July 1997

Little Hangleton

Severus walked into the large beautiful house and went straight to the room to the right of the stairs, passing by Peter Pettigrew without giving the rat not even an acknowledgement glance.

It was late night, Severus should be home having dinner with his wife and his sons, but the Dark Lord had summoned him, so there he was.

He entered the meeting room without knocking, just in time to hear his father-in-law talking to a blond death eater:

"Well, Yaxley?" Voldemort asked. "Will the Ministry have fallen by next Saturday?"

"My Lord, I have good news on that score. I have – with difficulty, and after great effort." the death eater tried to emphasize his hard work. "Successfully placed an Imperius Curse upon Pius Thicknesse. Now with him and Umbridge so close to the Minister, it won't be long."

"It is a start." Voldemort nodded appreciatively. "But Thicknesse is only one man and Umbridge can't be left to do things on her own – she's too greedy. Scrimgeour must be surrounded by our people before I act."

"Yes, my Lord." Yaxley nodded. "It'll soon be done to your liking, my Lord."

"It better be. And how is the Azkaban break out?"

"Two weeks at the most, my Lord."

"Good. Make sure it's not delayed again." Voldemort dismissed the death eater with a hand movement and looked at the door. "Ah, Severus. Come closer. Yaxley was just leaving."

The blond death eater bowed and went to the door, giving Snape a look of pure hatred as he walked by him.

Just another blond idiot. Severus thought, before saying, "You summoned me, my Lord.", as he kneeled by the table.

"Yes. Rise, Severus. Rise. I wish to discuss somethings with you. Join me for dinner."

Severus sat on the chair the man had pointed at and waited for him to speak.

"The Ministry will soon fall." Said Voldemort. "And, as you know, I want Florence to represent me as Minister when that happens."

"Yes, my Lord. She's aware of your wish and she's ready to take on that job."

"Yes. I don't doubt she is. And having her as the face of our administration will be perfect. She's a beautiful woman, an accomplished mediwitch." He paused, looking at Severus piercingly. "However: she's a single mother surrounded by gossip where her sons are concerned. Why haven't you registered the boys already?"

"We are married through blood magic, my Lord, so I haven't claimed Florence, publicly or on legal terms. For that reason, I can't simply register them – wizarding laws protect men against gold-diggers. Heirs can only be claimed under marriage."

"Ah, I see. So you'd have to claim her to claim the boys."

"Yes, my Lord. And it wouldn't be difficult to do so; I'd only have to perform a Revelio spell in front of an officer of the Wizarding Registration Office. Then she and the twins would be mine in life and paper."

"Hmm." Voldemort seemed to ponder. "But by doing that, you'd be giving Florence and the twins your filthy muggle surname..." He sounded clearly displeased.

"Yes, my Lord." Severus nodded, "The ring on your daughter's finger is from my mother's family, but..."

"The honourable pure-blooded Princes." Said Voldemort nodding.

"Yes. However, I can't give Florence that surname, no matter how much I wish I could. Wizarding laws only allow for the male family name to be passed on."

"Right." Whispered Voldemort. "It's truly unfortunate. However, the Snape name has become one of respect within the wizarding community throughout the years. You are an accomplished, rich, Potions Master, Severus; the youngest professor to ever teach at a prestigious wizarding school; a feared and powerful wizard." He nodded. "Yes. I don't see why not, considering. You have my consent to publicly claim my daughter and grandsons."

"Thank you, my Lord."

They paused their conversation while the elves served their dinner and poured them wine.

"So," Voldemort spoke again after the elves left. "You'll officiate your marriage before Florence's first appearance as Minister – that'll be enough to keep the public attention for a while. Afterwards, I'll wait a couple weeks, maybe a month, and then reveal she's my daughter."

"Of course, my Lord. As you wish." Severus replied, cutting his steak.

Voldemort smiled at him, knowingly. "You're my favourite now, Severus – that's obvious – but my followers still don't know why. Florence called me 'father' in front of Bella, but she can't tell the others anything, for I haven't lifted the secrecy spell yet." He paused briefly to eat some of his potato and steak dinner. "And the moment you reveal Florence is your wife, you'll gain enemies through envy; but when I tell the others you not only married a gorgeous woman, but that she's my daughter... new allies, albeit untrustworthy ones, will surround you."

"Sure, my Lord. I'll be careful."

"Yes, I don't doubt you will. Also, the day I tell my followers that Florence is my daughter, I want you to bring the boys as well. I wish to show them off too."

"They will be very excited to come here, my Lord." Severus sipped his wine.

Voldemort looked at him with a strange glint in his eyes. "I couldn't be more proud of them, Severus. You should really consider having more kids."

Severus smiled, "It's hard to convince Florence, my Lord. She had a difficult pregnancy." He didn't lie – he just didn't tell him which pregnancy.

Voldemort nodded, "I see. Well, I'd like for James and Nicholas to work beside you at the castle, after we take over. They can continue their studies there; Potions and Charms, right?"

"Yes, my Lord; and I'll do as you wish."

The elves appeared once more, bringing them dessert (lemon tart) and taking the dirty dishes away.

"Now," continued Voldemort. "When and how will Potter be moved from Private Drive?"

Then Severus told him all about the plan of moving seven Potters instead of just one.

Meanwhile, at the Snapes' family home

Florence called the twins downstairs for dinner and sat at the round table, waiting for them. She had chosen to keep it smaller and round instead of restoring the table to its original long and rectangular shape. The emptiness of the larger table was only a painful reminder of the kids that weren't home anymore.

"Hey, mom." Said James. "Where's dad?"

