August 1995
Hogwarts
It was one early Tuesday evening and Florence was finishing the inventory of the hospital wing potions when Dumbledore walked into the infirmary looking worried.
"Florence, I need you to go to Little Whinging."
"Why?" she frowned at him, "What happened?"
"Dementors attacked Harry and his cousin minutes ago."
"What?" she shouted at him, "And no one was protecting him?"
"I have Mrs Figg-"
"Figg?" Florence was outraged, her wand in hand, ready to apparate.
"No one can apparate inside the grounds, Florence," he kindly reminded her.
She smirked and walked very close to him.
"You seem to forget, Headmaster, that I carry the blood of one of the founders," and she disapparated, leaving behind a gobsmacked Dumbledore.
Florence showed up in Little Whinging just in time to see Petunia and her husband putting their heavy, useless, son in the car.
She waited until they were gone to go into the house's backyard, where she knew Harry's bedroom window was.
The light in his room was turned on and he walked in, looking angry.
From afar he could easily pass as his father. She thought with a smile, before an unexpected presence had her frowning.
"Homenum revelio," she quickly cast, the spell letting her know only Harry was inside the house.
But if that was the case, how could she sense her father's energy in there as well?
However, before she could dwell on that for long, five barely noticeable sounds of apparition caught her attention and she saw members of the Order of the Phoenix enter the house.
Once they had taken Harry with them, she apparated back to Hogwarts.
Florence apparated right inside Dumbledore's office, finding Severus in there with him.
"Everything alright, dear?" asked the headmaster.
"Harry's safe, but-" she looked from him to her husband, "I could feel my father's presence in Little Whinging."
"Your father cannot get into the Dursleys' house, Florence," Dumbledore frowned, "That's not possible."
"I know it's not possible!" she exclaimed exasperatedly, "And I performed a revelation spell that confirmed no one other than Harry was in the house. But still: I felt his presence."
The headmaster's frown got deeper, he looked at her very concerned, "Are you sure you sensed your father?"
"Absolutely," she nodded.
"So there is a connection," Dumbledore whispered, "Just like I feared," then he looked at the couple in front of him, declaring: "Harry will have to be taught Occlumency."
"You think my father is in his head," she affirmed, understanding, "I can do it, I can teach him how to-"
"No," Dumbledore shook his head, "That's not a good idea. If your father can access Harry's mind, your presence might call him forward out of pure curiosity," he looked at the other man in the room, "You'll have to do it, Severus. Give some of your duties to Florence and plan to begin teaching him as soon as possible; by Christmas, those lessons must've had begun."
Severus nodded, "Sure, Headmaster. But... do you have any idea who sent the dementors to Little Whinging?"
"That's something I'm still trying to find out, my son. They should receive orders only from Ministry officials. But since I'm no longer a member of the Wizengamot..."
"WHAT?" both Severus and Florence exclaimed.
"Yes, I forgot to mention it. After my end-of-term speech last May, I was put under investigation by the Ministry and asked to free my chair."
"So someone inside the Ministry wants you away from the government," Florence said, "The person that put you under investigation must've been the one who sent the dementors after Harry! Or at least knows who did it!" she turned to her husband: "Does father already have people working for him from inside the Ministry, Severus?"
"Yes. Ismelda Murk, she works at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She'd easily have access to the dementors."
"Mmm... Tom could indeed be the one responsible for the attack on Harry. However..." Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "I still believe this was the act of someone who just wants to get rid of Harry because he's been saying your father is back while Cornelius is trying to hide the truth from the public," he paused, "Whichever the reason, I will get to the truth."
"What's going to happen to Harry now?" Florence asked, worried, "He broke the law; he used magic outside school and did it in the presence of a Muggle."
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, very tricky situation. I've already got a letter from the Ministry stating that he's been temporarily suspended and his expelling is to be decided at a disciplinary hearing."
Florence was about to protest but Dumbledore continued: "I won't let that happen, my dear. Don't worry."
She was about to say something again, but Severus put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
Let him handle it, Florence.
She glared at him as Dumbledore added: "Meanwhile, Harry will stay at Grimmauld Place. And we all must keep our distances from him."
Florence's green eyes flashed in anger at both men, "Forbidding his friends from talking to him is to punish him for something he has no control over!"
Dumbledore's usual calm demeanour cracked and he sounded annoyed: "And that's the problem, Florence: Harry has no control! Tom can easily access his mind and learn all our plans without Harry even being aware of his presence! We must keep him away from us!"
"You're not doing that!" she shouted, getting close to him, "Harry's suffered enough! I forbid you from hurting him further! I'll handle Fudge! You're not Harry's legal guardian, Dumbledore, I am!"
The headmaster was certainly impressed by her ferocity; if he didn't know her, he'd be intimidated – but he did know her, and he also knew someone who could control her, somewhat, "You cannot expose yourself, Florence – and you know it. I can solve this situation myself. You don't have to worry," he glanced at Severus.
