Next morning

Florence woke up with the sunlight streaming into the bedroom through the glass panels of the balcony door.

She moved in the bed and groaned, her muscles aching as if she'd duelled a whole army by herself the previous night – and fucked another.

The general soreness – specially between her legs – was to be expected, considering all the times Severus had taken his comfort in her body during the night.

It had been extremely pleasurable, she thoroughly enjoyed his demanding (and sometimes violent) taking, but she was in need of a pain potion and maybe even a Wiggenweld that morning.

Florence tried to leave the bed, but Severus' arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her close to him as if she'd disappear the moment he let go.

"I need to pee, Sev," she whispered.

He grunted and opened his arms.

Florence slowly sat on the bed, wincing when her nether regions pressed against the soft mattress.

Fuck.

She stood up and walked to the bathroom, sitting on the toilet and calling her house elf.

"Morning, Mistress Flor," said Tiffany, frowning the second her eyes fell on her, "What happened to Mistress?"

"I'm ok, Tiff. Just get me a pain potion and a Wiggenweld from the lab. Then set the table for breakfast, we'll be down shortly."

"Right away, Mistress Flor," the elf bowed and disapparated.

Florence finished peeing and walked to the shower stall; she'd certainly feel better after she cleaned all the sweat and cum from her body.


After Florence left the bed, Severus lay on his back and stared at the ceiling; he had been awakened by his wife's feelings of discomfort filling their bond, but when he opened his eyes and saw the stiffness of her shoulders and the way she winced when sitting up on the mattress, he was taken by shame and regret. She was certainly sore as hell – she had completely given herself to him that night, her love and blind surrender had allowed him to burn through all the pain and turmoil he had had inside of him and helped him feel emotionally free of the weight of the atrocity he had committed.

That didn't mean he had forgiven himself from killing Dumbledore – no, he didn't feel worthy of anyone's forgiveness. But their night of violent passion had helped clear his head. Severus had taken Florence in so many ways and positions, he even remembered falling asleep inside of her at one point, just to wake up and keep on fucking her.

He heard the shower running and got up, needing to let her know she had been right about not talking war the previous night, wanting to tell her she was the most perfect wife in the world and he-

"Bloody hell!" he cursed the moment he entered the bathroom and saw her – Florence had her back turned to him and her body was covered in marks and bruises.

Severus, being already naked, entered the shower stall and turned her around, receiving a look from her filled with so much love and compassion that only worked to get him even angrier.

"Why the fuck did you let me do this?" he touched her chin where there were three round yellow marks the exact size of his fingertips.

Florence chuckled: "Why? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed being shagged the whole night, Sev. Every time you held me down and fucked me, I moaned and shivered and orgasmed," she touched his chest, "I have no idea how many times I climaxed, love. You didn't do anything I didn't enjoy. I'd have hexed you if you had pushed things too far."

"But look at you, Florence!" he touched the purple bruises on both sides of her hips, "I hurt you!"

"And I loved it!" she raised her voice a little to reassure him all was fine, "Stop it, Severus," she touched his face, pulling him under the hot water with her, "I loved every minute of last night. And you needed it."

He looked into her eyes, seeing only her love and devotion, not a hint of anger or resentment for what he'd done to her.

"I'm sorry, love," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.

"No need to apologise, Sev. I loved it," she repeated it, "I love you."

He sighed, "I love you, my princess," then he grabbed the soft bath sponge, pouring on it the special liquid soap he had long invented, and washed her body with care, kissing each one of her bruises and thanking Merlin, and all the muggle Gods, for the amazing wife he had.


James and Nicholas were already at the table when their parents finally walked downstairs. They watched their father pull their mother's chair for her and frowned when she winced a little as she sat.

"Do I even want to know what happened last night?" James asked, looking from Florence to Severus.

She looked at him, "It was hard enough to have me wincing."

James rolled his eyes, "And that's a 'no'. I don't want to know what happened."

"After breakfast," said Severus, looking at Florence and the twins, "We need to talk. All of us."

The boys seemed surprised to be included.

"Really?" asked James, "You're telling us what comes next?"

"Yes. You are part of this, my loves," said Florence, clearly not happy about that, but comprehensive, "You two have had dinner with my father already; there are death eaters who have served him for years and only dream of that honour," she finished with an eyeroll,

The twins nodded and the four of them had breakfast in peaceful silence.

But Severus was touching Florence a little more than usual; he poured her tea, handed her the sugar, kissed her left-hand knuckles, treating her with utmost care.

