A Light In The Dark

A Severus Love Story

Part Eleven

Life and Death

Aurora POV

"Aurora, Severus how nice to see you again. How is the our newest little supporter of the dark lord treating its mother?" the slick voice of Lucious Malfoy said as his wife placed a gentle hand on my now bulging stomach. It took all my strength not to flinch at his voice as I took a seat in his dining room, waiting for our meeting to begin. I had tried for the longest time to hide my pregnancy from the death eaters and the dark lord but once my stomach had really started to show it was all over.

"So have you started to think about names yet? I know when I was pregnant with our Draco we had our names picked out right from the start." Narcissa cooed at me, her usual panicked demeanor replaced for just a moment with her former happy self all because there was something semi normal back in her life. As scared as I was of all of the death eaters knowing about my unborn child I was also slightly glad that at least I could bring a little bit of joy back to a long time friend.

"No not really … I do like the name Leo for a boy though. If it is a girl I am not really sure but I want something unique that's all I really know." I replied rubbing the stomach that now blocked my view of my feet. It was true that Severus and I hadn't really talked about girl names much, part of it was because I was hoping it was a boy but the other par of it was because I knew deep down he would want to name her Lilly.

"That's a nice name, Aurora. I am sure that a child coming from two of my most devoted servants will become a great asset to me one day." a snake like voice I knew all to well twisted its way around my ears as the dark lord himself entered the room, flanked by the other death eaters. Beside me I felt Severus tense up as he always did when the dark lord talked about our child that was going to be here in less then a month.

"Why thank you my lord, I find it an honor to raise our child with you back in control. It would have been such a shame to have to raise it where mud bloods and half bloods rein supreme." I said in a calm voice trying my best to bow though it was a lot harder then it once had been. The dark lord replied to what I said but anger and fear had risen up in me and it was taking all I had not to let it show and blow my cover. Luckily though I was saved the distraction of answering back because as always Severus jumped in to save the day.

The meeting went by in a blur and I barely bothered to pay attention til something was mentioned that caught my attention, Harry Potter. The dark lord was talking about invading the school with Draco's help. Worse of all he wanted me to show myself as a death eater and even hurt my own students. "My lord of course my wife is very talented indeed but don't you think it would be better for her to stay out of the fight? After all the students and staff trust her so when we take control she could act as a spy." Severus jumped in trying to sound calm though he couldn't hide the trembling in his fist.

"I see your point Severus but as you said they trust her so when she proves to be on our side they will be shocked and give us an upper hand. Now I will hear no more arguing my plan is already set, you are all dismissed." the dark lord said before sweeping out of the room in a swirl of black cloaks. I sat there as if glued to the chair, I couldn't even start to imagine hurting my own students. I knew all I had to do was say the word to Dumbledore and he would come up with a plan to safe me yet at the same time … I felt like I had to be there. I don't know what it was but I felt that I Harry was going to need me …

Snape POV

"Aurora please you have to reconsider! You have to let Dumbledore protect you because not only our you putting yourself in danger but also our child." I called out grabbing her arm gently and turned her to face me. "Think about this tiny little life we created together, it can be saved so easily but you are refusing it!" I cried our in a mix of despair and anger.

She placed her hands on either side of my face and gave me a quick kiss before saying, oddly calm "Severus I understand why you are so upset and I love our baby just as much as you do. I would do anything to make sure our child survives but I just know I am meant to be at this battle. I cant explain but some how some where Harry is going to need me. I just need you to trust me on this, after all when have I ever let you down?"

Aurora's bright green eyes usually so scared in any situation that might possibly put our child in danger were so serene. She seemed so at peace with her decision and she was right she had never let me down before, so who was I to stop her? "Alright Aurora, I trust you." I said before we walked off for what might be one of our last peaceful nights together.

Aurora POV

The battle was raging and even pregnant I was kicking some pretty good butt! Though I guess having Severus at my side the whole time helped a whole lot too. I hated having to battle my students but luckily with all the chaos going on around me I was able to protect them well from my fellow death eaters. I knew I was suppose to be here and I guess saving so many of my students would have been enough to justify me being here while caring a child but I still felt as if I needed to do something.

Then that's when I saw it, Harry battling hard with a very skilled death eater that I knew only to well, Bellatrix. Time slowed down as I watched the two battle and Harry was doing so great and I was so proud I had been able to teach him so well. But still I knew he was no match for Bellatrix and that's when it hit me. This was the reason why I had to be in this battle. I gave a quick glance to Severus and his eyes widened as he figured out what I was going to do. "Aurora don't -" he cried but it was to late I had already pushed Harry out of the way so that I could battle Bellatrix.

