Hogwarts
Draco followed his godfather through the castle as if he had been Imperiosed. If Snape walked into the Great Lake, he'd certainly follow without questioning and drown.
They had murdered Dumbledore.
He had helped his godfather kill the man.
His plan had worked!
And yet, Draco didn't feel victorious, he felt nauseated and disgusted with himself.
The loud sound of a desperate dog howling, and his aunt laughing, snapped Draco out of his daze.
Bellatrix had set Hagrid's Hut on fire – and by the sounds of it, Fang was locked inside.
"What the fuck?" Draco whispered, trying to understand how she could be that happy for roasting a living dog inside its own house.
"SNAPE!" he suddenly heard Harry Potter scream.
"Go on, Draco," Severus ordered, "Follow the others."
The blond boy nodded but didn't move, he didn't want to leave his godfather's sight, something was telling him he shouldn't disapparate without him.
"Crucio!" yelled Harry.
But Severus just defended himself with a flick of his wand.
"No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!" he shouted over the rushing of the flames, and Hagrid's shouts as he tried to get to his house and free his dog who still cried desperately from inside the burning building.
"Incarc-" Harry roared.
But Severus deflected the spell with an almost lazy movement of his arm, "Close your mind, you idiot! I can see your spell ten seconds before you cast it!"
"Fight back!" Harry screamed at him, "Fight back, you murderer! He trusted you! He told me to trust you! Stupe-"
"Blocked again and again and again!" shouted Severus, sneering as he deflected Harry's spell once more, he needed to make the stupid teen understand: "Until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!"
"Fight back! You coward!"
Severus sneered, "Coward, you called me, Potter? Your godfather would never attack me unless it was two on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"
"Crucio!" cast Bellatrix out of nowhere.
And Harry fell onto the ground, screaming in agony.
"NO!" roared Severus, stopping the woman's curse himself.
"Have you forgotten our orders?" he growled at her, "Potter belongs to the Dark Lord – we are to leave him! Get the fuck out of here! Disapparate!"
Draco was still frozen in place, his eyes on Harry lying curled on the dark grass, trembling from the pain of the curse, sobs coming out of his throat.
And yet Draco watched the dark-haired boy push himself to his feet again and stagger blindly towards Severus, the man he certainly now hated as much as he hated Voldemort himself.
"Sectumse-" Harry began.
But Severus flicked his wand and the curse was repelled again; throwing Harry back onto the ground a couple of feet away from them, Draco could see Potter's face contorted, full of pain and rage as his godfather approached him.
"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter?" Severus' voice was back to its soft and dangerous tone.
"Y-you?" Harry asked, completely shocked.
"Yes. I knew you had my potions book… since Slughorn began telling me how amazing you were in potions, that you had inherited Lily's talent for potion-making. I knew it from the beginning. Yes, Potter, I'm the Half-blood Prince."
"Kill me then!" barked Harry, fearlessly, his bloodshot eyes filled with fury and contempt, "Kill me like you killed him, you coward-"
"DON'T" screamed Severus, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog still stuck in the burning house behind them – "CALL ME COWARD!
Florence, who was still behind the large rock she had hidden before, watched that whole scene with her heart in her throat; she knew her husband hated to be called 'coward' for it reminded him of his own father.
She dropped her occlumency barriers and saw him glance her way immediately.
Yes, I'm still here. Go, Severus. I'll handle Harry.
He narrowed his eyes, replying angrily: Of course you're still here. Can't follow an order, bloody stubborn witch.
She didn't reply, sensing he was in one of his worst moods – with reason, understandably.
Just go, Severus. She said.
Then he turned his back on Harry and pulled Draco along with him, following the other death eaters.
Florence waited until they were far away enough that they couldn't see her, and then she ran to where Harry was sobbing.
"Harry! Are you all right, dear?" she asked, kneeling by his side.
"He… he killed Dumbledore!" the boy sobbed, "I couldn't… I didn't do anything!"
