided to ignore that drama for a while – she had a husband to look after.
She walked into the bathroom and found Severus under the water spray, his face up, his eyes closed.
Need anything? She asked through their bond.
He shook his head, "No. But I have to tell you all that..."
"Tomorrow." she interrupted him. "We'll talk about what we must do tomorrow, after you rest and eat."
He rinsed his hair and asked her: "Why were you at the school after I told you to come home?"
She fixed her gaze on him and replied ironically: "You forgot to say 'please'."
"Right." He snorted.
She sat on the armchair near the sink and watched him finish his shower.
He dried off his body and walked out of the stall. "We need to start–"
"We need to start nothing!" she interrupted him, getting up from the armchair and stopping right in front of him, realizing what he was trying to do. "You're not going to jump headfirst into planning and working. No! You'll rest tonight. You'll have breakfast tomorrow and then we'll start talking and planning."
He narrowed his eyes at her, wanting to tell her to shove her bulshitty sentimentalism where the sun didn't shine and to stop being such a controlling...
"Severus." Florence laughed. "I can hear your thoughts." She touched his naked chest. "I know you, love. And you're not ignoring your pain tonight."
He rolled his eyes, once more thinking about telling her to fuck off.
Florence touched his face and looked at him defiantly, "Let me rephrase that: I'm not planning a war with you if you're gonna act like an angry domineering little shit because you haven't cried about tonight."
He inhaled angrily, hating that she was right about him.
"I like your alpha persona," she continued. "When you're fucking the hell out of me. But to plan our next steps? I need you well-rested and fed and with a clear-head, love."
She was right, and he hated her for it. But she was also amazing and he knew if it weren't for her, he'd be drinking his way down the bottom of a bottle right then and harming himself.
Severus wrapped his arms around her and took her lips violently, pushing her towards the bedroom.
The twins jumped as they saw their parents leave the bathroom amid a scorching hot lip-lock – their father fully naked.
"Holy shit!" Exclaimed James. "We're leaving!"
But Severus completely ignored them, he needed to have his wife under him, he needed to feel something other than the pain and the anger eating him up inside.
Florence let him do what he wanted, she could feel the whirlwind of emotions in his mind; if he felt that fucking her would help him deal with that pain, she certainly wouldn't deny him.
Severus ripped her blouse apart and did the same to her bra, never letting go of her lips, he knew she was giving herself completely to him that night, he had seen her consent in her mind.
But she stopped the kiss, "Do not ruin my pants, Severus. I like these pants."
He smirked and ripped those too, completely dismissing her words. "Should've taken them off before telling me I can do whatever I want with you, princess."
"I never said that."
He grabbed her chin roughly, looking into the light-green eyes he very much loved, and bit her bottom lip. "You know I love you, Florence?"
"Yes. I do." She frowned, a little confused at where that talk was going.
"Good. Remember that. Cause I'm about to fuck you as if I don't."
She trembled in desire, smiling at him lasciviously. "Won't that make me love you even more?"
He growled and pushed her on the bed roughly, pulling her ruined pants and underwear off of her and lying between her legs, throwing her knees over his shoulders and burying himself into her body without giving her a second to adjust.
She just threw her head back and gasped, loving his rough taking.
"Fucking dripping, Florence." He groaned, losing himself in the wet heat of her body. "You're so... fucking... twisted." He moved deep into her, marking his every word with a hard thrust. "Creaming at the thought of being taken hard!"
She threw her head back once more, exposing her neck, and he took that as an invitation to bite her; he trailed small bites down her neck to her breasts while his hips pistoned into her at a high speed, rubbing against her g-spot non-stop. He grinded against her clit every other thrust and she screamed, cumming fast and hard.
He pressed a hand on her neck and covered her body with his heavier one, growling in her ear: "That was just the first one, wife. I'm not stopping tonight."
"Don't stop!" She moaned. "I'm yours, Sev."
He kissed her lips violently, fucking her clenching pussy, filling his senses with her, thinking of how their bodies fit together so perfectly, how deliciously she reacted to his touches, his every thrust and kiss. Her curvaceous body undulating under him, that powerful dangerous witch completely dominated by him, moaning and screaming his name.
"Fuck." He groaned, knowing that if he kept staring at her face contorted in pleasure and at her tits bouncing enticingly, he'd soon lose it.
Severus kneeled all of a sudden and forcefully flipped her onto her stomach.
Florence quickly put herself on her hands and knees.
"So eager, princess." He groaned, caressing her ass, holding her waist, loving the sexy curve of her large hips and pressing his dick into her pussy, balls-deep.
