Samaria Kirby is mine. Everything else is J.K. Rowlings.

Chapter 16

The next day, Samaria sat in tears in Dumbledore's office. Severus had her to go and explain everything to him. And, in great detail, she told him everything. The wise wizard thought a moment and then told her what he thought should be done, the thing that would be best for all. That Elena would have to be hidden.

Dumbledore looked at her with kind eyes, understanding her pain.

"You know I would not suggest this if I did not fear for the child's life," he said.

She nodded. Elena was a liability where the Dark Lord was concerned. He had already shown that he would use her to make Samaria do things against her will. This could put her position as a spy in jeopardy if he took it farther. What if he took Elena hostage?

"I know, it's just…" she couldn't finish. She sobbed into her hands.

The elderly wizard came around the desk and put his good arm around her. Not the one that was blackened and knarled with no explanation as to why.

"I know, Dear."

"So, where will she be?" she asked when she could speak again.

Dumbledore shook his head, "It's best you didn't know right now. You need time to get used to the idea and not be tempted to go see her. We will stage an illness and shortly after, her death." At this Samaria cried harder. "I know Sirius has been staying with you."

She looked up suddenly at him and he smiled kindly, "My young dear, there's little that goes on that I do not know about. He will take the child and care for her."

Samaria thought about it. If Severus or herself couldn't be with Elena, the person she'd prefer would be Sirius. He'd protect her like his own.

She nodded and Dumbledore told her she'd had enough emotional drama for one day and to go home and rest. He swiftly wrote a letter of instruction of how to proceed with the plan and warned that, after the letter was read it would explode.

When Samaria arrived home, she found Severus sitting on the couch, staring into space.

"Severus?" she asked.

He looked up at her gloomily.

"What is it?" she asked as she sat beside him.

"Well, Narcissa paid me a visit today…"

~*SW*~

A week went by. Each time Severus or Samaria went to Malfoy Manner they would mention that Elena wasn't well and each time she was worse. After the third day the told them they took her to Madam Pomfrey and she was in bad condition in the hospital. The seventh day, Samaria prepared herself. It wasn't hard, all she had to do was think of not seeing her baby for who-knows-how-long, and she broke down. Even Severus' eyes watered.

As they entered Malfoy Manner, Samaria sobbed and cried. Narcissa came running and hugged her.

"She's… she's.. g-gone," she managed to get out. And indeed, that very morning was the last time Samaria would see her daughter.

She stood holding Elena in Dumbledore's office. Severus was there, straight back and saying nothing. Tears rolled down Samaria's face and Elena's little had patted at them, as if trying to make them stop. Sirius stood solemnly, not really knowing what to say. Dumbledore finally said, "It's time, my dear."

Samaria nodded and kissed Elena. "I love you, Elena. Don't forget that. Mommy loves you."

"Ma-ma," she said and Samaria cried all the harder.

Severus took his daughter and looked at her. He silently kissed her and just held her.

"Da-da."

A tear escaped from his eye as he gave her one last kiss and handed her to Sirius.

"Oh, dear!" Tears started down Narcissa's face.

Even Draco's eye's started to tear up.

"Samaria!" came the Dark Lord's voice from down the hall.

She waited a moment for him to call Severus but he never did. She hugged her husband and went to see what the Dark Lord wanted.

As she entered the room the door slammed behind her.

Tears still pouring down her face, she went forward.

"So, the little one is dead?" he asked in a conversational tone.

She just nodded and cried all the harder.

He skulked up to her and wiped a tear from her face.

"It will be alright. There will be other children," he said.

Samaria couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew he was heartless but each horrible thing he said or did continued to shock her.

She only nodded and, if possible, cried even more.

"Now, now," he said in a surprisingly gentle voice. He put his arms around her, as if to hold her.

It took all she had not to curse him to hell and back. This was his fault. He was the reason she had to lose her child. It was all his fault.

Samaria started to shake with fury and sorrow. Everything became blurry and then black.

~*SW*~

When Samaria awoke, she didn't know where she was. She sat up and looked around. It was too dark to see anything. Then she heard a voice.

