After hearing her brothers tell them what had happened earlier that night, Elizabeth watched them leave the room and she didn't know what to think.
The war could finally be reaching an end, but that didn't mean their lives would go back to normal.
No.
It meant that their worst nightmare was just beginning; they'd live under her grandfather's control and without their father – and maybe without their mother – to protect them.
The twins had left the door open on their way out and Elizabeth found herself walking down the corridor, looking for her father's room.
However, as she reached the threshold, she was taken by surprise by the presence of a very familiar energy.
Draco? She asked, using their bond.
And, at first, she thought it hadn't worked, that their connection wasn't strong enough yet to allow for that type of communication.
But then she heard him: Liz? Where are you, love?
She gasped and followed her intuition, nearly running towards a room on that same floor and opening the door.
Her breath nearly stopped as she saw her boyfriend sitting on a bed. And as her eyes moved over him, she gasped softly, taking in Draco's bruised face and the white bandage around his head.
"Oh, Dray." She whispered, sitting beside him on the bed and pulling him into a hug.
He smiled, "I must've hit my head too hard, I'm seeing angels now."
Liz chuckled and shook her head at his corniness; but when his arms closed around her and he kissed her forehead just like her father sometimes did, she found it impossible to control her tears any longer.
Draco held her more tightly, "What happened, love? Why are you here?" his voice heavy with concern as he tried to understand why she'd gone to headquarters.
"My dad." She whispered, sniffling. "Nagini bit him."
"Fuck." Draco cursed, pulling her towards his chest, holding her as she cried. "I had no idea! I passed out during the battle and woke up here." He gulped. "Is he...?"
She slowly nodded, "Yes, Jamie said he is dying." She paused, her throat constricting due to the pain. "And..." she whispered. "He won't go alone, you know. My mom won't last much afterwards..."
Draco felt his heart breaking, realizing his girlfriend wouldn't just be losing her dad – but both her parents and maybe even the siblings her mother was expecting as well. He just held her and let her cry against his chest, offering his comfort in her time of hopelessness.
Five hours later, inside the room across the hallway
Florence woke up after a deep sleep, feeling nauseated and with a terrible headache. She rolled over on the bed and bumped into someone's body – a cold body.
"Severus..." she whispered, quickly turning her head to look at her husband, as memories from the previous night filled her mind, her veela whimpering in fear inside her mind, while tears flooded her eyes once more.
"Sev, listen to me." She touched both hands to his face. "Please. Stay with me, my love, don't..." her voice breaking as the knot in her throat made it hard to breathe or swallow. "Don't leave me, Sev. Please..." She kissed his cold lips, thinking what else she could do to try and heal him.
She knew it wasn't impossible to survive Nagini's bite – Arthur Weasley had survived it a couple of years ago. But the venom hadn't entered his bloodstream in the same way that it had entered Severus', therefore it hadn't caused the severity of damages she could see in her husband's organs.
She slowly sat up on the bed, touching her belly and feeling the twins move.
Thankgoodness you two are ok. She thought to the babies; for she knew that what she had done was risky – giving blood when pregnant was a very dangerous thing, but she'd never let her husband die when she had a way to help him live.
She looked around the dimly lit room, the curtains were closed but she could see that the sun hadn't risen yet. The only light inside the room was from a lampshade on the nightstand, the long shadows cast by it making the space very comfortable to sleep in.
Florence turned to the right and saw one of the twins sleeping on an armchair near the bed. "Nick." she called.
"Mom!" Nicholas woke up startled and rose from the armchair, sitting on the bed beside her. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm alive." She replied, retrieving her wand from the nightstand and pointing it at her husband.
Nick saw how she grimaced as she stopped the diagnosis spell and touched her forehead to his father's.
"Mom," Nick whispered. "How much time does dad have?"
"I don't know, Nick." She replied softly, shaking her head. "His heart and lungs are damaged... you gave him the Golden Potion?"
"Yes. And the Dittany, like you told us to..." he hesitated. "Poppy mentioned some damage to his nervous system. She couldn't be sure though."