"With your grandfather." she replied, looking at the boys as they sat near her on the table. The pain in their eyes was obvious, but they had been quiet about it. "Boys, it hurts me to see how much you miss Mione and Fred."

They sighed.

"It hasn't been easy... but there's nothing to be done, mom." Said Nicholas, looking at the ring he had begun to wear on his left ring finger – it was Fred's ring, the one he had bought for his ex-boyfriend, instead of letting it sit inside it's box, he'd magically altered it to fit his own finger.

"Listen, in two weeks, I have to go to a wedding." Florence began.

The twins frowned.

"Who's getting married at times like these?" asked James, confused.

"My cousin, Fleur Delacour is marrying William Weasley." Florence explained.

Nicholas looked at her, suddenly remembering that he knew that.

"Yes! Fred told me about it! August first. That's why we would be able to get engaged in July in front of his whole family – they'd all be at the Burrow for the wedding!"

"Yes," nodded Florence. "I was invited too, since Fleur is my cousin. Now, I'll be taking Liz with me, to get her out of the safe-house for a while, and she's properly protected by my spell. That being said," she looked at them both. "Your dad and I have talked and... we believe it wouldn't be a problem if you two took that as an opportunity to talk to your ex-partners."

And suddenly they were both staring at her in anticipation, barely breathing.

Florence smiled at their surprise and continued: "It would be good to have Hermione and Fred knowing the truth about the night Dumbledore died."

"You mean..." started James, trying to understand if he had heard it correctly. "We can tell them that dad only killed uncle Albus because he was cursed?"

"Yes. That's what you can tell them." She nodded. "And I hope they believe you and... well... you two get to be happy again."

James shook his head, a hint of hopelessness in his smile. "Hermione will hex me on sight."

"And I'm not sure Fred will believe me." Added Nick, just as depressed as his brother.

Florence frowned at them, not liking their defeated demeanour.

"Look, all you have right now is this." She pointed at them. "Two broken hearts and a lot of moping. You will go to the wedding and you will, at least, try to talk to them." She looked at Nick. "Fred is crazy about you, I'm sure he'll be all over you as soon as you bat those green eyes at him."

Then she looked at James and grimaced. "Now, you... you better go with a shielding charm on, because Hermione will certainly attack first and ask questions later."

James chuckled, still a little uncertain that would work at all, "Alright, mom." He ended up nodding.

"We'll go." agreed Nicholas, although as unsure as his brother.

At the Burrow

A week before the wedding

Hermione apparated to the frontyard of the crooked house and slowly walked towards it, finding her way into the empty kitchen.

The homey smell and feel of the Weasleys' house felt like a warm embrace around her emotionally fragile self.

Too much had happened in her life in the past two months; she had witnessed her school being attacked and its Headmaster murdered; she had had to break up with the boyfriend she loved with all her heart for his father had plotted said murder and he had know about it. Then she went home and had to live in constant fear of being attacked by death eaters – which ultimately led her to obliviate her parents and send them to Australia with no recollection of ever having a daughter.

She stopped beside the long table and tried blinking the tears away, but it was a short-lived solution – in seconds, she was crying her eyes out.

"Mione, dear!" she heard Molly Weasley exclaim a second before feeling the woman's arms closing around her. "What happened, sweetie?"

"My parents." She sobbed. "I obliviated them earlier this afternoon. They... don't know who I am anymore!"

Molly held her tight, her heart breaking for the brave young woman in her arms.

"You did that to protect them, dear."

Attracted by the sounds of crying and comforting words, some other members of the family appeared in the kitchen; and when Hermione's eyes met Fred's she immediately let go of Molly and ran to him, hugging him close and crying even harder in his arms.

Molly, Ginny, Ronald and Arthur shared a confused glance as they watched the two of them embrace and Fred cry with her.

"I get it, Mione." He whispered, holding on to her as she held on to him. "Let's talk upstairs." He said, taking her to Ginny's room.

Hermione sat on her friend's bed and looked at Fred.

The young man just sat beside her and wrapped her in an embrace.

"I don't have anyone anymore, Fred." She whispered, crying on his chest. "I lost James and now my parents..."

"You have all of us here, Mione." He said compassionately. "And you can still see your parents, befriend them... in the future... if you survive the war."

"Yes... that's true..." she wiped her face, shaking her head. "But not him. I don't think I'll ever have James again."

Fred looked at the ring in his left hand – the engagement ring he had bought for Nicholas – and sighed heavily.

"I know how you feel. I miss my Nicky..."

She looked up at his face. "I have this nightmare... where we see them in the final battle and we have to fight against them. It's awful! I don't want to fight James!"

"I must admit I have had a similar nightmare." Fred said, closing his eyes briefly.

Hermione took his left hand and looked at his ring. "You two made such a cute couple. I remember you flirting at the World Cup..."

Fred smiled, "I remember James asking about you that day."

She was surprised by that. "He did?"

Fred nodded. "Yes. But you were fourteen, so he did nothing but look."

"Oh, yes." She chuckled, wiping her face again. "James and his problem with my age. I remember that."

"Nick said James followed you to Flourish and Blotts."

"Yes. He bribed the owners to tell him when I'd be there."

"Now, that sounds like him!" He smiled, "It's good to talk about them."

Hermione nodded, looking at him with sympathy in her tearful eyes. "Were you talking marriage?" She pointed at the ring.

"Yes." Fred exhaled. "I proposed to him one night, after we... well, you know."

"Yes, I get it..." She sighed too, thinking of the last time she had touched James. Then she shook her head, "When could we ever imagine we'd be crying over Snape's sons?"

