Poles Apart

by Slytherin99

Snape survived, but in a coma. Headmistress McGonagall arranges for a Russian professor to take over teaching potions, but she has some secrets of her own...and that's only the beginning of the story. Post DH, mostly compliant, perhaps AU, with several OCs. Rated M for safety. Chapter 6-10 revised 1/30/15.

4. Chapter 11 to 15

Chapter 11

When Severus came in that evening, Ana was curled up on the couch with the latest Potions Monthly, absorbed in an article on the recent discovery of a new species of flobberworm in Jakarta.

"How was your day?" She asked, smiling up at him.

"Dreadful." He sighed, warming his hands at the fire. "Among other entertaining things, Miss Burnam turned Oskar Filton-Smythe into a newt. We spent the last thirty minutes of class trying to catch him so I could return him to his original form."

Ana giggled. Well, so far, so good, she thought. I don't think he suspects anything…yet.

"Would you like a glass of firewhiskey, perhaps a bath before we go to dinner?" She asked lightly, marking her place in her magazine and rising from the couch.

"I thought you didn't approve." He smirked, turning to give her a hug and brief kiss.

"Oh, it's just that I don't like the smell of it. Just brush your teeth before you kiss me." She replied innocently, walking over to the decanter and pouring two fingers of the golden liquor into a glass. Turning to face him, she held the glass up to her nose, sniffing. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, she put it to her mouth and took a sip, grimacing as the fiery liquor burned her throat.

"If you don't like the way it smells, then why take a sip, witch?" Severus snapped, walking over to take the glass from her. She had anticipated this, and easily avoided him, deftly slipping past him to stand by the fireplace.

"I'll pour you another glass." She smirked, noting the signs of panic manifesting in his expression.

"You shouldn't-"

"Shouldn't what? Pour you another glass?" She teased. By now, he was looking rather pale, more so than usual.

Taking pity on him, she walked over and handed him the glass with a sigh, faking a pout.

Almost time for this charade to end, she thought.

"Oh, here you go." She sighed, smiling playfully and handing him the glass. "I was just teasing you."

As she watched closely, he took a sip. He frowned, and then sniffed at the liquor, his face a neutral mask.

"Something wrong?" Ana asked lightly, all innocence.

He can tell it's not in there, she thought, making sure her Occulmency shields were secure. He knows that there's something up now.

"Um…no." He said quickly, "Nothing is wrong. It…it's just been a long day."

She smirked, and then walked back to the couch to pick up her magazine, sitting down and putting her stocking feet up with a sigh. Severus casually walked to the other end of the couch to sit down with his glass, lifting her feet and depositing them in his lap.

"A long day for you, too?" He said gently, one hand idly rubbing her aching foot.

"Yes." She sighed, relaxing. He was so good with his hands.

I almost regret what I will have to do to him, she thought sadly, allowing a bit of her sadness to slip past her Occulmency shields. Just enough to tempt him.

"You seem to be worried about something?" He said, smirking at the surprise on her face.

"What? Oh…" She sighed, shifting her feet slightly. "Oh, that's wonderful. Do the right one, it's been cramping terribly all day in the instep…

"I'm not sure," Ana said, "but I think a student may have been stealing from the Potions storeroom." She said, carefully monitoring his reaction. "I've spent most of the afternoon checking the inventory. There isn't much missing, but I'm concerned…"

"Hm…I've had that problem before." He said thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration. "What was it, boomslang skin, lacewing flies? Probably someone's planning to brew some Polyjuice potion, no doubt up to no good. Harmless, for the most part. The last time it happened, there was a mistake and the student partially turned herself into a cat."

"That's what I'm concerned about, Severus." Ana said softly, putting a worried expression on her face. "It's a restricted ingredient, and it's being taken from the restricted ingredients storage. If I don't find out who's taking it, I could possibly lose my job, my license as a Potions Mistress. Not to mention what might happen if a student hurt themselves with it."

"What is going missing?"

"Tears of the Poppy. There was a vial that had about 300 milliliters at the beginning of the term, and now it's down to 200. I just figured it out today. I don't understand it; we only keep it on hand for making potions that might be needed by the Hospital wing."

By now, his hand was still, though it still rested lightly on her right foot. He was very pale, almost ghostly, and a thin film of sweat coated his brow as he stared fixedly into the fire.

"Severus?" Ana said, touching him on the arm, truly concerned now. Oh, dear. I've gone too far with this.

"Hm?"

"Are you alright, darling? You look…pale."

"I…I'll be alright, dear." He switched the glass from his left hand to his right, and smiled at her, hoping to distract her from his left hand.

It was too late for that; as she had already noticed that it was trembling.

oOo

"Severus?"

He turned to see Ana in the doorway to the Potions storeroom, her bathrobe on, her feet bare on the cold stone floor.

"What are you doing here at one in the morning?" She said sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "I woke up and was cold…"

"I…couldn't sleep." He lied quickly. "I was thinking, got an idea…"

"Severus, don't lie to me." Ana sighed, putting her hand in her pocket.

Merlin, I don't want to do this, she thought sadly.

"I-"

"Is this what you are looking for?" She said, holding up a small bottle.

He froze in place, paling visibly.

oOo

"You need to talk to Poppy." Ana said, fighting to keep her anger out of her voice. "She can get you something to help with the pain. Legally."

"I can take care of myself." He snapped, opening his book. Their arguing had followed this pattern for the last week; she tried to have a reasonable discussion, and he would have none of it.

I've about had enough of this дерьмo, she thought angrily.

"Don't you ignore me." She said, snatching the book from his hands and putting it on his writing desk. "You're addicted. You know as well as I, that it doesn't fix the problem; it only helps with the pain. Now, Healer Drake down in Pemberton has been experimenting with using extract of sativa root with mandrake to regenerate nerve cells-"

"Oh, there you go again with the Healer Drake nonsense." He hissed angrily, on his feet, towering over her.

I will not allow him to bully me, Ana thought grimly, folding her arms and glaring up at him defiantly. He glared right back.

"I know you think she's a quack." She said, fighting to stay calm. "But in just this month's Potions Monthly, she has an article published that-"

"Rubbish." He snapped, shoving his trembling left hand into his pants pocket.

Ana sighed heavily, closing her eyes.

"Severus, please. Please listen to me. Look at me." She said, opening her gray eyes to look deeply into his, taking his face gently in her hands and turning his face toward hers.

"I love you." She said softly. "I don't want you to suffer. I want you to be better."

He still glared at her, but said nothing. A good sign, she thought. At least he's listening.

"I can make you something, a potion for the pain…but it's experimental, something I've been working on for a while." She said, hesitating. If word of what she was planning to do got to the right ears, she'd never hold a potions license again.

"I'll control the dosage, and monitor how often you take it." She continued, ignoring the queasy feeling in her gut. "There will be only one vial that we'll use, and I'll be putting a charm on it to monitor…how you use it."

She looked up at him nervously, afraid to go on.

"Go on." He sighed. "Tell me what you want in return for this."

"I want you to go see Healer Drake." She replied, looking at him sharply when he frowned. "I know you think she's a quack, but she may be on to something with her research."

"Just go see her?" He growled.

"Go talk to her." Ana said, putting both hands on his shoulders. "Read her research papers. I'm not saying she's right on everything, but what if she is? It could help your nerve damage. You could not need the pain potion at all, eventually."

Please, Severus, she thought, dropping her Occulmency shields completely. I love you; I just want you to be well. It hurts me so to see you suffer.

Sighing, he gave in.

"You really do love me." He said softly.

"I do." She smirked, her heart leaping in joy.

"You can stop shouting your thoughts at me, silly witch."

She smiled brightly, and then her smile faded abruptly.

"What?" he sighed. "What's wrong?"

"I just remembered…" She said miserably, picking at a button on his shirt. "You'll have to be…clean to take the potion I'll be making for you. I…it…if you have any Tears of the Poppy in your system when you take it, it may not be effective. Everything has to be balanced, or it may not work."

"In other words, I'll have to quit." He said, rubbing his chin in thought.

Ana nodded mutely, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"I…let me work on it some more, maybe there's a way…" She said, trailing off when he shook his head at her.

"I'm assuming the potion has angel's wing in it…" Severus said, and when Ana nodded her head, went on, "That's the only thing I know of that reacts with Tears of the Poppy to any degree."

"We can put it off, at least until I come up with an alternative for the angel's wing…" She began, but he put his finger to her lips, hushing her.

"We'd be putting it off a long time." He sighed. "The only thing we can do is for me to quit, 'cold turkey,' as the Yanks would put it."

"Oh, Severus…that's going to be awful for you."

"I've survived the Cruciatus curse, several times, in fact." He sighed. "I can't see as withdrawal from opiate addiction can be much worse."

She sighed. There was one last thing she needed to say, and it was the thing that she feared most.

"I…I'm going to ward the Potions storeroom…" She said quietly. "Just the restricted section. But…you know why."

She tensed, watching him closely, dreading the explosion that she was sure would come.

He glared at her for a moment, then his expression softened, and he hung his head a bit.

"I…yes, that's a good idea." He sighed. "I would suggest you hide my wand when it begins, also."

oOo

They decided to start the process a few days before the holiday break for Christmas and New Year's; nearly all of the students would be gone from Hogwarts. Ana had given him his last dose of Tears of the Poppy in a bit of firewhiskey just before dinner on Friday, after the students had left on holiday. After dinner, they had retired to their quarters, and spent most of the evening on the couch.

Ana awoke late the next morning to find him pacing the sitting room, rubbing his arms and sniffing as if he had a cold. He was dressed in old, faded blue jeans, trainers, and a weathered t-shirt from a muggle rock band concert tour. When Severus saw her come in, he walked over to her and handed her his wand.

"Better give it to you now." He smiled wanly.

"Is it bad yet?" She asked, sliding the wand into the pocket of her bathrobe.

"No." He sighed. "It's tolerable now. It will get worse, I'm sure."

