Sirius looked at her pale face, the bruises standing out in stark contrast. He couldn't believe that someone would do something like this to his daughter. She looked so small in the hospital bed and the erratic but strong "thump thump" of the monitoring charm had hope and worry waring in his chest.
The groan of pain Iris let out had Severus jolting awake and moved over to her hospital bed in a flash. Her eyes fluttered in waking, the "thump thump" of the monitor quickened noticeably and panic filled the now wide awake eyes.
"Hush, my beautiful flower, hush," the smooth voice called over her panic and a warm hand cupped her bulging stomach. "See, our child is still safe. Still nestled warm and secure in your womb."
"Hear that Faline?" a new voice chimed, that's the baby. Iris turned her head in the direction of the voice. She smiled tremulously at her papa. "Hear how strong that heart is beating? That little one is happy and safe right in mummy's tummy."
Both men sighed in relief when a small smile graced her lips as tears of relief ran down the sides of her face. She couldn't bring herself to say anything to the two men and closed her eyes trying to pull her worry back and let the men's reassurance fill her.
-HP - - SS -
... Two weeks after her marriage, to Professor Severus T. Snape, the Girl-Who-Lived was attacked on her way back to their shared quarters by an unknown assailant. All that is known about the attack currently is that the assailant aimed an abortifacient hex before running off in the opposite direction. Again, the Headmaster was unavailable to comment on these happenings...
-HP - - SS -
Dumbledore looked over the rim of his half-moon glasses at the witch on the other side of his desk. For so long he toiled with this game, most of his Pawns had been masterfully played, but Voldemort had turned all of his hard work to nothing more than withered dreams. This witch was his last hope for putting all of his plans back in line and what did she go and do; try to kill the only one who stood a chance at taking out the Dark Lord.
"Ms. Granger, explain to me what you were thinking?" He spoke in his calmest voice, but the ever-present twinkle was missing from his eyes. "I'm certain that I told you to do nothing, NOTHING," he shouted, his anger taking over for a brief moment, "against Iris. That I had everything well underhand!"
Hermione cringed at the waves of angry magic that flowed from the aged wizard. She hadn't meant for Iris to be physically harmed, just for the child, she carried to die. "No one knows who shot that spell at Iris." She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, "My research of spells like this show that they work on just the fetus and that no harm comes to the mother."
Albus slowly rubbed his suddenly tired eyes, 'This is what I get for employing far too many Gryffindors.' "Ms. Granger, it occurs to me that you are clearly not as smart as you think yourself to be," was his pithy reply. "Every member of this school has been privy to your very public falling out with Ronald and Iris since the Start of Term Feast when they agreed to a truce with young Malfoy."
Hermione had the good graces to blush at the Headmaster's not so subtle rebuke. "Had you thought to bring your plan to me first, I could have told you that those spells are only meant for natural pregnancies, not magically induced, which Iris' most assuredly is!" He stood from his chair while slamming his hands down on the desktop. "Get out Ms. Granger, and for both our sakes you better pray to whatever gods you hold dear that no one finds out what you have done!"
Hermione gulped, her eyes going wide "Perhaps that interview with Rita was a bad idea... "
-HP - - SS -
He'd crucify her when he got ahold of her. And then he'd destroy Dumbledore with Draco's help; knock him from his high and Mighty Chair one peg at a time. He slammed the trunk closed, nodded at Lavender and sent Hermione's trunk floating back up the stairs. "You know how to apply the wards on her trunk?" The girl nodded solemnly to the redhead. 'Thanks, Lavender. This will make sure Hermione gets punished for hurting one of our own."
Ron knew what people thought of him. He was the muscle of the "Golden Trio". He knew without a doubt that that's what Hermione would say. But oh, when he found that stupid, power-hungry bint, she would realize that he was far more than just the muscle of the group.
The grim smile on his face, stopped many as he stormed through the halls on his way to the Great Hall. She would wish she'd never come to Hogwarts by the time they were finished dragging her through the mud.
He quickly made it to the Great Hall, his strides becoming quicker as the noise coming from the room suddenly stopped and he quickly made his way inside...