"Never." Fred chuckled. "If I travelled to the past and told my fifteen-year-old self I'd ask Snape's son to marry me in four years, I'd think George was pranking me."

She laughed. "If I told my fourteen-year-old self that I'd fuck his son on his desk in two years..."

Fred gasped. "You did what?"

"Ooh yes, exactly what you heard." She blushed. "And at their home library as well."

"Wow. Mione. You're naughty!"

"None of it was my idea!" she defended herself. "But James put his hands on me and I just... I forgot everything else." Her smile got sad as she heard herself using the past tense.

Fred smiled softly. "We are both doomed."

"Guess we are." She looked at his ring again. "But you were talking marriage, Fred... That's huge."

"I guess." He shrugged. "Marriage and kids... just sounded so right with him." He sighed. "The shop is doing fine, Nick was studying to become a Charms Master..." he chuckled. "And I found out something..."

"What?" she asked, curious, wiping the tears that insisted on falling.

"My parents sat me down to have the talk last week." He blushed.

She snorted, "What? They think you haven't had sex yet? If Nicholas is anything like his brother..." and she stopped talking, her smile turning sad again.

"Yeah, I know. But it was not the sex talk, it was the reproduction talk."

She frowned, "Don't they know you're gay?"

"They do... but... apparently, there's been one or two members of my mother's family who have been able to get pregnant even though they were... male."

"And you..." Her eyes went big and she suddenly burst into laughter: "Imagine Snape's face when..." She couldn't finish her sentence due to another fit of laughter. "Oh my God! If that ever happens, Fred... please, I need to be there to see his face. Wow! You telling him..." She laughed hard again. "...you're carrying his grandchild!" She pointed at him "A Gryffindor Weasley!" She forced herself to stop laughing. "Oh wow. Man, I needed that."

"I'm glad you're amused, Hermione. But I froze when they told me that." He shook his head. "Do you know how many times I had unprotected sex with Nick? Just every freaking time!"

She gasped, understanding his concern. "You could be pregnant! Are you?"

"No. I brewed a test myself at the store."

She tried to stifle a laugh again but failed at doing so. "I'm so sorry, Fred. But I can't stop imagining..."

"I know." He laughed with her. "It would've been... awesome." His hand caressed his stomach absentmindedly.

She frowned. "You sound a little sad... did you wish you were?" her voice filled with surprise.

"Honestly? Yes." He lowered his head. "I'd love to have a piece of our love growing inside of me..." he stopped talking for the tears clogged his throat.

And Hermione hugged him, letting it be his turn to cry on her shoulder.

August 1st 1997

The Burrow

6 p.m.

Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny were standing outside the great, white marquee in the orchard, awaiting the arrival of the wedding guests. Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice Potion and was now being introduced as 'cousin Barny Weasley'.

"When I get married," said Fred, tugging at the collar of his own robes, "I won't be bothering with any of this nonsense. You can all wear whatever you like, and I'll put a full Body-Bind Curse on Mum until it's all over."

"She wasn't too bad this morning, considering," said George. "Cried a bit about Percy not being here, but who wants him?"

"Not that I'm thinking about getting married." added Fred, looking down at the ring on his finger.

George saw the look on his twin's face but didn't comment on it, for people were arriving, "Oh blimey, brace yourselves – here they come, look."

They all looked to the front yard, where guests were starting to appear.

"Who are those?" asked Fred staring at a woman and a teenage girl that were walking toward them. "She seems familiar."

"That's... Madam Delacour!" Exclaimed George, looking at his twin with concern.

"Nick's mother." Fred gasped. "What's she doing here?" he looked around to see if he could find his ex-boyfriend.

Ginny looked at the guest list, "According to this, she's Fleur's cousin."

Harry/Barny looked at them, "Shouldn't we warn someone? She was Snape's girlfriend!"

Ginny rolled her eyes: "It's not like she's arriving with a party of death eaters on her heels, guys! She's never hurt any of us – quite the opposite, actually, or you idiots have forgotten about how she helped us all go through Umbridge's detention?" the redheaded girl fixed her dress and continued, "Today they're guests here – Fleur's family. I'll go help them; Mom told me to help the Delacours find their seats." and she walked toward Florence and Elizabeth, taking them to their table.

Fred watched the woman and the girl follow his sister. The mediwitch politely greeted him as she walked by, looking at him with the same green eyes that haunted his dreams.

He sighed, the pain of breaking up with Nicholas clenching his heart; he missed his ex-boyfriend – not to mention, lately, his body seemed to have gone crazy on him, making him wake up in the middle of the night covered in sweat and even his own cum, still hard and needy, as if he were in heat – which, as he had recently found out, was a possibility.

"Why did I break up with him again?" Fred whispered to himself, feeling his skin growing hot at the mere thought of seeing Nick.

But George heard his murmuring and reminded him: "Because his father killed Dumbledore and he knew about it."

"Yeah, that." Fred exhaled softly, looking down at the ring on his finger again and thinking about what he wouldn't give to have Nick there with him, to kiss him once more, to have him deep inside his body – he shivered in pleasure at the memory of being under Nicholas' larger body.

But suddenly George grabbed his arm, bringing him back to reality.

"Fred! Look!" George whisper-shouted nervously, pointing at something to their left.

Fred looked up and his heart skipped a beat: Nicholas was walking towards them dressed in the most scrumptious suit-and-tie that Fred had ever seen.

"Holy fuck! Looking that good should be illegal." He whispered, licking his lips.

Nicholas smiled in his direction and Fred found himself walking towards him, as if hypnotized. His thoughts of being taken by the dark-haired young man clouding his judgement.