"Come on, dear. Let's get you up," she helped him stand up, "Now, run to the castle and tell the others. I'll stop the fire at Hagrid's."
The boy looked at her, grabbing her arm, suddenly suspicious: "Did you know?" he demanded.
"No! Of course I didn't!" she lied, and her tearful eyes helped her sell that lie convincingly, "I'm as shocked as you!"
He nodded, believing her, "I'll tell the others!" and then he ran to the castle.
Florence watched him go and apparated home.
Meanwhile, near the Astronomy Tower, Hermione stood beside Prof. McGonagall as did many others, students, aurors and Order members – Remus Lupin, the Weasley twins, Alastor Moody, Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt; they all stared at Dumbledore's lifeless body lying on the ground at an odd angle.
Madam Pomfrey had been called and she kneeled beside him, tears running freely down her face.
"Not even Florence would be able to heal him; nothing can be done when someone's hit by the Killing Curse."
"Florence!" McGonagall gasped, looking around, trying to see the mediwitch, "Where is she?"
Flitwick replied: "I haven't seen her or Severus since I went to the dungeons to call them and passed out."
"I saw her last when she sent Ginny and me to the dungeons to look after you, Prof. Flitwick," said Hermione.
McGonagall got worried, looking at Remus, "Do you think they took her? She's a beautiful woman, they might-"
"No," Remus replied, shaking his head, "You were her teacher, professor. You know how powerful Florence is. It would take more than five death eaters to abduct her," he looked at Pomfrey, who was putting Dumbledore body in a less awkward position, and then he whispered the question everyone else was thinking: "Who did this?"
"IT WAS SNAPE!" they suddenly heard Harry shout as he ran towards them, "He killed Dumbledore! SNAPE DID THIS!"
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Remus asked, confused.
"I saw him do it! He cast the Killing Curse! Snape killed Dumbledore-" Harry's voice broke, "And he begged, Dumbledore begged Snape not to do it, but the bastard did it anyway!"
Hermione frowned, quickly looking at Fred Weasley – and he looked at her at the same time. They didn't have to use Legillimency to know they were both wondering – and fearing – the same thing: had their boyfriends known their father was going to kill the headmaster?
"Wait, Harry… that doesn't make any sense," Remus was saying, shaking his head, "Are you sure of it?"
"YES!" the boy vociferated," I SAW HIM DO IT!"
"But... Albus trusted him!" McGonagall said, "We all trusted him! He was like a son to me!" she was horrified, "For years we... Albus always defended him!"
"That's why Florence is missing," Pomfrey whispered, not wanting to believe that was true, "She went with him."
Remus shook his head faster; something wasn't adding up to that story. Florence would never have agreed to her husband killing the headmaster.
Harry was the one to speak on her behalf: "No. She didn't leave with the death eaters. I saw Madam Delacour just now... she was crying and said she didn't know anything."
Remus still shook his head, "If Severus is behind this, like you said... then she knew. But it still doesn't make sense..."
"The Enchantment," added Slughorn, "They've got a mind link."
Remus nodded, "If Severus was planning to kill Dumbledore, she would know."
"I always knew Snape couldn't be trusted!" growled Alastor Moody, "It'll be my pleasure to hunt him down! From now on, Snape and that bitch Delacour are our number one targets!"
Hermione discreetly pulled Fred into an empty hallway, looking into his eyes but not saying a word – in a rare moment in her life when she didn't know what to say.
"Do you think..." she finally whispered.
"That Harry's telling the truth?" finished Fred, nodding, "I don't see why he'd make that up."
"But- what will- what does that- why?" she struggled to form a question.
Fred looked at her with compassion, the ever-eloquent, always-got-an-answer Granger, had lost her words at the thought that both their boyfriends knew beforehand about what had happened that night and didn't tell either of them anything.
"There's only one thing we can do, Mione: ask them," he picked up his wand and cast a Patronus message, a beautiful German Shepherd Patronus listened to his caster's words before disappearing in the night.
