Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

It was not until Sunday evening that Zelda saw Severus again. It had been strange and lonely to sleep alone in his bed, in his room. Normally Rowena slept out by the fire in the sitting room, but Zelda invited her in to sleep by the hearth in the bedroom. She wanted the comfort of a snoring dog where she could hear it.

Severus had scared her the night before by using Floo powder to tell her he wouldn't be back. Suddenly his head had appeared in the sitting room fire. Michael had told her about Floo powder, but she'd never seen it used and it was very unnerving. Only the fact that she could see how unhappy he was at being away made her able to reply cheerfully to his concern, and she knew he had not been deceived.

Waking on Sunday morning was a lonely thing. She wished fervently that she wasn't giving up her job. Work was the best distraction at times like this. When Dobby brought her breakfast, however, she had an inspiration.

"Dobby, is Professor Tonks here in the castle this weekend?" she asked.

"Dobby will find out," he replied eagerly.

"If she's here, will you tell her I'd love a visit?" she said, smiling at the thought of the young witch.

So Tonks came calling a very short time later and was warmly welcomed.

"Come in, please," Zelda said with a smile. "Severus is off doing deputy headmaster stuff and I'm at a loss for things to do, since he thinks it's not safe for me to run around the castle alone right now."

"He's right, you know. Not until we've found out who's committing these strange acts," replied Tonks. "By the way, you're a clever one, not letting anyone know you're pregnant until the reception. How amazingly funny to think of Severus as a dad."

"He'll be wonderful," said Zelda, chuckling. "He doesn't know that, but he will be."

"He certainly has that father-responsibility thing already," she said. "For a guy who's the same age as Remus, he's always acted a hundred years older."

Zelda thought of her passionate and occasionally playful husband and a smile lit her blue eyes.

"He has his moments," she murmured. "But he's trapped by dreary old work this weekend. I appreciate you coming to visit me."

"Would you like to go somewhere?" asked Tonks impulsively. "You haven't gotten out much, have you?"

"I've been so busy with my job and so tired that I haven't had the energy for it," replied Zelda. "One day, though, I'd like to go shopping in Diagon Alley. I'm almost out of clothes that fit me and I need something comfortable."

"Let's go now!" said Tonks. "I'd love it!"

Zelda's face fell. "I don't have any of your money," she said.

"No problem," Tonks said briskly. "I can lend you what you need and the secondhand robe shop is dirt cheap."

"Then I'd love it," said Zelda. "Hey, why don't we ask Molly if she'd like to come along? Girls' day out!"

"Great idea. I'll ask her to come down here, shall I?"

So Molly Weasley joined them and they all went shopping.

&&&&&&&&&

"Tell us when you get tired and we'll sit down and have tea," said Molly as they entered Diagon Alley.

"I'll be tired soon, but I'm so glad to be out," said Zelda. "Severus is amazingly patient about shopping, but it's better if I buy a few things now."

"I probably have maternity robes and dresses in my attic at the Burrow somewhere, but you'll have more fun buying what you like."

"Wow, I remember coming here last summer. This is so cool," murmured Zelda quietly. "I'll try not to squee with excitement like a tourist."

They paused so Zelda could look at Eeylops Owl Emporium. "How wonderful," she said, admiring the beautiful birds. "Did you know that Harry sends his owl to my daughter in Switzerland? She loves owl post."

"She's a lovely young woman," said Molly. "I've wondered if Harry has a bit of a crush on her."

Zelda smiled wryly. "Don't worry, Molly. She's crazy about him, but says he's like the other brother she never had. Harry needs family. Between your family and my family, he has what he's craved his whole life."

"How old are your kids?" asked Tonks, holding the door open so they could enter the second hand robe shop.

"Lily's twenty-two and Elijah turned twenty in December," said Zelda.

"I'd love to meet them," said Tonks. "How do they feel about all this?"

"They're great. They used to worry about their poor old lonely mother, so they feel handing me off to Severus lets them off the hook."

"Zelda, come look at these," said Molly. "If anything strikes your fancy but doesn't look like it'll fit, we can adjust things a bit back at school."