Ana sat down on the couch, tucking her feet up under herself to keep them warm.

"What do you want to do about meals?" She asked, "While you are, um…"

"Sick? Well, we can get the house elves to bring food down here to us." He smiled. "I'm sure they'll be delighted to have someone to serve while most everyone is gone."

"Are these early symptoms?" She asked, watching him pace.

"I think so." He answered, continuing to pace. "If I remember correctly, we can expect agitation, anxiety, muscle aches, insomnia, runny nose, sweating…most of the symptoms are similar to the flu. That's what I told Minerva, by the way…that I thought I was coming down with the flu. It should keep anyone from visiting us over the holidays, at least."

"And later on?"

"We may see more flu-like symptoms. Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea."

"Oh, dear." She said, grimacing. "How long will it take?"

"Seven to ten days, I believe. By the time the students return, I'll still feel horrible, but I'll be over the worst of it."

"Until you start feeling the pain that you were taking the Tears of the Poppy for." She sighed. "I feel awful about this, Severus."

"Don't feel bad about it." He said gently, stopping his pacing to come over and give her a gentle kiss. "I should be apologizing to you. It was my stupidity that got me into this mess."

The fifth day, Christmas day, was the worst. Ana woke in the early morning hours, finding him gone from the bed. She put on her bathrobe and went looking for him, finding him in the bathroom, curled up on his side on the cold stone floor. Transfiguring a flannel into a pillow and a towel into a blanket, she tried to make him as comfortable as she could.

"Thank you…" He said weakly, wiping something off his lip. He'd been crouched over the loo, violently ill for at least the third time since Ana had found him.

She Accio'd a glass and filled it with water for him, helping him to sit back up. Cautiously taking a few sips, he leaned back against the wall with a sigh.

"Better?" she asked anxiously.

"Not too bad. It was worse earlier, when I actually had something to vomit." He smiled crookedly. "At least I haven't had any diarrhea, thank Merlin."

They sat together a long time, with him leaning against her, his head pillowed on her breast. She was starting to think he'd fallen asleep, when he stirred and looked at her.

"I suppose you've seen me at my worst, haven't you?" He said, smiling wanly.

"Well, you've seen me at my worst, too." She replied, caressing his hair.

"Thank you for taking such good care of me." He sighed weakly, dropping his head into her lap.

"It's my pleasure, Severus." Ana said, pulling the blanket up over him. He was shivering again, and that worried her.

oOo

Severus was wrong on one thing, though. Minerva showed up at the door on the morning of the sixth day, undeterred by Ana trying to brush her off at the door.

"Oh, nonsense." Said the Headmistress, walking into the sitting room, Ana trying valiantly to head her off before she reached it. "He never gets sick, he's always healthy as a-"

Severus glowered up at her from the couch, wrapped in blankets, his bloodshot eyes and pale complexion bearing silent witness to his condition.

"Minerva…sod off." He growled hoarsely, his voice nearly gone from spending most of the night up with the dry heaves in the bathroom.

"Severus! What on earth!" Minerva said, shocked at such rudeness.

"I told you, Headmistress. He's got the flu." Ana said, tugging at Minerva's elbow, trying to lead her out of the sitting room. "It's best if you don't visit right now, as I tried to tell you."

"Well, I hope you get well soon, Severus." Minerva snapped, leaving in a huff.

Ana saw her out, then shut the door and warded it, not wanting any more visitors.

oOo

On the seventh day, Ana woke up to find Severus up before her, sitting in his chair sipping coffee and reading The Daily Prophet.

"Good morning." She said, happy to see that he looked much better than yesterday.

"Good morning, dear." He replied.

"How do you feel?"

"Not the best, but better than yesterday. I believe the worst of it is over."

She walked over to him, took a small vial out and handed it to him.

"What's this?" He asked, looking at the vial, then up at her.

"It's the potion I promised you." She said quietly, watching him as he removed the stopper and sniffed at the contents.

"Angel's wing, asphodel…" He mused, sniffing again at the contents. Frowning, then he looked up at her, eyebrows rising. "I…is that cobra venom I smell?"

"An extract of some of the elements in cobra venom." Ana said, sitting down on the couch. "I reworked it to act as a blocker for nerve synapses. It…it's something I've been working on in my spare time. When you feel that the pain is getting to where it's unbearable, you can take a dose of it. The vial is charmed to meter out the correct dosage, and won't let you take more than you should."

"This is brilliant." He said, looking at her in wonder. "I'm quite impressed, Potions Mistress Romanov."

"Why, thank you, Potions Master Snape." She blushed, smiling. "Just let me know when you need it refilled."

oOo

February 4, 1999~

Severus' condition continued to improve; he felt so good that he was thinking he'd like to take Ana to dinner to celebrate. Humming to himself, he walked into the bedroom to ask her where she might like to go that evening, but she wasn't there.

She's usually up by now, he thought, puzzled.

Walking back into the hallway, he noticed that the bathroom door was shut.

How on earth did I not notice? He chided himself, rapping lightly on the door.

"Ana? Are you in there?" He said.

"Go away."

"Are you ill?" He said, puzzled.

"Go away!"

What the hell? He thought, backing away from the door. I suppose she will explain when she comes out.

He sighed, and then went back to the sitting room to read.

I do hope she's not ill.

Ana was sitting in her terrycloth bathrobe, her wand in her trembling hand, pointed at the door. When she was fairly certain that Severus was no longer at the door, she turned the wand toward herself. For the fourth time…or was it the fifth?

"Aperire uterum." She whispered, her voice shaky. Her wand glowed pink for several minutes.

Oh, Merlin, she groaned inwardly. It can't be. It just can't be. We've been so careful.

When she whispered the charm again, if anything, the pinkish glow was even brighter.

Я не готов иметь ребенка еще, she thought with a deep sigh.

How do I tell him this?

'Severus, you're going to be a daddy'? He'll be furious. I know he doesn't want children.

Ana cradled her head in her hands in despair, trying not to weep.

oOo

Author's notes-

"дерьмо" = shit.

(Ana sure does have an affinity for this word, doesn't she?)

Aperire uterum = (Lat.), "reveal pregnancy"

"Я не готов иметь ребенка еще." = "I'm not ready to have a baby yet."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 12

February 15th, 1999~

Nothing more had been said by Severus about that morning in the bathroom after she had explained to him that she was 'indisposed', hinting that she had started her monthlies that morning and it had been a mess. She felt guilty about lying to him, but she just couldn't face discussing it with him. Not yet.

After all, the charm could have been cast incorrectly, right? She thought as she graded essays from her fifth period class, keeping a careful eye on the first-years as they made sunburn ointment.

Surely, my period will start any day now, she sighed inwardly, chewing nervously on her lip. I've been late before. I know I've cast the contraceptive charm before every time, every single time…

Her thoughts stopped cold, a drop of red ink fell unnoticed to the parchment she was grading as the sudden realization hit home.

Except that night that he took his last dose of Tears of the Poppy, before he started on kicking the habit the next day. She groaned inwardly, dropping her quill to leave a smear of red ink across the parchment that she'd have to vanish later.

Oh, Merlin. That one time. I'd had enough firewhiskey; I might have forgotten…I don't remember casting any charms at all, let alone the Contraception Charm.

oOo

"Ana! How are you, dear?" Poppy exclaimed when she noticed Ana walking into the Hospital wing, several boxes floating along behind her.

"Fine, Poppy." Ana smiled, though she felt half sick. "I, um, brought some of the potions and ointments that you needed."

She'd skipped breakfast, and was feeling a bit lightheaded. The toast went down alright, but when she saw the eggs and bacon, she had to excuse herself to the loo. She'd nearly been late for her first period class.

"Splendid, splendid." Poppy beamed, pausing to tell one of the junior healers to take the boxes to the storeroom.

"Um, Poppy? Could I speak to you for a moment? Ana said nervously.

"Of course, dear."

"Privately?"

"Oh, of course…my office is this way." Poppy said, walking toward a doorway. Ana closed the door behind her and warded it with a silencing charm.

"I gather that this is personal, given that you've warded the door." Poppy said crisply, seating herself behind her desk.

"Very." Ana replied, sitting on a chair in front of the desk, smoothing her robes with hands that were trembling.

"My guess is that you think you might be pregnant."

Ana went completely pale, swaying for a moment in her chair. She gripped the armrests, forcing herself to breathe normally.

"I…I'm not sure, Poppy. We've been very careful-"

"Ana, I'm not going to judge you. My profession dictates that I help you." Poppy smiled gently. "Now, when was your last period, dear?"

"It was…um…November, I think." Ana said softly, trying to remember. "I…I cast the Aperire uterum charm…"

"Ah, that one. Accurate for the most part, but not that sensitive." Poppy sighed.

The Medi-witch walked around the desk and took out her wand.

"Now, this may tickle just a bit." Poppy said, waving her wand over Ana's tummy and speaking an incantation.

oOo

Ana was in a daze the rest of the day. She picked slowly at her lunch, sat staring into space getting little preparation done during her planning period, and assigned the students in her last two classes of the day simple potions that had low risk for any accidents. When the last student walked out of the classroom, she picked up her wand and closed the door.

I'm pregnant. No question about it now, Poppy confirmed it. She thought, rubbing her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Dropping her hands to her abdomen, she carefully felt of it, trying to discern if there was a bump.

Hello, in there, little person. She thought, gently caressing her tummy.

Tummy is still flat. At least, for now.

What will Severus say?

oOo

Three weeks later, Ana was at the board, writing down the assignment for her first period class. It hit her just as the students were coming in, straggling to their seats as they did every Monday morning. As the taste of bile came to her mouth, she dropped the chalk and rushed through the door into Snape's private quarters. She barely made it to the loo in time before she expelled the meager contents of her stomach, painfully hitting her knees on the stone floor as she knelt, retching.