Snapes' family home
James and Nicholas walked downstairs to grab another piece of Tiffany's white chocolate and walnuts pie, when they saw, surprised, that their mother was already home.
Florence was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, mud-stains on her trousers, staring outside with a cup of tea, apparently forgotten, in her hands.
"Mum?" Nicholas called, but she didn't seem to listen, completely absorbed by whatever it was she was looking at; he looked at his brother.
This is weird, mate.
What do you think happened? James asked.
Don't know. Mum's wearing trousers – that alone is a reason for concern.
True.
They walked to her and stopped each on either side of her.
"Mum," Nicholas tried again, "What's..."
"Bloody hell!" suddenly exclaimed James, making Nick look outside the window.
Shit.
"Is that... the Dark Mark? Over Hogwarts?" Nicholas asked.
Florence nodded slowly, her voice heavy with worry: "Yes. It's done, boys: Dumbledore's dead."
The twins shared a glance.
Fuck. Dad did it. James said.
Nick nodded, We're officially on the bad guys' side now.
Then each held one of Florence's hands, trying to comfort her and themselves, as they thought of their future.
Mione and Fred won't ever look at us again. Said James, his feelings of despair adding to Nicholas' own sadness.
Nick closed his eyes briefly, I hope Fred still wants to marry me in a few years.
James looked at him, unable to hide his surprise, "What? You were talking marriage and you didn't tell me?"
Florence seemed to snap out of her concerned thoughts and looked at him with a frown, "Marriage? What? Nicholas?"
"Fred proposed to me," Nick smiled, but unable to hide his growing sadness.
His mother exhaled, happy and heartbroken at the same time, "And what did you say, love?"
"I said yes, of course."
"Did you get rings and all?" she asked.
He nodded, "I bought his and he bought mine, but we didn't get to exchange them," Nicholas explained, "We were going to do it in July, during summer vacation, when all his siblings will be home... but I knew it wasn't going to happen for I knew dad was going to kill the headmaster and... well... Fred probably hates me now."
Florence pulled Nick to a hug, "I'm sorry you're suffering, love," then she turned to James, "You too, honey. I saw Mione tonight, and I made sure she was out of harm's way."
"Thanks, mum," James replied, hugging her tight.
Nicholas joined their embrace and she closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks; the way they were comforting her reminding her of another time, in that same spot, many years before, when they also had helped her through a difficult night.
"You've always been my rock, boys," Florence whispered, "You may not even remember, but... you helped me find the strength to move forward many many times," she paused, looking at them and taking a breath, before continuing: "The night the Potters died, I sat right here on an armchair, watching the village celebrate my father's demise – while I felt nothing but despair... Lily and James were dead, Sirius sent to Azkaban, Severus had accused me of sleeping with Remus and I had lost a baby."
"What?" the twins asked in unison.
"Lost a baby?" asked Nick, while James asked: "Sleeping with uncle Remus?"
Florence and Nick looked at James with equal annoyed green eyes.
Really, mate? Nick asked, That's your concern?
"Sorry, mum. Go on," James whispered, forcing himself to look regretful.
Florence could see he was faking his apology, but she let it go.
"Why did you lose the baby, mum?" asked Nick, "Stress of the war?"
She shook her head, tears falling as she remembered that night.
"I don't think I've ever told you this... but the same killing curse that took Lily's life, and exploded Harry's bedroom, hit me."
They both tensed up.
Mum could've died? Said James to his brother, absolutely terrified.
And Nick looked at him, equally scared, and they both hugged her closer.
Florence closed her eyes, surrounded by the love of her sons.
"I didn't die, obviously," she continued, "But the baby didn't make it," she finished in a soft whisper, "And as I sat here that night, feeling so lost and heartbroken, you two walked downstairs in your jammies, complaining about the loud fireworks, and sat on my lap, falling asleep in my arms," she smiled, "So cute and sweet you were... you helped me heal that night."
"But... did you have an affair with Uncle Remus?" James asked in a low voice.
