A/N - we left Severus in Azkaban after he refused Albus' help. Remus has silver toxicity and is in the infirmary. And there's a little House Elf that has decided that she'd be perfect for Severus.
Albus Dumbledore took a deep breath, wishing that the Wisdom of Solomon was available for let. While he was hoping for the impossible, perhaps the Japanese goddess Benzautin might make a command appearance. Her tendency to save men from Dragons would be greatly appreciated in the current situation.
The very thought that a traumatized Severus had been subjected to that… psychopath's… whimsy made Albus' blood run cold.
Now, he shouldn't be jealous, shouldn't be aggrieved that Severus and Damyan were lovers. He wasn't… he was just… concerned. And quite rightfully furious with himself, that his cack-handed handling of the situation had caused a terrified Severus to run straight into the arms… and the bed… of Damyan Draganov. Albus remembered too well the carnage that the berserker had caused. During the dark days of the war with Gellert…. his handlers would unleash him and….the blood would stain the streets.
So much blood… so much hatred concentrated in that dark monster's core.
Bloody hell, Severus was in dire straits. It had been difficult enough to convince the Wizengamot of Severus' trustworthiness the first time. And many of the jurors that he had swayed to his belief in Severus' fidelity were still on the bloody court and less likely to forgive a second offense.
He stood before the chamber door where the Wizengamot was meeting. As the former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, he knew full well that the politicking had already begun. The blood was in the water, and the sharks were circling. However, in addition to the usual aim to merely survive the blood sport of Wizengamot politics, he had to focus on obtaining Severus' release from Azkaban. Yes, Severus had strongly expressed hi s sincere desire to be in Azkaban… essentially only because he wouldn't be anywhere near Albus Dumbledore. It had been best for Severus to win that argument, to prove his independence, that he had the ability to control his life.
Yet, Severus was reasonable, knew that it wouldn't be healthy for him and Ariana to be in Azkaban. No, he knew that he needed a Healer, preferably a rational Healer without an unslakable thirst for chaos and destruction.
And if it was a Healer that didn't take a sadistic delight in revealing all of Albus' assorted skeletons, so much the better in Albus' biased view.
Yes, Severus deserved the truth. Albus Dumbledore had feet of clay. Legs, toros, hands… all clay.
When he and Minerva had gotten quite close, Albus had timidly revealed his painful past. The hormonal infatuation with Gellert, how Albus had neglected his family because he had been a self-absorbed prat, yet still she had stayed. Amazingly enough, Minerva had accepted the real Albus even with all his flaws and he had loved her even more for her magnanimous nature.
Oh God above, how he had loved her.
But why were these old memories being stirred? After their relationship had ended, it had taken years before they could be comfortable with each other. Years… and why now were those old feeling rekindling?
Because Minerva had been injured because of him.
Because when he had first visited Minerva in the Infirmary, he had experienced an icy chill in the pit of the stomach. The same chill that he had felt when he first saw the still, small body of his sister lying on the floor. It was the realization that events had escalated out of control and he had been too damn self-absorbed and too focused on other issues to realize that he had the potential to stop it. Before anyone got hurt, before anyone died.
He had felt it again when he had been made aware of the events of the Shrieking Shack.
When Minerva had been hurt by the Voldemort's followers – in order to send Albus Dumbledore a message…
Of what had been done to Severus Snape by Voldemort and his followers.
Severus, he needed to focus on Severus. Not Minerva. Yes, Severus.
He had to give up his insane desire to control, his overwhelming desire to somehow mitigate the current situation. Since his unhealthy relationship with Gellert, he had never allowed himself to be swayed into that situation again, where his good sense and his moral code was overwhelmed by a charismatic personality. And yet, he was doing it again. Except this time, he was the overpowering personality.
Bloody hell, he was Gellert… all over again…
He needed to let Severus make the decisions.
It was necessary that Severus breathe without Albus Dumbledore instructing him on how to do so!
Albus had prepared a suite of rooms for Severus in Hogwarts some months previous. They were similar to the ones down in the dungeon, but they were most assuredly not in the dungeon. No, the Slytherins were in the dungeon, and it was just too risky to have a Death Eater's child near a weakened Severus, especially after recent events. It would be far safer for Severus to be located next to Minerva' quarters plus the odds of Severus doing another runner without Minerva being aware would be fairly low. It had taken a bit of sweet talking, but Albus had convinced Hogwarts to stretch that one corridor long enough to place Severus' suite there.