Florence frowned and cast the diagnosis spell on her husband again. "There was some," she nodded. "but the potions have healed that."
"So he'll survive?" Nicholas whispered, hopeful.
Florence's bottom lip trembled, her hand caressing Severus' dark strands idly, and when she spoke her voice was weak and heavy with emotion: "Remember when Jamie was poisoned and you couldn't sense him?"
"Yes." Nick nodded apprehensively.
"Well," she whispered, touching her husband's face. "I can't sense Severus through our bond anymore. It's like... he's not there." She finished in a broken whisper.
Nick remembered how that felt: as if a hole had been torn in his soul, like he'd never be whole again.
Florence kissed Severus' lips, feeling him exhaling slowly, Come on, Sev. We haven't gotten this far for you to die on me. And she was crying against his chest again.
"Mrs. Snape." Suddenly they heard someone calling from the door.
Florence raised her head, seeing Draco by the door, his face bruised, eyes tormented – and by his side stood Elizabeth.
"Liz!" Florence gasped, getting up and hugging her daughter, surprised to see her there.
"I brought the others here." Explained Nicholas. "Poppy said they deserved to see dad." One last time. He finished in his mind, unable to say that out loud.
"How's dad, mom?" Liz asked, glancing at the bed, "Jamie said he's... dying..."
"Yes, love." She touched her daughter's arms, lovingly. "He's unresponsive... I'm afraid it won't be long now."
Elizabeth let out a painful sob and walked towards the bed.
"Draco." Florence looked at him, pulling him into an embrace. "How are you, dear?"
"Still in pain…" he murmured. "But Mrs. Weasley has helped me and Madam Pomfrey has given me some potions."
"Good." Florence looked into his eyes, "And who attacked you, Draco?"
"My father." He looked down, his blue eyes shiny from tears and pain. "He… tortured me before he left the house."
"What? Why?"
"He was hitting my mother and I put myself between them. He hit me and cast a few Cruciatus… then he left and ordered me to go to him when he called. I heard him telling my mother he hoped I'd die in battle."
"That's horrible, dear."
"During the battle, I fainted when trying to cast spells, I guess my body couldn't take it anymore." he began to cry. "I don't want to go back home, please. Let me stay with you."
"Of course, Draco." She hugged him again. "You'll stay here with us, dear. Don't worry."
"We have to rescue my mom, Mrs. Snape." There was emergency in his voice. "He'll end up killing her."
"Yes. We'll find a way to get Cissy." Florence kissed his forehead. "Now, you go back to your room and lie down. You need to rest."
Then another female voice was heard: "Preaching what you don't follow, Florence?"
It was Pomfrey, walking into the room looking equal parts angry and worried.
Florence closed her eyes briefly, "Hi, Poppy."
Then she heard yet another familiar female voice: "Flor?" and Eileen appeared at the door.
Florence looked at her godmother and broke down, throwing herself in her arms and sobbing, "He's dying, godmother!"
"James told us, dear." Eileen whispered, looking at the bed and noticing her son looked half-dead already. "He's strong. Have faith, maybe he'll..." she tried to comfort her.
But Florence shook her head. "No, I can't sense him anymore... I don't think..." her voice broke and she stopped talking, feeling Eileen's arms closing around her.
Pomfrey's eyes met Eileen's over Florence's shoulder and they shared a deeply sad gaze, they'd both watched Florence and Severus become a couple and grow together throughout the years – and now they were witnessing what seemed to be the end of that beautiful story.
"Florence." Pomfrey called firmly. "You can't follow him!"
Florence turned to look at her, disheartened. "I don't know what will happen to me the moment his heart stops beating, Poppy. Literatures say–"
Pomfrey cut her off angrily: "Do not quote literature to me now! No literature has ever covered what would happen to a surviving side of a bonded pair when she's half-veela and daughter of the most powerful wizard to have ever lived!! You must think of your babies! You've carried them up to here, you're not giving up on them now!"