Soon the three were rummaging busily through mounds of brilliant colored robes and accumulating a large pile of possibilities. Tonks was shopping for herself, but Molly, who proclaimed that she had far too many clothes, helped Zelda decide what would work for the coming spring and summer.

An hour later they emerged, blinking at the weak sunlight. Their purchases were magically transported to Hogwarts, so they were free to look around a bit more.

Zelda looked rather nervously at some people who seemed not entirely human appearing on the street. Most people were dressed differently from Muggles, but some were nearly as large as Hagrid, some as tiny as Professor Flitwick and one or two were frankly scary looking.

"Here's a café, shall we have tea?" asked Tonks. "You look knackered, Zelda."

Zelda sank heavily down on a chair and smiled at her companions.

"This is just what I need," she said as tea was brought to them, fragrant and hot. "I dislike shopping at the best of times, and now… I think I have enough to last me the rest of my life, so I won't have to shop again for a long time."

"Is it normal to be so tired when you're expecting?" asked Tonks.

"Not like this, but that's because it happened when I'd taken a potion to help regain my memory, so it's developing much faster than normal. It's funny, so many women I know fantasized about having it go faster, but they didn't reckon on the toll it takes."

"I always liked being pregnant," said Molly with a reminiscent smile. "I never wanted it to go any faster, but when I was pregnant with Charlie it happened to me. He was full term at 32 weeks and I was lucky I only had Bill to care for, because it was terribly debilitating."

A silvery flash passed through the room and Tonks smiled brilliantly.

"Remus has discovered us," she said. "D' you mind if he joins us?"

"Not at all," said Zelda. "But is he sure he won't mind being outnumbered?"

"I'll protect him," she said with an easy smile. "We're supposed to be meeting in two hours, but if this is all right with you…"

She pointed her wand discreetly and a silvery creature shot out of it and flashed away. Two minutes later Remus Lupin entered the café and approached them rather hesitantly.

"Good afternoon," he said, looking from one face to the other. "I hope I'm not intruding."

"Not at all," said Zelda cordially. "Unless you intrude between me and my plate, and then you'll probably be pulling my fork out of your hand."

He looked startled, but laughed after a moment.

"Doesn't Severus feed you?" he asked lightly.

Zelda felt more energetic after eating and resting. Her eyes were twinkling.

"Don't pretend Tonks hasn't already told you my news. Getting between a pregnant woman and her afternoon feeding frenzy is an ugly thing. But please sit down, no ceremony is needed here."

He sat down next to Tonks without taking his eyes off Zelda.

"Where's Severus?" he asked abruptly.

"He's doing Hogwarts stuff. Tonks and Molly kindly offered to come shopping with me so I could spare him. We were going to head back, but I was feeling a bit peckish, so we stopped to strengthen ourselves," she said comically.

"No thank you," he said abstractedly to the waitress.

He turned back to the women and said, "Does anyone know you're here?"

"What do you mean?" asked Zelda. "Dobby knows, so he can tell Severus if he comes home sooner than I expect."

"Is there a problem, Remus?" asked Molly.

"I wonder if Zelda is safe here," he replied softly.

"I'm in the company of a Ministry Auror and the strong mother of a large family," said Zelda. "I don't see a problem."

He still looked a bit doubtful, but said nothing.

"Would you like to escort us back to Hogwarts?" asked Tonks, her dark eyes sparkling.

"If you don't mind," he replied, smiling faintly.

Molly and Zelda looked at each other, amused at Tonks's enthusiasm.

"We'd be delighted," said Molly. "I don't see enough of you these days, Remus."

"Teaching is time consuming, isn't it? Are you planning to teach again next year?" he asked.

"Minerva just asked me if I'd be willing. She gave me a very good evaluation. Arthur and I are discussing what I'll do, but I hope to find a way to do it. Of course, the Burrow is untended, and we often go there on weekends, but I worry about it."

They all rose, put on cloaks and prepared to leave the café. The days were growing longer, but they went out into a rosy twilight and Apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.