Florence arched her back, putting on a sexy show as he pressed into her, his cock sliding in slowly, going deep, the broad head hitting her cervix and making her moan and tremble in pleasure.
"Look at you," he purred sensually, fisting a hand in her hair and pulling her head back. "Completely weak at the end on my dick." He could feel her body submitting to his – and he felt powerful. "Love my dick forcing your cunt open, don't you?" She clenched around him and he heard her moan again. "Sucking on my cock, begging for my cum; you're cumming for me again, love. Just like this: on your hands and knees, pussy filled to the limit by my cock, mine to fuck, mine to breed."
"Yes." She whimpered. "Fuck me, Severus. Oh, please."
He pulled harder on her hair, changed his angle inside of her pussy slightly and pressed his other hand against her clit.
Her breath hitched and he chuckled in pride: "Show me how much you love this cock, princess." He licked her neck, "Cum for me, love. Cream that pussy around my dick and let me feel her milking me, begging for my cum."
Florence had her eyelids shut, but her eyes rolled in their sockets when his soft-spoken order washed over her and her body obeyed him, her clit pulsed and her womb clenched as she screamed her orgasm.
"Holy fuck! Yes!" he shouted, feeling her pussy squeezing his dick, milking him deliciously and forcing him to spill deep inside of her shivering screaming body.
He let go of her hair and rested his forehead between her shoulder blades, gasping against her skin, shaking in pleasure and emotion.
I love you, Severus. He heard her voice in his mind and felt one of her hands in his hair.
Then he knelt on the bed, the shock of what he had done earlier that night taking over his mind again, freezing his blood in his veins.
Florence turned around quickly and kissed him deeply, trying to make him focus on her once more.
"You're not done with me, husband. Remember: I disobeyed you, I stayed in the castle, in harm's way, I didn't come home like you ordered."
He blinked and gripped her chin, "You only obey me when I have you under me!"
"So put me under you again." She whispered, looking into his eyes.
And he pushed her on her back, covering her body with his again, focusing all his erratic emotions on pleasuring his naughty disobedient wife.
Next morning
Florence moved in bed and groaned, feeling sore all over from all the times Severus had taken his comfort in her body during the night.
It had been extremely pleasurable, she enjoyed his demanding and sometimes violent taking, but she was in need of a pain potion and maybe even a Wiggenweld that morning.
She tried to leave the bed, but his arms were closed tightly around her waist.
"I need to pee, Sev." She whispered.
He grunted and let her go.
Florence slowly sat on the bed, wincing when her nether regions pressed against the soft mattress.
She walked to the bathroom and sat on the toilet, calling her house elf.
"Morning, Mistress Flor." Said Tiffany, frowning, immediately sensing her discomfort.
"I'm ok, Tiff. Just get me a pain potion and a Wiggenweld from the lab. Then set the table for breakfast, we'll be down shortly."
"Right away, Mistress." the elf bowed and disapparated.
Florence finished peeing and walked to the shower stall, realizing she'd certainly feel better after she cleaned all the sweat and cum from her body.
Severus lay in bed staring at the ceiling; he had woken up sensing Florence's stiffness when she sat on the bed; she was most certainly sore as hell – she had completely given herself to him that night, her love and blind surrender had allowed him to burn through all the pain and turmoil he had had inside of him and be emotionally free of the weight of the atrocity he had committed.
That didn't mean he had forgiven himself from killing Dumbledore – no, he didn't feel worthy of anyone's forgiveness. But their night of violent passion had helped clear his head. He had taken Florence in so many ways and positions, he even fell asleep inside of her at one point, just to wake up and keep on fucking her.
He heard the shower running and got up, needing to let her know she had been right about not talking war the previous night.
He opened the bathroom door and stopped in shock, cursing: "Fucking hell!"
Florence had her back turned to him and he could see her body was covered in bruises; he entered the stall and turned her around, receiving a look filled with so much love and compassion that only worked to get him even angrier.
"Why the fuck did you let me do this?" he touched her chin where there were three round yellow marks the exact size of his fingertips.
She snorted: "Why? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed being fucked the whole night, Sev. Every time you held me down and fucked me, I moaned and shivered and orgasmed." She touched his chest. "I have no idea how many times I climaxed, love. You didn't do anything I didn't enjoy. I'd have hexed you if you had pushed things too far."
"But..."
"No. Stop it, Severus." She hugged him, pulling him under the hot water with her. "I loved it. You needed it." She felt him concede and wrap his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, love." He whispered.
"Don't apologize. I loved it." She repeated it.
Severus sighed, taking the soft sponge and the special liquid soap he had long invented, washing her body with care, kissing her bruises and thanking Merlin, and all the muggle Gods, for the amazing wife he had.
