June 1978
19 weeks pregnant
After another week resting at Eileen's, Florence went back to Hogwarts to sit the N.E.W.T.s.
First day of N.E.W.T.s
Potions, Ancient Runes, Alchemy, Herbology and Arithmancy
Severus glanced at Florence more than once in every exam, her magic calling to his in that strange mesmerizing way that he knew now had to do with her pregnancy.
He wanted to hold her, make sure she was alright – the need to look after her was almost unbearable.
Apparently it doesn't matter for the Enchantment that the babies she carries aren't mine, I feel protective of her anyway. He bitterly concluded, as he walked past her desk once he finished his Ancient Runes exam.
Florence finished all of her tests of the day before five p.m. and walked to the Gryffindor Tower.
After getting herself in – under the usual reproachful gaze of the Fat Lady – she waited for her boyfriend in one of the armchairs by the window; the heat of the day, added to the emotional distress of seeing Severus but not being able to get close to him, was taking its toll on her pregnant body.
She ended up falling asleep as she waited for Sirius.
"Flor, love," Sirius touched her face, waking her up.
"Hi, Padfoot..." she yawned and stretched, "Where's everybody?"
He seemed concerned, "We'll meet Remus, Lily and James at the Great Hall. I have something to tell you, so I asked them to go ahead."
She frowned at his seriousness, "What is it? What happened?"
"It's about Regulus..."
"Right," she nodded, "I haven't seen him all day. He should be here taking his O.W.L.s..."
"He's dead," whispered Sirius.
"What?" Florence felt her heart skip a beat, as she recalled seeing him about two weeks ago at the Slytherin Quidditch Cup celebration, "How? When?"
"I don't have the details, my parents didn't tell me, Dumbledore was the one who told me. Reggie went missing last week. He asked to go home claiming a family emergency. He made Kreacher take him somewhere and never came back."
She tilted her head, "Why don't you just make Kreacher talk?" it seemed obvious.
"Regulus ordered the elf to never speak of it," Sirius sighed heavily, "All I was able to gather is that he went on a mission for Voldemort."
"How do you know about that?"
"Snivellus. I asked him if he knew anything. He said Voldemort told his followers that Regulus won't be joining them ever again."
Florence's bottom lip trembled and she looked at the window.
Regulus was her friend, he was a pure-blooded wizard, from a rich family – and now he was dead.
What if Severus is next?
She couldn't control the tears that came, the anxiety and the hormones playing havoc on her emotions.
Sirius held her as she cried, thinking she was crying for his dead brother.
She let him think that was the only reason.
Second, and last, day of N.E.W.T.s
Defence Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Charms and Transfiguration
Everything was going great so far. Florence was confident she was doing well on all of her exams. But she was tired of being inside the castle, her heart heavy with the loss of her childhood friend and her fear for Severus.
It was a beautiful day outside so, between the Charms and Transfiguration exams, she went for a walk by the lake, thinking that the fresh air would do her and the babies good.
She was sitting on the grass, reading a book under a tree, enjoying the nice breeze, when someone called her:
"Delacour!"
She let out an annoyed sigh, not looking up from her book, "What do you want, Cassiopeia?"
Rosmerta got immediately riled up by her using that name, but ignored it for she seemed to have a bigger plan: "Have you heard the news?"
"No, I haven't," she replied in a bored voice, "But I am sure you're about to cure me of my ignorance."
"Severus and I, we are a couple now. So you better keep your distance!"
"I don't know what exactly is your problem, but..." Florence stared at Rosmerta then, "I've been dating Sirius for months. I have not even talked to Severus for a long time. Why are you here, really?"
"Just warning you away from my Severus."
"Duly noted," Florence said with a smile, although the veela inside of her was growling, not liking the fact that some other woman was claiming her mate, "But, you know, I also have a warning to give you," she added: "Enjoy your boyfriend while you can. Regulus is dead already. Severus could be next."
"And if I happen to be the next," she heard his voice before she saw him get near them, "I believe that's none of your business, Delacour."
Florence looked at Severus, noticing the way he stopped beside Rosmerta and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to his chest.
And, for the first time ever, the veela in Florence's mind stopped thirsting after him and whimpered in pain.