Everything was waiting for Severus' arrival, all neatly boxed and ready to be unpacked. He probably should have unpacked everything for Severus, but Albus was mightily struggling not to be an overbearing prat. Severus had very good reasons for not wishing to return back to Hogwarts and he should make the decision where he wished to live. If Minerva was selected to be Severus' new guardian, she might convince him to stay at Hogwarts….
Albus would stay away. Not get involved unless specifically asked… however, Albus had found a rather comfortable rocker that he had placed in the nursery. After the horrible incident with Ariana, his disturbed sister had often been soothed to sleep by gentle rocking so perhaps the baby might like it also. It was for Ariana, so Severus could take it wherever he moved. If he wished to take it.
There was the strong chance that he had been too presumptuous, as Albus had also had stationed his various knitted animals in the chair, complete with the green and silver baby blanket. He had also included a duplicate copy of the list detailing what the baby…. No… ARIANA might need. Just a small way to show that he wished to share in the responsibilities of young Ariana. And even if Severus did not wish him to be involved at all, Severus might deign to permit the knitted stuffed animals. They were quite endearing in Albus' rather biased opinion. Fawkes had even given up his floppy doppelganger. The Phoenix thought it proper that the young chick should have her own Phoenix to watch over her, though Albus had to first vow that he'd knit Fawkes a new one.
Time to stop dawdling and enter the fray.
He put his hand on the door handle, and to his surprise, someone grabbed his forearm. That brave soul was the graying Russian veteran, Serge. The grizzled wizard who had kept his head during recent events, unlike the others who had been running scared.
"Help me get her out," Serge growled. "You and I have to work together. It is utter chaos right now, Pierre and Richard are both dead, and the International Confederation of Wizards is still identifying the bodies from that massacre. I know Ekaterina very well; there is no way she would willingly stay with that monster for the last thirty years. If she was Compelled and ensorcered into staying with him, then your lad most likely was."
To say that Albus was slightly confused about Serge's remarkable turnaround in attitudes was an understatement. The two Russian mages had fought, and the victorious Serge had charged Ekaterina with assorted crimes that carried a mandatory death sentence.
"We were… engaged," Serge slowly admitted. His tone was apologetic, as though he was plagued by the ghosts of what might have been. "I have to be circumspect in my dealings. There are some that will remember our relationship, and I must show no signs of partiality. Better I capture her than someone else, because at least, I'll treat her by the book. The young ones, they'd be too enamored with making a fearsome reputation. They'd abuse her."
"Why do you think I'll help you?" Albus asked.
The Siberian mage grinned. It was a wolfish smile, a blood thirsty smirk, completely devoid of anything resembling good humor.
"I'm a mud-blood. My blood is as muddy as the banks of the River Volga. My desushka was as deaf as a post. However, we had the most fascinating conversations because he could read lips. I thought it a might useful trick and it's come in handy more than a few times. Pure bloods don't think of that when they shield their conversations. I am not completely sure about the relationship between you and that lad as I don't read English lips as well as I do Russian. "
The grizzled mage barked a harsh laugh.
"He can't be pregnant, Albus. But what I can tell, he's blaming you for abandoning him and you feel damn guilty. Whatever existed between Katya and me is long dead, but I owe her. My decisions put her in the den of that monster for thirty years, Albus. You and I are both old men, and we need to pay our debts to those we've failed."
Serge crossed his arms in front of his broad chest and gave Albus a challenging glare.
"That is why you'll help me. Guilt is a powerful motivator!"
Nessie, the little House Elf, dutifully nodded her head during the pause in the conversation.
She thought Mistress Pomona was more than a wee bit batty. However, Headmaster had commanded; therefore she had dutifully reported her underage status to the Head of Hufflepuff, the House that had traditionally overseen the Hogwarts House Elves. The House Elf's confession of being a juvenile delinquent had not earned her the anticipated lashing, instead it had earned her a cuppa and several bikkies from Mistress Pomona. While the bikkies were delicious, Nessie was keen to find her new Master's quarters and make everything presentable.
If even the faintest hint of the possibility of claiming a House Elf-less Hogwarts Professor surfaced, Nessie knew that Professor Snape would be flooded with willing supplicants. Even one as rumored to be as surly as Professor Snape. Therefore, she had to stake her claim and do so quickly.
