A/N: Have another chapter lovelies... I'm literally too tired to do anything but thank you all! :)
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When Regina spotted her nephew amongst the milling crowds, he was surrounded by Filch, Slughorn and Severus. The teenager looked as though he was merely disinterested by the situation, while Severus' eyes were flickering over him in concerned annoyance.
Making her way through the crowd, Regina allowed herself to display the affection she rarely showed her nephew outside of the privacy of their homes, by wrapping her arm around his shoulders. She looked defiantly between Filch and Slughorn, as though daring them to comment on her action.
"Is everything alright?" She asked in a cold voice.
"Quite alright, my dear Regina!" Slughorn assured her with a broad smile. "Draco here is going to join our little party, aren't you?"
"Yes, Professor. Thank you."
"It's nothing, nothing." The Potions Master assured him. "I did know your grandfather, after all…"
"He always spoke very highly of you, sir." Draco replied quickly, working the situation to his advantage. Regina's hand gripped his shoulder more tightly, warning him not to overdo it, the fixed smile on her face never faltering. "Said you were the best potion-maker he'd ever known…"
Regina's smile became more strained as she realised they were being watched. Her head turned sharply and she met Harry Potter's eyes; one eyebrow raised as though she were challenging him to comment on the situation.
"I'd like a word with you, Draco." Severus said suddenly, drawing Regina's attention back to them. "Regina, if you would accompany us?"
"Oh, now, Severus, it's Christmas, don't be too hard–"
Severus turned a hard eye on Slughorn. "I'm his Head of House and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be." When the Potions Master offered no further argument, Severus inclined his head a little. "Follow me, Draco. Regina."
Keeping her arm around her nephew's shoulders, the woman followed her friend from the room and out into the deserted corridor. Once they were alone, Severus grasped Draco's arm and dragged him away from the protective embrace of his aunt, earning himself a glare from the woman. He marched them along the corridor, before opening a classroom door and pushing the teenager inside. Regina followed them, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Severus, I hardly think–" She began, but he ignored her.
"Did you have anything to do with that necklace that cursed Katie Bell?"
"I've told you already, no." The teenage boy replied indignantly. "I was with Aunt Regina."
"You cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled–"
"I didn't have anything to do with it, alright?"
"Severus!" Regina snapped. "He's told us he didn't have anything to do with it and I believe him. Besides, he was with me at the time and, unless you're suggesting that you think I am lying to you, then I would ask you to drop the subject. Now."
He glared at her, momentarily engaging in a silent argument with his best friend. Then he turned back to Draco and began questioning him on why he was avoiding him and what the boy's plan was. Regina paced warily, listening in silence to the conversation and growing more and more uncomfortable about it.
"Draco, sweetheart, listen…" Regina started calmly, fed up of the two males sniping at each other. "I know you feel like Severus is interfering but we've both promised your mother that we'll do what we can to help and protect you."
"Like I told him, I don't need your protection." The boy replied childishly. Seeing Regina's eyebrow raising, he sighed. "Listen, Aunt Regina, if I need your help I'll ask you, OK?"
"Your aunt and I both have experience in these matters, Draco, if you would just…"
"No! I don't want your help!" Draco shouted angrily. "I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!"
Regina threw her hands up in the air and turned away, furious at Severus for pushing her nephew so far and at Draco for acting like a spoilt brat. There was an ominous silence and then Severus spoke in a low voice.
"You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but–"
Draco didn't even respond. Instead he scowled darkly at the man in front of him, before pushing past and storming out of the classroom. As the door banged behind him, Regina shook her head in disgust and made to leave the room as well. Severus caught her wrist and pulled her back. His eyes had softened considerably and he was almost pleading with her not to be angry with him.
"Gina…"
She sighed. "I know, Sev, I know… But we must be careful." She pulled up the sleeve on her left arm and brandished her forearm at him. "These may not mean anything to us anymore, but for appearance sake we must put on an act. That involves allowing Draco to do this his own way and keeping an eye on him from a distance."
"You are not the one who made an Unbreakable Vow." He reminded her.
"I know." Regina agreed softly, clasping his hand. "But we will work this out."
Christmas at Hogwarts was a cheerful affair. Henry was in his element, bothering his mother until she agreed to go for walks in the grounds with him. Inevitably those walks turned into snowball fights which would lead to the pair returning to the Castle drenched and laughing. They would be followed by steaming mugs of hot cocoa in Regina's chambers; extra cream and marshmallows on top for Henry.
It was on one such outing, four days before Christmas Day, that the pair ran into Emma as they were making their way down the steps outside the double doors into the Entrance Hall. The blonde Professor smiled broadly and ruffled Henry's hair as he stopped to talk animatedly to her. Emma's gaze flickered over to Regina, who was pointedly fiddling with her scarf instead of allowing herself to make eye contact with the younger woman. They had barely spoken since their kiss and Emma was keen to talk to the brunette about it in the hopes she could soothe any fears the older woman may have.