Nicholas groaned in annoyance.
Florence rolled her eyes, "Of course not, James! Your father was always irrationally jealous."
"But Remus watched you-"
"Yes, James, he did," she rolled her eyes, "Although I still don't know how you found out about that."
"It's not important," James grimaced at the confirmation, "I regret ever bringing that up."
"Mum," whispered Nicholas in a small voice, "Where's dad?"
She sighed, concerned, "He's probably reporting to my father as we speak," and her eyes filled with tears, "Severus had to do a horrible thing tonight, boys. Dumbledore was the closest thing he's ever had of a father figure," she looked at them, "He's going to need us."
Right then a Patronus dog unexpectedly entered the living room and Florence felt Nicholas tense up.
Then the Patronus stopped in front of Nick and spoke in Fred's voice: "What's going on, Nick? Dumbledore is dead and Harry's saying your father killed him! Your mum's gone too! Please, help me understand this! Tell me it's not true!"
Florence looked at him when the dog disappeared.
"What do I tell him, mum?" Nick asked in a small voice.
"The truth, baby."
"He'll hate me," Nick closed his eyes, and Florence wiped the tears that fell down his face.
"Yes, he will. But there's nothing to be done about that right now."
Nicholas nodded slowly and cast his own Patronus dog, sending his boyfriend a short message:
"Yes, it's true. I knew it was going to happen, I didn't know it would be tonight though," he stopped, realising there was a lot he wanted to say, but he knew nothing would save his relationship, "I love you," he finished in a whisper.
And his Patronus left.
Nicholas turned to his mother and cried on her shoulder.
Florence hated seeing him so sad, but she had her hands tied, "I'm sorry, baby," she whispered.
Then they heard the soft 'pop' of someone apparating in the backyard.
"Severus," Florence whispered, going quickly to the back door, opening it and watching a dark masked figure walk through the backyard.
Severus entered the house and stopped as soon as he closed the door behind him, looking at his wife.
Florence raised her hand to remove his Death Eater mask, revealing his bloodshot eyes, the thin line of his lips as he pressed them together, and the tightness of his jaw.
"Oh, love..." she whispered, knowing he was feeling miserable.
Severus trembled all of sudden and fell onto his knees, Florence kneeled in front of him, embracing him tightly and he cried against her neck.
"I got you, my love," she whispered, caressing his hair, "You're home, Sev."
The twins watched that scene in astonishment; to witness their powerful, confident father fall onto his knees, crying desperately while being comforted by their mother, was something they could never have expected to see.
"You did the right thing, love," whispered Florence, amongst other reassuring words, "We'll find a way, together..."
Everything will change now. Nicholas said, looking at his brother.
James gulped and nodded. Yes. Everything will change. For the worst.
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts
Fred and Hermione stared silently at the empty space Nicholas' Patronus had been seconds ago.
"What the fuck?" she whispered.
"It's true then. Snape killed Dumbledore," Fred whispered, feeling lightheaded as he quickly realised what that meant for him and Nick.
"It's over," he said in a whisper so low and so painful that Hermione almost didn't hear it, "I can't be with him anymore."
Hermione gasped, shaking her head: "I don't- I don't want to break up with James!"
Fred wiped his eyes and scoffed, "And do you think I want to be away from Nick? We were planning on getting engaged next month, for fuck's sake!" he nearly shouted, his voice breaking from the emotional pain.
Hermione hugged him, they were the only ones who understood one another's pain in that moment.
"What's going on here?" they heard someone ask, before seeing it was Lupin.
And he looked at the two of them, reproachfully, "Now is not the time to sneak away for a snogging session, kids."
Fred looked at him in shock, "What? No! This..."
"We are- were dating James and Nicholas," said Hermione, the past tense making her heart clench as she heard herself using it.
Remus nodded, remembering that he had heard about that, and then he frowned, casting a silencing charm, before speaking: "How much do you two know about the twins?"
"We know who their parents are," said Fred.