"My dear girl," Pomona's voice was uncertain. "Albus believed that you'd be perfect to be Severus Snape's House Elf?"
Nessie furiously nodded her head.
"Nessie good elf!" She proudly exclaimed even while Pomona foisted another bikkie on her. "Mistress said Nessie bestest House Elf! Nessie works hardest to be bestest House Elf. Master Snape be needing good elf like Nessie!"
"I'm sure you are," Pomona assured the little House Elf. "However, I'm not sure when Severus is returning back to Hogwarts, and I'm not certain if he'll require a House Elf."
What? Nessie's ears trembled and her lips quivered at the unbearable thought that she wouldn't have her very own Master to lovingly attend.
"Now, now, now, don't cry, Nessie. You have a home here, but remember, you can't work more than two hours a day. You also need to go to House Elf School and I want you to check in with Aggie. She'll keep an eye on you."
The House Elf nodded her head.
"Promise?" Pomona asked, as she was quite familiar with House Elves and their unique mindset. That was why she let House Elf House Mum Aggie deal with the underage House Elves. Else she'd take up drinking sherry with Trelawney.
Again, a well-behaved Nessie nodded her head.
"I quite like the beard," Filius informed Severus. The Charms Master had created a nice, comfy chair for himself as he was too bloody old to stand around. Fillus liked bludgeoning everyone with how old he was. He could get away with his rare moments of being obstinate and contrary, because that was accepted as part and parcel of being old.
Filius was a bloody brick, trying to act like what was about to occur was perfectly normal. Severus, clad in only a bloody sheet, was having his intake exam for Azkaban, where his various medical and magical conditions would be cataloged and categorized for the entire readership of the Daily Prophet. Before the sun set, odds were quite good that everyone would know that he was up the duff with Dumbledore's child.
"I may keep it," was Severus' retort. It was easy to slip into his old friendship with Filius, easy to find the sarcasm and cynicism required to balance Filius' sugar coated sweetness. "Perhaps wear it as a goatee. Gives me a more masculine air."
His quip earned him a quick wink from Filius.
"I've been quite worried about you two," was Filius' soft comment. "Terribly, terribly anxious about you."
Yes, no doubt Filius had been, as had Minerva and Horace.
"I must confess that I was rather concerned also." Severus' dry statement earned a soft laugh from Filius.
"How did you meet him?" Filius inquired. "Don't tell me you met as you both had a hankering for scones and tea."
"A blind jump," Severus admitted. He tensed in anticipation of Filius' chastisement over his rash action. "I was visiting my mother… had to make sure her bills were current… and… the Order… the Aurors… Minerva… were there and breaking my parole? Would cause me to be returned here. … I… desired to be somewhere safe."
Away from Dumbledore was unspoken, but still loudly heard.
For a wonder, Filius' blue eyes were full of compassion. Not the anticipated censure, a condescending disbelief that Severus would run from the savior of magical kind, Albus Dumbledore. No, Filius understood… accepted… and acknowledged the extent of Severus' unease. And he didn't try to convince Severus otherwise, unlike Minerva.
Yet who was truly right about Albus?
The professor that had known the young Albus during his formative years?
The woman who had loved and trusted him?
The Dark Wizard who despised Dumbledore?
Perhaps they all were.
"And?" Filius prompted. "How did you meet him?"
"I landed in his alleyway. He and Katya took me in as I was dying and… for their troubles, for their hospitality and… their compassion, I have repaid them… exceedingly… well."
Severus struggled to keep his composure after that confession.
Ari, I've gotten your godfather killed, your godmother is facing execution for mass crimes against humanity. Your grandmother is dead because of me, and your grandfather murdered.
"Damyan Draganov has been reported dead numerous times, so I'll believe he's really dead if we meet at the Pearly Gates. However, there is still hope for Ms. Dobrolubskaia as I'm defending her. She in is dire need of a good barrister. Alas, I can't do the same for you, Severus. I'm pulling in old favors owed as I hope to be made your warden, Severus, and I cannot be both your barrister and your guardian. Not if I wish to give them both the time and effort they require."
"You'll be in charge of my parole?" Severus questioned.