"Hey, Professor Swan, why don't you come with us?" Henry suggested excitedly, looking between the two women. "We're going to build a snowman today, aren't we Mom?"
"Yes, dear." Regina agreed vacantly.
"I don't want to intrude." Emma told the boy, her eyes still on his mother.
"You won't be, will she Mom?" Henry didn't wait for Regina to comment before continuing. "You can help me roll the balls for the body and the head. Mom won't because she says it makes her hands hurt because of the cold."
Not waiting for either woman to respond, he took off across the lawn in search of a good spot. Emma glanced at Regina and shrugged, grinning at her as she pushed her hands into her pockets.
"I guess I don't have a choice; wouldn't want to disappoint the kid."
Regina made a 'hmmph' sound and set off after her son quickly, not wanting to be left alone with Emma. The blonde, however had other ideas and hurried to catch up with her. She slowed when they were side by side and looked sideways at the older woman.
"He's a great kid, Regina. Most thirteen-year-olds wouldn't be happy to spend their afternoons with their mother and a teacher."
"Henry isn't most thirteen-year-olds." Regina informed her softly, her eyes following her son's progress through the deep snow. "He hasn't been afforded that luxury."
Emma bit her lip and knew that the brunette's mind was returning to her memories of Henry's father. She watched her for a moment, seeing the darkness overtaking the woman's eyes and wondered how to draw her out of it. Opening her mouth to speak, Emma shut it quickly as Regina's voice met her ears.
"In some ways he is far older than his years and in other ways he's just a child. Everything I do is for my son… to protect him…"
"What happened to Daniel?" Emma asked before she could stop herself. "What really happened?"
Regina's eyes flashed with anger at being asked such a question. Then they softened and despair was visible in the deep brown orbs. She turned away from the blonde and her shoulders hitched. Emma felt terrible as she realised the other woman was crying. Tentatively she reached out and laid a hand on Regina's shoulder. The brunette shrugged her off, but Emma persisted, trying again.
This time, Regina didn't fight her. Emma pulled the older woman into her arms and rested her cheek against the brunette locks. She briefly wondered whether anyone had held the woman like this since Daniel had died, but then she dismissed the thought, knowing that it was a miracle that Regina was showing her vulnerability to anyone.
"It was my mother…"
"Gina… let's just run away together." Daniel begged, cupping his girlfriend's face in his hands. "Let's… get away from your mother, from your sisters, from everyone."
"It's not that simple." The brunette sighed, shaking her head and pulling away from the comforting embrace the young man offered. "I cannot just leave…" She showed him the mark on her forearm. "I can't… they'll… they'll kill us."
"They'll kill us anyway, Gina." Daniel said, suddenly serious. "If they keep us apart I'll die. Look at your aunt… she's been forced to stay away from the person she loves and look what it's done to her."
"I won't risk your life."
"That's not your decision to make."
"Daniel… please." Regina turned to him with tear filled eyes. "I'm pregnant."
He exhaled sharply and then stepped forward, gathering her in his arms and kissing her tenderly. When they broke apart he rested his forehead against hers. "All the more reason for us to leave. We must do this properly, for our child's sake. They will never willingly allow us to marry, so we have to go, Regina."
"OK…" She whispered.
"Go home, pack what you need and we'll leave tonight." Daniel told her quickly.
"I don't need anything other than what I've got." She told him gently. "We should go now, before they realise I'm missing."
Daniel nodded and held out his hand to her. Regina accepted it immediately, intertwining their fingers and holding on tight. In a swirl of scenery they Apparated far away from the dense woodland they had met in.
"Where are we?" Regina asked, looking around curiously.
"Near my parents' house."
The witch shook her head firmly. "No, Daniel. I won't put anyone else in danger. We need to go somewhere no one knows us. Or…" She frowned, thinking hard. "Perhaps…"
Before the man could question her, they Disapparated, reappearing on a beach. Daniel raised an eyebrow at her, taking in their surroundings. There was nowhere habitable in sight and he wondered what was going through Regina's mind to bring them here.
Without speaking, the witch began to lead them further and further along the beach. She paused as they reached a huge pile of rocks that seemed totally out of place amongst the sand and marram grass covered sand dunes. Raising her wand she closed her eyes and began to chant an incantation under her breath.
Daniel gasped as the air began to shimmer, before a large wooden house was revealed out of thin air. Regina smiled at him and tugged on their joined hands, leading him towards the front door. As they stepped onto the path that led up to it, the air seemed to shimmer once more before settling.
"We're hidden again." Regina explained, sensing his confusion. When he simply stared at her, she smiled. "This is Aunt Mal's house. Mother has no idea where it is."