Washing her hands and mouth with a flannel, she rinsed out her mouth, and then brushed her teeth, placing her toothbrush next to Severus' in the holder. Brushing her robes off, she walked back into the classroom, glaring at the first-years for good measure. It was wholly unnecessary; not a single one had moved after her hasty exit. Satisfied, she Accio'd another piece of chalk and finished writing the assignment, not noticing the tabby cat skulking out the door to the hallway.

She was ravenous by the time lunchtime arrived, and for a change, it actually sat well with her. Walking into the Potions classroom with a satisfied smirk on her face, she closed the door behind her, determined to get caught up on her essay grading during this planning period. As she walked toward her desk, she halted, her breath catching in her throat.

"Hello, Ana." Headmistress McGonagall said frostily, her gray eyes cold.

"Good…good afternoon, Headmistress." Ana said uneasily, struggling to keep calm.

There's no way she knows anything, she thought, but then a sinking feeling came over her as she considered how close Poppy and Minerva were.

"Ana, if you will recall," Minerva said casually, "We discussed you having a relationship with Severus, did we not?"

"Yes, Headmistress."

"Did I not make a request of you at that time?"

"You said that you approved, but we needed to be…discreet…" Ana said, her voice trailing off in a whisper.

Oh, Merlin… she thought in despair.

"You disobeyed my sole request." The Headmistress said, "With students in the classroom, you went into Severus' private quarters, with him absent from them. What on earth were you thinking, girl?"

"I…I wasn't thinking, Headmistress…"

"Obviously not. I just happened to be looking in on your class, in my transfigured form so as not to bother the students. Why did you go to Severus' quarters? You should have used yours."

"I was sick…and the bathroom in Severus' quarters is closer than the one in mine…" Ana said weakly, sinking into a seat near the front of the classroom.

"Be that as it may, it is still in Severus' quarters, and now I have to explain to students why and worse yet, what happens if any of this gets to the Board of Regents? It's not against school policies for professors, but some parents may not approve."

"I…I had morning sickness." Ana said miserably, tears welling up in her eyes. "I..I'm pregnant."

Minerva began to say something, but the shock wouldn't let her utter a word. Instead, she quickly rose and walked over to Ana, sliding her arms around her just as the younger witch collapsed in tears. Pulling out her wand, the Headmistress locked and warded the door.

"Does Severus know?" Minerva asked gently, when Ana's crying had subsided somewhat.

"No…" She replied, wiping at her nose with her hanky. "I…I haven't told him. I just went to Poppy only a few weeks ago…to make sure of it."

"Don't you think it's only fair to tell him, child?"

"Yes, I…No…I don't know. He's always told me that he didn't want any children, and now I've gone and done it…"

"Ana. Look at me." Minerva said firmly, gently taking Ana's chin and making her look up. "You've done nothing wrong. I-"

"I forgot to cast the contraceptive charm; I'm the one at fault."

"Nonsense. He shares part of the blame, doesn't he?" Minerva sighed. "You need to tell him, dear."

"I…I can't." Ana said, shrinking back. "He…I…"

Minerva sighed.

"I just can't, Headmistress. Not yet." Ana whispered.

oOo

She was sitting on the couch, reading through Hilton's Flora of the East Indies, when Severus came in and deftly took the book from her hands, marking her spot and putting it on the writing desk before she could stop him.

"Hey! I was reading that!" She protested weakly.

"I believe that you have something else to do tonight, Professor Romanov." He said silkily, dropping an envelope in her lap. "Consider it a reward for your…assistance this past month, and also as an apology for my rude behavior."

Frowning at him, she picked up the envelope, examining it curiously.

"Well, open it." He said, with no small amount of impatience.

Inside were two tickets, for a box seat at the London Coliseum. As she read the tickets, her jaw dropped.

"Severus…Swan Lake…the Kirov Ballet…" She whispered, her eyes unable to focus well due to tears welling up. "You…"

"Dry your eyes and get dressed for dinner, darling." He said, giving her a gentle kiss on her forehead. "We need to leave in an hour so we may have dinner before the ballet."

oOo

When they'd finished with dinner, just a light meal at a very good Italian restaurant close to the Coliseum, they still had a half hour till the ballet. Deciding to go for a short walk, they found a park nearby.

On a park bench sat a young girl, about six years old perhaps. She was sniffling, shivering in the cold, and looking completely forlorn. Ana looked around, puzzled, seeing no adult in sight save for herself and Severus. He had momentarily left her to look at the lake, watching the swans swim gracefully along the shore.

"Severus?" She called out to him.

"Yes?" He said, turning toward her. Ana could tell when he noticed the little girl; an odd expression came over his face. It was difficult to read it, though she felt she could see sadness mixed with anger in his dark eyes.

"Do you see her parents anywhere?" She asked him, concerned now that she'd looked at the girl a bit more. She had no mittens or gloves, and one of her little fur boots was missing.

Severus glanced around, scrutinizing the surroundings.

"I don't see anyone around." He said, walking over to the child. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the imposing man looming over her. Ana was certain that the girl would run away.

Then Severus knelt in the dirty snow on the path in front of the park bench, speaking to the child so softly that Ana couldn't hear him.

Oh, Merlin, she thought, her heart giving a lurch as old terrors resurfaced, curling icy fingers around it.

I remember now.

oOo

S. V. Razin, Зелья и Подвески, the faded letters read on the battered wooden sign in front of the tiny cottage as it swayed in the wind. It was barely visible in the snow that swirled around it, drifting up against the picket fence in the front yard. The tall, slender figure in black hefted his burden, knocking sharply on the wooden door.

A bit of movement from inside, some muffled conversation, and the locks being unlocked, and the door eased open a crack. A woman in her fifties, perhaps, peered out into the night.

"Кто ты?" She grumbled, blocking the door with her shoulder, "Что ты имеешь в виду, мешая нам в такой час? Ведь это почти полночь!"

"Ludmilla, please! It's freezing out here." The man snapped back.

The woman's jaw dropped.

"Severus?" She gasped in astonishment, and then jerked the door open.

"Ради бога, женщина, закрыл эту дверь!" Shouted the old man in the armchair as the wind howled into the house, scattering parchments everywhere that the man was sorting through on a small table before him.

Severus stepped into the house, his tiny burden shivering against him, her fingers knotted in his robes in a death grip. The young man, barely out of his teens, felt incredibly uncomfortable carrying a child on his hip.

"It's Severus Snape, Stenka!" Ludmilla snapped at the old wizard. She reached up to peek under the blanket wrapped around the child, the two gray eyes in the pale face glaring at her mistrustfully. The child turned her head away from the woman, her auburn hair obscuring her face as she burrowed deeper into Severus' robes.

"What's going on here, Severus?" Stenka Razin said, having gathered his windblown parchments and setting them back on the table. "What's this, now?"

"Death Eater raid." Said the young man, electing to not mention his involvment. "I…just happened to be nearby, heard the commotion. I…found this survivor."

"Come, come, bring her over by the fireplace," Ludmilla said, taking Severus by his arm to guide him to the couch by the fire. "Poor thing, she's chilled to the bone."

"Is she a Muggle?" Stenka said, frowning and peering at the girl through his thick spectacles that he used for reading.

"No, at least, I don't think so. From what I learned from the house I found her in, her last name is Romanov. I don't know much else. She was hiding in a closet from werewolves when I found her."

"Well, what do you intend to do with her, Severus? Raise her as your own?"

"I…no, I can't care for her, Stenka." Severus said, a bit flustered now. "I didn't exactly have a plan when I drove away the werewolves and picked her up. I'm only twenty years old. I'm too young to have a child around. I…just can't take care of her, I have no idea what to do…"

"Then leave her with us, Severus." Ludmilla said, coaxing the little girl to accept a mug of hot chocolate. "Our son Alexei…he's been gone five years now, Merlin rest his soul. I always wanted a little girl to take care of."

And with that, it was done. The Razins would raise the girl as their own, seeing that she was taken care of. Severus breathed a sigh of relief, sipping a mug of hot chocolate, warming himself until he had to venture out into the biting wind and snow, never to see the child again.

He failed to notice that her gray eyes never left him the entire time he was there, as if she were committing his face to memory.

oOo

"Ana?" Severus said, his face concerned.

She blinked, as if she were coming out of a deep trance. Severus stood before her; the little girl perched on his hip, wrapped in his heavy winter cloak. She felt her heart give a funny little lurch.

She could be his daughter…our daughter. She thought, feeling a bit dazed. Our daughter…would she have black hair like him, or auburn, like mine?

Will her eyes be gray, or black…like his?

"Ana, are you alright?" He said, breaking into her reverie.

"I…um, yes, Severus." She said hesitantly. "I'm…just a bit surprised. I thought you weren't comfortable with children."

"Well, no, I'm not." He admitted, frowning a bit as the little girl laid her head against his shoulder. "But I'm not about to leave her out in the cold, all alone. I'm sure her parents are frantic by now. Her name is Cecilia, by the way, and she lives in Bristol."

"How do you know that?"

"She told me, of course. Along with the fact that she wanted a pony for Christmas, but she didn't get one. She got a puppy instead, and his name is Snuffles."

"I see." Ana smiled.

"What should we do?" Ana asked, subtly using her wand to put a warming charm on the girl's feet and hands.

"Thank you for doing that; I can't get to my wand right now." Severus said, looking over his shoulder. "There's a police call box right over there. All I know to do is call the police and see if there is anyone in the area missing a child."

In the end, they missed the ballet completely. They ended up going to the police station to wait for the parents to arrive, breathless and panicked after having searched for two hours around the park for their daughter. The mother was nearly hysterical with joy and relief, hugging her daughter tightly and alternating between hugging Ana and an embarrassed Severus, who was mainly occupied in having his hand shook by the grateful father. The police interviewed both Severus and Ana, and then released them to go their way.

"Well now…" Severus said, "That was interesting. I'm sorry that we missed the ballet."

"It's alright." Ana said softly. "I saw a side of you I don't think I've seen much of."