Florence closed her eyes and nodded, knowing her fellow mediwitch was right, but all she felt like doing was curl up on that bed with her husband and wait for death to claim them both.
She walked towards Elizabeth, embracing her daughter with one arm, while checking on Severus' vital signs again.
"No changes." Florence whispered, being hugged by her godmother.
"Florence." Said Pomfrey, maintaining her angry tone, "Molly is making some nutritious meat stew for all the injured. I want you downstairs eating at least one full plate of it."
"I don't want to go downstairs, Poppy." Florence shook her head. "I bet there are many down there just waiting for Sev to die so they can celebrate it."
Suddenly Florence heard other voices she hadn't been expecting to hear:
"No one is going to celebrate shit!" growled Christopher.
"We'll go downstairs with you, mommy." said Sophie, following her brother.
Florence gasped and walked towards her kids, "Oh, my babies." She whispered, hugging them tightly.
"Let's go, mom." Insisted Nicholas. "You need to eat."
"I'll stay here with Severus." Offered Pomfrey.
Florence hesitated, not wanting to be away from her husband in case he woke up or took his last breath.
"I'll stay here too, Flor." Said Eileen, noticing her apprehension. "You go down there and eat. For the babies."
Florence reluctantly nodded then and walked downstairs with her kids.
"Where's James?" she asked Nick. "I haven't seen him since I woke up."
Nicholas and Liz exchanged a worried look and she said: "He's with Mione."
"Is she alright?" Florence frowned.
"You'd better ask her that, mom." added Nick.
Florence was suddenly worried by that talk, so when they reached the living and dining space downstairs, she immediately looked for her eldest son, finding him at the table, sitting beside Hermione.
Everyone stopped talking as they saw Florence and her kids standing in the living room.
Remus, Harry and a blond girl Florence recognized as Luna Lovegood walked towards her, the werewolf pulling Florence into a hug.
"How is he, Flor?"
"It's bad, Moony." Florence replied, trying not to break down again.
He looked at her with compassion, "I'm here for you, dear."
"Thanks, my friend."
Harry hugged her next.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Harry." Florence said.
"I'm sorry this is happening…" he said, crying. "No one saw the snake, it was only when he began speaking Parseltongue that we saw her and... I'm really sorry."
"I understand. And this is not your fault, dear." she tried to comfort him.
"I don't want him to die." he cried, shaking his head. "He could have been like a father to me…" he hugged her once more.
"Thanks for your words." Florence whispered, wiping her own tears away.
Next, Luna held Florence's hands and looked at her with her big blue eyes, "Don't lose hope, Madam Snape. You're attracting many blue-iris fireflies." At everyone's sudden look of confusion, the girl explained: "They're known for being an omen of a better future."
Florence just nodded, clearly seeing the girl had a good heart and only meant to make her feel better.
Then James was beside her, Hermione in front of him.
"I've always admired Prof. Snape." The girl murmured. "He doesn't deserve this. He saved me from…" and the sobs stopped her from talking any longer.
Florence frowned, hugging Hermione for a moment and looking at James, "I still don't know what exactly happened..."
"We can tell you while you eat." Said Nick.
Then Florence felt a hand on her arm and turned to look at Molly and Fleur, both looking like they had been crying.
"I wish you strength, cousine." Fleur whispered as she hugged her. "My 'usband iz everything to me, I can't imagine your pain."
"Thanks, Fleur."
Then Molly was speaking: "I don't know what to say to you, Florence. I have no idea what I'd do if I lost Arthur – I remember how terrified I felt when he was attacked."
"Thank you, Molly." Florence forced a weak smile. "Pomfrey mentioned you were making some stew."
"Yes, dear. Grab a seat. I can see you're pregnant, you shouldn't be on your feet for too long. Food will be ready soon."
Florence silently nodded and sat at the big table, her children near her, little Sophie by her side.
"So?" she asked her twins. "What exactly happened at the battlefield?"
"The fight was pretty brutal, lots of werewolves arrived with grandfather." Started Nicholas. "But everything turned for the worse when Hermione and Tonks were taken hostages by Malfoy and Greyback."