Just need some kisses, just an orgasm or two. He thought, shaking his head in the next second, trying to focus, reminding himself that Nicholas was the son of Dumbledore's murderer. He lied to me, hid things from me... damn, are his shoulders broader? He wondered, mentally slapping himself almost immediately. Get yourself together, Fred!

He didn't wait for Nicholas to say anything, he gathered all his strength and demanded first: "What the fuck are you doing here?" trying to sound angry and not horny.

"My mother was invited, Fred. I'm here as a guest." Nick sounded calm and collected, the alluring voice he had inherited from his father immediately eliciting a physical reaction on Fred – the sexy picture Nicholas painted in that black suit also didn't help him keep his cool – his knees going weak as a shiver of pleasure ran up his spine.

"Enjoy the party then." Fred said, licking his lips and forcing himself to turn around to go back to his brother's side.

But Nicholas held his arm. "Is there a place we could talk?" his other hand lightly caressing Fred's waist.

"What could we possibly have talk about, Nicholas?" he struggled to keep his voice steady and not whimper in need. "Did or didn't your father kill Dumbledore?"

Nick didn't deny it: "He did. But..."

Fred shook his head. "So there's nothing for us to talk about!"

But Nicholas could see the desire and longing in Fred's eyes, so he used that to his advantage.

"Just a kiss then, Red." His voice low, purposely sensual. "I miss you so much, baby."

Fred closed his eyes, knowing he wasn't strong enough to resist that voice in a good day – much less on a day he felt like his blood was lava and he had spent nearly two months without being fucked by his lover. He looked at Nick, looking good enough to eat in that suit, his strong masculine presence so close to him, those green eyes burning in desire for him.

"Are you wearing perfume, Red?" Nick asked, smelling his neck. "I like it." He ran his tongue down the side of his ex-boyfriend's neck and groaned – his skin tasted as good as he smelled.

Fred couldn't get his throat to work, he should stop him, shout at him, push him away – but the only thing he had in his mind was Fuck me and, before he could stop him, Nick was pulling him towards the side of the house.

Fred felt his back hitting the wall and looked up into Nick's green eyes. His treacherous heart beating fast while his body begged to have his hands on him.

Nicholas could feel the need running through Fred's body matching him own, so he pushed him against the wall, looking into his face, admiring the freckles that ran down his nose.

"I know I said I'd talk." Nick whispered. "But I have to kiss you first, Red."

Fred wrapped his arms around him, finally giving up, "Let's take this upstairs." And he disapparated them both to his bedroom.

Nicholas immediately carried Fred to the bed, falling on top of him, trapping Fred between his larger body and the soft bed. "Fuck. How I missed you, Red."

And he took his lips desperately.

Meanwhile, at the wedding reception

"Where did Fred go?" asked George, looking towards the place he had last seen his brother.

"I saw a dark-haired guy dragging him away." Said Ginny, smiling.

"Shit." Cursed George, worried. But then Remus and Tonks arrived, forcing him to pay attention to them. "Hey, guys! Where do you want to sit?" he asked, ignoring the seating arrangements.

"Is Hagrid here already?" asked Remus.

"Yes, there he is!" pointed Ginny.

Remus looked at where she was pointing but then he saw Florence and Elizabeth.

"Why is Florence here?" he asked.

"Madam Delacour is Fleur's cousin." Explained Ginny.

Remus nodded, "We'll sit with her then." And he took Tonks' hand, taking her towards Florence's table.

"Remus," said Tonks, frowning as she remembered something: "Were the rumours about Madam Delacour and Snape ever true?"

"Yes. They dated while at school and after school as well."

"Recently?" she insisted, sensing her boyfriend was withholding information.

Remus just nodded.

Tonks stared at Elizabeth as they were getting closer to Florence's table. "And who's the girl?"

"I can't tell you." Remus replied after trying. "There's a secrecy spell in place."

Tonks' auror instincts were telling her something wasn't right.

"How much do you trust Delacour, Remus?"

He sighed before replying: "A lot. Apparently." Then they had reached the table. "Mind if we join you?"

Florence looked up at him and smiled, "Hello you! Of course, join us, please! How are you?"

"Fine." answered Remus sitting down, looking at Liz – who he could see as she truly were while Tonks saw her appearance altered by the protection spell.

"Hi, Tonks." Florence greeted the auror. "This is Elizabeth." She pointed the girl, and then she added: "My daughter."

Remus saw the moment the spell stopped working on Tonks and she saw Liz's true physical appearance.

Tonks gasped, "What the fuck? She's...!"

Remus quickly pulled his girlfriend to a kiss to silence her up.

"Yes, Dora." He calmly said over her lips. "Just calm down."

"Calm down?" she whisper-shouted. "Look at that girl! She's... she's..." she couldn't say the words so she said instead: "His daughter!"

"Yes." Florence confirmed. "And you won't be able to speak about it, as you've just tried and failed."

The auror frowned at her and then at Elizabeth – who smirked, clearly reminding her of someone else.

"Fucking hate that smirk." Tonks whispered.

Elizabeth and Florence laughed.

"Love your blue hair." Liz said. "I wish I could change mine."

"Thanks." Tonks grumbled.

Florence cast a silencing charm around their table and turned to the auror.

"He asked to die, Tonks. Dumbledore was suffering from a curse and I did my best to save him, but I only bought him a year of life."

Tonks looked at her and then at Remus, who didn't look surprise to be hearing that.

"Did you know this?"

Remus nodded. "Yes. They told me that the day after he was killed."

"His hand..." whispered Tonks.