Whatever he did, he regrets deeply. Nicholas said to his brother.

She's bloody smiling, Nicholas. James rolled his eyes again. I'd rather not think of what dad did to mum to have her wincing when she sits, and yet smiling up at him sweetly.

Nicholas shook his head, shivering in disgust.

"Could you two not discuss our sex life?" asked Severus.

"Could you two not flaunt it at the breakfast table?" retorted James.

Florence laughed and winced again, "Do not make me laugh!" she complained.

James rolled his eyes a third time, "Geez."

"You keep rolling your eyes like that and one day they'll just be stuck up there, James," teased Florence.

"Good," the teen replied with a glare, "Then I won't have to see my mother wincing at the breakfast table."

She laughed again, grimacing: "I guess I'll need another pain potion."


After breakfast, the four of them gather in the library to talk about their next steps.

"Now that Dumbledore's gone," started Severus, "our main focus must be on keeping the Order informed," he looked at the twins, "Has either of your relationships survived the night?"

Both shook their heads.

"Dammit," Severus cursed, "Any ideas, Florence?"

"Dumbledore's original plan was for me to convince McGonagall that I didn't know anything and that my love for you clouded my judgement."

Severus nodded, "Let's go with that then."

"Alright. I don't think I'll have any problems convincing her. However..." she sighed, "Remus knows everything about us."

The twins snorted and James muttered: "Ain't that an understatement."

But Florence just narrowed her eyes at him and continued: "He knows about the Enchantment bond, so he won't buy that I didn't know anything."

Severus nodded, "I'll deal with the werewolf myself. You convince McGonagall."

"Ok," she nodded, looking worried, "About last night, what happened?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, crossing his arms on his chest, "You stayed at the school, Florence, you saw everything."

She arched an eyebrow at him and replied just as sarcastically: "I'm obviously asking about the meeting with my father, Severus."

"Ookay," interrupted James, "Just one thing – this" he pointed between the both of them, "cannot go on. You two bickering and eyeing each other like that make us very uncomfortable."

"Yeah," agreed Nick, grimacing, "If we are to sit in this war-planning meetings, I don't want to watch you two flirting aggressively."

Both Severus and Florence looked at them and laughed.

"I'm sorry, boys," she said, "It's just how we're used to discuss things."

"Flirting?" James asked with a confused face.

"Yes," Severus shrugged, "But we'll be mindful of your delicate feelings," he drawled, "and tone it down."

James glared at him, but didn't voice his complaint.

"Last night," Severus continued, replying to his wife's question, "We apparated to Little Hangleton and were welcomed with a party – that kind of party," he arched an eyebrow at her and Florence knew what he meant.

"Ugh. Disgusting," she shivered.

"Can we know what you're talking about?" asked Nick.

"Your grandfather enjoys torture-parties," said Severus.

"He enjoys being tortured?" James frowned, "Sexually?"

"No. He enjoys torturing others," Florence explained, "The most unwilling the better."

The boys looked at them with equal expressions of horror.

"So," continued Severus, "We arrived at the manor and there was that party happening in the living room. And you wouldn't guess who was there, enjoying herself."

Florence frowned, "Enjoying herself? Who?"

"Dressed in pink."

"Umbridge?" she nearly shouted, "What the fuck was she doing there?"

"What do you think?" Severus asked, narrowing his eyes at her again.

"No flirting," James singsonged.

His father ignored him and continued: "She, somehow, learned about the attack at the school and ran to Little Hangleton to offer her experience, guessing correctly that your father will need a new Headmaster now," he paused, "Also, she's still a Ministry employee, and everyone knows the Ministry is filled with your father's agents – both Imperiosed and voluntary ones – but Scrimgeour's one act of increasing security so far has been to lock himself up in his office. So it's easy to conclude the Ministry will soon fall as well."

"So Umbridge is offering her loyalty in exchange of a position of power," Florence said.

"Yes," Severus smirked, "You should've seen the look on her face when she was informed that you and I will be the ones occupying both seats she coveted, at the Ministry and at Hogwarts," he ended with a slight frown.

And Florence's smile quickly died as she realised something less amusing had taken place as well, "What else happened, Sev?"

"I had to convince your father not to kill Draco," he sighed worriedly, "I told him that watching the boy suffer when Lucius gets out of Azkaban will be a more suited punishment. So Draco was just tortured."

"Just tortured," whispered Nicholas, shivering in horror.