Remus kept looking at them sternly: "Did you know about tonight?"
Both of them shook their heads quickly.
"Did you?" Hermione asked.
Remus sighed, "No. And I am as confused as you two," he looked at the teenagers again, realising they looked more heartbroken than confused, "You've just broken up with the boys, haven't you?"
Both shook their heads, "Not yet," said Fred, "But... Nick has confirmed that his father has indeed killed the headmaster... so..." he cast another Patronus and looked at Hermione, "C'mon, Mione. You know you have to do it."
She nodded, tears rolling down her face as she cast her Patronus – and both men gasped, for it wasn't the delicate otter that flew out of her wand.
"A bear," whispered Remus, remembering that both James's animagus form and Patronus were a bear.
"Yeah," she whispered as her Patronus disappeared with her message to James, "It changed after... after a while," she stopped, not wanting to tell them it had changed after she had made love to James for the first time.
"Do you mind if I wait here for their answers?" asked Remus.
Both shook their heads.
And they waited.
Snapes' family home
Many minutes had passed, and Florence still held her husband on the floor of the living room. But Severus had finally stopped shaking.
Are you well enough to stand up, Sev? She asked through their bond.
He shook his head.
Get me a Dreamless Sleep Draught, Flor. I don't want to think about what just happened. I don't want to think about the consequences. Just for tonight. I want to forget everything.
"Of course, love," she whispered, turning to Nicholas, "Go downstairs, get a vial of Dreamless Sleep Draught and a Calming one."
Nicholas nodded and ran to the lab.
"You saved him, Sev," Florence told her husband, caressing his face, "We both know his death would've been terrible... the curse would've shut down his body..."
"I know. But still, it was my wand that killed him," he choked on the emotions boiling inside of him, "Dumbledore believed in me, he gave me a second chance when I needed it. We're only together because of his meddling!"
"I know," she whispered, crying alongside him.
Severus shook his head, "I need to shower before taking the potions. I feel disgusting," he said, trying to get up but stumbling.
"Let me help you, dad," offered James, holding his arm.
And he draped his arm over his son's shoulders, accepting his offer, "Thank you, Jamie."
Florence watched them walk slowly upstairs and picked up Severus' Death Eater mask from the floor where she had dropped it, standing up and looking at it, running her fingers along the intricate carvings, absentmindedly.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the lab, Nicholas received a second visit from the dog Patronus of the man he loved: "I never thought I'd say this, Nicholas," said the Patronus, "But... we're over."
Nick froze, his heart breaking in a million pieces as he stared at the silver dog who continued its message:
"I don't think my love for you will be enough to convince my parents that my marrying the son of Dumbledore's murderer is a good thing."
And just like that the dog disappeared, leaving Nick under the impression that there was more to be said, but Fred had chosen not to say anything else.
He emerged from the lab, carrying the two potions for his father, and found his mother still in the living room, standing with the death eater mask in her hand.
Florence looked at him and she knew something had happened, "He broke up with you, didn't he?"
Nick nodded, his bottom lip trembling, "Just now. By Patronus."
She grimaced, "I'm sorry, baby. Maybe in a few months we'll be able to reveal to some people the truth about what happened tonight. But we can't tell anyone anything for now."
Nick just nodded silently again, pulling her into a hug.
"We'll be ok, won't we, mum?"
But Florence shook her head, looking into his green eyes, "I don't know, Nick. I won't lie to you, son: I don't know if we'll ever be ok again."
He gulped nervously, whispering: "I'll take these upstairs," and he took the two vials to his father.
James helped his father into the bedroom and Severus let go of his shoulders, "I can shower by myself."
"I'll stay here, dad," said James, sitting on a chair by the small table near the window, "Call me if you need anything. I won't mind seeing your naked arse if that means you won't die by hitting your head on the toilet."
Severus snorted, leave it to James to make him smile that night, "Thanks, son," he replied and walked to the bathroom.