"Yes, it is extremely unhealthy for you if Albus continues to be in the position of overseeing you. I should have suggested this before, but it was a little chaotic after we rescued you."
Filius shook his head, seemingly annoyed with his lack of foresight. "You're deeply troubled by Albus… and it's not just what they did to you. Your distrust of Albus is due to what Albus has done… and more importantly, not done… to you over the years. The Shrieking Shack… Lupin… Sirius Black… Albus can pledge you anything… but you simply do not believe that he'll follow through on his promises. Your recent traumas have greatly augmented your doubts of him. And reasonably so, my dear boy."
Filius' eyes were penetrating and Severus had to look away.
"Severus, do you truly trust Minerva?" Filius questioned. "Would you be more comfortable if she were made your guardian? I'll step aside if you wish her to be your steward."
Severus just swallowed, refusing to answer. What an odd question, and one that he should so easily answer. Yet, his tongue was still.
"Severus, your silence has answered that," the Charms Master sighed. "Minerva is exceedingly fond of you. I also know that your relationship with her was not completely platonic."
Trust Filius to attempt to put a thin veneer of respectability on Severus and Minerva's mattress bouncing escapades.
"I trust her as much as I can trust anyone," protested Severus. He was damning her with faint praise and he knew it.
The Charms Master patted Severus' hand.
"You and I haven't been particularly close, I know. You believe that I'm a boring, long-winded academic and you're a young man, living a life full of adventure and danger. It is long past time that I remedied that," Filius firmly decided. "I'm a world-renown connoisseur of the joys of boy-girl relationships. Your awareness of my particular peccadilloes will be a soothing balm to your strained nerves. You will not have to fear the faintest insinuation of my alleged sexual desire for you. There will be nothing between us but a firm, stalwart camaraderie. If you must have a guardian, Severus, I will take on that role. I cannot allow you to fall into the role of sexual captive."
"I could make it good for you," Severus offered. It was meant to be a sardonic quip, a caustic witticism regarding Filius' vanilla heterosexuality, but it brought unhappy memories to the forefront of his mind.
"I could make it… good… for you," Severus whispered, stressing those words as though they were of utmost importance.
"No, I must refuse your most kind and generous offer, Severus," Albus kindly responded.
"I have been assured that I am quite… skilled," Severus softly offered, his voice distressed. "My techniques could give you… intensive pleasure…"
He had offered that to Albus. A lifetime and more ago… and Albus had been repulsed….
Had he had tendered the same illicit proposal to an appalled Damyan?
He felt a remembered tap on his forehead. Go to sleep, Severus. You're far too fragile for the likes of a monster like me. A soft promise that he wouldn't remember this particular conversation.
How much of his time in Manchester did he truly remember?
I don't remember much of what happened there. They will not accept that answer and they will rummage in my mind…
The walls of Azkaban were closing in on him, cutting off his air.
Filius grabbed Severus' hand and squeezed it hard.
"Lie down on your side, lad. Now, deep breath," the Charms Master instructed. "Take a deep breath and hold it. Now… exhale."
Severus focused on breathing, struggling to avoid the looming panic attack. Just his luck, to be seen as a Screaming Nancy during his intake interview. He'd never survive Azkaban at this rate… nor would Ariana…
"What the hell have I done?" Severus whispered. "I should have pleaded for mercy. He told me… one word and he'd get me out of here."
Filius put one finger against Severus' lips.
"I will get you out of here, Severus, if it comes to that. Remember, I taught Albus Dumbledore a great deal of what he knows. I understand that he's a bit more flashily dressed than I am and quite a few years younger, but I am a more than capable wizard. Escaping now before your trial, you'd never prove your innocence. Nor explain to the disbelieving world that a former Russian Auror did not spend the last thirty plus years willingly with Draganov. Be strong, lad. You will survive Azkaban. I did," admitted Filius. "On my own and without a Russian Auror bodyguard with her two Archangel cats."
"What?" that was Severus' witty retort.
"She's obviously been placed here to keep you safe. Layers upon layers of planning, intricately weaved preparations, in order to be prepared for anything. That was Gellert's modus operandi. Why should his lieutenants be anything less than methodical?" Filius shook his head.
"No… you were in Azkaban?"
"Oh that, rather exciting at the time, now not so much. Involved a long-legged witch, several overzealous suitors, a father highly placed who didn't like half-breeds like me. We had hoped that he'd come around after I gave him a few grandchildren." Filius harrumphed a bit, in mild consternation over past insults.