"You passed out," Severus' voice said from across the room.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"We're home." He muttered a spell and the candle wicks came alive with fire. Samaria saw she was, indeed, at home.

"When you passed out, the Dark Lord called me in and ordered me to take you home. I'm surprised, honestly."

"Why?"

"That he let me take you home. I assumed he'd want you there with him." Severus got up and came to sit next to where she lay.

She quickly shook away the thought of what could have happened and said, "What did everyone say?"

"Nothing special, just condolences for our loss and such. There Dark Lord said nothing other than to take you home to rest."

She nodded. Until this moment she had been numb, but now all the pain of the day started to come back. Tears rolled down her face.

Severus reached up and wiped some away, "We'll get through this." Samaria just nodded and continued to cry. He gathered her into his arms and she cried herself to sleep.

~*SW*~

The next morning Samaria got up and, as usual, went straight toward Elena's room out of habit. Half way there she stopped short. Her baby wasn't in there. With a sigh, willing herself not to cry, Samaria turned around and went to the kitchen for breakfast.

As she sat down with some oatmeal, Severus came in and joined her.

They sat in unbearable silence, eating. The silence that was usually filled with Elena's squeals and giggles.

Finally, Severus said, "Dumbledore hired a new professor."

The silence was broken so unexpectedly that Samaria almost jumped, "Really? Who?"

"Slughorn. He'll be the Potion's Master."

"Wow, he's coming back? But if he's Potion Master, what will you do?" she asked and Severus gave her a knowing look.

"Oh! You finally got it!" she jumped up and ran around the table to hug him, though he made no indication the information was anything special.

"Yes. Dumbledore told me yesterday, but I was in no mood to celebrate."

Samaria nodded, understanding. She returned to her seat and thought a moment.

"You know, we've got to try not to be so depressed about this," she told him, feeling like a hypocrite even as she said the words. Her emotions cried out in protest to what her head was telling her.

He gave her a strange look, but she continued, watching what she was saying in case of prying ears, "It'll be okay. We'll be okay, but we can't wallow."

"It's been only a day Samaria," he pointed out.

"I know, Severus, but I just can't. I want to crawl in a dark hole and stay there but we have too much to think about and prepare for. I've got to get busy or I'll let myself drift into a dark hole of self pity."

Severus knew this was true. If they dwelled on it too much, even for the proper amount of grieving time, they would lose sight of what they were trying to do. Their lives depended on them not doing that. He nodded his agreement.

Over the next month, the two did their best not to think on losing their daughter too much. Eventually, they got to where they could talk of her, remember this or that about Elena, and it not be so horribly depressing. Silently, they reminded each other that she wasn't dead, she was safe somewhere, but never said it alound.

Samaria helped Draco with his spells until school started. She didn't think she'd made much of a difference but he seemed to think so.

Severus became more closed mouthed about his and Dumbledore's plans and affairs. She knew that he'd told Dumbledore about his Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa, but not a clue as to how they were going to get around it.

The Dark Lord began to send Samaria on missions alone, giving her more horrible things to do. Killing innocent muggles seemed to be at the top of his list for her. He didn't summon her again for sex and Samaria was extremely relieved. Maybe he'd had his fill and wouldn't ask again.

And finally, school started. The first night back, after the feast, Samaria and Severus sat in their living room, talking.

"You should have punished Draco for doing that to Harry!" Samaria insisted and Severus just shrugged.

She shook her head and took a deep breath. There had been something she had been trying to tell him all day, but hadn't found the right time. She hesitated a second too long because Severus stood and said, "I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."

She grabbed his arm and said, "Please wait a second. I need to talk to you."

Slowly he sat back down and looked in her eyes.

Samaria blocked her mind before he could read it and took a deep breath, "I think I'm pregnant."

His eyes grew the size of saucers. His eyes held the same question she'd been wondering all day, since the thought that she could be with child came to her mind: Whose child was it?

~*SW*~

Samaria went through her classes the next day in a haze. That morning, Madam Pomfrey had indeed confirmed she was pregnant. She hadn't told Severus this yet, but she doubted she needed to.