-HP - - SS -
Iris slowly lowered The Daily Prophet back to the table, before calmly standing and drawing her wand from its holster; few people knew where her relatives lived. Out of the many people in the Great Hall, only five people knew where the Dursley's resided. She stepped into the aisle between her House table and the Slytherin table, quickly making eye contact with Severus where he sat; a storm raging in his eyes, and Draco; his ears and cheeks flushing angrily as he threw down his paper.
Ron would never betray her trust in such a way, no matter how they fought or the conflicts they had. Hagrid would never think to betray the information of her previous summer residence. Dumbledore and McGonagall wouldn't give the information out for fear of being implicated with her bad upbringing.
With carefully controlled steps, she made her way slowly down the table, the room dropping into silence as she walked further and further into the room. She and Ron had taken to sitting with the Seventh Year Gryffindors to escape the constant dirty looks and snide remarks Hermione gave them.
Only one other person knew where she lived during her first four summers attending Hogwarts. Iris' magic crackled around her and made her hair move like fire. She stopped when she reached the spot directly in front of the bushy haired witch. Iris took a deep breath to steel her nerves and cool her furious anger, the article running through her mind;
The-Boy-Who-Lived-to-be-a-Girl
by Rita Skeeter
It's been a busy year for our Savior, Iris Sagitta Potter Black Snape. Many of us, here at The Daily Prophet, were shocked to hear about the quick marriage between our Savior and former Death Eater turned spy, Professor Severus T. Snape at the end of October. While the Savior and her hodgepodge family did admit to an upcoming wedding and birth of their child, the Wizarding World was led to believe that it would not take place until our Savior had at least hit her Majority.
Following on the coattails of the article written this summer, I went in search of the former Harry Potter's muggle family. What I managed to uncover greatly shocked me and my collaborators. As we are all well aware, an infant Harry Potter was not left in the care of the alternates stated in the Will of James and Lily Potter - which was withheld by the Wizengamot until a month after her adoption by Godfather Sirius Black, but with Petunia Dursley nee Evans, the late Mrs. Potter's long-estranged sister.
It took me many weeks to finally trace the whereabouts of Mrs. Dursley - thanks to a source close to the Headmaster - and three attempts to get her to even let me into the house. In my last attempt, I was disguised as a Social Worker for the local Children's Services. After a bit of sweet talking and ego boosting I was able to get Mrs. Dursley freely talking about her Nephew.
Much of what was said corroborated the information given in Iris Potter Black Snape's summer interview (reprinted on pp.22), however, this reporter was most shocked to hear (and see) evidence that Hogwarts Headmaster Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore has been paying the Dursley family to abuse our Savior. (more on the paid abuse of magical minors pp 22-23)...
Silence reigned in the Great Hall as students and teachers read the article that made the front page of the Daily Prophet. Iris was not shocked by the fact that Rita Skeeter was able to pin down her Aunt and get the horse-faced shrew to spill her secrets and since her real life was made of everything a good hero's tale contained, the woman didn't even need to use her vile Quick Quotes Quill.
... It has been implied by our source, from a conversation with one Hermione Granger (muggleborn friend of Iris) that a relationship between Professor Snape and the former Boy-Who-Lived, was established last year during "Remedial Potions" lessons. One has to wonder as to the validity of these accusations but must also keep in mind that until last year, Professor Snape was in good standing with You-Know-Who.
When contacted, Headmaster Dumbledore would not refute or confirm the claims leveled against his staff member. And unfortunately, due to tightened security, this witch was unable to ask the Girl-Who-Lived or Professor Snape to comment on these claims...
"You, Hermione Jean Granger are scum. On the grounds of defamation of character, slander, attempted assassination and collusion, before those present I call on magic to cast you out. Should you be found guilty by our laws, may your magic turn on you as you have turned on me and those you have called a friend."