"Your father-in-law put you in Azkaban?" Severus repeated. "That doesn't bode well."
"Well, of the five, he was the most prickly," Filius admitted.
"Five? You were married five times?"
"Who said I was only married five times?" Filius questioned. "I was actually married…"
"You said you had five Father-in-laws," repeated Severus.
"Hush, lad. I'm counting. One… two… three… no…that wasn't three, as I barely escaped her brothers. Jumping out of a window is hard work, though I learned how to fly the hard way…. Let's see… Let's see… seven…. Well… ten, if you count the remarriages… I kept remarrying Gisele even though I knew how it would turn out. Oh… Gisele…"
Filius appeared to be quite bespelled by tawdry memories of Gisele.
"Filius? TEN TIMES?" The younger mage awkwardly sat up and placed his hand against his invisible, yet distended belly. Ari, you're never going near this dangerous old corgi!
Filius appeared a bit disconcerted by Severus' disbelief.
"Magic in the wizard, lad." Filius gently chastised the younger man. "Now let's get you wrapped up properly. I don't want you catching cold."
The Healer walked in and Filius magicked up a copy of the Quibbler to read. He hid his small frame behind the garish headline of "EARTHQUAKE IN MANCHESTER RELEASES DAMYAN DRAGANOV FROM HIS UNDERGROUND PRISON." It was a kind gesture to give Severus the feeling of privacy, but Severus knew that the Charms Master was keeping both sharp eyes on him.
The Healer, a frenzied ginger haired brute, growled.
"You've got a left arm. Your medical records plainly say that your left arm was amputated. What the bloody hell are you doing with a left arm?"
Filius tittered, and the Healer glared. It seemed that the Healer was a prime example of someone who had made a bad career choice. Not that Severus had the right to complain, as look at the life his decisions had given him.
In response, Filius neatly folded the paper in half and shook his head. "Sorry, it's the Quibbler. Always makes me chuckle."
The exam was brusque, impersonal and Severus struggled to maintain his composure. Being touched by Minerva or Filius was bad enough, but for a stranger to put their hands on him? It made him physically ill.
What was that shite that Damyan had taught him? His happy place? He couldn't find it, and he mentally pleaded with Ariana not to move.
Don't move. Don't kick. Just sleep.
"Bit of a chub, I see," the Healer drolly commented. "They'll love you in Azakban as you're a nice, plump thing. Bugger it; I need a new Dexter Deville's Diagnostic Dowel."
"Whatever is the problem?" Filius asked over the top of the Quibbler. He was still reading the periodical, though now the title was displaying a rather risqué looking witch under the caption "Sex Four Times a Day: The True Story of Damyan Draganov's Russian Auror Sex Slave - I was his willing love captive. What I did to sexually appease the Dragon."
Ekaterna might be flattered by her supposed doppelganger's impressively buxom bosom but being known as a willing love captive? He knew who had the upper hand in that relationship, and it was the one that had kept Damyan foam-free and functional… until Severus had shown up on his doorstep, complete with a note that said 'free to good home'.
"It says that he's a stone underweight, but my eyes disagree. He's not supposed to have a left arm, but he does and…" The Healer continued to snipe.
"Let me see the Dowel," Filius commanded. "Don't roll your eyes at me. I taught Dex everything he knew."
The dowel handed over, with a quick snap of his wrist, Filius took over Severus' exam. With his nimble hands, some sleight of hand, Filius made appear as though he performing a thorough physical exam. However, the diminutive Master of Prestidigitation kept his hands off Severus, except for one long, deliberate swipe of Severus' belly with one agile finger.
Severus was dozing, his eyes closed when he felt a giggling Ari jump in response.
Tickles, Poppa! Uncle Fi tickles!
Listen, Ari, your Uncle Fi is quite the womanizer. You're not going anywhere near him.
"There," Filius announced. He handed over the Dowel back to the Healer. "Everything's just fine. Look at the results."
The Healer glanced at the wand and then rolled his eyes.
"You're fine. Slightly anemic, that's all. The Guards will be in shortly to take you and the Russian to the Trial room. They've assembled the full court for you two."
"What?" Severus asked. His question was repeated by Filius.