Florence looked around, realizing she hadn't seen the female auror; so she turned to Remus, "Is Tonks hurt?"
"No. She's just resting. Pomfrey gave her some sleeping draught. She'll be out for a few more hours."
Then Florence looked at Hermione. "And are you ok, dear?"
"Yes. Now I am." Hermione smiled at James, who held her hand and kissed her engagement ring.
That sweet action had Florence averting her eyes, her heart clenching at the realization that she might never have that again – her husband, her soul-mate, was dying upstairs. She had the sudden need to get up and go back to his side.
"Mom." James called her, noticing she had spaced out.
Then she cleared her throat, looking at him and at the others. "So? What happened?"
"Mione and Tonks were being held and then Grandfather threatened to..." Nick paused, looking at his twin, clearly wanting him to continue the story.
"To what?" insisted Florence, looking at James as well.
"To take her right there." James finally replied, the anger heavy in his voice.
Florence froze for a moment, "Did he?"
"No." Hermione whispered, shaking her head.
"That's when dad intervened." Explained James, pulling Hermione closer.
"Thankgoodness." Florence finished in a whisper, feeling the constriction around her chest getting worse. "Severus would've never allowed that to happen, dear." she felt her heart racing, breathing becoming hard, the beginning symptoms of a panic attack taking over her; I shouldn't be down here, I should go back upstairs. She glanced at the stairs and got ready to get up.
But Nicholas realized her intention and held her hand before she could stand up. "Mom, you have to eat."
She closed her eyes briefly and took a few deep breaths, before nodding and looking down at the table for a moment.
"So," James continued, "Grandfather had already ripped Mione' clothes but before he could do anything to her, dad Stupefied him and I apparated here with her." He looked at Nick, letting him know he should continue.
And Nicholas did: "Then grandfather seemed momentarily surprised by our true allegiance before he started explaining how he would kill dad to make you go after him in anger and that..." he hesitated, remembering how angry he'd felt then. "He'd keep you alive until the babies were born."
"He said," added Harry, "That he'd raise them under discipline and order and they'd be unstoppable."
"Then Nagini attacked dad." Finished Nick.
A heavy silence followed and Molly Weasley floated several full plates to the table; they all started eating in silence.
Florence's mind was back in the room upstairs after hearing all that had happened, her worried and angry veela pushing her to go back to Severus' side.
All of a sudden a well-known voice was unexpectedly heard coming from the living room: "What's happening here?"
Florence raised her head quickly and looked around the table finding equally surprised eyes.
"Did you hear that too?" she asked; and everybody nodded. Then she stood up and turned to look around the room, scanning each one of the paintings in there.
And then she saw him: "Dumbledore." she said, looking at the old Headmaster in one of the paintings that were near the fireplace. "What are you doing here?" Florence didn't even try to hide the anger and the pain in her voice.
"The death eaters in the castle," started Dumbledore. "won't talk about anything but last night's battle. I heard one say that..." his blue eyes fell on Florence. "That Severus is dead. Is that true?"
His question only made Florence angrier, so much so that she shouted: "As if you care!"
"I do care, my dear girl, and you know it." replied the Headmaster.
"Dad's dying." explained James. "And there's nothing we can do."
"What happened?" Dumbledore asked, frowning.
"Nagini bit him." Nicholas answered.
"Ah," the old man nodded. "So Severus' cover was blown."
"Yes." confirmed Florence, wiping the tears off her face. "His heart won't beat much longer." She put a hand over her own chest. "I can feel it."
"Oh, no." Dumbledore said, looking truly heartbroken. "No, we can't have that. I told you once, Florence..."
"It doesn't matter what you said!" She shouted. "He's dying! And there's nothing I can do!"
Dumbledore looked at her with compassion, it was clear that being unable to save her husband was affecting Florence heavily, "I can see you're desperate and tired, dear… and I know that I am somewhat at fault here – after all I've made Severus and you do. That's why I ask you to accept a gift."
"Shove it, Albus!" Florence growled.