Hermione gasped as the magic surrounding Iris reached out for her. Her silverware clattered onto her plate, seeming to fall in slow motion as the magic gripped at her, ringing loudly in the silent room. Shock showed on the young witch's face, the color slowly draining, leaving her looking sickly pale. She knew it was a risk going to the papers with all the dirt she had on the former Harry Potter, and in some instances telling the reporter outright lies about their Savior.
"Iris!" The doors of the Great Hall slammed closed behind Ron as his voice echoed in the silent room. He took a moment to enjoy the looks of shock and awe at his entrance before he quickly made his way to his houses table, a Malfoy-esque sneer distorting his features.
Hermione stood from the bench quickly, those around her being jostled into one another by her quick movements. Her wide, scared eyes caught those of the boy she wanted desperately and shrunk back away from the table as she saw nothing but fury, disgust, and loathing reflecting in his bright blue eyes.
Hermione quickly steeled herself before turning her eyes to the pregnant witch, her eyes now flashing in anger. "This is all your fault!" she whispered harshly, her eyes bright and glassy as tears of anger threatened to fall. "If you'd just done as I had told you to, none of this would have happened!" The bushy haired witch yelled to the taller girl.
The doors to the great hall slammed open and closed once more but Hermione ignored the approaching footsteps, she'd already lost it all, and now she wouldn't even be able to properly enjoy her revenge! She fisted the fingers of one hand in her wild hair while the other reached for her wand and growled in anger, 'Stupid Skeeter just had to make Harry look good!' "But no", she muttered mockingly, "stupid, pig-headed Harry Potter just had to do it his way! And now His plans for you are all messed up and Sirius is still here to screw up all of our well-laid pl..."
The ranting girl abruptly stopped talking, her angry flush giving way to a deathly pallor. 'Shit!' Iris lashed out and slapped the girl across the table, gasps were heard around the room as the irate girl's hand connected with Hermione's cheek. "You... you disgusting, spiteful, pitiful, loathsome, little muggleborn!"
Hermione quickly raised her wand, a curse ready on her lips; she would not leave this room without doing something. All her work would not be for naught! That stupid boy could not outsmart her, he was just an attention seeking orphan! She was the smart one. "No, no, no, no! NO!"
Draco quickly trained his wand on the bushy haired witch when she raised her wand, three of the six Auror's that had entered the room, joined him in covering the unstable girl. Ron spared his lover a glance and a grim smile over the bushy-haired head before lowering his gaze slightly and sneering at his former friend, "I can not believe that you would throw away years of friendship over such petty things," he shook the paper at the furious witch.
"The whole House has been watching you, Granger, ever since that little gibe you made to Iris about her being loose." He threw the paper across the table, "Severus asked Lavender and Parvati to keeps tabs on you since the Handfasting when they noticed that you started warding your trunk and your journal."
Silence reigned in the large room, students nodding to one another as they processed what the ginger-haired wizard said. After five years of rooming with the same people, it was odd that one would suddenly start using wards on something they hadn't previously. "Lavender and Parvati were able to figure out what wards she used and brought her trunk down for me to search through. They didn't feel comfortable doing it, but I'd rather do that, and more, to keep my best friend safe."
Severus' eyes narrowed, he had only asked the girls to keep tabs on the bushy haired girl so she would stop baiting his wife, he hadn't realized that the Gryffindors were that worried about the Know-it-all's hostility. He appreciated Ron's level of forethought and willingness to protect Iris. The redheads next words had his head snapping to the side, disbelief was the only word to describe what he was feeling.
"The marked pages point to the Headmaster as her 'boss'." He slowly pulled a leather-bound journal from his back pocket before handing it to Iris. He smiled pityingly at the traitorous witch before him as her knees went out from under her and she crumpled to the ground, wand held forgotten in limp fingers.
He leaned across the table so he could see Hermione, "You've been playing the two of us from the very beginning. No. You've done worse than that, you've been playing everyone in this school into thinking you're just the poor Muggleborn who wants a chance." They'd all fallen right into place too. The Knight that was used to taunt the enemy and look what it had gotten them.
"Everyone, except for one person, because he's the one that put you into play. Like a good little Knight on the chessboard, he moved you to and fro until he no longer needed you and now, you've been captured."