"You're guilty as hell, so they don't want to hold off your Kiss," the Healer explained. "You're getting Kissed by a Dementor for being a traitor."
Severus was about to protest when Filius inserted his two cents. "Severus, we won't be inviting him to the party when you get your Order of the Merlin, First Class. Now let's get you into some proper clothes. Get out."
Filius had brought a proper set of wizard robes. He assisted Severus getting into them and then they faced the problem area, Severus' expanded equator. The Charms Master made up a few impromptu Charms and convinced the clothes to stretch to cover the gap. That done, the old corgi insisted on straightening out the wrinkles in Severus' clothes, to make him look presentable.
Amusing coming from the man whose jacket tails trailed on the ground.
"Your friend does good work," Filius remarked in a professional tone. "Layers upon layers of Minor Eye Fooling charms are more realistic than one Major Charm. It looks like you're only hiding a wee bit of a belly. And that Jade Pendant is amazing Charm work."
Severus made a non- committal murmur and then Filius patted his hand.
"I'm very sorry about your friends, Severus. Both of them. You were quite lucky to find them." Filius then continued. "To find someone willing to duel Albus, especially when he knew full well he didn't have a chance to win. When this is all settled and proper, you and I will have a long tea where you can tell me all about them."
Oh yes, poor Filius was such a steadfast soul, he would bring a tea to the Soul-Sucked Severus just to fulfill his promise.
"I need you to believe me on this. He didn't kill his wife and child," Severus insisted to Filius. "He came home and found them dead. A Muggle had broken into the shop to steal narcotics. The Bulgarians Aurors didn't even investigate instead they attacked."
"Have faith in me, Severus. I will not let them take your soul from you. And your daughter is safe. I know it's exceedingly hard for you to trust anyone after what happened but I will not let anyone hurt you or your daughter."
Severus was tempted to sneer, but the resolute Filius was looking intensely serious.
"It's in our favor that they're rushing this. They'll make mistakes," Filius informed him. "Cool logic will prevail, but I fear that Albus will have to be a witness for you."
"Albus? I just told him to sod off!"
His fear woke the drowsy Ariana and Severus could feel her hiccuping.
Go back to sleep, Ari. I didn't mean to wake you.
Filius patted his hand. "I'm representing Ms. Dobrolubskaia and I will be declared your guardian. It looks like I will be representing you also. Severus, they will restrain you, put you in shackles and fetters. I know this will be hard, but do not panic. You make any attempt to escape and they will put you in a gibbet. You won't fit in one, at least not easily, and they will investigate. I don't think his Charms will withstand a full onslaught of Aurors attempting to break them."
"But Albus as a witness?" Severus protested. "I don't think he'll wish to help me."
Not after Damyan exposed all his secrets in front of the Order.
"Severus, I can assure you that a significant part of your current difficulties with Albus is that he's struggling too hard to assist you. He needs to let you breathe without him hovering over you."
Really, what could Severus say to that? What with a Dementor's Kiss waiting for him? He couldn't let anything happen to Ari... not if he had any chance to prevent it.
Why did he reject Albus' help? Out of spite? Out of stupidity?
"I need to write down something," Severus finally decided.
Poppy returned to Remus' ward. She was carrying a tray full of potions and she warmly spoke to the werewolf. Remus struggled to smile in response and then his legs stiffened. His upper body began to rapidly and rhythmically jerk. His eyes were wild in fright as he was fully aware that he was having a seizure.
Poppy placed the tray on the chair, took out her wand and began to cast an anti-seizure spell. The seizure seemed determined to spite her as it refused to resolve, no instead, there was a brief pause and then he began seizing again. This time his seizure was more severe, his body shaking more violent. Yet his brown eyes were still aware.
It was time for drastic action, so Poppy casted a Major Seizure-Cessation spell.
When the seizure broke, she Cleaned and Dried the diaphoretic Remus.
"The silver's in my blood and it's gotten to my brain," he whispered. "I'm dying, Poppy. I'm dying. Oh God, I want so much to be there when my son is born."
The werewolf broke down into tears then.
"Damn Sirius, God bloody damn him. He's killed me because of his petty problems with Severus."
No, it wasn't the truth. Well, it wasn't the complete truth. Remus was dying before he had never once stood up for Severus, lacking the necessary fortitude to defend the victim.
It was his bloody fault.