Florence nodded. "It's where the curse was contained. But it was going to spread – and it did. His whole arm was thin and burned by the time he died."

Florence removed the silencing spell as she had finished talking.

"So there's a plan." Murmured Tonks.

Florence and Remus nodded.

"Quick thinking." They heard a blond man say, as he sat beside Florence. "For a Hufflepuff." And he kissed Florence, shocking everyone at the table but his wife.

Tonks quickly realized who he was and stared at him in silence, thinking of what she had just heard.

"So you're innocent?" the auror asked.

"Hardly." Blond-Severus snorted. "But I'm not a cold-blooded murderer – if that's what you mean."

For another uncomfortable moment, Tonks just looked at him.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a dark-haired young man.

"Hey, mom. Uncle Remus." Said James, sitting beside his sister and hugging her tightly. "Hey, baby-sis!"

"Jamie!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she hugged him back. "Miss you, big bro. Where's Nick?"

"Hopefully fucking Fred." He winked at her.

Blond-Severus growled: "Language in front of your sister!"

They both just rolled their eyes similarly while Tonks still stared at the young man, her mouth agape – she couldn't believe her eyes, he looked exactly like his father, only sexier.

"Who the fuck are you?" she asked him, trying not to shout.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Tonks." he politely said. "I'm James, this nice couple's firstborn son." He motioned his parents.

It was Severus' turn to roll his eyes at his son's mocking politeness.

Florence sipped her wine and said: "Are you here to chat or to get your girlfriend back? I believe Krum was invited to the party, I actually saw him dancing with her just now."

At the mention of Viktor's name, James immediately stood up and walked around the party looking for Hermione.

"Wait." Said Tonks, trying to understand. "Who's his girlfriend?"

"Granger." Said Liz.

After a moment of shock, Tonks burst out laughing and looked at Snape.

"Your son is dating Hermione Granger?"

"And," added Remus, not letting the moment go. "James's twin, Nick, is dating Fred Weasley."

Then Tonks roared with laughter.

Why are you here, Severus? Florence asked him. You wouldn't come to a wedding party without a wand to your head or a very good reason.

He smiled at how well she knew him.

The Ministry will fall tonight. Right now, a massive break out from Azkaban is under way.

Lucius is out. She immediately thought of Draco and Narcissa.

Yes. And tomorrow afternoon you'll be nominated Minister. Better have your speech ready, love. He added, trying to lighten the mood.

Shit.

In about an hour, Scrimgeour will be killed and the aurors taken for questioning. Then, it won't be long til the Snatchers get here.

Florence nodded, entwining her left hand with his right one.

As usual, Severus brought her hand to his lips and kissed her wedding ring. Love you, wife.

She smiled at him, kissing his lips, Together, Sev.

Always.

"Oh, my Merlin!" exclaimed Elizabeth all of a sudden. "Who are those people?" she was pointing at two people dressed in yellow clothes in the middle of the dance floor.

"Those are Luna and her father, Xeno Lovegood." said Tonks. "She's a very sweet girl."

"She's a Ravenclaw." said Severus. "Very intelligent; although she gives a broader meaning to the word eccentricity."

"Intelligent? No way, dad." said Elizabeth, outraged. "Even a poorly gifted person would know that you can't wear a yellow dress with a yellow hair. It's insulting!"

And they all had to agree with her.

James quickly found Viktor alone by the ladies' room.

"Krum." He said, clearly unhappy to be seeing him.

"Peverel." Viktor replied, just as displeased. He had no problems with Nicholas, but he couldn't stand James.

"Waiting for someone?"

"Yes. 'Ermione."

James' eyes sparkled in anger. "Thanks for keeping my girlfriend company until I arrived, you can fuck off now."

"Girlfriend?" Krum frowned.

"James?" Hermione gasped as she left the restroom. "What are you doing here?" she stopped beside Krum, trying to hide her trembling hands.

James saw her wrap her arm around Krum's arm and took a step towards her.

"I need to talk to you, Hermione." He said. "Please."

She shook her head. "We have nothing to talk about, James. I can't look at you and not think of... what happened."

"There's an explanation, Mione. Just hear me out." He touched her face and she had a hard time ignoring the pleasurable feeling running down her spine due to his proximity, she couldn't deny she missed him, her heart still hurt for him and her body craved his touches.

James smiled, seeing her desire as clear as day in her amber eyes.

"Miss me, kitten?" he murmured, casting a wandless banishing charm that sent Krum away from her. Then he wrapped his arms tightly around her, feeling her melt for a second before the tip of her wand was at his throat.

"Now, Mione." He raised his hands. "There's no need for that, love."

"Don't call me love or kitten!" she growled. "What are you doing here?"

"Fleur is my mother's cousin, Miss Granger." he said, still smiling.

She lowered her wand and James took advantage of that moment, holding her tight against his body and disapparating with her to the Weasleys' garage.

Meanwhile, on the Burrow's third floor

Two half-dressed young men were nearly fucking on a bed, their suits and shirts lying somewhere on the floor of the bedroom.

Fred had his hands inside Nicholas' pants while the dark-haired boy pulled Fred's pants down and held his ass with both hands, grinding their still-clothed, hard cocks together; their mouths fused in a long and wet kiss, tongues rubbing as desperately as their dicks.

But suddenly Nicholas stopped all kisses and touches, and Fred opened his eyes to ask him what had happened but then he saw George with his wand on Nick's neck.

"Get away from my brother!" George growled.

Nicholas knelt on the bed, panting, with both his hands up in the air.

"I wasn't doing... anything he didn't want."