"Listen to the headmaster, Flor," the potions master added.
She looked from her husband to the headmaster and raised her wand, making both wince slightly before she disapparated.
"And she's mad again," sighed Severus.
"Can't control your wife, Prof. Snape?" asked the portrait of Phineas Black, a former school Headmaster from the Slytherin House, "How embarrassing."
"The Dark Lord himself couldn't control her, Prof. Black, how could I be expected to do it?" asked Severus.
"That's true, Severus," chuckled Dumbledore, "That's very true."
Florence apparated home.
Fuck them both! Cheap manipulator windbag! Patronising me, wanting to add to Harry's suffering. And stupid husband not doing anything – even stopping me from speaking my mind!
She entered her house and went straight to the bathroom, blessedly not seeing any of her kids on the way.
I just need a shower to relax, then a nap before dinner.
However, she knew that wasn't all she needed, but she wasn't going to think about it.
After showering quickly, Florence put on a burgundy silken nightgown and lay down on the bed, still as angry as she had been before the shower.
Her veela reminding her there was only one thing that helped her relax once she got that aggravated.
Not happening! She told her magical being.
Severus had chosen Dumbledore's side and she was furious at him.
"Damn him!" she muttered angrily, smelling Severus on the bed wasn't helping her relax so she threw his pillow onto the floor, closing her eyes, trying to sleep.
Ten minutes later, Severus walked into their room and locked the door, checking on the permanent silencing spell and looking at the woman on the bed.
"Can't sleep, princess?" he whispered with a smirk, knowing she was too horny to sleep.
"You can go fuck Dumbledore for all I care," Florence growled, hitting her pillow and closing her eyes.
Severus just chuckled and walked to the bed, glancing at Sophie's empty crib and remembering she was at his mother's, before pulling the covers off of his wife with one firm tug.
Florence quickly jumped out of bed and cast: "Depulso!"
But he absorbed it with his wand, being just slightly thrown backwards by the residual force of it.
But she attacked him again: "Collido!"
And he wasn't fast enough to avoid being hit hard on the stomach, "Shit!"
"Inanimatus conjurus!" Florence cast, manipulating the bed covers on the floor to tie him up.
"Incendio!" he quickly cast, setting fire to the charmed duvet.
The sudden blast of fire blinded Florence for a moment and while she blinked against the offending light, trying to locate her husband to attack him again, she felt her hands being bound behind her back by a focused Incarcerous.
"Hell no!" she shouted, quickly releasing her hands with a Diffindo, "You're not getting near me, Severus! If you haven't noticed: I'm not happy with you!"
But his smirk never left his face, "You may not be happy, princess, but your veela is begging to be fucked."
"I don't care!" she shouted, "She'll have to deal with frustration for tonight – and for the next week as well!"
"A week?" Severus arched an eyebrow, "You're telling me you're not letting me touch you for a week?"
"Or longer!" she growled.
He laughed at her, "Florence, we both know this stunt of yours won't last a day. In fact, it won't last a full hour," his dark eyes glinted at her.
And he was suddenly right behind her, holding both her arms behind her back with his own hands, instead of using magic – for it had been established that she could easily escape from that.
"What? How are you there?" she gasped, looking at the empty space in front of her where he had been just seconds ago.
"Mirroring spell, love," he whispered in her ear, his voice going low, velvety, "Now, princess," he caressed the curve of her neck with his nose, "Let me be a good husband and help you relax."
"A good husband wouldn't let Dumbledore patronise me," she growled, "A good husband wouldn't stop me from speaking my mind! He'd-"
Severus held her chin and forced her face to the side, looking into her eyes: "Listen to me, Florence! We both know that if it were up to you, Fudge would be at St. Mungus right now, recovering from being tortured for having risked Harry's life with dementors and for denying your father's return," he bit her bottom lip, "And if you tortured the Minister of Magic, darling, no clout and money in the world would keep you from a stay in Azkaban," he let go of her face, kissing her shoulder.
Florence turned her face away from him and glared at the dimly-lit room, hating that he was right on all he'd said – but it only served to make her angrier.
She wiggled violently, trying to get herself free from his hold, but he was physically way more powerful than her – not to mention, his strong presence had her whole body trembling in need.
Severus held her tightly, feeling through their bond how aroused she was. But she still fought hard against his unwavering grip.
"You're hurting me, Severus. I'll have marks on my wrists."
"We both know a healer that can easily heal those, if you have them," he murmured, unconcerned, still kissing her shoulders.
She added angrily: "You're not fucking getting away with this, Severus!"
"Oh, I'm fucking. You can be sure of that," he whispered a Divesto and they were both suddenly naked.
Florence trembled in desire, feeling his hard body against hers.
"I'm tying your hands again, wife. You better leave them tied."
She snorted: "Good luck with that."