Remus stiffened suddenly and put a hand on Tonks's arm to prevent her from speaking. He pulled out his wand.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered to her.

Her eyes narrowed and she whipped out her wand. Turning to Molly she said, "Get Zelda inside the gates."

The sound of distant barking accompanied their entrance into Hogwarts and no sooner did the gates close than Rowena and Fang came racing over the hill. Zelda glanced back at the others, but Tonks saw her hesitation.

"Get back to the castle," she called softly. "We'll be there soon."

The dogs arrived, wagging their tails and barking excitedly as they joined the women in their hike to the castle.

"Can you walk any faster?" asked Molly, pulling out her wand. "I don't know what that was, but Remus has heightened senses, one of the only benefits of being a werewolf.

Zelda saw Molly's serious expression and managed to pick up the pace for a bit, but eventually she was forced to slow down, holding her side.

"Sorry, I'm doing my best," she puffed. "I have a stitch in my side."

The dungeon entrance was in sight and it opened suddenly. Severus strode rapidly out to meet them, frowning.

"What happened? Where's Nymphadora?" he snapped, noticing Molly's drawn wand.

He studied his panting wife and stepped to her side, offering his arm to lean on.

Zelda took it gratefully, too winded to speak.

"Tonks and Remus were with us, but they sensed something amiss down by the gates and sent us on ahead," said Molly. "Let's get Zelda home so she can sit down, and then we'll see what they found."

Severus put an arm around Zelda, supporting her as they walked the last distance to the castle.

"Hey," she said softly, looking wryly up at him. "I'm so glad to see you."

His arm tightened around her waist, but he remained silent. The dogs had been prancing around them, but Severus turned and spoke to Rowena at the dungeon door.

"Go back to Hagrid," he said clearly.

She wagged her tail, turned and ran off toward the cabin, followed by Fang.

"We'll fetch her later," he told Zelda. "Molly, will you go back down to see what's happening? If you're not back when I get Zelda settled, I'll come after you."

She nodded and turned to walk quickly back toward the gates.

Severus supported his exhausted wife into their quarters, where the fires and lamps were all burning brightly. He took her directly to the bedroom, sat her down and removed her boots and socks. He then Vanished her outdoor clothing and helped her into her bathrobe.

"Will you lie down in bed?" he asked.

"The sitting room, please," she replied, startled at his abruptness. He was upset, but she wasn't sure why.

Before he settled her on the couch, he swept her into his arms and held her tight for a long, tense moment.

"Zelda," he whispered, gazing into her eyes. "I must go back to see what's wrong. I'll be back."

She put a hand to his cheek as he kissed her. He seated her on the couch, tucked a blanket over her lap and then headed for the door.

Approaching the outer door of the castle, he heard voices outside. He opened it to find Tonks, Molly and Remus Lupin preparing to enter.

"Did you find something?" he snapped.

Remus frowned at his tone, but Tonks reluctantly held something out.

"We heard someone Apparate from the shrubs across from the gates, but when we got there, all we found was this," she said.

She held out a gauzy shawl, so characteristic of Sibyll Trelawney that they might as well have found the witch herself out there.

"Come in," he said frowning.

"Arthur is expecting me to return, but say goodbye to Zelda for me," said Molly. "I'll see her soon, I hope."

The last thing Severus wanted was to allow bloody Remus Lupin into his rooms, but it seemed that he owed the fellow for helping to protect his wife.

"Please come in and tell me what happened," he said stiffly.

Remus stifled his shock at this unprecedented gesture.

"If we can help, of course," he said. "I have some doubts about what that scarf means."

Severus escorted them into the sitting room where Zelda was curled up in the corner of the couch and looking worried.

"What was that?" she asked, her blue eyes wide. "Please come in and sit down."

Tonks sat down in the armchair nearest to Zelda and said, "Did you overdo things? Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. I needed to catch my breath, that's all," replied Zelda.

Remus sat down in another armchair and watched them, while Severus sat down next to Zelda.