He raised an eyebrow at her and frowned.

"And what side is that?"

"That you're actually very good with children." She said, sliding her hand through his arm as they walked down the sidewalk. "Cecilia wouldn't even look at me until her parents got there; she was clinging so tightly to you."

"Oh, you're just scary." He smirked. "Goes with being a Potions Mistress. DADA professors are much less frightening."

"Insufferable git." She huffed in mock annoyance, playfully batting at his arm.

For several minutes, they walked quietly toward the apparition point. Gradually, snow began to fall, slowly beginning to cover the sidewalk in a fresh white blanket.

"You're being very quiet." Severus remarked, his breath forming a cloud before him.

"I'm just thinking." Ana sighed, "I know you said you didn't want children. Why?"

"When did I ever say that?"

"I don't know…I guess…"

"It's not that I don't want children." He sighed. "I'm just afraid I wouldn't be a good father. My own childhood left much to be desired. I…I fear I just wouldn't be very good at it."

"I love you, you silly wizard." She smirked. "You would be a great father, I just know it."

He stopped and looked at her oddly, his black eyes boring into hers. She quickly made sure her Occulmency shields were secure, half panicking that he suspected already.

"I love you, too, you silly witch." He said finally, frowning. "But just what are you up to? Hmm?"

"Nothing, Severus." She said casually. "It's just that…that little girl. You holding her…well, it just looked so natural."

"She needed someone to protect her, to help her." He sighed. "I did what any decent man should do."

She slid her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her.

"That's part of why I love you so much, Severus." She whispered." You're the most decent man I've ever known."

oOo

Author's notes-

"Зелья и Подвески": "Potions & Charms"

"Кто ты?" : "Who are you?"

"Что ты имеешь в виду, мешая нам в такой час? Ведь это почти полночь!" : "What do you mean, disturbing us at this hour? Why, it's nearly midnight!"

"Ради бога, женщина, закрыл эту дверь!" : "For god's sake, woman, shut that door!"

Trivia: Stenka Razin was a Cossack leader who led a major uprising against the nobility and Tsar's bureaucracy in South Russia from 1660-1671.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 13

He was hiding, in the attic this time. It was the only safe way to practice.

Lifting his wand, he concentrated on the feather that lay before him on the wooden box.

"Wingardium Leviosa." He said softly, fearful that he might be heard, even though he was sure that Father wasn't home yet from the mill.

The feather shifted slightly. Almost got it, he thought triumphantly.

Concentrating harder, he lifted his wand again.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" He said, making sure that he got the wand motion exactly right.

The feather floated lazily upward to hover just above the level of his head. Severus grinned, joyful in his success.

A huge hand snatched the feather from the air, crushing it.

"How many times do I have ta' tell you, boy?" Tobias Snape roared, clouting Severus on the ear, knocking him down as he tried to escape. "No more magic! Ever!"

"Tobias, please-" His mother's frightened voice rang out, but was cut short with a cry of pain as her husband backhanded her, nearly knocking her down the attic stairs. Eileen Snape cringed in pain, holding her jaw, backing away from her husband.

"Don't you hurt her!" Severus screamed, fists punching ineffectually at his father's massive back.

His father turned, grabbing him by the throat in an iron grip.

"No, laddie…I'll hurt you instead. You freak of nature! You abomination!"

Severus scratched at his father's hand, feeling his vision going dark-

-Severus sat up, gasping, struggling for air.

Ana woke up immediately, sitting up in the bed. One glance told her all she needed to know.

"Bad dream?" She asked softly, rubbing his back with one hand. He was trembling with fear, shivering as she touched him.

Severus nodded his head, still breathing as if he'd just run a foot race. She slid her arms around him, kissing him gently on the cheek.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, knowing he wouldn't. Severus shook his head, shuddering slightly.

"Lie down, then." She said, pulling him down to the bed with her, coaxing him to lay his head on her breast.

"It's alright, Severus. You're safe now." Ana said gently, stroking his hair, whispering words of comfort as he slowly relaxed.

oOo

In April, Poppy and Minerva cornered her after lunch. Ana looked around frantically for Severus, for a way to escape, but it was hopeless. Minerva took her firmly by the arm and marched her into an empty classroom. Poppy locked and warded the door behind them.

"Have you told him yet?" Snapped the Headmistress, crossing her arms and glaring at Ana.

"Um…no…"

Minerva sighed heavily.

"And just when do you plan to break the news, girl? When you're starting to show? You're what, three months along?"

"I just haven't found the right time, Headmistress." Ana replied, eyes darting toward the door. Poppy was standing in front of it. The Medi-witch caught Ana's nervous glance and smiled, shaking her head.

The message was clear. No, you're not going to escape.

"Ana, he has a right to know. It's his child, too." Minerva said gently. "I know Severus pretty well. Even if he does get upset, it will blow over quickly. Just go ahead and tell him."

"I…I just don't…I haven't found the right way to say it. I feel stupid enough for forgetting to cast the contraceptive charm, and-"

"Ana, do you know how many mistakes Severus has made in his life?" Poppy said, leaning against the door. "If anyone knows the value of forgiveness, he does. Besides, you're assuming an awful lot to think that he will be angry with you. Just talk to him about having children, that you'd like to start a family someday. See how he reacts."

"I have talked to him a bit about children." Ana sighed. "He doesn't mind children, but he's afraid he wouldn't be a good father, mainly because of his own childhood."

"Nonsense." Minerva said firmly. "I've known Severus since he was eleven years old, and his parents, too. His father, Tobias, was a right bastard, and worse when he was drinking. But Ana, Severus is nothing like him. Not at all, or he wouldn't be teaching here. Severus took after his mother."

"Aye," Poppy chipped in, nodding her head in agreement. "I never knew what Eileen saw in Tobias, anyway. She was a beautiful witch, could have married much better than him."

"Who's Tobias?" Ana asked, thoroughly confused now. "Severus has never mentioned him…his father?"

"Aye, and not worthy of the title," Minerva sighed. "Tobias was a large man; Severus inherited his height from his father, but not the build. Tobias worked at the mill down by Spinner's End; at least, he did until it closed."

"Then he worked at crawling into a bottle," Poppy huffed, "When he wasn't beating on Eileen or Severus, or some of his no-account friends at the pub."

"Poppy!" Minerva said sharply.

"Well, its true, Minerva, and you know it." Poppy snapped back, and then turned her gaze to Ana. "I can't tell you much because of privacy regulations, but I've treated a certain young man more than once for suspicious injuries after he returned from home over the holidays. And that young man got to where he didn't go home on holiday at all, not even during the summer."

Minerva sighed.

"I'll tell him soon, I promise." Ana said, thinking it wise to change the subject. As much as I'd like to know more about Severus and his life before me, she thought, I think this subject is one I'd rather not hear any more on. Unless it's from Severus.

oOo

I'm going to tell him tonight, she thought as her last period class came to an end. She gathered the parchments as the students turned them in, stacking them neatly for grading later.

Except, he didn't come home. She went to dinner, hoping that he'd just worked late, only to find that he'd left after classes for Hogsmeade on an errand for the Headmistress.

"Honestly, Ana, I thought he would be back by now." Minerva said, with a sigh of exasperation. "I didn't intend for him to be gone all evening."

"Don't worry, Headmistress." Ana said, trying to hide her unease. It wasn't like Severus to not let her know when he was going to be away. "I'm sure he just stopped in at The Three Broomsticks, or somewhere for dinner. He should be back soon."

She picked at her food, drawing a scolding look from Poppy, after which she made more of an effort. But her eyes kept straying to the doors of the Great Hall, hoping that he would come in, scowling because of some delay that kept him from arriving on time for dinner.

Oh, Merlin. Please come back, Severus. She thought, struggling to keep her face unreadable, though her fear was gnawing at her.

After dinner, she sat in the Potions classroom, grading essays. It was something to keep her mind occupied while she waited.

The clock struck nine, and then ten. Other than the regular ticking of the clock in the Potions lab, the only other sound in the room was her quill scratching on the parchment.

The clock struck eleven, and still no sign of Severus. She laid her quill down.

"Ivan." She called softly. The Eagle owl gracefully unfolded his wings and sailed over to her desk, waiting expectantly.

Taking a scrap of parchment out, she wrote,

Where are you? I'm worried. A.

"Найти Северус." She said softly to the owl, tying the parchment to his leg. Если он не пострадал, вернуться, чтобы сказать мне, где он."

Opening the window, she watched the owl soar away into the night.

I'd better get prepared, she thought. I don't know why, but I have a very bad feeling about this.

oOo

The decrepit shack sat a distance away from Hogsmeade, just over the hill, near a wooded area. One might think it abandoned, save for a thin tendril of smoke from the chimney and the dim light from an oil lamp glowing in the single window.

"Bastard." Alecto Carrow spat, viciously kicking the man on the floor again, grinning as she heard ribs crack.

"Give it a rest, sis." Amycus sighed, idly toying with Severus' wand. "We got all night. Snape ain't goin' nowheres."

"He sold us all out, the traitor!" She raged, spitting on Severus again. "'E was workin' for Dumbledore all along! He betrayed our Lord!"

Picking up a bloodstained dagger that lay on the table, Alecto turned back to Severus.

Alecto smirked, sitting back to watch the show.

A flying board hit his head with a wet crack, as the door blew inward with a deafening explosion. Amycus slumped to the floor, twitched a bit, and then was still.

Numbly, Alecto stood, turning toward the door as Ana charged toward her, followed by Hagrid and Minerva. As Ana reached her, Alecto stabbed downward, aiming for her heart. Ana blocked it with her left arm, the dagger sinking to the hilt in to her forearm.

"Got you, bitch!" Alecto smirked in triumph, pulling out her wand. Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise, the wand falling from nerveless fingers.

"Неправильный." Ana said coldly, grey eyes smoldering in rage. "Ты мертв, сука. Счастливого пути в ад."