The night before, he could see in her mind how certain she was that her suspicions were correct, and that was enough for him. Severus had been so shocked with the news he had went to bed without a word. She had sat up all night, not being able to sleep. How could this be? Of all the times, why did it have to be after she and the Dark Lord….? She couldn't even finish the thought. It gave her chills to think of having the Dark Lord's child, and it terrified her to see the Dark Lord's reaction when he found out she was pregnant.

Sitting at her desk in her office, Samaria put her head in her hands. She wasn't sure she knew what she was going to do. She really wished she had someone to talk to. Sirius was usually the one she went to, but he was with…

She broke down into tears.

Elena.

He was with her daughter, keeping her safe. Her daughter that would have a brother or sister soon, or half-brother or sister.

Samaria cried harder.

Then come a knock at the door.

Drying her eyes quickly, she said, "Come in."

Severus walked in. Though she had dried her tears, her face and eyes were still streaked red with the tell-tale signs of crying.

Without a word, he went to her and pulled her into his arms, and just held her.

Samaria leaned into his chest, but could sense his hesitation. He wasn't sure of what to say.

She wanted to apologize, but she knew it would only make him angry. She did it anyway.

"I'm so sorry, Severus."

He pulled back from her quickly, just enough to look into her eyes, "I don't want to ever hear you say that again, do you hear me?"

She just looked down and he gave her a little shake, "Do you?" She only nodded and he sighed .

"This isn't your fault, Samaria," he said firmly. "You did what you had to."

Looking up at him she replied, "I know, but…"

"But nothing." she could tell from the his eyes he was still hurt by the news but meant what he said. "The child may not be his."Samaria searched his eyes and, though his mind was block,ed she could tell he wasn't entirely convinced.

"Samaria, even if it is, we will make it work. Somehow. This is not the end of the world." She could see the conviction in his eyes about this.

She took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay."

"Samaria. You must go tell him. You cannot keep this from him. If he ever found out you did, he'd kill you the second the child was born."

Her eyes widened with fear as she stared at him.

"But you must also make it clear that the child may be mine as well. Understand?"

She nodded and, with great effort, he stepped away from her.

"You had better go now."

Again, not saying a word, Samaria nodded and left.

Kneeling before the Dark Lord, Samaria had to fight not to start shaking. She was so exhausted from lack of sleep. She hadn't been able to keep any food down either, but she didn't blame the pregnancy for that. Her nerves were absolutely shot.

"Samaria, come forward," he said and she did so. "What brings you here this night?" he asked with a sly grin.

She swallowed and took a deep breath, "I'm with child, my lord."The grin slid off his face as he pondered this, then it returned.

"Excellent," he replied.

"Master?" and he nodded for her to continue. "Master, the child may also be Severus'. I cannot be certain." Samaria stood nervously, waiting for his answer.

The smile, once again, left his face. "You… cannot be certain?" he repeated slowly.

"No, master."

Slowly he rose, "And why not?"

"Severus and I had… relations the next night after you and I did." She braced herself, not knowing what to expect.

The Dark Lord breathed in slowly and deliberately. "Really," he said more as a statement than a question. His hands clenched as if he wanted to reach for his wand, or strike at her.

Samaria only nodded, terrified.

Some of the pictures on the wall begin to shake. One fell and she jumped, covering her head not knowing what to expect. The chairs started moving around…. then everything went silent. She looked up at the Dark Lord, still afraid. She found him looking right back at her.

He looked at her a little longer then said, "Well, we shall know eventually, I suppose." He thought for a moment, and then said, "I'll leave it to you to explain to Severus about the child's paternity. You know what parts to leave out." He gave her a knowing look filled with warning, and she nodded. She knew he didn't want her saying anything about him threatening her. She must make herself seem willing to have slept with the Dark Lord.

"Yes, master."

"Is the child healthy?" he asked.

"Yes, master."

"Good, I will expect to be kept updated often."

She bowed and said, "Of course, my master." With that, he waved her away.

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