"How's Severus?" He finally asked when he stopped weeping like a baby.
"He's in Azkaban and they're debating about the Kiss. Because of recent events, it doesn't look promising for them... him."
Odd little slip of the tongue. Them. The waddling. Poppy's strange look when Remus had joked about it.
Bloody hell, Severus was pregnant. It didn't matter how or why, but just that there was another generation doomed to repeat the same stupidity that had dogged their fathers unless someone made the effort.
"Get Dora," Remus requested.
"After your potions," Poppy protested.
"I'll drink them, just get her here." Remus then drank Poppy's pungent potions without a protest and he closed his eyes, waiting for Dora to arrive.
Despite his resolve to stay awake, he was dozing when his wife appeared in his quarters.
"I'm here," she whispered.
"You have to help me get out of Hogwarts," Remus pleaded. "I have to go to the Wizengamot. I have to be a witness... for Severus. It's time I finally stood up for him, and I hope that I'm not too late."
When Nessie, the little House Elf, finally made her escape from Pomona, she closed her eye, concentrated very, very hard and then popped into Severus' quarters. It was a large suite of rooms and most assuredly it wasn't in its usual place in the dungeon. She didn't quite know where exactly she was in Hogwarts, as the suite was missing a door to the outside hall, but the place was most assuredly in serious need of a helpful House Elf such as Nessie. Everything in the main room was in boxes, neatly packed away.
With a snap of her fingers, boxes began opening, and everything started putting itself away. Books were flying to the bookshelf and various knickknacks were placed just so. The couch and the two chairs reassembled themselves, and Nessie carefully sat on each one, in order to test each one. Master needed new cushions, as they were quite uncomfortable! They also smelled musty; so much finger waving and magic was required.
Oh! And the fabric was stained and torn.
Truly unacceptable for her new Master, Nessie knew, so she replaced them with nice soft cushions. Plus, she made them a brighter, cheerier color. The sitting room made right with a fresh happy paint color, Nessie then went to each room in the suite and unpacked. Everything needed to be perfect when her Master returned, so she cleaned, fixed, primped and improved everything she could find. She even fixed his mattress so it was soft and comfortable! Really, it was no surprise that Master was so cranky, how could he sleep on that mattress? Plus there needed to be pillows! More pillows!
He'd be so happy, and he'd be delighted to have Nessie as his House Elf. That meant that Reggie… and… Tikki… and the other Hogwarts House Elf would be much nicer to Nessie as she had a Master… and… they wouldn't look down at her because she was a stray who had lost her Mistress!
The final room left her quite perplexed until she realized what it was. There was a rocking chair, an old battered rocking chair complete with a menagerie of rather forlorn, knitted animals. There was a long list of "What is needed" that had been left on the rocker and Nessie carefully read the rather detailed list. She shook her head as Master had forgotten several important items for the baby. Fortunately, she knew exactly where to find the overlooked items. She wouldn't get what was on the list, as Master probably had already decided what he desired. She'd acquire only the forgotten ones and Master would be so delighted that she was… proactive… Yes, that was that strange word that Master Slughorn had used on that day she had changed this tweeds to a nice, solid color. It must be a very good thing to be proactive as he had been smiling and laughing when he called her that.
Oh, and she needed to paint the room as the color was all wrong for Baby! Baby needed soothing, restful colors!
And Mistress would need nicer pillows for her bed as she'd want to be comfortable.
And the little knitted animals would appear much happier if they were sprinkled through Master's quarters. They looked so lonely and forlorn, as though someone had just thrown them there!
She was so focused on popping to and from the Room of Requirement, repairing and fixing the minor blemishes on the various items she had acquired and adding the last dash of color to the nursery that only after she was finish, did Nessie realize that she was out past curfew for underage House Elves such as herself. There was no way she'd be able to sneak into the House Elves' dormitory now, so Nessie curled herself up into a little ball and quickly fell asleep. Content that she had last found a Master, Nessie dreamed happy dreams of taking care of Master's baby.
Albus was once again attempting to open the door to the chambers, when he was buzzed by a paper glider. It circled his head repeatedly and finally he grabbed it, just so it would stop.
Ah, yes, the Ministry used them instead of owls, claimed it cut down on messy inboxes.
His heart skipped a beat when he recognized Severus' cramped handwriting.
Please, please, I beg you. Please save her from being Kissed.