He frowned, and Florence thought he might have heard it too, but she ignored her pain for a moment, "You're absolutely right, Severus," she even managed to smile, "Don't expect to see a single tear from me, for this is exactly what you wished for," she got up and walked to the castle, refusing to cry in front of them.
Severus watched her go towards the castle, knowing he hadn't imagined the painful whimper he had heard.
Apparently, the veela was more connected to Florence's feelings than he had thought and she had just made it clear how deeply he had hurt her.
Delacour Manor
After her last exam, Florence flooed home.
She should've gone to Eileen's but the last thing she wanted that day was to sleep in Severus' room.
Her house-elf, Melody, prepared a delicious dinner for her and helped her choose the dress she was going to wear the next evening at the End of Term Ball – the last one she'd attend as a student.
The next morning, Florence was awakened by a very angry Tiffany who hadn't been happy to learn her Mistress had gone home and not called her.
End of the Term Ball
For the seventh-years, that would be their last night in the castle as students – and some of them would be either marked by Voldemort or dead by the same time next year.
Florence stared at her own reflection in her bathroom mirror, the one-shoulder dark green dress she was wearing hugged her curves perfectly, showing off her five-month, beautifully round, pregnant belly – she looked and felt gorgeous.
I wish Severus could see me like this. She thought, before casting the glamour spell that would hide her belly from the world.
Then she finished her hair and make up and walked out of the bathroom, putting on her shoes and flooing to Hogwarts.
She looks beautiful.
It was all Severus' enamoured mind could come up with as he watched Florence walking into the Great Hall with Sirius Black; he knew she had to be using a spell to hide her swollen stomach – and he wished he could see her without the glamour one more time.
Earlier, he had seen her through their bond, the expensive-looking dark-green dress she was wearing showcasing her round belly beautifully.
He was finishing getting dressed when that imagine of her came to his mind, torturing him with what he had lost.
He saw her take a glass of water from Black's hand and Lupin brought her food.
Jealousy had Severus' blood boiling; he retrieved a silver flask from inside his fancy coat and sipped, the expensive firewhisky going down his throat and pleasantly warming up his constricted chest.
He wanted to carry Florence away from that party, kiss her, take that dress off her body and caress her swollen belly – worship her like the goddess she was.
He took another sip of the firewhisky, his heart clenching as he remembered he hadn't been the one who put those babies in her.
After dinner, music started to play, and Rosmerta tried to pull Severus to the dance floor, but he refused to go, so she went dancing with her friends.
He picked up the silver flask again, watching Florence dancing with Black.
The mutt held her close, then made her twirl; he said something in her ear and she laughed. There was no doubt that she was happy with him.
Severus drank some more from his flask, forcing himself to watch his nightmare happening before his eyes as a personal punishment.
She twirled again but suddenly grabbed both of Black's arms, looking pale and shaky.
He controlled his urge to run there and pick her up in his arms; he saw the dog walk her back to their table, where she sat on a chair, then Black kissed her lips before going to get her some more cold water.
Severus tried to ignore their happiness and focus on his own future, on the fact that he had finished Hogwarts and would be starting his Potions studies soon.
But as he watched Black taking care of Florence, he knew he'd give everything to be the one fetching her water.
August 1978
Severus was keeping his distance.
Six weeks had gone by and the only thing letting Eileen know that he was still alive was the large money deposits that showed in her Gringots account twice a week.
He had sent a letter two weeks ago, in which he let her know that he would be going to Scotland to study at the Scottish Academy of Herbology and Potions, and that he'd be visiting her whenever possible.
Florence was six and half months pregnant, although she looked nine already; she was huge – and she felt huge.
And the summer days were unforgivingly hot, making her feel claustrophobic inside the house, so she called her friends and her boyfriend to go for a walk in the park.
After putting on her most comfortable dress and braiding her long hair, Florence left the house hand-in-hand with Sirius, going to the park to meet Lily and James.
"Hey, Florence. How are you three?" asked Lily, when they reached the tree James and she were sitting under.
Florence smiled, sitting beside her on the bench, "I'm feeling really uncomfortable... the babies probably think they are being roasted or something."
"When are they due?" asked Lily, chuckling.
"November third. Pomfrey said they are healthy and growing perfectly. She told me that if I go into labour earlier, it'll be all right." she sighed, tired, "I just can't wait for autumn to come... please, let's get those ice creams now!"