With that, Ana stepped back from Alecto, twisting her dagger, then yanking it out of the other woman's heart. Alecto gasped, fighting for breath, a trickle of blood dribbling down her chin as she slowly bled out, sliding to the floor. Ana knelt by her to tear a strip of cloth from the corpse's robes, wiping her dagger clean, and then burning the cloth with a softly muttered 'Incendio'.

"Blimey…right through the heart." Hagrid said softly, half to himself, lowering his pink umbrella. "I'm sure of it now. I don't ever want 'er mad at me."

Sheathing her dagger, Ana knelt beside Severus, checking his pulse with trembling fingers.

"He's alive." She said, her voice cracking slightly. Minerva walked over from Amycus' body, having confirmed that he was dead.

"I'll take him to Poppy." The Headmistress said quietly, then as Ana began to protest, gently took her by the arm. "No, you don't need to take him. There's too much chance you could splinch…both of you."

"But I need to-"

"No buts, young lady." Minerva said firmly. "You let Hagrid bring you back. Look at your hands, child. You're shaking like a leaf."

Taking hold of Severus, the Headmistress apparated away with a 'crack'.

Ana sighed, then reached over and yanked the dagger out of her left arm, wincing at the faint metallic squeal as it came free.

"Blimey." Hagrid breathed, a horrified expression on his face. The half-giant looked as if he might faint.

"Pull yourself together, Hagrid." Ana said sharply, fighting to hide her own unsteadiness. "We need to get back to Hogwarts."

oOo

He opened his eyes slowly, carefully.

Merlin, I'm sore, Severus thought, shifting slightly in the hospital bed. Through the window, he could see the Whomping Willow in the distance.

Looks like Poppy gave me my usual room. Déjà vu.

Looking around the room, he saw Ana curled up in an armchair, covered up with a blanket, sound asleep. Auburn hair spilled wildly around her head, propped up on one hand. Her right hand and the sleeve of her robes were stained with something that looked suspiciously like dried blood. As he watched her sleep, she slowly stirred and opened her eyes.

"I…good morning." She said, yawning.

"Looks like it's nearly noon, or after." He pointed out.

"I hadn't noticed."

He smirked, and then shifted in the bed a bit, grimacing in pain.

"Pain?" She asked, concern in her eyes.

"No, thank you. I have all I need."

Ana rolled her eyes and sighed at the bad joke.

"How did they capture you?" Ana asked, smirking slightly. His injuries hadn't been that severe; just a few superficial cuts and some broken ribs. She shuddered to think of what those two psychopaths might have done if she hadn't arrived in time; no doubt, much worse things had been planned.

"I got careless." He sighed. "I was in Knockturn Alley, picking up a few things for Minerva, when I saw Alecto run around a corner…and when I went after her, her brother was waiting for me with a Stunner. A rather foolish mistake on my part."

"I'm glad we got there in time." Ana said soberly.

"Me, too."

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"Promise me something."

"Yes?"

"Promise me that you won't chase down former Death Eaters, even if they look like they are alone." Ana said sharply. "Because that's pretty dumb, and you're smarter than that."

"I promise I won't chase Death Eaters."

"Even if they look like they're alone." She prodded.

"Even if they look like they're alone." Severus sighed, giving in.

"Because I need you." Ana said softly. "I don't want to have to grieve for you just yet."

"Silly witch, you will have me around for a while yet." He smirked. "Poppy says that I should be able to leave the Hospital wing in a day or so."

She sat for a long while, silently picking at a loose thread on the blanket, fighting to maintain some semblance of control over her emotions as she struggled inwardly.

With a sigh of resignation, she got up, dropping the blanket in a heap on the chair, and walked over to the bed. Taking out her wand, she widened the hospital bed, and then lay down next to Severus carefully, careful to avoid his injuries. Tears were silently streaming down her cheeks as his arm came around her, pulling her to him in a hug.

For a long while, she wept, while he simply held her with the one arm, softly murmuring endearments into her hair.

"I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." She whispered hoarsely, when she was finished crying. His slender fingers traced a calming pattern on her back, sliding gently over her robes.

"I'm fine, dear." He said, pulling her near enough to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "It would take more than a few cuts and broken bones to kill me."

"Severus…"

"Yes?"

"If I did something…really dumb…hypothetically, of course…would you be angry with me?" She asked hesitantly, nervously picking at a bit of lint on the blanket.

"I suppose it would depend on what it was. Severus said thoughtfully. "Hypothetically, I doubt you could do much of anything to make me angry."

"I…I see."

"Hypothetically… what might you have done?"

"I…think…back before Christmas, when you were kicking the habit…I forgot tocastthecontraceptivecharm." She said nervously, running all the words together, her voice trailing off into a whisper.

"I beg pardon?" He frowned, "I think I heard you say something about the contraceptive charm…did you forget to cast it?"

"I…I don't know." She said miserably, unable to look at him. "I…I've been careful, but…I'm not sure if I did the one time. It was the night that I gave you the last dose of Tears of the Poppy, before you…"

"Ah…I understand." He sighed, recalling that evening, and the night that followed. "We might have been a bit distracted that night…and possibly intoxicated."

"Um…Severus…I'm pregnant." She whispered, bracing herself.

"Don't worry."

"No, listen! I'm pregnant. With our baby." Ana said, trembling. "What are we going to do?"

"Well, to start with, you can stop worrying so much." He said, giving her another kiss on the forehead. "I'm not angry with you, witch. These things happen, you know."

"I know, but I should have-"

"Ana." He said gently. "I didn't plan to be a father, and I'm sure that you didn't plan to become a mother. I'm willing to try to be a father. That is, if you want me to."

"Why would say that?" She said, sitting up to look at him. "Of course I want you to! I just didn't want you to think that I was trying to entrap you-"

"Oh, nonsense." He said, "We've been living together since the beginning of the school year. This may not be planned, but it's happened. No sense worrying about it."

"Besides," Severus sighed, "It's probably about time, anyway. Fate seems to have intervened."

She just looked at him, stunned.

"Don't look so surprised." He sighed. "You've seen how I am with children. They adore me, even though I'm not always fond of them. I…may not always like my students, but I care about them. I…just don't know how to be a father. I didn't have a very good father to model myself after."

"You did very well with Cecilia, in the park."

"I suppose so. I'm sure she would have latched on to anyone kind and willing to help her that night."

"Severus, you will make a wonderful father." She said softly. "I just know it."

He frowned as the door opened and Poppy came into the room with a tray of potions.

"Time for your potions, Severus." The medi-witch said brightly, coming over to set the tray on the bedside table. "Blood-replenishing potion, Pain-reliever potion…"

"Yes, yes…I know Poppy." He sighed, rolling his eyes at Ana. "And the Dreamless Sleep. Can't I take that later, after I visit with my lovely witch a while longer?"

"You can if you wish to stay another day." Poppy said, chuckling. "If you take it now, it will be worn off by morning and you should be able to go back to your quarters. But, if you would rather stay up here with me instead-"

"Alright, I'll take the thrice-dammed potion." Severus hissed irritably. Taking the potions as Poppy handed them to him one by one, he downed them, grimacing at the iron taste of the Blood-replenishing potion.

"Oh, and Professor Romanov? Be sure to return my bed to the condition it was in when you leave."

"I will, Poppy." Ana blushed, watching the older woman leave the room.

Ana sat on the bed with him, wanting to spend what little time she had until he fell asleep with him. After about ten minutes, his speech began to be a bit slurred.

"I'm going to get a Muggle marker and draw on your face when you fall asleep." She teased.

"You wouldn't…dare." He said, not without effort as he struggled to keep awake.

"What if I just kiss you?" She sighed, pretending to pout a bit.

"Okay…"

She leaned down to kiss him, feeling his arm come up to pull her down to him. As his arm got heavier, showing that the potion was taking effect, she slipped away, placing his arm carefully on the bed.

"Good night, Severus…I love you."

"G'nite…" He mumbled, his voice barely audible. "I…love you…too."

oOo

Author's notes-

"Найти Северус. Если он не пострадал, вернуться, чтобы сказать мне, где он." = "Find Severus. If he is hurt, come back to tell me where he is."

"Неправильный… Ты мертв, сука. Счастливого пути в ад." = "Wrong. You're dead, bitch. Have a nice trip to hell."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 14

Ana picked at her breakfast with a fork held in an unsteady hand, feeling physically and emotionally drained. The eggs, even though they were perfectly cooked by the house elves, still made her nauseous. For the past few weeks, breakfast had been tea and toast, sometimes with a bit of marmalade or jam, when she could keep it down.

Two weeks had passed since the attack on Severus, and he was still in the Hospital wing. Several of his wounds had become infected, causing him to develop a high fever. When not teaching her classes, Ana had spent the past few days with him, carefully monitoring cooling charms and changing dressings, catching quick cat naps when she could. She slept fitfully at best, her dreams haunted by her fears of what might come to pass.

Most of the rest of her time was spent in the Potions lab, analyzing the tarry substance smeared on the blade of Alecto's dagger. While she had copious notes on the composition of it, she had failed so far to find an antidote immediately, and it frustrated her to no end. Day after day slowly dragged by, with her working in the lab, poring through old dusty tomes in both the restricted section of the library and Severus' personal bookshelves. Her only respite was to go to the Hospital wing to see him.

Minerva and Poppy had both finally demanded that she come eat dinner in the Great Hall tonight, rather than have a house elf bring her a tray to the potions lab. Her food had no taste to it; how could she enjoy a meal knowing that Severus was only a few floors away, possibly dying?

Poison, she thought bitterly, throwing her fork down on her plate with a clatter that drew most everyone's attention in the Great Hall.

She poisoned the blade of that nasty dagger. The one she cut on Severus with…the one she tried to stab me with, she thought with a shudder.

I killed that bitch too quickly.

I wish she were still alive, so I could kill her again.