"Why doesn't she go and find–"
"Mother told her than if she gets within a certain distance of her love then she will kill them both. That's enough of a threat to make Aunt Mal stay away, however much it hurts her."
They had reached the front door and Regina raised a hand to knock. Before she could connect with the surface, however, the door was thrown open to reveal a slightly wild-looking blonde woman. A broad smile split her face as she regarded the couple on her doorstep.
"GiGi!"
"Hello, Aunt Mal." The young woman smiled broadly, returning the hug her father's sister bestowed on her, before pulling Daniel forward. "This is Daniel. We… we need somewhere to hide for a while."
Maleficent's face immediately turned dark. "I assume that your mother does not approve."
"No, she wouldn't."
"She doesn't know?" A small look of relief passed over the blonde's features and she nodded. "Come in, dears, come in."
Maleficent had allowed the couple to live with her for several months; promising that she would protect them as best she could. She arranged for them to get married, swearing the wizard who performed the ceremony to secrecy. She watched as Regina bloomed in her pregnancy, the love that surrounded the young couple starting to repair the damage that had occurred to her heart when she had been younger than Regina and Daniel were now.
But it couldn't last. Three days before Christmas when Regina was just over five months pregnant, Maleficent left the house to do some shopping in the nearby Muggle town. As she wandered happily away, humming Christmas Carols under her breath, she had no idea that she was being watched by a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.
Cora had tracked her daughter down to a remote area of coastal Cornwall. She didn't know who was harbouring the girl, but she was determined to get Regina back and punish her for abandoning her family.
As soon as Maleficent was out of sight, the older woman slipped out of her hiding place and stalked towards the spot where she could feel magic. Waving her wand and muttering under her breath, she soon broke the enchantments hiding the house and left it fully exposed. Storming up the path, Cora threw open the front door with a flick of her wand and stalked through the rooms until she found her daughter in the kitchen.
"Mother…" Regina breathed out, terror crossing her face. It wasn't until she put her hands protectively over her stomach that Cora realised she was pregnant.
"What… is that?"
"Mother…"
"What have you done, Regina?" Cora demanded coldly. The girl couldn't move, her eyes locked with the older woman's. As she advanced slowly towards her daughter, Cora snarled. "What have you done?"
"Stay away from her!"
Two sets of dark eyes leapt to the young man standing in the doorway. Regina tried to tell her husband to run, but Daniel ignored her, standing his ground. He was determined to protect her and their child – Maleficent was adamant that they were having a boy – from the woman in front of him.
"And who might you be?" Cora asked, her voice laced with venom.
"I'm Regina's husband."
Cora looked stunned for a moment. Then she pulled herself together and let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, darling… you stupid, stupid little girl."
"Mother, please. Don't–"
"Crucio!"
Regina screamed and leapt forward as Daniel dropped to the kitchen floor, writhing in agony as her mother's curse hit him square in the chest. She tried to push past the older woman to get to her husband, but Cora pushed her backwards, intensifying the curse.
"Please!" Regina sobbed. "Don't!"
"You did this, Regina. You."
"I love him!"
"Love is weakness, darling. I'm helping you. I'll make you powerful."
The young woman shook her head violently. "I don't want power! Mother, please… leave him!"
"Avada Kadavara!"
"No!" Regina's scream echoed around the room as the jet of bright green light left her mother's wand and hit Daniel. His eyes widened and fixed on his wife's as he fell. "Daniel!"
Cora stood aside as her daughter rushed to him, dropping to her knees and gathering Daniel in her arms. She held him to her chest and sobbed violently, rocking his lifeless body in her arms as though she could bring him back to her through sheer willpower.
"Come along, darling." Cora ordered, grasping Regina non-too-gently by the arm and pulling her to her feet. Without a backward glance at the corpse on the ground she led her daughter from the house and Apparated back to the Black Mansion.
"Mom?" Henry approached the two women slowly, seeing his mother's tear stained face and his Charms Professor's arm around her shoulders.
Instantly Regina twisted her lips into a warm smile to reassure her son. "Henry… I'm fine sweetheart. How's your snowman coming along?"
"He's done."
Avoiding the curious look in his eyes, Regina took a shuddering breath before glancing at Emma. "Perhaps Professor Swan will enchant him to speak to you? I know she is perfectly capable of doing so." Leaning forwards conspiratorially, she winked at her son. "I took twenty points from Gryffindor and put her in detention when she was a sixth year because she was making snowmen swear at first years."
Henry laughed loudly, completely forgetting his worry over his mother, turning to the blonde at her side. "No way? Can you do it now?"
"You better not, Professor Swan, or I may put you in detention again."
"If it's with you I think I'd quite like that…" Emma told her with a wink, following Henry across the snow covered lawns to enchant his snowman.