"You will not hurt my students Bellatrix!" I spat at her as our spells clashed in mid air sending sparks across the room. "Harry quick run I will take care of her. And do me a favor Harry, win this war for me." I cried out to him with a wink as he paused at the door with tears in his eyes but he nodded before running away. Now it was time to take out this bitch.

"Well look here, it seems that Severus's precious little wife is a traitor! I am going to have a lot of fun taking you and your filthy traitor baby out of this world Aurora!" she cackled as she sent another spell at me which I quickly deflected. All was going well till she spotted Severus and gave me a wicked smile saying "So I may not be able to harm you it seems but I can easily take out the one you love!"

She aimed a curse at him while his back was turned and with out even thinking I threw myself in front of it taking the full blast to my chest. I let out a yell of pain as I fell to the floor with one hand clutching my chest and the other my stomach. I could hear someone calling out my name but everything was going fuzzy, all I could feel was the sensation of apparating and soon I was in a lonely tower of the castle. "Aurora oh Aurora why. Why did you do that, how am I suppose to protect you now. I have no way of healing this spell! Damn it Aurora why!" I heard Severus cry out and I felt tears that weren't my own hit my cheeks.

"She was going to hit you Severus … I just didn't want to watch you d-Ahhh!" I cried out holding onto my stomach as a sharp pain suddenly shot through it like a bolt of lightening. Then I felt something warm and gooey start to slide down my legs. At first I didn't know what was going on since my mind was so foggy but then it hit me and I yelled still in pain "I- I'm having the baby!"

Snape POV

No this couldn't be happening right now of all times. I was watching my wife, the love of my life slowly dieing in front of my eyes but on top of it now she was going into labor. If she didn't make it through the labor I couldn't bare to think what might happen to the baby … "Aurora you have to stay with me ok. I know everything must hurt and this isn't going to be easy but you have to stay with me. Just think soon we are going to have a sweet baby girl or boy here with us think of that ok, you just have to stay with me!" I cried gripping onto her hand and wiping the hair off of her sweaty forehead.

It had been half an hour since I had managed to bring her up here and with each passing minute things seemed to be getting worse. She was just bleeding so much and even with all my magic I just couldn't find anyway to save her from what I knew was going to happen. "Severus everything is going black I cant hold on much longer." she managed to say through cry's of pain and deep breaths. "I want our baby to live Severus I have to try to push it out now." she said through gritted teeth as she squeezed her eyes closed.

I knew it was probably to early but seeing the tortured look on her face I knew that at least I had to try. Reluctantly I gave her a kiss and moved so that I could do what I could to try and help her. I don't know how long it took but to my surprise I soon had a beautiful baby in my arms with light almost silver blonde hair and startling green eyes.

"What is it?" I heard Aurora's weak voice call out. I wrapped our precious newborn in my cloak and helped Aurora hold the baby in her arms. "Oh my … its a beautiful baby girl." she whispered as the tears flowed down her eyes and I started to cry too. Not just because I now had a daughter but because I saw the light fading away in Aurora's eyes. "Severus … name her after Lilly." she whispered before using her last bit of strength to hand me our baby girl. I took our baby in my arms and bent down to give her a final kiss before she closed her eyes and I knew they would never reopen.

My sobs now mixed with the cries of my daughter and seeing the tears in her eyes, that were so much like her mothers I pulled her closer to me trying to sooth her. "Its ok little one Daddy is here." I cooed the way I thought Aurora would have then I remembered she had to have a name. Aurora told me that I should name her after Lilly but … that's when the perfect name came to me.

As her sobbing started to settle down I bent my face close to hers and whispered "Your mother died to bring you into this world, she was so brave just like I know you will be my precious and your eyes are just like hers and also just like my first love's. So your name will be Aurora Lilly Snape, the name of your mother who I loved more then anything and the name of the girl who I first opened my heart to. And I promise that I will protect you at whatever cost."

As I said this with tears in my eyes her tears stopped and she reached up to touch my face, in the process wiping a tear away. In that moment staring into her bright sparkling green eyes I felt almost happy. I may have lost Aurora but part of her was living in this beautiful little girl and I made a promise to myself right then and there that I would make sure that no matter what might happen to me, my daughter would survive.