I wish…

"Ana!" Minerva hissed under her breath, leaning over toward her. "What on earth-"

"I'm sorry, Headmistress, I don't feel well." Ana said, standing up and turning to go, weaving slightly as she walked. "Excuse me, I think I'm going to-"

"Hagrid!" Snapped Minerva, just a split second before Ana's eyes rolled back in her head, her knees giving way as she collapsed.

"Got 'er, Headmistress." The half-giant said, catching Ana neatly before she hit the floor.

"She's fainted, poor thing." Poppy said, running her wand quickly over Ana in a diagnostic charm. "Too much stress, not enough rest, not eating right at all."

"Gods have mercy." The Headmistress sighed, getting up from the staff table. "Let's take her up to the Hospital wing."

With Poppy and Minerva leading the way, Hagrid followed behind them, carrying the unconscious Potions professor past the tables full of gawking students.

"Go on, now!" Hagrid growled at a few as he passed them, Ana's head lolling against his massive shoulder, her right arm hanging limply. "This is none of yer business, ye hear?"

oOo

When Ana woke, it was well after dark. Minerva was sitting next to her bed in an armchair, half asleep with a book open in her lap, a lamp burning dimly. When Ana moved slightly in the bed, she looked up.

"How do you feel, dear?" Asked the Headmistress, taking off her reading glasses and rubbing her eyes.

"How is Severus?" Ana said, sitting up in the hospital bed and throwing the covers back. Minerva set her book down, intercepting Ana before she could get up, gently pushing her back down on the bed.

"He's fine, dear. No change."

"That's not 'fine.' That's-"

"Young lady, you will stay in that bed!" Minerva said sharply. "I understand your concern for Severus' condition, but you'll do no good for him if you make yourself ill."

"Has his fever broken yet?" Ana asked, her hands tightly clutching the covers, trembling with anxiety.

Minerva paused, considering her words carefully.

"No, dear." She sighed. "It hasn't. Poppy is with him now."

"I should be with him." Ana whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. "He needs me…"

"You need to rest, dear. There's nothing we can do now but wait for him to recover."

"Can I at least go see him? Please?"

Minerva hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, rising to get Ana a terrycloth robe.

Rolling a wheelchair over to the bed, she helped Ana into it, and then carefully rolled her down the corridor to Severus' room.

"Headmistress?" Ana said hesitantly, after making sure they were alone in the hallway.

"Yes?"

"Um…about my…situation…"

"You're worried about what people will think about it, aren't you." Minerva said, stopping the wheelchair.

Ana nodded, her cheeks reddening a bit.

"I…Severus and I have talked a little bit, but never decided anything before…" Ana paused to take a breath and compose herself, to still her nerves. "Before he was attacked. And now that he's…he's…"

Tears began to spill down her cheeks as she broke down, unable to continue. The Headmistress knelt in front of the wheelchair to comfort her as she wept. When she was calmer, Minerva pulled away a bit, her arms still holding Ana.

"Ana, right now, the students are more concerned with exams than with gossiping about professors." She said crisply, a twinkle in her eye. "I wouldn't be surprised, given your condition, that most of them will believe anything other than you and Severus are already married."

"But we aren't-"

"Young lady," Minerva scoffed, smiling gently, "do you really think that you're the first witch to give birth out of wedlock? Or that lived in sin with the man they loved?"

"No…"

"Then stop fretting so about it." Minerva said gently, rising and patting her on the shoulder. "You have far more important things to worry about. As do I."

Handing Ana her hanky, the Headmistress began to push the wheelchair down the hallway once again.

"I'm going to have to get someone to cover Severus' classes," the Headmistress sighed as they made their way down the quiet corridor. "But it's so difficult to find a good DADA teacher on such short notice."

"I'm sure." Ana said carefully, drying her eyes. Suddenly she felt a bit uneasy, feeling the Headmistress' gaze on herself.

"I could…get Horace Slughorn to take over potions, and you could teach DADA." Minerva said, slowing her pace slightly. "I'm sure that you're well qualified. You have superb reflexes, and you've seen combat."

Ana gritted her teeth.

"I'll consider it." She sighed. "Can we walk a bit faster, please?"

"Oh, the impatience of youth…" Minerva chuckled, pushing the chair at a more brisk pace.

After what seemed an eternity to Ana, they finally wheeled through the door of Severus' room. She bit her lip, her eyes watering again at the sight of him.

He lay suspended above the bed, floating gently due to a levitation charm, shivering slightly with his fever, his gown soaked with sweat. A sob broke free from her throat, alerting Poppy and the assistant Healer of her presence.

"Ah, I see you talked Minerva into bringing you down to visit." Poppy said cheerily, nodding to the Headmistress as she waved her wand over Severus' forehead.

"Try to get some more fluids into him, Clarice." She said to the assistant Healer. "I don't want to risk him getting dehydrated."

Turning to Ana, Poppy took her wand and waved it in a complicated pattern over her lower abdomen, murmuring a few words in Latin. The wand glowed pink, then began to pulse rapidly.

"What's that?" Ana said uneasily.

"One of the most important people in this room, my dear." Poppy said gently. "She's the reason you need to take better care of yourself. I'll take care of Severus, that's my job. But if you make yourself ill, it wouldn't be good for the baby. Have you been taking your prenatal vitamin potions that I gave you?"

"Yes, but I-"

"No buts, dear." The Medi-witch said, tucking her wand away. "You must take care of yourself. That pulsing was the baby's heartbeat…and it was a bit high. When you get stressed, the baby is stressed also. Severus will be fine. His fever is stable; it's not going down, but it's not going up either. And thank Merlin, it's not too high."

"How high is it?" Ana asked nervously, self-consciously running her hand over her abdomen.

"It was at its worst two days ago, but it's better tonight…" Poppy checked a chart hung on the end of the bed, "It's at 37 degrees Centigrade now."

"That's far too high…" Ana said. Minerva put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder to comfort her, and Ana reached up and caught her hand with trembling fingers.

"Well, it was at forty degrees two days ago. No significant drop since then, and we've had to keep the cooling charms on him, but he's stable, and that's a very good sign."

"Can I…touch him?" Ana asked shyly. Poppy nodded, and the two older women helped her get up from the wheelchair, gently supporting her as she walked over to Severus.

Ana stood next to the bed, and then gently stroked his burning forehead with trembling fingers, biting her lip.

"Я здесь, дорогая." Ana said, her voice faint and shaky. "Пожалуйста, выздоравливай скорее, я очень по тебе скучаю."

"I…need you, Severus. I…" She paused, composing herself. "I can't find the antidote, the cure for this. I've failed you…"

Minerva squeezed her arm, drawing her attention.

"Now, you know that you did your best, dear." The Headmistress said. "I think you need to stop blaming yourself. He's getting better. You'll be talking potions with him in no time, I'm sure."

Ana nodded, hardly able to see for her tears.

"I'd…like to sit with him a while, Poppy, if I may." She said quietly. "I just need some time with him."

"Of course, dear. Minerva, Clarice, how about we get some tea?" Poppy said, "Ana, just ring the call bell if you need us."

The Medi-witch patted Ana on her arm, then she and the other two women walked out of the room.

When they were gone, she checked the cooling charms, and then sat on the bed with him, holding his hand.

"I love you, Severus. I miss you…" Ana said softly.

"You have to fight, to beat this fever…for us." She continued, placing his hand gently over the small, firm bulge in her lower abdomen. "For all three of us."

oOo

A week later, Ana sat in the DADA classroom, grading essays from the two classes that she'd taught that morning. Ivan sat quietly on his perch, half asleep. She paused to drink half the water in the glass sitting on the desk, glaring sullenly at the glass as it refilled itself, giving a soft chime as it reported her fluid intake to Poppy in the Hospital wing. With a sigh, she dipped her quill in the inkwell, and continued to make notations in red on the parchment. It was almost time for her to go to the Great Hall for lunch, and she only had two essays to grade.

Severus' fever had broken two days ago, though he was so weak that he could hardly stay conscious for more than a few minutes at a time, and he could hardly move. With Professor Slughorn's help, she had managed to figure out that whatever the poison was that was on the dagger used on Severus, it had been based on Nagini's venom. That frightened her.

If the Carrows had access to such a poison, she thought, putting the graded essay on the 'done' pile', and starting on the next, who's to say there isn't more out there…and the effect it had on Severus! It will be at least a month until he might be able to come home.

The Carrows didn't have two brain cells to rub together.

Who gave them that poison?

A knock on the open door interrupted her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Minerva and Professor Slughorn in the doorway of the DADA classroom.

"Time for lunch, dear." Minerva said, smiling at her gently.

"I'm almost done, Headmistress." Ana sighed, the quill scratching on the parchment as she made her final remarks. The student hadn't made many errors; in fact, the essay was one of the best in the class, with the only red ink on it noting a perfect score.

"Looks like a good essay," remarked the Headmistress, glancing over the last one she had graded. "Miss Weasley? Interesting."

"Yes, she's doing very well in DADA." Ana said, not without some small measure of pride in her voice. "Miss Weasley seems to have quite an aptitude for defensive spells. Not so much for offensive, but we're working on that part. She actually gave me an idea for improving the Protego spell. I haven't figured out the exact changes that need to be made in the wand movement-they're very subtle, but it could be a remarkable improvement once we get the Arithmancy worked out."

"Impressive work."

"It's not all my work." Ana admitted. "I've already told Miss Weasley that I plan to give her credit if I publish a paper on it, as a research assistant."

"I imagine that made her very happy." Minerva smiled.

"Indeed."

"Well, shall we head to the Great Hall?" Professor Slughorn said, raising his eyebrows impatiently. "I'm about to starve, ladies. Been a long day teaching potions, with no afternoon tea."

"Of course, Professor." Ana smirked, wiping her quill and capping her inkwell. "I'm a bit hungry too."

"I assume that you'll be in the Hospital wing during your planning period today?" Minerva said to Ana as they walked toward the Great Hall, Ivan soaring past them.