"Oh, I know. But Fred can't think right near you! And you know that! Get out of that bed before I hex you, Nicholas!"

The dark-haired teen obeyed.

Fred sat up on the bed and wanted to shout at George to just get the fuck out!

He wanted Nicholas' touches! He wanted to be taken by him!

Damn it! Fred sighed heavily, knowing his brother was right: he couldn't think clearly whenever his ex-boyfriend was around.

"You said we needed to talk, Nicholas." Fred said. "So talk."

Nick nodded, keeping his hands up. "Dumbledore was already dying. You weren't in Hogwarts anymore, so I don't know if you saw he had-"

"A burned hand." Said George, his wand still at Nick's throat. "Keep talking."

"That was the consequence of a curse. My mother managed to contain it to his hand, but she warned him he wouldn't have much longer to live." Nicholas sighed. "Look, long story short: Dumbledore died to save Draco Malfoy's soul and to solidify my father's position with the Dark Lord."

"Dark Lord." Repeated George, disgusted. "You even talk like a death eater."

"It's just how I'm used to hearing my father call him, ok?" he looked at Fred. "My father's not a traitor. We're not traitors. My parents followed Dumbledore's plan. All they want is to help the Order defeat the Dark Lord."

Fred was glad his brother was there, otherwise he'd have easily believed in that story. He scoffed: "You can't think that..."

"Alright." Said George, surprisingly lowering his wand.

"Wait!" shouted Fred. "You believe him?"

"Yeah. I do." George nodded. "Nick and James have had many chances to kill us, so I'm sure we'd already be dead if they were truly working for You-know-who."

"Thanks, George. Now, you cannot tell any of this to anyone for a while." Said Nicholas, putting his hands down. "Apart from you, just Granger knows."

"James is..." started Fred.

"About to fuck her, if you need to know." Nicholas said, grimacing and quickly using occlumency to block his bond with his twin. "My mother will come to an Order meeting soon and explain everything to the others."

"Ok. No problem." Agreed George.

Nicholas stared at his beloved ex-boyfriend, hoping to be able to call him his again.

"Do you believe me, babe?"

Fred stood up and looked into the green eyes he missed so much.

"I want to believe you, Nicky." He whispered, touching his abs, and pulling him closer.

"So believe me, love." He rubbed his lips on Fred's. "Be mine again."

"Aaand that's my cue to leave!" said George, locking the door on his way out.

Fred smiled and nodded. "Yes." He whispered. "I believe you... make me yours, Nicky."

Nicholas released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "What a fucking relief!" he pushed Fred on the bed again. "Now, where were we?" and kneeled between his sprawled legs.

"Divesto!" Shouted Fred, removing both their pants and underwear. "You were about to get that dick inside of me!"

"Was I? Really?" Nick teased him, kissing up his thighs, reaching his lover's cock and closing his mouth around it.

"Holy! Fucking! Shit!" Fred shouted, the hot and wet caress of that tongue on his very hard dick was nearly his undoing. "Fuck me, Nicky! I'm burning in need!"

Nicholas put himself between his boyfriend's thighs and whispered the cleaning and lubricating spells.

"Yes!" Fred moaned as he felt his ass becoming slick. He touched Nick's hard chest, pulling him on top of him. "You're so freaking sexy. Take me, Nicky!"

Nicholas groaned, "You have no idea what your begging does to me, Red." He rubbed the head of his dick against Fred's balls, going down slowly.

Fred fisted his hands on Nick's hair and pulled him down for a kiss.

Nicholas let him control the kiss for a moment, but then forced him into the submission he craved as his dick slid inside Fred's ass and he took control of their kissing.

"Fucking tight ass." Nick groaned as he watched his lover arch and moan under him, he pressed right on his prostate on his way in and heard him gasp as his cock twitched between them and Fred quickly painted both their stomachs with cum.

"Losing control on my cock, Red?" He hissed.

"Yes!" Fred moaned. "Don't stop, Nicky! Take me! Fill me up with cum!"

Nicholas moaned as those words filled his ears and his cock was squeezed by Fred's tight and slick ass.

"I love you, Fred." He murmured, kissing his lips.

"I love you, Nicky! Just don't stop! Oh, please! Don't ever stop fucking me!" he wrapped his arms and legs around his boyfriend.

"You're smelling so fucking nice, Red." Nick growled, licking Fred's neck, shoulder and nipples as he pounded into the man under him, watching him tremble and arch. "Tell me you're mine, babe."

"All yours." He moaned, digging his nails on his back. "Fuck me, Nicky!"

"Cum for me again, love." Nick ordered, never missing his lover's pleasure spot.

Fred screamed as his cock spurted a second time without being touched.

Nick couldn't hold back anymore, he got as deep as possible and filled his ass with his seed, his orgasm lasting longer than it had ever before, his vision turning black as he panted and grunted against his lover's chest.

"Don't pull out." Fred begged, tightening his arms and legs around Nick. "Stay inside of me." He moaned. "I missed you, Nicky."

Nicholas kissed him slowly, savouring the feeling of having his beloved in his arms once more.

"I love you, Fred. Please tell me you still wanna marry me."

Fred chuckled, the movement pushing some of Nick's seed out of his sore ass and he winced.

"Yes, Nicholas, I love you and will marry you."

"Thankgoodness." He whispered, slowly getting his dick out of his body and murmuring a healing spell to help him with the soreness.

Nick kneeled on the bed and removed the ring he had on his finger.

"Here, this is the one I bought for you. I've been wearing it myself..."

Fred sat up and did the same, taking off the ring he had on his own finger and reaching it out to Nicholas.

"It seems we had the same idea, for this is yours."