Florence frowned, "Where is he now, Severus? Is the boy safe?"

"Yes. For now. Narcissa took him home."

"So, for now," Florence summarised their next steps, "We must guarantee our presence within the Order, wait for father to murder Scrimgeour, and then I'll become Minister and you, Hogwarts Headmaster,"

Severus nodded, "Yes, those are the next steps,"

She nodded, "Alright then, I'll be going to see McGonagall now,", and left the library.


Hogwarts

Florence apparated directly into the Headmaster's office, expecting to find McGonagall in there, but the room was empty.

She exhaled slowly and noticed the brand-new painting on the wall – Dumbledore's painting. But the old headmaster was asleep, so she just walked to the desk, seeing a small wooden box addressed to McGonagall on top of a few papers.

It all looked the same – and yet everything had changed.

"YOU!" she suddenly heard McGonagall exclaim from the door.

Florence summoned up all the tears she had and put her plan into action: "Please, don't hurt me! Please, professor!" she raised her hands.

McGonagall was looking at her with anger, her wand pointing at Florence.

"Did you know?" she shouted, "Did you know what he was going to do?"

"No, professor!" Florence lied, sobbing, "Of course I didn't!" her hands still raised in sign of surrender.

"Where were you last night then?" demanded McGonagall.

"I hid! The castle was full of aurors! Everyone knows the stories about Severus and me! Had I stayed, I could be in Azkaban right now for accessory to murder! Even though I didn't know anything!" Florence's voice broke from all the sobbing, "I-I was fooled by him just like everybody else. And I... I love him, Prof McGonagall. I love him!" she covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

At the mention of her love for him, the teacher slowly lowered her wand and hugged Florence.

"There there, my dear. I'm sorry I thought for a moment that you could've plotted Dumbledore's death with him. I can see how much you're hurting."

"The-there's more, professor," Florence continued, "I have been chosen to be their... their next Minister."

"What?" McGonagall seemed surprised, "You're a death eater too?"

"No, professor, I'd never! But... the Lord says it's like a-a gift to Severus... he's using me, for I'm pretty and a mediwitch..."

"A gift. Because of what Severus did," McGonagall said with clear disgust.

Florence nodded.

"Can't you decline?" the older woman asked.

Florence grimaced, "It's not as easy as just saying 'no, thanks'. No one says no to the Dark Lord... he's not a very understanding person," and she reached the point of the whole reason for those theatrics: "I-I have no choice on the matter, but... I could use that to help you, help the Order, like Severus used to."

McGonagall understood: "You're offering to spy for us."

"Yes."

"I truly appreciate the offer, my dear," McGonagall frowned, "But are you aware of the risks that doing so could bring you?"

"Yes, I am. But I need to do something! Severus played me for a fool even more than he played you all!" Florence cried again.

"And what will you do about him?"

Florence pretended to hesitate, before letting out the next lie: "I haven't seen him since... but I love him, professor," she exhaled heavily, "If I see him... I know I'm not strong enough not to fall in his arms."

McGonagall looked at her with pity, "It's alright, my dear," she hugged Florence, "I understand."


Florence walked out of the headmistress' office, going to the infirmary to talk to Pomfrey, but she was suddenly cornered by a familiar face.

Remus wrapped a hand around her arm and Florence allowed him to pull her into an empty classroom.

"Did you know?" he demanded.

Florence cast a silencing charm and some other protections before replying: "Would you believe me if I said I didn't?"

Remus shouted: "You have a freaking mind connection with him – so no! I wouldn't!"

"So why are you asking?" she asked in return.

"WHY?" he held her arms, clearly trying to control himself, "Because I need this to make sense, Florence! Why would you and Severus plot to murder Dumbledore?"

"We didn't," she replied honestly, "It was his idea – most of it anyway."

Remus looked at her as if she had gone mad, tightening his grip on her arms, "If you think for a moment that I'll believe that bullshit-"

"Believe whatever you want, Remus!" Florence shouted at him, pulling her arms out of his grasp, "I can't give you any details right now, but you know me, Moony. You know everything about me!"

"Yes," he nodded, eyeing her warily, "And that's why I'm torn, Florence. I don't see you working willingly to your father, but you love Severus blindly enough to follow him if he decides your father is your best shot at surviving the war."

She got furious at him, "I had to break my family in half, Remus! I had a baby two years ago that I can only see once a month!" she wiped some tears off her face, "Yes, I'm following Severus down this path, but you of all people should know how that makes me feel!"