A minute later, James felt his body grow cold as he watched a bear Patronus enter the room; he knew whose that was and, by the misery coming from his twin brother through their bond, he could easily guess what the bear was there to do.
"James," the Patronus said in Hermione's voice, "Your brother told Fred that he knew about tonight, so I can only assume you did too. It hurts me to say this but... it's over between us. If your father did kill Dumbledore and you knew, that tells me you've agreed with his actions."
And the bear disappeared, without a goodbye, without angry words – it just vanished.
He sat, frozen, looking at the empty space where the bear had been, in confusion.
"You got one too, I see," he heard Nicholas say from the door.
"Yeah. But..."
"It felt like there was more to be said," Nick finished, "Same with what Fred sent me."
Right then, Florence showed up at the door and paused; she could tell something was going on with the twins, it seemed Hermione had dumped James just like Fred had Nick.
She let out a sigh, deciding to ignore that drama for the moment, for she had a distraught husband to look after.
Florence walked into the bathroom and found him under the water spray, his face up, his eyes closed.
Need anything, Sev? She asked through their bond.
He shook his head, "No. But I have to tell you all that-"
"Tomorrow," she interrupted him, "We'll talk about what you saw, and what we must do next tomorrow, after you've rested and eaten."
Severus rinsed his hair and asked her: "Why were you at the school after I told you to come home?"
She fixed her eyes on him and replied with sarcasm: "You forgot to say 'please'."
"Right," he snorted.
She sat on the armchair near the sink and watched him finish his shower.
He dried off his body and walked out of the stall, "We need to start–"
"We need to start nothing!" Florence interrupted him again, getting up from the armchair and stopping right in front of him, stopping what he was trying to do, "You're not going to jump headfirst into planning and working. No! You'll rest tonight. You'll have breakfast tomorrow and then we'll start talking and planning."
He narrowed his eyes at her, wanting to tell her to shove her bulshitty sentimentalism where the sun didn't shine and to stop being such a controlling-
"Severus," Florence laughed, "I can hear your thoughts," she touched his naked chest, "I know you, love. And you're not ignoring your pain tonight."
He rolled his eyes, once more thinking about telling her to sod off.
Florence touched his face and looked at him defiantly, "Let me rephrase that: I'm not planning a war with you if you're going to act like an angry domineering little shit because you haven't cried about tonight."
He inhaled angrily, hating that she was right about him.
"I like your alpha persona," she continued, "When you're fucking the hell out of me. But to plan our next steps? I need you well-rested, fed and with a clear-head, love."
She was right, and he hated her for it. But she was also amazing, and he knew if it weren't for her, he'd be drinking his way down the bottom of a bottle right then and harming himself.
Severus was suddenly on her, wrapping his arms around her and taking her lips violently, pushing her towards the bedroom.
The twins jumped as they saw their parents walk out of the bathroom amid a scorching lip-lock – their father fully naked.
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed James, "We're leaving!" he pushed his brother towards the exit.
The door slammed shut once the boys left the room, but the kissing couple completely ignored them; Severus was focused on having his wife under him, he needed to feel something other than the pain and the anger eating him up inside.
Florence let him do what he wanted, she could feel the whirlwind of emotions in his mind; if he felt that fucking her would help him deal with that pain, she certainly wouldn't deny him.
He grabbed her chin roughly, looking into the light-green eyes he very much loved, and biting her bottom lip, "You know I love you, don't you, Florence?"
"Yes. I do," she frowned, a little confused at where that talk was suddenly going.
"Good. Remember that. Cause I'm about to fuck you as if I don't."
She trembled in desire, smiling at him lasciviously, "Won't that make me love you even more?"
He chuckled darkly and pushed her on the bed, focusing all of his erratic emotions on pleasuring his amazing wife.
Note: Don't worry, I won't let the twins sad for too long. They are just so cute (and sexy) with Mione and Fred, I can't let them suffer for longer than a chapter.
On the other hand, I love making Severus and Draco suffer until they bleed (sometimes literally).
Some sentences I took from canon material (6th book and movie).