His glare pierced Dumbledore where he sat, his eyes briefly trailing to were Aurors marched to the head table. "But guess what, 'Mione?" He waited until the girl looked up at him, tears in her eyes, "When one is playing chess, one must not make careless mistakes because sometimes, the other player catches on to their style and they lose the game. It might take the loss of many pieces on both sides, but it's the win that counts."
Severus nodded towards the ginger and turned to pinned the Headmaster with a hateful glare as the Aurors placed magic-dampening cuffs on the old wizard, "It's most helpful that as 'White' we are given a little extra time in this game the Headmaster started."
Silence reigned in the Great Hall, all present watched with dumbfounded expressions as their beloved Headmaster was taken away in chains and the 'Brightest Witch of their Generation' was shackled, before being pulled unresisting from the room.
-HP - - SS -
Iris paced the DA's training room, Severus, Ron and Draco watching her calmly but prepared to intervene should she need it. Slowly the members of the D.A. started filing into the room, questions flashing in their eyes but keeping silent as they watched their leader nervously. Iris snapped out of her mind with the soft snick of the door closing.
She faced the assembled members, looking them all in the eye briefly. "I want to thank all of you coming on such short notice." She began her pacing again, calmly walking the front of the room, "As we're all aware, we train for the war with Voldemort in here. The last few months should be a testament to what happens when we hold ourselves above others."
She paused, collecting her thoughts so that she could answer many of the questions she knew her group had. "I won't lie to you, those of you in this room are like a second family to me, as Hogwarts is my Home away from Home. I have always been skeptical of Albus Dumbledore, his views, his ambitions, and the way he treated everyone as if they were but players in a grand game. We all know how I have viewed authority in this school and, now, you all know why."
She looked towards her best friend, "While I was never sure of why I was sent back to my Aunts home, year after year, I have always suspected Dumbledore of some form a collusion." She looked back over the group, determination in her bright green eyes, "I know many of you must feel betrayed by Hermione seemingly turning on us, however, after reading some of her journal it seems we never really had her. She has always been Dumbledore's spy."
Slowly Severus stood from his seat, he gently lead Iris to a comfortable looking chair at the front of the room before turning to addressing those present. "In light of all the troubles we have faced over the last few years, the Ministry have given the DA and the Order of the Phoenix special dispensation to bring an end to the war by any means necessary. I have here," he held up a two-inch thick stack of parchments, "written contracts for each member of the DA and Order, already signed by myself, Iris, and the Minister, giving you permission and pardon for any restricted magics you perform with the intention of ending the war."
He placed the stack of papers on the desk at the front of the room. "Now, we began discussions at our last meeting of what we need to do to bring about the end of the Dark Lord. Let us discuss these matters while you contemplate whether you wish to sign the consent."
"Professor? What types of magic open to us with this pardon? Will we be expected to use Dark Arts?" Severus looked at Longbottom with a gleam in his eyes.
"A very good question Longbottom. With this dispensation, we open a variety of highly restricted and regulated magics to our use."
"Elemental Magic, Sex Magic, Blood Magic, and Familial Magic are now at our disposal. Those in The Order have agreed that we should not delve into the Dark Arts, even though the contract will give you pardon if you use the Unforgivables. We feel it is counterproductive to use the type of magic our opposition uses." He looked at the members carefully before nodding at the bookcases to the side of the room. "The Room has pulled every book Hogwarts has on these branches. As most Magical Families are in some way related we can not discount a single families magic until we try it."
Ron cleared his throat softly gaining Severus' attention, "What kind of Magic is it that saved Iris the night her parents died? It's helped keep her alive for this long..."
-HP - - SS -
November was quickly coming to a close and all but three members of the DA had signed the Clemency Contract, though they did agree to continue training with the group as a whole. The group, along with the remaining members of The Order, had discarded the idea of using Blood Magic. After reading the first three books in a series called Blood Magic for the Light they quickly realized Lily Potter's death alone had not saved her child. No one wanted to risk using Blood Magic as it had the nasty requirement of needing the casters life when saving others was the intent.