"Yes, unless you need me."

"No, dear." Minerva smiled, taking Ana's arm as they walked. "You need some time with him."

oOo

"Hello, darling." Ana said, smiling at Severus as she walked over to his bed. He smiled back at her, struggling to lift his arm to touch her hand, then frowned, unable to lift it more than a few inches off the bed. She took his hand, squeezing it gently.

"Don't be so frustrated, Severus." She said, leaning over to kiss him.

"Poppy says it will be a while until you can move much at all." Ana continued, perching on the bed next to him. "Professor Slughorn and I are still analyzing the poison, trying to come up with an antidote, but its slow going. It may be that we'll just have to let it wear off, much as I dislike that."

He nodded his head slightly, and then closed his eyes with a sigh.

He's so weak, Ana thought sadly, watching him breathe. He can hardly stay awake, even now.

But at least, he's not dying. Thank Merlin for that.

oOo

After classes ended for the term in May, Ana moved into Severus' hospital room, over the protests of Poppy Pomphrey. She simply showed up the day after the leaving feast, after all of the students had left, and transfigured one of the Hospital wing chairs into a single bed. It was easier than constantly walking back and forth between the Severus' quarters in the dungeons and the Hospital wing. She felt exhausted most of the time these days, and climbing only a few flights of stairs left her breathless.

Severus had improved to the point that he could stay awake as long as an hour, sometimes two, but he was still frightfully weak. Ana had widened his bed, something that still annoyed Poppy to no end, but she was more comfortable lying down next to Severus, as it tended to take the pressure of the baby off her bladder. Thus she spent her days with her head pillowed on his arm, reading to him from Potions Monthly, or The Daily Prophet, or occasionally from books from his library.

Since he could barely speak above a whisper, she found it easier to communicate with him by just dropping her Occulmency shields and allowing him access to her thoughts. Though he never completely opened his mind to her, she didn't mind, as she wasn't showing him everything, either. Most of the time, the mental communication was limited by his strength, so it usually was comprised of quick requests that she bring a certain book to read the next day, and the like.

"Anything you'd like me to get you from your bookshelf, or the library?" Ana asked one afternoon.

"Beckam's Collected Writings on Toxins and Poisons, volume…hmm." She heard faintly within her mind. "Volume three, I think. We didn't really find anything helpful in the first two volumes, but I remember seeing something about using snake venoms in an application poison."

Ana sat up in the bed, an odd expression on her face.

"Are you alright?" Severus asked through their 'connection.'

"Yes…I think I am." She said, absently running her hand over her tummy. "I felt…something. Like a flutter."

With an effort, he rolled over on his side, toward her, reaching out to her. She took his hand and gently placed it on the bulge in her tummy, shivering at his touch. Carefully, he stroked the bump with his slender fingers, causing Ana to close her eyes in pleasure. Unexpectedly, warmth surged through her lower abdomen.

Oh, Merlin. She thought, biting her lip. I want him so bad right now…but we can't do that here. We'll get caught for sure.

It was tempting to ward the door and ravish him, but good sense prevailed, for now.

oOo

The next day, she went to see Poppy for her checkup, as she did monthly. The medi-witch was very pleased with the baby's growth, though she was annoyed with Ana for not eating enough giving her some supplemental nutrition potions, as well as some oddly scented cream in a small jar.

"What's this?" Ana said, taking the lid off the jar and sniffing it cautiously. "Hmm…aloe, lanolin, fairy moss…"

"It's to help with stretch marks, Ana." Poppy replied, jotting down a note on her records. "Just rub it into your skin, it will help."

"Poppy," Ana sighed, a bitter smile flitting across her face, "With my burns, what are a few stretch marks?"

Poppy sighed, then nodded.

"Poppy," Ana said casually, though she felt herself blushing, "Is Severus…well enough that we…well, um…could we…?"

"Probably not yet, Ana." Poppy said, chuckling. "I can certainly understand your frustration, but he's just not strong enough yet…for that. Use good judgment and ward the door, if you insist on trying. Just don't push him too hard."

Taking the jar with her anyway, at Poppy's insistence, she slowly walked back to Severus' room. She had to stop three times along the way, short of breath. Twice she just leaned on the window sill, looking out at the green forest north of the castle, and that was enough. But the third time, she had to transfigure a stool to sit on from a thimble that she happened to have in her pocket.

Gods, I don't think I have the stamina for sex. I'd probably pass out before I even had an orgasm.

For a long moment, she rested on the stool, rubbing her aching back.

He can have the next one, she thought irritably.

oOo

Author's notes-

"Я здесь, дорогая. Пожалуйста, выздоравливай скорее, я очень по тебе скучаю." = " I'm here, darling. Please get well soon, I miss you so much."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 15

1 June 1999

Dear Miss Weasley,

As per our conversation before you graduated, I have spoken with Headmistress McGonagall and secured approval and funding for our project. I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss terms of the apprenticeship we would like to offer you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Anastasiya M.I. Romanov, P.M., OoM(Second Class)

Rolling the parchment into a tube, she called Ivan over and secured it to his leg. Stroking his head gently and crooning to him in Russian, she opened the window and let the owl fly out, walking slowly back to her desk. Her back hurt, her hips hurt, and her ankles and knees ached terribly.

And I have to go to the loo, she sighed. Yet again. I just went, what, 20 minutes ago?

Sixteen weeks to go…I don't know if I'll make it.

She went to the loo, glad that she'd modified the DADA classroom to match the Potions classroom, with a discreetly concealed bathroom. She washed and dried her hands, then went back to her classroom.

Well, everything is done, at least for now. She set a bag, loaded with books, to floating just behind her and walked out into the corridor, heading for the Hospital wing.

At least he's strong enough to talk now, thank Merlin.

As she walked into the Hospital wing itself, she quickened her pace, hearing a familiar voice. Turning the corner, she walked into Poppy's office.

"Sir Petto!" Ana exclaimed in delight, walking over to hug the older gentleman. "What a surprise!"

Rising from his chair, the old wizard hugged her carefully.

"Look at you!" He beamed, spreading his arms wide and bowing like he was at court. "So lovely! Motherhood becomes you, my dear girl."

"Oh, stop it." Ana blushed furiously, unable to keep a smile from her face. "What brings you to Hogwarts? I thought you would be vacationing now, somewhere in Bermuda or Nepal."

"I finally got free so I could come by to tune up your arm, dear." Sir Petto said with a sigh. "I've been terribly, terribly busy this year. No time for vacations. So much to do, so many things to work on."

"Sir Petto has Severus' wheelchair ready for him to use again," Poppy interjected, once Sir Petto paused to take a breath. "I think I can send him home with you soon, won't that be lovely?"

"Oh! Yes, it would." Ana said, her heart caught in her throat. "It would be wonderful to have him back with me down in the dungeons."

"Well, it would certainly cut down on your walking."

"It would." Ana nodded.

"Well, let's have a look at your arm, dear." Sir Petto said, opening his tool box and waving Ana to a chair. Poppy helped Ana remove her robes and shirt, then excused herself to go check on Severus.

"Ah, I see one problem," the old wizard said softly, donning his reading glasses and picking up a screwdriver. "This cable, it's a bit frayed, damaged somehow…"

"That's probably where Alecto stabbed me," Ana said, the smile leaving her face completely, replaced by a worried frown. "Do be careful, Sir Petto. There may still be some of the poison on the inner parts of my prosthesis. It's fairly tenacious; a viscous coating that is a bit like varnish that isn't fully dried."

"Indeed…thank you for warning me, dear." He replied, removing a set of soft dragonhide gloves and donning them. "After seeing Severus this morning, I'm fairly certain I want nothing to do with the nasty stuff. Do you mind if I remove your arm so I can work on it easier?"

"Of course not." She said, extending her prosthesis to him to allow its easy removal. "How…how was Severus when you went by his room? I haven't seen him since this morning, since I've been working on curriculum for the DADA classes this fall."

"Well, I imagine he's about the same as he was when you left him this morning." Sir Petto chuckled. "I left him a book reader that I made, turns the pages for the reader and supports the book at any angle by magic. While he did thank me for it, I believe he'd prefer that his lovely bride read to him."

Ana flushed deep scarlet, at a complete loss for words.

"Da…I…Sir Petto, I-" She finally choked out by the time he had removed her arm and placed it on his portable workbench.

"Oh, fret not, my dear." The old wizard said, busy with cleaning the sticky residue of the poison from her prosthesis. "It only takes six months for a common-law marriage to become officially recognized in the wizarding world. You and Severus have been living together for what, almost a year?"

"I…we've been together for a year in September, I think." Ana said, her cheeks still burning.

"Ana, you are the daughter that Millicent and I never had, Merlin rest her soul." Sir Petto said, setting down his screwdriver and taking his glasses off. "Whatever your relationship is with Severus, I heartily approve, and I'm sure she does too."

"I miss her…" Ana said softly.

oOo

"She's a sad case, Mrs. Petto." The Ministry social worker said, leafing through the papers as they walked down the hall. "Her…um, patron brought her to us after the Razins were murdered two years ago, quite a dreadful affair. She's only nine years old, and she's already seen far more death and destruction than any child should have to bear.

"She's not terribly friendly to strangers. She's very helpful with the other orphans; she often helps take care of them.

"As you know, her patron has asked that we place her with just any wizarding family, but that she is placed with someone who can protect her. The ministry is very concerned with her case, as for all intents and purposes, she's had not just one, but two attempts on her life."

Stopping before a door in the wizarding orphanage, she nodded to the Auror standing guard at the end of the hall, who gave a friendly nod in return.

"I assure you that both my husband and I can protect her quite well." The short, black haired woman with twinkling blue eyes said softly. "I spent twenty years in Magical Law Enforcement, and he does research for the same department, after he was injured while on duty as an Auror. Our house is unmappable, and has a multilayered defense system made up of both magical…"

She paused to shoot a quick glare at her husband, who only grinned sheepishly and attempted to smooth his unruly shock of reddish-blonde hair.