They exchanged the rings and made love once more, before getting up and dressed amongst kisses and touches.

Back at the backyard party

"Hey, look." Said Elizabeth, smiling. "Nick and Fred are here."

Florence looked at the two young men walking hand-in-hand and sighed in relief. "And don't they look happy." She said with a smile.

Severus sarcastically added: "Great."

Florence slapped his arm and Tonks looked at her with interest.

"I need to see you doing that again, when he looks like himself. Please." Begged the auror.

Florence laughed. "Of course, Tonks. It'll be my pleasure to hit him as you watch."

Remus blushed at her choice of words.

"Liz," Severus turned to his daughter. "Do you want to dance?"

"Yay! Of course, dad!"

And they went to the dancefloor.

"I'll go talk to Madame Maxime, excuse me." Said Florence, getting up and walking towards the female half-giant.

Tonks stared at Snape and Elizabeth with an incredulous expression.

"What's wrong, Dora?" asked Remus.

"Love, if I got up and told everybody that that man there, dancing with that beautiful girl, is Snape and that he has kids with her..." She pointed Florence who was talking animatedly to Madam Maxime at another table.

Remus chuckled, "Everybody would agree that you've drunk one too many, my love." he nodded, understanding her incredulity.

Meanwhile, in the Weasley's garage

James pushed Hermione against the wall and caressed down her curves, grabbing her ass with both hands, watching her tremble.

"I miss you, kitten."

"Stop it, Jamie." Hermione moaned, trying to push him away, but closing her eyes at the delicious feeling of having his hands on her again.

"Not even if I could, love." he magically tied her hands over her head and tried to kiss her lips, but she turned her head to the side.

He stopped touching her and exhaled.

"Tell me no, Hermione. If you honestly don't want my kisses and touches, just tell me and I'll stop."

She looked from his eyes to his wet lips, down his body dressed in a sexy dark blue suit, and she bit her bottom lip, realizing she wasn't strong enough to tell him 'no'.

James waited, but when Hermione didn't say anything, he groaned in need and kissed her neck, touching his lips to her ear: "You know what you just did, kitten? You've just given yourself to me. And you remember exactly how generously I repay that gift, don't you?"

She let out a soft: "Yes, Jamie."

"Fucking missed you... I can't stop thinking about you, kitten. I can't walk into the library without getting a hard on. I look at the lab worktable and all I can think of is you on your back, moaning as I fuck you."

She bit her lip to stop the moan that wanted to get out. He was using the alluring tone of voice he'd inherited from his father to make her crave him even more.

"I don't even remember any of that." Hermione lied, trying to sound like she hadn't enjoyed their love-making that much.

James chuckled, knowing she was just trying to hurt his feelings. He fisted a hand in her hair and tugged, forcing her to look at his face.

"Let me refresh your memory, then."

And he kissed her deeply, his tongue invading her mouth without waiting for an invitation; he just took, owning her mouth, her body completely melting against him.

"I'm taking you right here, Mione." James whispered, keeping her trapped between him and the wall.

"If you let my hands go I'll hex you, James." She threatened him.

"No. You won't. You want me as much as I want you." He kissed her again. "There's an explanation for what happened, trust me, kitten. I'll tell you all about it, afterwards. I need you first. I can't even think straight..." he divestoed them both, their clothes reappearing on a chair nearby. "I need you." He groaned, hoisting her up and rubbing his dick on her pussy. "Fucking dripping, love."

Hermione gasped at the sudden feeling of his fully naked body against her equally naked one; all she could do was moan while he rubbed against her,

"Fuck me, Jamie."

"Yes." He hissed. "Call me like that again; beg me, kitten."

"I need that thick cock inside of me, Jamie! Please." She moaned as he pressed in, "Fuck, yeah." She exhaled, her mouth forming an 'oh' as he impaled her with his cock, not stopping until he was balls-deep inside her body.

He moved half-way out and slammed inside hard a couple of times, watching her face contorting in pleasure as small moans and whimpers left her lips.

"Aah, fuck, Jamie!" she suddenly screamed and clamped on his dick.

"Fuck, you're cumming already! So fucking delicious..." he growled as she just moaned loudly, her channel clenching on his dick nonstop.

"You're so tight, love." He groaned. "Fucking dripping and so... hot." He felt his eyes roll up inside their sockets from all the pleasure. "I won't fucking last." He moaned, holding her ass tightly, fighting to not cum. He stopped deep inside of her, panting. "Don't hex me, kitten." He whispered as he let her hands go from the biding spell. "I want you to touch me."

Hermione was too lost in the pleasure he was giving her to even remember a proper hex, she held on to his shoulders, fisting both hands in his long hair and kissing his lips desperately as he resumed fucking her body.

James grinded his hips and slapped her ass a couple of times and she was screaming again. Her orgasm triggering his this time and he shot thick ropes of cum deep inside of her clenching pussy.

They moaned softly and shared a passionate kiss as their breaths returned to their normal rate.

"I love you, kitten. And I fucking miss you."

Hermione caressed his hair, feeling her bottom lip trembling as she forced her mouth shut to not admit that she loved and missed him too.

James slowly let her legs down and scourgifyied their bodies, magically dressing them both up again.

She leaned against the wall, still panting a little, looking at him with tears in her amber eyes.

"Did I hurt you, Mione?" he asked, worrying about why she looked like she was about to cry.

She shook her head and closed her eyes briefly, making the tears fall out of her eyes.

"Speak, James." She whispered. "You said there's an explanation."

He nodded. "Uncle Albus was cursed and dying. Mom tried to save him but... not even she could do anything."