James and Nicholas were already at the table when their parents walked downstairs. They watched their father pull their mother's chair for her and frowned when she winced a little as she sat.
"Do I even want to know what happened last night?" James asked, looking from Florence to Severus.
She looked at him, "It was hard enough to have me wincing."
James rolled his eyes. "And that's a no. I don't want to know what happened."
"After breakfast," said Severus, looking at Florence and the twins. "We need to talk. All of us."
The boys seemed surprised he had included them.
"You are part of this, my loves." said Florence. "You two have had dinner with the Dark Lord already; there are death eaters who have served him for years and only dream of that honour." she finished in an ironic smile.
They nodded and had breakfast in peaceful silence, watching their dad touching their mother's arm and hands with care.
Whatever he did, he regrets deeply. Nicholas said to his brother.
She's smiling, Nicholas. James rolled his eyes again. I'd rather not think of what dad did to mom to have her wincing when she sits yet smiling up at him sweetly.
Nicholas shook his head.
"Could you two not discuss our sex life?" Asked Severus.
"Could you two not flaunt it at the breakfast table?" retorted James.
Florence laughed and winced. "Do not make me laugh!" she complained.
James rolled his eyes a third time. "Geez."
"You do that so much that one day your eyes will just stay up there, James." Teased Florence.
"Then I won't have to see my mother wincing at the breakfast table."
She laughed again, grimacing: "I guess I'll need another pain potion."
After breakfast, the four of them sat in the library to talk about their next steps.
"Now that Dumbledore's gone, our main focus must be on keeping the Order informed." Started Severus. "You two," he looked at the twins. "Has either of your relationship survived the night?"
Both shook their heads.
"Damn it." Severus cursed. "Any ideas, Florence?"
"Dumbledore's original idea was for me to convince McGonagall that I didn't know anything and that my love for you clouded my judgement."
Severus nodded. "Let's go with that then."
"Sure. I won't have any problems convincing her, however..." She sighed. "Remus knows everything about us."
The twins snorted and James said: "Ain't that an understatement."
But Florence just narrowed her eyes at him and continued: "He knows about the Enchantment bond, so he won't buy that I didn't know anything."
Severus nodded. "I'll deal with the werewolf myself. You convince McGonagall."
"Alright." She sighed, "About last night, what happened?"
He narrowed his eyes at her, crossing his arms on his chest, "You were at the school, Florence, you saw everything."
She arched an eyebrow at him and replied just as sarcastically: "I'm obviously asking about the meeting with my father, Severus."
"Ookay." interrupted James. "Just one thing – this" He pointed at both of them. "cannot go on. You two bickering and eyeing each other like that make us very uncomfortable."
"Yeah." Agreed Nick, shivering in disgust. "If we are to sit in this war-planning meetings, I don't wanna watch you two flirting aggressively."
Both Severus and Florence looked at them and laughed.
"I'm sorry, boys." she said. "It's just how we're used to discuss things."
"Flirting?" James asked with a grimace.
"Yes." Severus nodded. "But we'll be mindful of your delicate feelings and tone it down."
The twins nodded.
"Last night." Severus finally replied his wife's question. "We apparated to Little Hangleton and were welcomed with a party – that kind of party." He arched an eyebrow at her and Florence knew what he meant.
"Ugh. Disgusting." She shivered.
"Can we be made aware of what you're talking about?" asked Nick.
"Your grandfather enjoys torture-parties." Said Severus.
"He enjoys being tortured?" James frowned. "Sexually?"
"No. He enjoys torturing others." Florence explained. "The most unwilling the better."
The boys looked at them with equal expressions of horror.
"So," continued Severus. "We arrived at the manor and there was that party happening in the living room. And you wouldn't guess who was there, enjoying herself."
Florence frowned. "Enjoying herself? Who?"
"Dressed in pink."
"Umbridge?" Florence nearly shouted. "What the fuck was she doing there?"
"What do you think?" Severus asked, narrowing his eyes at her again.
"No flirting." James singsonged.
His father ignored him and continued: "She, somehow, learned about the attack at the school and ran to Little Hangleton to offer her experience, guessing that your father would need a new Headmaster." He paused. "Not to mention, she's still a Ministry employee, and everyone knows the Ministry is filled with your father's agents – both Imperioed and voluntary ones – but Scrimgeour's one act of increasing security so far has been to lock himself up in his office. So it's easy to realize the Ministry will soon fall as well."
"So Umbridge is offering her loyalty in exchange of a position of power." Florence said.
"Yes." Severus smirked. "You should've seen the look on her face when she was informed that you and I will be the ones occupying both seats she coveted, at the Ministry and at Hogwarts." He ended with a slight frown.