He looked at her, shaking his head, "I don't know, Florence. Right now? I don't trust you."

She wanted to keep shouting at him – to remind him of all they had gone through together – but she just nodded silently, understanding where his suspicions were coming from.

"Are you still going to Order meetings?" he asked.

"Yes," she narrowed her eyes at him, "Will you be a problem?"

"No," he said through pursed lips.

Florence nodded once and left the room without another word.

Remus watched her go, wishing he could shake off the feeling that he had just lost his last best friend.


Snapes' family home

Severus saw his wife storm into their house, looking furious and upset.

"What happened?" he asked, frowning.

"Remus! I told him some of the truth but he didn't believe me. He even said he doesn't trust me!"

"What about McGonagall? Did she buy your wronged-lover's pretence?" Severus asked, wrapping his arms around her waist, trying to calm her down.

"Yes, she did. I cried, told her how much I love you and how you've pulled me into this situation," she kissed him, sighing, "I'm still welcome in the Order."

"Good," he nodded, seeing through their bond how upset she was about her friend, "Leave Lupin to me."


Remus walked to the dungeons as soon as Florence left, he needed to find something – a clue, anything! – that proved to him that she wasn't lying.

The first thing he noticed after entering Severus' quarters was that they hadn't taken their things out of the rooms; everything was exactly like he remembered them to be.

He walked into the bedroom and, again, there were clothes and personal items all around – as if the Snape couple knew they were coming back soon.

Whoosh!

The unexpected sound of someone arriving through the Floo Network had Remus running back to the living room, his wand in hand.

"Severus!" he growled, "Very stupid of you to show up here after what you did!"

"Lupin. Just the person I needed to see," Severus sounded calm.

But Remus was seething with rage, "What is stopping me from arresting you?"

Severus arched an eyebrow, "Your incompetency with a wand?"

Remus's eyes flashed with fury, "I you don't remember, I can-"

"Yes, yes," Severus interrupted him, in a bored tone, "It's been proven you can break my bones, Lupin, but you know you can't beat me in a duel," he paused, showing him he had his wand in hand, "Now, listen: we're all in the same boat. With Dumbledore gone-"

"Who you killed!" Remus shouted, wand still pointing at him.

"Without Dumbledore," Severus repeated, clearly annoyed, ignoring Remus's outburst, "The Order will be nothing but a lost group of misfits – and you bloody know that! – whereas the Dark Lord may be certifiably insane, but he's very organised."

Remus knew he was right; with Dumbledore gone, the Order was leaderless, and without Severus spying for them, they were directionless as well. But still, that right there was the man responsible for Dumbledore being gone in the first place!

"I don't know, Severus," Remus lowered his wand, accepting that there was nothing he could do with it to defeat him in a duel.

"I'm sure all you don't know could fill up a library, Lupin," Severus dismissively replied, "Focus on what you do know: you know Florence. You may not trust me – but you can't doubt her!"

Remus fell silent, thinking hard before asking: "Why are you here?"

"To remind you that the Order needs Florence. She told you the truth."

Remus stared at him for a tense moment, "If you two are really following some last plan of Dumbledore's, where he asked you to kill him – and I can understand some of the reasons-"

"Yes? Keep thinking, take the whole day," Severus added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Remus ignored his tone and continued: "Then they should add insanity to the Slytherin House characteristics. You and Florence are risking everything!"

"We are, and so are the twins."

Remus hesitated, "But Florence said the kids are in a safe house."

"Not them. They're in this with us; they've even met their grandfather already."

Remus ran his hand through his hair, "Fuck. James will get himself killed in the war!"

Severus shook his head, "No, we've been giving him some daily doses of harsh reality that have worked on curbing his impulsiveness."

Remus looked at him silently and then slowly nodded, "Alright, Severus. I'll give you two the benefit of the doubt."

"Good enough," he conceded, "Do not make this harder on her than it already is."

Remus snorted: "You just don't want to have to deal with an angry wife."

"No. I don't want to have to deal with an angry father-in-law," he arched an eyebrow at him again.

"Damn. There's that," Remus looked at Severus intently, "I really can't imagine what's like being you; I'm 100% sure I wouldn't like to be in your shoes – and that's saying something, for I'm a werewolf."

Severus shrugged, "It's not an easy life but... it does have it's good moments," he smirked, "As you very well know."

Remus chuckled, "Yes. I sure do."

The potions master nodded once and went back to the fireplace, disappearing amongst green flames.