Iris and Severus were not willing to risk themselves or the one member of each Light side family the only spell they could use called for. Iris had outright refused when Kingsley and Moody suggested looking into the darker side of Blood Magic. She still had nightmares from the night Voldemort had been resurrected using her blood.
Iris loved the idea of being able to use Familial Magic. It was something she and Severus could use in their chambers here at Hogwarts or in their own home to protect themselves. If they could find a familial connection between Iris and Voldemort that was closer than sixth cousins and no more than three times removed it might still be usable. She was hoping they weren't that closely related.
-HP - - SS -
The third week of November they turned their attention towards Elemental Magic. She found this branch of magic fascinating and while it was suitable to their needs, it was best used in conjunction with another form of magic. It also needed to have the blessing of the element being invoked.
The final week of November found members of the D.A. once more filling into the Room of Requirement for their weekly meeting. The two-hour meeting went by in a blur with half the members writing and revising elemental rituals that would suit their goal. The remaining half were sat around the room in little groups, noses buried in books calling out book names with the page number when they found anything that seemed relevant.
It was the day after their weekly meeting when the first true spark of hope was found. Draco walked into the RoR barely seeing those that sat in little groups and walked straight to the door that The Room had made for him. He closed the door softly and willed it to only be seen by Ron, Severus or Iris, he didn't want to be disturbed by anyone while he was researching.
He settled into the comfortable couch before pulling a book from the stack The Room had moved for him. Draco had already been reading for two hours, he'd discarded three books into a separate pile as useless. A gentle sigh escaped him as he placed the useless tome he'd been reading onto the quickly growing pile of books with vague references to the magic they were trying to research but with little information of their own.
Draco cast a quick Tempus and seeing the time decided that he would look at one more book before he went off to find Ron. The next book was old, its cover a faded green with the embossed title nothing more than an impression in the soft leather. He gently parted the cover;
While it is not illegal, Sex Magic is a highly restricted branch of magic that is closely linked to both Earth Magic and Blood Magic. In the 1300's the practice of taking a bride to bed by the Lord of the land was a form of Earth and Sex Magic, and was a practice used by the Magical Lords of the land to bring New Blood into the Magical World. This practice stopped with the end of the Scottish War for Independence in 1357.
The keys to Sex Magic are; compatibility, companionship, feeling, and intent. Sex Magic can and will work in the absence of these keys, however, the results will be greatly diminished. It is best that the participants be bonded and their magic be in harmony with one another. With this link three of the four keys are assured, as they have shown companionship and feeling for one another by bonding. With this joining comes a harmonizing of their magic; as such a bonded couple can produce results of astonishing proportions when their intent is focused...
-HP - - SS -
"Hmm. I didn't know there was magical blood in the Royal Family," Draco jumped at the sudden voice. He scowled at his boyfriend for a moment before pulling the redhead's mouth to his.
"Where do you see that?" he moaned as the redhead settled between his stretched out legs. Ron pointed to the passage on the next page as he cuddled into Draco.
The End of The First Scottish War and the beginning of The Second Scottish War were both brought about by Sex Magic. Many historians feel that the high death toll and utter savageness of those who initiated the rites were, in fact, the toll of using Sex Magic in conjunction with Blood Magic... The Start of the Second War was instigated by Edward III in 1332, in a Blood Sex rite that brought about the victory of his forces in Perth...
"Hmm... He could have been led in a Blood Sex rite by someone in his court and in that time Royals would have done anything to assure their victory." Draco raked a hand through the redhead's long hair, enjoying the closeness of his love.
As I mentioned already it is best if the participants are bonded, however, as long as they meet three of the four keys, their magical ventures will be incredibly strong. To this end should two people come together with the proper intent, with companionship and feeling for the other, the following pages are a journal of my own Sex Magic acts performed with my lover.
"Dear Merlin, it's like one of those muggle sex films but written out!" Ron whispered, interest weighing heavy in his voice. "Bonding with a Sex Rite. Hmm, you know if this book can be copied Draco? I think we need our own copy," he purred to the blond.