And Florence quickly realized something less amusing had taken place as well. "What else happened, Sev?"
"I had to convince your father not to kill Draco." He sighed worriedly, "I told him that watching the boy suffer when Lucius gets out of Azkaban will be a more suited punishment. So Draco was just tortured."
"Just tortured." Whispered Nicholas, shivering in horror.
Florence frowned. "Where is he now, Severus? Is the boy safe?"
"Yes. For now. Narcissa took him home."
"So, for now," Florence summarized their next steps. "We must guarantee our presence within the Order, wait for father to murder Scrimgeour, and then I'll become Minister and you, Hogwarts Headmaster."
Severus nodded, "Yes. Those are the next steps."
She nodded, "Alright then. I'll be going to see McGonagall now.", and left the library.
Hogwarts
Florence apparated directly into the Headmaster's office, expecting to find McGonagall in there, but the room was empty.
She exhaled slowly and noticed the brand new painting on the wall – Dumbledore's painting. But the old headmaster was asleep, so she just walked to the desk, seeing a small wooden box addressed to McGonagall on top of a few papers.
It all looked the same – and yet everything had changed.
"YOU!" she suddenly heard McGonagall exclaim from the door.
Florence summoned up all the tears she could and put her plan into action: "Please, don't hurt me! Please, professor!" she raised her hands.
McGonagall was looking at her with anger, her wand pointing at Florence.
"Did you know?" she shouted. "Did you know what he was going to do?"
"No, professor!" Florence lied, sobbing. "Of course I didn't!" her hands still raised in sign of surrender.
"Where were you last night then?" demanded McGonagall.
"I hid! The castle was full of aurors! Everyone knows the stories about Severus and me! Had I stayed, I could be in Azkaban right now for accessory to murder! Even though I didn't know anything!" her voice broke from all the sobbing. "I-I was fooled by him just like everybody else. And I... I love him, Prof McGonagall. I love him!" She covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
At the mention of her love for him, the teacher slowly lowered her wand and hugged Florence.
"There there, my dear. I'm sorry I thought for a moment that you could've plotted Dumbledore's death with him. I can see how much you're hurting."
"The-there's more, professor." Florence continued. "I have been chosen to be their... their next Minister."
"What?" McGonagall seemed surprised. "You're a death eater too?"
"No, professor, I'd never! But... the Lord says it's like a-a gift to Severus... he's using me, for I'm pretty and a mediwitch..."
"A gift. Because of what Severus did." McGonagall nodded somberly.
Florence nodded.
"Can't you decline?" the older woman asked.
Florence grimaced. "It's not as easy as just saying 'no, thanks'. No one says no to the Dark Lord... He's not a very understanding person." And she reached the point of the whole reason for that theatrics: " I-I have no choice on the matter, but... I could use that to help you, help the Order, like Severus used to."
McGonagall understood: "You're offering to spy for us."
"Yes."
"I truly appreciate the offer, my dear." McGonagall frowned. "But are you aware of the risks that could bring to you?"
"Yes, I am. But I need to do something! Severus played me for a fool even more than he played you all!" Florence cried again.
"And what will you do about him?"
Florence pretended to hesitate. "I haven't seen him since... but I love him, professor." She exhaled heavily. "If I see him... I know I'm not strong enough not to fall in his arms."
McGonagall looked at her with pity. "It's alright, my dear." She hugged Florence. "I understand."
Florence walked out of the headmistress' office, going to the infirmary to talk to Pomfrey, but she was suddenly cornered by a familiar face.
Remus wrapped a hand around her arm and Florence allowed him to pull her into an empty classroom.
"Did you know?" he demanded.
Florence cast a silencing charm and some other protections before replying: "Would you believe me if I said I didn't?"
Remus shouted: "You have a freaking mind connection with him – so no! I wouldn't!"
"So why are you asking?" she asked in return.
"WHY? I need this to make sense, Florence! Why would you and Severus plot to murder Dumbledore?"
"We didn't. It was his idea – most of it anyway."
Remus looked at her as if she had gone mad. "If you think for a moment I'll believe that bullshit..."
"Believe whatever you want, Remus!" Florence shouted at him. "I can't give you details right now, but you know me, Moony. You know all about me!"
"Yes." He nodded. "And that's why I'm torn, Florence. I don't see you working willingly to your father, but you love Severus blindly enough to follow him if he decides your father is your best shot at surviving the war."
She got angrier at him.
"I had to break my family in half, Remus! I had a baby two years ago that I can only see once a month!" she wiped some tears off her face. "Yes, I'm following Severus down this path, but you of all people should know how that makes me feel."