"A gift?" asked Elizabeth. "Will it save dad, uncle Albus?"
"Yes, my dear Liz, most certainly. You see, before I died, I asked Minerva to do something for me… I told her I knew my death was close and I blamed that feeling on my blackened hand. So I asked her to collect something for me when that happened. I asked her to keep it and never mention its existence to anyone." His eyes turned to one of the twins. "James, Minerva is in her office right now. Go there and ask her to give you what she's collected. Go, now!"
"How will she believe me?" asked James.
"No one else knows about it but Minerva and I." replied the Headmaster.
James nodded and left through the floo, calling for McGonagall's office.
"I sincerely hope that the Snape family still has lots of reasons to celebrate once this nightmare is over, Florence." Dumbledore said. "The love between you and Severus is one of the brightest lights of hope in this war."
Florence sat back at the table and focused on her plate again, silent.
Less than ten minutes later, James was back with a small wooden box in his hands.
Florence frowned, recognizing that box: she had seen it on top of Dumbledore's desk when she had gone to the castle to talk to McGonagall after his death.
"In that box," explained Dumbledore. "You'll find a small vial. Make your husband drink what's in that vial."
"What is it?" Florence asked, curious.
"You'll know." Dumbledore said, enigmatically, before leaving the painting.
"He wouldn't poison dad, would he?" Asked Nick, concerned.
"No, he just likes to be all mysterious to piss me off." Florence stood up and took the box from James' hands, going upstairs
Elizabeth walked by her mother's side; James followed with Sophie in his arms and Nicholas right behind then holding Christopher's hand.
They entered the room where Severus lay on the bed and Florence felt her veela whimper again at the sight of him looking so weak and hurt.
"Thanks for staying here, Poppy." Florence said, stopping beside the bed, touching his face.
"Did she eat?" Pomfrey asked James.
"Yes, she did."
"Nick, Jamie," called Florence. "Hold your father up so I can make him drink whatever this is."
The boys obeyed and she opened the box, retrieving the small vial from it. The liquid in it was transparent.
"What is it?" asked Nick.
Florence unstoppered the vial and its contents became instantly golden, at the same time that a low and brief cry filled the room.
"Fawkes…" Florence murmured.
"Is that… phoenix tears?" asked James.
"Not just that." answered Florence, realizing what she had in her hands: "These are the last tears Fawkes cried when her owner died. There are many legends about this… some people call it the Resurrection Elixir." Florence tipped Severus' face up and held his mouth open, carefully pouring the golden liquid into his mouth, massaging his throat to ensure he swallowed all of it.
Everybody stood still, watching the man on the bed, expecting something to happen.
But ten minutes went by and nothing changed.
"It didn't work." Florence whispered, "The tears are supposed to have immediate effect, but they can't work if he's already..." she closed her eyes, the pain of what that meant threatening to suffocate her.
She lay beside her husband on the bed, closing her eyes, her hand on his chest, feeling it move up and down so slowly that from afar one would say he wasn't breathing at all.
Liz, Chris and Sophie lay down on the bed on the other side of their father, while Nick transfigurated an armchair into a sofa, pushing it close to the bed and sitting with Eileen and James – each teen on either side on their grandmother – and Pomfrey stood near the foot of the bed.
They waited in silence as the minutes went by and nothing changed regarding the pale man on the bed.
One hour later, Florence finally gathered enough courage to speak what everybody was thinking: "This is it... he won't last much longer now." Her voice breaking as she murmured those words.
Eileen held Nicholas and James' hands and closed her eyes, crying as she watched Florence lay her head on Severus' chest, fisting her left hand on his torn and stained shirt, the ring with the Prince Family crest shining on her finger – reminding Eileen of when her own mother suffered her father's death.
After a while, Florence's sobs stopped, letting them all know she'd fallen asleep.
"What now, Poppy?" James asked the mediwitch that stood quietly near them.
"Now we wait."
Note: Wow! Sooo sad. But have I mentioned the ending is happy? Cause it is, so don't fret.