"There was someone watching us from the shrubs across the road from the gates," said the werewolf. "But she, or he, Apparated away before we could confront whoever it was."

"She?" asked Zelda. "Do you know who it was?"

"We found a silk shawl thing that looks like it belongs to Sibyll Trelawney," he said reluctantly.

"Judging from what I've seen of her, Professor Trelawney isn't very good at stealth," she said doubtfully.

"That's what I was thinking," said Tonks.

Severus said nothing. Arriving home to find Dobby alone with only a note from Zelda, his anxiety was pushed to new limits. He'd hated being away for much of the weekend, but consoled himself, knowing she was safe in their rooms. He was struggling to calm his mind before speaking.

Zelda felt tension radiating from him, even though they weren't touching. She pushed on to finish the conversation with their impromptu guests so he wouldn't have to.

"Do you have to say or do anything about the shawl?" she asked. "If she's being set up, I want someone to be confused by failing."

"Stay away from her, just in case," warned Tonks. "I'll hold onto the shawl."

"Tonks, you missed the part where she got drunk and passed out in the spare room here. I have no interest in seeing her."

"All right," Tonks said. "I imagine you have to go home soon, so we should leave. I can't wait to see how your new clothes look though. Don't get up and I'll see you soon."

Zelda smiled warmly.

"I had fun shopping today and I'll pay you back next time I see you," she said.

"No worries, as Kingsley says," replied Tonks, getting to her feet.

Remus followed suit, and Severus rose to escort them out.

"Take care, Zelda," said Remus lightly, holding out a hand to her. "You may want to think twice before following this madwoman out on adventures."

"It was a fine adventure," she said. "Thanks for the escort and the security mission."

Severus studied the werewolf's face closely, his own face inscrutable as they walked to the door.

"I must thank you both for protecting Zelda," he said stiffly.

Tonks saw worry in the black eyes and impulsively she took his hand and squeezed it.

"She's all right, Severus. Don't worry," she said softly.

In response to Tonks's words, Remus saw the deep shadows lighten in the wizard's black eyes.

"Please make sure I know it if she goes gallivanting off in the magical world, pregnant. She's not able to be quick these days," said Severus.

"Would you have come shopping with us if you'd known?" asked Tonks.

"Probably," he replied, his lips twitching faintly in response to her burst of delighted laughter.

"Imagining my grouchy old Professor Snape shopping at the secondhand robe shop just made my day," she said. "See you tomorrow."

After a brief hesitation, he offered his hand to the werewolf.

"Thank you," he said simply.

"You're welcome," replied Remus. "Any time. She's a remarkably good woman."

It seemed for a moment that the spectre of Lily Evans hovered in the air between the men. As soon as the door closed behind them, Severus returned to the sitting room.

"Please come here," she said softly. "I'm sorry, Severus."

"It chafes you to be here alone, but please, don't leave here without telling me," he said, kneeling before her. "As you can see, I was worried. We worked all night and I was short of sleep, so perhaps my mood was not good."

"You were angry," she said. "I was actually safe and never alone. But I had a rough time without you last night and if I'd sat here the whole time I'd have gone crazy."

"Did you miss me?" he asked absurdly, sitting beside her and gathering her into his lap.

"So much it hurt. I didn't know you'd be gone all night and most of the day, you see."

"I won't let it happen again," he said.

"I won't go out into the wide magical world without telling you," she replied generously. "I'm so glad to be with you again."

She put her arms around his neck and they sat together in silence, peace descending gradually on them.

"Isn't there a staff meeting?" she asked.

"Minerva cancelled it. She's preoccupied with the meeting tomorrow and decreed that we all need to get some sleep. Would you like to go home, my girl?"

She sighed and said, "Oh, yeah."

"I'll ask Hagrid to meet us at the gate with Rowena," he said. "I wish you didn't have to walk down again."

"I'll be fine," she said, kissing his neck gently. "I really missed you last night."

He closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against her hair, glad she felt as he did.

"I missed you too," he said. "Come along and get dressed again. I'll be glad to be home with you at last."