A while later
They were walking by the park pound, enjoying ice creams and watching the ducks being fed by children.
"Have you already sent your application to St. Mungus, Flor?" asked Lily.
"Yes. They got my N.E.W.T.s results and replied that they'll be happy to have me. I'll be going next year though, starting in February." She looked at James, "And you? How is auror training?"
"Getting my ass kicked on a daily basis but... It's awesome!" said James with a big smile.
"He has a new bruise every day," said Lily, looking at her husband, then she touched Florence's belly, "Which one will be our godson?" she asked.
"The firstborn," said Florence, "And he'll be named James."
"Aww, thanks. I knew you loved me," said James.
"Oh, please!" Florence rolled her eyes, "Fuck off. They'll be named after my mother's parents: Jacques and Nikola, so I chose James and Nicholas for my babies. It's unfortunate that your mother liked that name," Florence was smiling, but suddenly she stopped, gripping her boyfriend's arm.
"What are you feeling, Flor?" Sirius asked, worried.
"I'm just dizzy. It's too hot today. I'd better go back home."
"Sure, let's go, love," said Sirius.
And the two of them said goodbye to the Potters and started to walk back to Eileen's house.
Once they got to Eileen's, Sirius helped Florence to the back porch where she sat on a comfy chair, enjoying a gentle breeze.
"I'll get you some water," he said, before going back inside the house.
Florence felt the babies moving more than normal, two pairs of little legs and arms restlessly kicking and punching her insides, making her really uncomfortable.
"C'mon, boys. Just stop it," she said, touching her belly, "Bloody summer," she muttered.
Sirius heard noises from the kitchen and walked in saying: "Hey, Sam, could you make Flor some of that iced ginger tea she loves?"
But it wasn't Sam who was in the kitchen, "Snivellus," Sirius growled.
Severus frowned at him, "What are you doing here, mutt?"
"Your mother's not home," Sirius ignored the question and opened the fridge to get some water.
"I know that. I want to know why you are here."
"Florence is here. So am I," he made himself a sandwich and grabbed some crackers, putting it all on a tray with a glass of cold water.
"I read in this," Severus showed the little note attached to the fridge, "That you two would be walking in the park this afternoon."
"We were. But Florence got dizzy and almost passed out, so I brought her back here," Sirius just grabbed the tray and walked out of the kitchen.
Severus stopped himself from asking how she was, he went to the living room where he could see Florence outside.
She really doesn't look well. Gorgeous still, but something clearly is wrong with her, she looks paler than usual.
Black gave her the water and she ate a cracker, then he said something that made her laugh and Severus closed his eyes, walking back to the kitchen to grab his own food.
It was his fault that she was out there with the dog and not in there with him.
He quickly ate and left the house, meeting his mother in the front porch.
"My son!" Eileen exclaimed, happily, "Let's get inside and have tea together, it's been so long! I want to hear how you're doing at the Academy and-"
"You already have enough company for tea, mother," he replied dryly.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Well," said Eileen, already imagining what had happened, "At least help me get these groceries inside then, will you?"
"Sure," Severus replied, taking some bags and walking back into the house.
Florence knew Severus was in the house.
That was the only explanation for the way the babies were kicking like mad inside of her.
And her veela was growling and whimpering, missing him but still hurting from having seen him with his arms around another woman, taking sides with her against Florence.
But the babies... somehow they always knew, it was like their inner magic recognized that of their father's whenever he was around.
She touched her belly, trying to calm them down, with a sad smile on her face.
Eileen saw Florence and Sirius in the back porch and had confirmation of why her son looked so annoyed.
"Why don't you go say hello to Flor while I-"
"No, mum. She's moved on. And so have I."
She narrowed her eyes, "I'm sorry to say it, Severus, but it doesn't look like you've moved on."
He didn't comment on that, "I'm not in the mood for tea, mother. I'll just be going now," then he hugged her and left.
Eileen had to bite her tongue, struggling to hold in the truth, as she watched her only son walking out of her house through the front door looking sad and angry.
She sighed heavily when the door closed, there was nothing she could do to help him. Severus had made all the wrong choices, now there was no way back. If she told him the truth, he and the babies would be in danger.
She just wiped away the tears that had fallen and walked to the back porch to greet Sirius and Florence.