Hermione frowned. "His hand?"

"Yes. So they came up with a plan and that plan consisted of dad killing Dumbledore before the curse did."

"To solidify his position with You-know-who."

James nodded again, eyeing her apprehensively, for Hermione still frowned at him.

"That's it?" She asked. "Your father killed a dying man to make You-know-who believe he is fully committed to his cause?"

"Yes." He watched, in confusion, as she got even angrier.

"And why, James," Hermione said, furiously. "WHY THE FUCK didn't you tell me that two months ago?" she shouted, pushing him with both hands. "Why wait all this time? Do you have any idea the HELL I've been through because of YOU?"

"I do! I was suffering too, kitten!"

"NO! I HAD NO ONE! I watched them pack and leave and..." Her voice broke from the memory of seeing her parents happily planning their new life without her.

Then James realized what she meant: "Fuck, Hermione. You did it: you obliviated your parents."

"Yes!" she sobbed. "And you... you weren't by my side! You... arsehole! You idiot!" she pushed him again and again until he held her tightly in his arms and let her cry against his chest.

"I'm here now, love." He whispered, his heart breaking for her. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"Don't make me break up with you ever again, Jamie. Please." She begged against his neck.

He chuckled. "I won't love." He touched her hair, kissing her forehead. "I'm getting you a ring, Hermione."

She looked up at him, seeing he was serious: "I'd like that." She nodded. "But you better improve your proposing skills, James. Throwing a ring at me, or putting it on my finger while I sleep, will just have me transfigurate it into a bludger and make it follow you."

He laughed and kissed her again, thinking to himself that he had to be crazy for he had missed even her threats; then he buried his nose in her hair and sighed, allowing himself to relax at the feeling of having his arms filled by her once more.

Florence saw James and Hermione walk back into the party and go straight to the beverage table. Then James pulled his girlfriend to the dancefloor and the girl giggled, looking up at him obviously drunk in love.

Tonks chuckled: "They could at least try to hide it."

"Stupid teenagers." Said Severus, annoyed. "He might as well fuck her on the dancefloor."

"Well, dad." Said Elizabeth, looking at her brother and Hermione with longing. "It doesn't look like she'd put up much of a fight if he really tried to fuck her right there." her eyes showing she was a little too interested on that idea for her father's comfort.

Florence laughed, It seems we finally found one thing I have in common with Elizabeth: public sex.

Severus looked at his wife, furious, before he scolded his daughter:

"Elizabeth!" he hissed. "You shouldn't be having such thoughts!"

"Mom enjoys it." She shrugged. "I probably inherited a voyeuristic gene from her."

And her words had three out of the four adults around that table nearly choking on their drinks.

Nymphadora looked from the Snape couple to her boyfriend, confused by their reaction; then she replayed what the girl had said and gasped as she realized why her boyfriend looked as embarrassed as the Snapes.

"Remus?" Tonks cleared her throat. "Can you tell me what's this all about?" she pointed at them.

He blushed as he glanced from Severus to Tonks. "I... I just watched them, Dora. He made me!"

Severus arched an eyebrow: "This again? You were never tied down!"

Florence looked at her daughter and they just laughed.

Tonks looked as amused as them –completely forgetting who she was sitting with.

But then something suddenly changed and Severus got serious.

"What is it, Sev?" Florence murmured.

"My Mark just burned. They'll be here soon. Once the protections are broken you two have to get out of here." he ordered his wife and daughter.

"But…"

"No 'buts', Florence!" Then he added through their bond: You're the new Minister after tomorrow! And I don't want Liz in the middle of what's going to happen here. Prisoners will be taken. his tone brimming with meaning.

Florence nodded, understanding that tortures, rapes and death were about to ruin that beautiful party.

James saw when his father changed his demeanour.

"Hermione, love, I need you to listen to me: the Ministry of Magic is under attack as we speak. Scrimgeour has probably been killed already and they'll soon attack here."

"What?" She whispered, her mind too relaxed to quickly understand that he was talking war.

"Take Potter and leave. Be safe, my love. And, no matter what happens next: remember that I love you."

"What happens next? What else are you hiding from me, James?" she frowned.

"Can't say right now. But you'll soon know." He kissed her once more. "Don't forget I love you."

Nick felt his brother's nervousness through their bond and whispered in Fred's ear: "The Ministry has fallen, babe. Get your family and leave." He kissed his surprised face.

"What...?"

"No matter what happens next: I love you, Fred – and you're marrying me." He kissed Fred's engagement ring, smiling. "I never understood why my father did that. Now I do. I love you, Red."

Fred pulled him to another kiss and then they heard a loud explosion followed by screams.

"The death eaters are here! Run, love! Disapparate!" Nick kissed him once more before disapparating himself.

Hours later

When the Death Eaters finally left, the Burrow was destroyed beyond repair.

Molly Weasley cried in her husband's arms. "What will we do now, Arthur?"

"I don't know, dear." He shook his head, crying alongside her.

"Where will we all go?" she cried.

"You can come to my house, Molly." said a slightly wounded Remus. "My parents left me a good house. It's not huge, but it has enough rooms so that you'll all stay comfortable."

"Thank you, Remus!" Molly hugged the werewolf. "I promise to cook and take care of your home as if it were mine."

"You're more than welcome to take over, Molly." He smiled. "No one has cooked a full meal in that kitchen since my mom died."

"It'll be my pleasure, Remus. Thank you for your kindness."

Remus' house did need some adjustments but, within two days, everybody was comfortably settled. His house became the Weasleys' new home and also the new Order of the Phoenix Headquarters.