"…and muggle devices. It's the most secure house in Milan, I assure you."

"Well, I'm sure it's safe, but her patron-"

"Excuse me," Sir Petto said, "Why doesn't she live with this patron that you keep blathering on about? And just who is it?"

"I'm sorry, but that information is strictly classified." Huffed the social worker, then turned and knocked on the door.

"Come in." said someone inside.

She was sitting on the only chair in the room, her back to the window. Dressed neatly in a plain blue dress, starched white blouse, and sensible black shoes with white stockings, her chestnut hair neatly braided in a French braid, she watched the three adults enter the room. Silver-gray eyes regarded them warily. An old bruise, turned green and yellow, marred the left side of her pale face.

Her eyes, thought Millicent, speechless for now. She's…seen things. Dreadful things, and she's only nine years old.

"Ana, this is Marcus and Millicent Petto." The social worker said softly, waving to them to sit on the bed.

"I suppose you want to adopt me." The little girl said flatly, her English heavily accented. Her eyes had turned hard and cold.

"Ana, they-"

"Excuse me," Millicent said carefully, "Is it alright if I just talk to her for a moment? Alone?"

"Well, that would be highly irregular-"frowned the social worker.

"Please? You can leave the door open, if you wish."

After a brief hesitation, the woman nodded, and walked out of the room.

"You too, Marcus." Millicent sighed.

"But-"

"You too." She said, a bit firmer this time.

Marcus Petto sighed, and then walked out into the hallway to wait with the social worker. Millicent turned back to the girl, who was still watching her closely, eyes dark with suspicion.

"Right, then." She began, looking at Ana. "I understand that you don't trust me. You don't know me.

"But I don't know you, either. So, I suggest we play a game."

Ana frowned, her brow furrowing.

"What kind of game?" She asked warily.

"You ask me a question, about anything." Millicent explained patiently. "I answer, and then I get to ask you a question. If one of us doesn't want to answer a question, then we just say 'I pass.' But, if we pass, we get another question."

"Seems like a dumb game." Ana scowled, crossing her thin arms across her chest. "How do we keep score?"

"I have some parchment, and a quill, with ink." Millicent said, taking the items out of her purse and putting them on the small desk. "If we can answer the question that we're asked, we get one point. Can you keep score?"

"How do you know I won't cheat?"

"I know you won't."

"Then you're stupid."

"Perhaps." Millicent smiled. "But I don't believe you would cheat. You have honest eyes."

Ana made a rude sound, and then picked up the quill, smoothing the soft plume with slender fingers.

"I get to ask first." She announced.

"All right. I'm ready." Millicent replied, setting her purse on the bed.

"Why don't you have children? Is something wrong with you?"

Oh, my, Millicent thought. She's a sharp one. Right for the jugular.

"That's two questions, but I'll answer them anyway." She sighed. "First, I did have a child, but he's…gone."

"Gone? What do you mean?" Ana frowned.

"He died last year, in Prague. Nathan…he was twenty-five years old."

"How did he die? Was he sick?"

Millicent smiled faintly. She's forgotten all about the game.

"He was an Auror, like the man in the hall who keeps you and the other children safe. He was in a scrap with some Death Eaters…well, he…"

"His name is Ben." Ana said, twirling the quill in her fingers. "He's nice. Nicer than Joffery."

"Who is?"

"Ben. That's the name of the man in the hall who keeps us safe." Ana said, biting her lip. "He always has peppermints while he's on duty. He always gives me some."

"Oh, I understand." Millicent chuckled. "Silly me. Anyway, I'm too old to have children now. They tell me it might be dangerous to my health."

"Okay, that's a point." Ana announced, making a mark on the parchment.

"But that was two questions, wasn't it?" Millicent said quietly.

Ana frowned.

"You're right." She said, making another mark, then looking over at Mrs. Petto soberly. "I'm not cheating."

"I know you aren't. My turn."

Ana leaned forward in her chair, intently staring at the older woman.

"What is your favorite food?" Millicent asked, smiling.

"That's easy. Пирожок." Ana said cheerfully, swinging her legs idly. "I like them best with fruit filling, especially peaches or cherries. But I can't have them here. Nobody knows how to make them."

"Um…you mean piroszhki, right?" Millicent said hesitantly. "The little buns with a filling?"

"Yes, Пирожок. Um…do you speak…Russian?" Ana said shyly.

"No, I'm afraid I don't. Just English, French, Italian, and German. But I do like to cook, and I know what pirozshki are. Marcus likes them, too."

"I get two points, and we're tied now." Ana smirked, then her face became serious as she toyed with the quill, pursing her lips. After a moment, she looked up at Millicent.

"If I lived with you…" she said, suddenly blushing and looking at her feet, "would you make some пирожок, um, I mean, some pirozshki for me? I…I promise I'll be really good. I swear it."

At that moment, Millicent Petto felt her heart break, tears welling in her eyes. Whatever it takes, she's coming home with me, she thought.

"Of course I would, darling." She said softly. "Would you like me to teach you how to make them?"

Her eyes dark and wide, Ana just nodded her head.

In the hallway, Sir Marcus Petto grinned at the social worker.

"She…I can't believe it. She's never talked that much to anyone." The young woman said, shocked.

"Ah, that's my Millicent." He said cheerfully. "Talk to anyone, she can. I'm painfully shy compared to her."

oOo

"Ana? Are you alright, dear?"

She blinked, coming out of her reverie.

"I…I'm sorry, Daddy." She said, blushing. "I was just thinking about mum. I miss her."

"I miss her too, Merlin bless her." He sighed, patting her hand. "That reminds me, when are you going to cook for me again?"

"Pirozhki?" Ana teased.

"Well, that would be nice, but anything will do." Sir Petto laughed. "Anything to avoid my own cooking. Here, let's get this arm of yours back on and adjusted."

With his help, Ana slid the arm back into its metal socket on her shoulder, wincing slightly at the shock as the contacts magically reconnected with her own nerve endings.

"Never do get used to that part, do you now?" He said gently, unlocking the pivot and restoring control of the arm to her.

"No." She sighed.

"How are things going between you and Severus?" Her stepfather said, helping her put her blouse back on.

"Good, all things considered." Ana said, "At least, they were until he got attacked by the Carrows."

"He's a good man, Severus is, always has been." Sir Petto said, picking up a tiny screwdriver to make a fine adjustment to her hand, turning a few screws.

"You never said you knew him before this." Ana said, frowning.

"Um, just by his reputation as a Potions Master, dear. He's quite well known."

"But I've spoken with many people who know him due to that, and they aren't nearly so kind with their opinion."

"I, well…let's get this arm adjusted, shall we? Make a fist; now open it…good, good. Now supinate…pronate…"

Ana opened and closed her hand, then rotated the entire arm from the elbow down, her eyes steady on those of her stepfather.

"Daddy, what are you not telling me?" She said quietly. He looked over at her nervously.

"Severus was my mysterious 'patron', wasn't he?" Ana said, beginning to feel a bit ill. "The person who had to approve of my being adopted by you and mum, who sent money to my account at Durmstang, who made sure my inheritance was secure…"

"No, he wasn't, dear." He answered with a sigh. "I suppose I can tell you who that was; now that he's no longer with us. Your 'patron' was Albus Dumbledore."

Ana's mouth fell open, her eyes wide.

"I…"

"Severus rescued you, yes, and took you to the Razin's house. He did all of that." Sir Petto continued, his voice soft and gentle. "By the time the Death Eaters murdered them, Severus was…too deeply involved with the Dark Lord, and his movements were being closely watched. So he asked Albus to take care of you, to see you to safety.

"I expect…that he never expected to see you ever again after that." He sighed. "Of course, then you started school at Durmstang, and started collecting those Chocolate Frog cards…"

"Oh, don't remind me." Ana sighed, finally getting over her shock. "I'm still finding them in books that I have from school. I used to use them as bookmarks."

"Yes, I find them around the house myself, mostly in the library. That reminds me, what do you want me to do with all of those Young Witch magazines you have at the house in your old room?"

Ana made a stifled groan as she blushed furiously.

"Oh, Merlin!" She sputtered, hiding behind her hands. "I'd forgotten about those trashy things. Just burn them, and don't you dare utter a word about it to anyone!"

Sir Petto chuckled, and then gave her a hug.

oOo

Two weeks later, Poppy finally pronounced Severus fit enough to leave the Hospital wing; he took it with his usual good grace.

"Goodbye, Poppy." Severus sneered, as Ana wheeled him out, "I have spent entirely too much of the past year in your gentle care, being poked and prodded. Perhaps I will be able to get a full night's rest now, without someone waking me to see if I require a sleeping potion."

"Come see us any time, Severus." Poppy chuckled, unperturbed by the scathing glare he shot at her over his shoulder.

"Be nice." Ana scolded him, without much heat to it.

"Bah."

"Meanie." She smirked, rolling the wheelchair around the corner. Quickly casting a Notice-me-not charm, she slid into his lap and kissed him passionately.

"I've missed you so much." She sighed when she finally broke the kiss.

"I get that impression." He smirked, and then kissed her gently. "How are you faring today? You look tired."

"I stay tired, Severus." She said, resting her head on his shoulder. "I get cold at night, and there's nobody to rub my feet when they get swollen."

"How pitiful." He replied softly, rubbing her back. "I can tell that I have much lost time to make up for when we get back to our quarters."

"Just a moment…down just a bit…to the right." Ana sighed, relaxing as his slender fingers found the spot. "Oh, yes, that's it."

"Better?"

"Oh, yes." She smiled. "I might forgive you for the whole baby thing yet. If you'll agree to have the next one."

"What?"

"Never mind. Just a joke." She smirked.

oOo

Author's notes-

Пирожок = Pirozhki, buns with a filling, usually meat, vegetables, or fruit, that are fried or baked. They're delicious!