Severus narrowed his eyes, knowing she'd seriously hex him if she had the chance. So he silently cast a binding spell and warded the soft leather belt he'd conjured with at least four protection charms.
"Now. If you try to break free, it'll take you longer to undo my wards than for me to make you climax," he said, fisting a hand in her hair and tugging, forcing her head back.
"I'll get you for this," her anger being discredited by the pleasurable gasp leaving her lips.
After Severus had helped her relax, they lay in bed, sharing sweet, lazy kisses, their breaths mingling in post-orgasmic bliss.
"I should still hex you," Florence whispered.
"If you could still do that, I didn't fuck you enough," he replied.
She smiled, "Maybe after a nap," and yawned, pushing him off of her and turning on her side, "Wake me up for dinner, Sev," and she was sleeping in seconds.
He shook his head and lay down behind her, spooning her warm sweaty body.
Florence was a unique witch – a perfect balance of sweetness, sexiness and danger. Not to mention wit, fun and beauty.
And bravery – she was the most courageous woman he knew.
He kissed her shoulder and sighed; he understood her anger, they had both been on high alert all day every day since May.
Every morning he woke up and dreaded that that would be the day her father was going to summon and kill him.
And he knew Florence had the same daily fear. He could see it in her eyes, as they whispered 'good mornings' and kissed lazily in bed, her hands tight in his hair and around him as if it was their last time waking up together.
They both knew it could very well be.
So far, he'd only been summoned to help look for unfaithful death eaters; the Dark Lord had yet to call him to address the family business he'd asked to discuss.
Severus feared the worst would happen when that day arrived - the Lord could easily interpret his marriage to Florence as treason and murder him.
Florence mumbled something in her sleep, a frown marrying her face, and he stopped mulling over those dreadful thoughts, getting up and taking a quick shower, before going downstairs.
When Severus reached the living room, Nicholas was playing with baby Sophie in the rug, Eileen and Chris were on the sofa telling him all the things they had done that day.
Eileen was the first to see Severus.
"Hi, my son," she hugged him briefly, touching his face lovingly, "You're looking good. Where's Florence?"
He could see in his mother's eyes the same fear of the future he had been thinking about a few minutes before, but he just replied: "Flor's resting."
Nicholas snorted, "If James were here, we'd be hearing: 'Geez, dad, we haven't even had dinner yet! You're married, act like it!'" and they all laughed at his on-point impersonation of his brother.
Severus kissed Christopher's forehead, "You had a good day, son?"
"Awesome, dad!" Chris replied enthusiastically, "We went to a muggle mall and then to the movie theatre. We watched a movie about a ghost named Casper!"
Eileen added: "Sophie slept the whole movie, the sweet angel."
Severus smiled at Chris's happiness and took Sophie from Nick's arms, having his hair pulled by his raspberry-blowing six-month-old baby daughter.
"Since you reminded me we have a wicked version of you," Severus said, looking at Nicholas, "Where is he?"
Nicholas winced, "James is in muggle London."
"Partying?"
"Yep," Nick nodded, "He thinks it's safer to go partying with the muggles because of the war."
Severus sighed, "Which is just the kind of stupidity that imbecile would come up with to justify being reckless."
Eileen shook her head, "James needs to find himself a girlfriend."
"Wanker already has a girl in his sights," Nick let them know, "But she's younger than us by two years. So he's taking it slow."
Eileen smiled, "Aw, he's being a decent young man, then."
Nick stifled a laugh, "Well, grandma, yes, he is quite the gentleman. For now. Little girl doesn't know what awaits her."
Severus exhaled in annoyance, liking knowing about his sons' sex lives as much as they liked to hear about his.
"Just tell me I don't know her," he said, as he played with Sophie.
Nick hesitated and his father looked at him.
"Are you kidding me?" Severus exclaimed, "Who the fuck is she?"
Nicholas hid his smile and said: "Granger."
Severus stared at him for nearly a minute, "Why?" he finally asked, his choice of question word eliciting a confused look from his son, "You and your brother study two countries away! How come you couldn't find partners there? You had to end up with Granger and a Weasley!" he shook his head, "The know-it-all and a ginger menace!"
Nicholas ignored his father's silly complaint, "Do you want me to go after James?"
"No. If he gets in trouble, it will do him well to find a way out of it himself."
Eileen watched their exchange with a smile, for she remembered a time when she thought that would never happen, "Talking about teenage troubles, where's Liz?" she asked.
"In her bedroom, as usual," said Nick, "She had an argument with mum last month and since then she's hardly ever out of her room if she knows mum is home."
Eileen nodded, "I happen to know about said argument. And Flor was absolutely right!"
"I've got no idea what you're talking about," said Severus, looking at Sophie, "And I don't want you to explain it. I'll just play with my baby daughter here before she's old enough to be arguing with her mother about boyfriends that I don't want to hear about."
Note: This chapter came to me as one more blessed sweet family moment before Umbridge arrives next month. Hope you enjoyed it!