-HP - - SS -
The next morning a very tired Ron and Draco eased themselves into empty seats at the Gryffindor table and grinned at Iris. "We think we've found what we need to use." Iris' brow shot up, she didn't think they'd find a way to get rid of Voldemort until after she'd given birth.
"Really? No bad side effects?" Both boys shook their heads, grins becoming smug and a light flush covering their cheeks. Iris giggled at them knowing what branch of magic they were researching, "I take it you tried out what you found?"
Ron's blush deepened and he slowly slid his hand across the table. Iris gasped as she saw the ring tattooed onto the young man's left-hand ring finger. "It's the first part of the book we found. We can't figure out what the title is but it's basically a journal of Sex Magic."
"What we've read is fascinating all on its own. There are whole sections dedicated to the use of Sex Magic with Elemental Magic and Soul Magic." Draco leaned forward to whisper excitedly as the rest of the table glanced at them and exchanged looks with one another about what could make the Golden Black's so excited.
Iris quite happily pulled her DA Galleon and spelled it with a meeting time before grabbing her bag and heading to the Head's Table. She nodded to McGonagall before relaying the good news to Severus.
-HP - - SS -
December quickly came to Hogwarts, a constant chill had settled into the very stones of the castle causing everyone to use warming spells. The castle had seen a three-day winter storm which brought piles of snow for the students to lob at one another, the wind so cold you could feel your breath turning to ice and another reason for Severus, Ron, and Draco to fuss endlessly over Iris. She constantly found herself hiding in the RoR to escape the overly cautious men.
Today she had finally found the spell to allow her to copy the Journal on Sex Magic! She was still miffed that Draco and Severus wouldn't give her a copy of the tome.
At seven months pregnant, Iris' belly was quite large and while trekking through the snow to visit Hagrid was right out, reading a bloody book on magic was right up her alley. She grumbled to herself about the foolishness of men when pregnant women were around. Walking carefully she steadily made her way to her rooms, a cuppa and her favorite chair were calling her name.
-HP - - SS -
With the holidays quickly approaching and only two months left in her pregnancy, Iris constantly found herself curled up in a bespelled Papasan chair reading the Sex Magic Journal. Tonight was no different than any other and so she was surprised when an owl flew through the charmed window and landed on the edge of the chair. She quickly removed the missive from the bird, took the letter and had opened it swiftly when she saw the ministry seal. Her furrowed brow quickly raised as she read;
Mr. and Mrs. Severus T. Snape
Potion Master's Quarters
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
On behalf of the emancipated minor Iris Sagitta Potter Black (Snape), Gawain Robards of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has gathered sufficient evidence to try Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore with the following charges:
Endangerment of a Magical Minor (Six counts).
Collusion to commit Child Abuse (Fifteen counts).
Collusion to enslave a Magical.
Also to be tried, Hermione Jean Granger faces the following charges:
Collusion to commit Child Abuse.
Attempted Murder (Two Counts).
Collusion to enslave a Magical Minor.
Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
Slander.
Mister Robards requests your presence at the Ministry of Magic, Level 2; DoMLE Heads office on 6 December 1996 promptly at half past 10 in the morning. The trial for the above listed will take place no later than 13 December 1996. You will be informed of the time of the trial by owl post no later than 10 December 1996. Please arrive by Floo, as Mister Robards will have an Auror escort ready and waiting for your arrival.
Best Regards,
Auror John Dawlish, DoMLE.
-HP - - SS -
AN: I referred to Draco, Ron, and Iris as the Golden Black's in this chapter for the simple reason that they all carry the blood of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Draco for obvious reasons, Ron because Septimus Weasley married Cedrella Black and it's been 'agreed upon' that they are/were Arthur's parents and Iris by Blood (Dorea Black married Charlus Potter(James' parents?)) and Adoption.
For those that care, I all the dates I used in the letter fall on weekdays (I checked) and the names and positions hell are accurate according to HPLexicon. However, considering this is an AU, artistic license was used.