He looked at her, shaking his head.
"I don't know, Florence. Right now? I don't trust you."
She wanted to keep shouting at him – to remind him of all they had gone through together – but she just nodded silently, understanding where his suspicions were coming from.
"Are you still going to Order meetings?" he asked.
"Yes." She narrowed her eyes at him, "Will you be a problem?"
"No." He said through pursed lips.
Florence sighed heavily and left the room.
Remus watched her go, wishing he could shake off the feeling that he had just lost his last best friend.
Snapes' family home
Severus saw his wife storm into their house, looking furious and upset.
"What happened?" he worried.
"Remus! I told him some of the truth but... he didn't believe me. He even said he doesn't trust me!"
"What about McGonagall? Did she buy your wronged-lover's pretense?" Severus asked, wrapping his arms around her waist, trying to calm her down.
"Yes, she did. I cried, told her how much I love you and how you've pulled me into this situation." She kissed him, sighing. "I'm still welcome in the Order."
"Good." He nodded, seeing through their bond how upset she was about her friend, "Leave Lupin to me."
Remus walked to the dungeons as soon as Florence left, he needed to find a clue, something that proved to him that she wasn't lying.
The first thing he noticed was that they hadn't taken their things out of the rooms; Severus' living quarters were exactly like he remembered them to be.
He walked to the bedroom and, again, there were clothes and personal items all around – as if they knew they were coming back soon.
Suddenly the sound of someone arriving through the Floo Network had Remus running to the living room, his wand in hand.
"Severus." He growled. "Very brave of you to show up here after what you did!"
"Lupin. Just the person I needed to see." Severus sounded calm, almost bored.
But Remus was seething with rage. "What is stopping me from arresting you, Severus?"
Severus arched an eyebrow. "Your incompetency with a wand?"
Remus's eyes flashed with fury. "I can very well..."
But Severus interrupted him, in a bored tone: "Yes, yes, it's been proven you can break my bones, Lupin, but you know you can't beat me in a duel." He paused, showing he had his wand in hand. "Now, listen: we're all in the same boat. With Dumbledore gone..."
"Who you killed!" Remus shouted, wand still directed at him.
"Without Dumbledore," Severus repeated, clearly annoyed, ignoring Remus's outburst. "The Order will be nothing but a lost group of misfits – and you know that! – whereas the Dark Lord may be is crazy, but he's very organized."
Remus knew he was right; with Dumbledore gone, the Order was leaderless, and without Severus spying for them, they were directionless as well. But still, that was the man responsible for Dumbledore being gone in the first place.
"I don't know, Severus." He lowered his wand, accepting there was nothing he could do with it to defeat Severus in a duel.
And Severus dismissively replied: "I'm sure all you don't know could fill up a library, Lupin. Focus on what you do know: you know Florence. You may not trust me – but you can't doubt her!"
Remus fell silent, thinking hard and asking: "Why are you here?"
"To remind you that the Order needs Florence. She told you the truth."
Remus stared at him for a tense moment. "If you two are really following some last plan of Dumbledore's, where he asked you to kill him – and I can understand some of the reasons..."
"Yes? Keep thinking, take the whole day." Severus added ironically.
Remus ignored his words and continued: "Then they should add insanity to the Slytherin House description. You and she are risking everything!"
"We and the twins."
Remus hesitated. "But she said the kids are in a safe house."
"Not them. They've even met their grandfather already."
Remus ran his hand through his hair. "Fuck. James will get himself killed in the war!"
Severus shook his head. "No, we've been giving him some daily doses of harsh reality that have worked on curbing his impulsiveness."
Remus looked at him silently and then slowly nodded. "Alright, Severus. I'll give you two the benefit of the doubt."
"Good enough." He conceded. "Do not make this harder on her than it already is."
Remus snorted: "You just don't want to deal with an angry wife."
"No. I don't want to deal with an angry father-in-law." He arched an eyebrow at him again.
"Damn. There's that." Remus looked at Severus intently. "I really can't imagine what's like being you, but I'm sure I wouldn't like to be in your shoes – and I'm a werewolf."
Severus smirked. "It's not an easy life but... it does have it's good moments. As you very well know."
Remus chuckled, "Yes. I sure do."
The potions master nodded once and went back to the fireplace, disappearing amongst green flames.
Note: Don't worry, I won't let the twins sad for too long. They are just so cute (and sexy) with Mione and Fred that I can't let them suffer for longer than a chapter.
On the other hand, I love making Severus and Draco suffer until they bleed (sometimes literally).
Some sentences I took from canon material (6th book and movie).