Throwing the young woman into an armchair by the fire Severus started pacing the floor in front of her, furious to the bone. Marcus would be here any minute and he needed to get an update before the former Captain made everything more difficult, not to mention, a whole lot more messy.

"Your family took you back I see"

She nodded as she eyed him, following him with her gaze.

"How much did you tell them?"

A small smile spread on her lips as she said, as sweetly as she could muster

"Everything of course…"

He slapped her hard across the face as he roared in frustration. Feeling a sting of guilty conscience he quickly buried it under his rage

"I warned you!"

Holding the palm of her hand against her split lip she glared at him with a whinge as she tasted the blood in her mouth.

"True but not against telling, what did you expect?"

Severus growled, placed his hands on the arm rests and leaned over her

"I expected you to go back to Marcus, to tell him that you loved him and couldn't wait to marry him and after a visit to a Medic Witch tell him he was going to be a father!"

"I am?"

Severus spun around, looking at the young man standing behind him who seemed in a trance as he rushed past the professor. He kneeled down by Amanda and grabbed her hands, eyeing the bulging belly before she winched and pulled her hands out of his grasp, the action making him frown

"What's wrong?"

"The bond is broken- remember Marcus?"

Severus said, glaring at the woman in the chair

"Which is why she could leave and not come back"

Marcus starred at her in disbelieve.

"But why?"

Rolling her eyes she shifted uncomfortably in the chair

"Because I hate you Marcus Flint!"

Oliver flung the door open and bolted into the living room

"They have her!"

His mother let out a cry of despair

"No! Oliver, go get your father, he's at the office!"

Oliver nodded and rushed over to the fireplace, taking a pinch of the Floo-powder.

"Ministry of Magic!"

The emerald flames engulfed him and took him away.

Now Marcus was pacing the room, Severus leaning against the mantel of the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest and never taking his eyes of the female in the chair.

"Who's your father?"

"Papa"

Amanda tried to hide a chuckle, they were nervous and for a good reason

"Dammit girl!"

"Well, he is…"

Severus slammed his fist onto the marble surface

"First name, last name, profession, age – the lot!"

Starring at him coolly Amanda answered

"Colonel Elijah Alexander Wood, tactician for the Ministry of Defence , age 53, married to Emilia, former Perrywinkle, children: Oliver Alexander Wood and Amanda Jane Wood – stationed in Peru from 1971-1973, in India from 1974-75, in Greenland from 1979-1980, in Siberia from 1982-1985 and in Antarctica from 1987-1989 and no I do not remember his wand-measurements"

Severus felt himself go cold – her father was in the Ministry of Defence? Why hadn't he known that?

"That explains your brother's love for Quidditch"

Amanda shrugged her shoulders, adjusting herself in the chair while rubbing her lower back before she adjusted herself again, it had been a long day.

"Are you ok?"

Marcus looked at her, his voice firm and his eyes hard, she knew he had figured it all out by now. She was expecting his child and she had tried to take that away from him, to keep him in the dark so to say

"How did you guys find out anyway?"

Amanda looked at Severus first, then at Marcus

"I sent an owl to you, a friendly advice to remember to take a blood replenishing potion to avoid fatigue"

Cocking an eyebrow at the professor she snickered

"How considerate!"

He glared at her with venom, a small tint of white spreading over the top of his cheeks.

"Oh you haven't told?"

She chuckled, her eyes sparkling.

"Oh my, should we let Marcus in on the whole secret?"

The former Captain frowned

"What are you on about?"

Amanda laughed while clapping her hands excitedly.

"Oh this is going to be fun-"

"No, I forbid it!"

She looked at him, a small sneer curling her lip.

"You do, now do you? Just too bad really"

She smiled sweetly as she looked at Marcus before continuing:

"Listen, after the night we had our last argument I went here, asking him to break the bond and our lovely former professor did his worst, actually almost killed me and certainly was no gentleman but it did work, though not intentionally I am sure. He took the challenge and sealed the deal more than once"

Severus glared at her as she finished but she ignored him, picking at one of her cuticles before looking at Marcus, waiting to see when the penny dropped.

Marcus starred at them in disbelief, he couldn't or maybe wouldn't fathom what she was saying, and Severus had … the younger man shuddered. Looking at his former professor he clenched his wand firmly in his hand

"How could you?"

Severus scoffed

"You honestly believe her?"

Both men looked at the female in the chair, stretching like a fat cat she pushed herself out of the chair and walked around the room for a bit before turning her attention back at them. She knew nothing would happen, Marcus wouldn't allow it not to mention; she was no longer alone.

"Father!"

Oliver barged into the office where his father was seated, ignoring the remaining men sitting them, several taking notes, one dropping his papers and two others spilling their coffee.

"They've got Amanda!"

Colonel Wood slowly got up, excusing himself with a-'the cat ran away'-story before grabbing his son by the arm and guiding him out of the office.

"Calm yourself lad!"

"Didn't you hear me?"

"I am old but not yet deft so keep your voice down"

Oliver starred at him in disbelieve.

"What?"

"You sister has spent 10 years trying to hide this, trying not to put shame to our name and keep her dignity and you want to throw it all away?"

Oliver muttered something about not thinking and his father agreed with him, stopping at the secretary Colonel Wood wrote a note with a few instructions and a request to have all the files brought to his private address. Guiding his son out of the building they found the nearest Floo-network and headed home.

Stepping out into the living room Eli hugged his distraught wife before sitting her down by the kitchen table and putting the kettle on. A cup of tea could sort just about anything.

"Eli, what are we going to do?"

Handing a cup to his wife the older man sat down

"Wait…"

"What?"

Oliver almost yelled at him, he was pacing the room, looking at the clock every few seconds. The guilt was eating him up alive – had he only been faster, more subtle and thought about Apperation as well, Amanda would still be there

The colonel sighed and leaned back into the chair, taking a few careful sips of his tea

"Amanda is strong, she can handle herself and to be honest, we do not know where she is… yet"

A whistle was heard from the fireplace and Oliver jumped to his feet, grabbing the folders of papers that was handed through the network. Handing them to his father Elijah went through them, his reading glasses on the tip of his nose, looking up every second, one time at the clock, one time at Emilia and finally he looked at Oliver.

"4 Parkway, Harthrow – get moving son!"

Wandering around the office Amanda knew they were watching her every move, she smirked as she traced a finger over the mahogany surface of a cabinet. Turning them against each other was important, when they were on one side she was in trouble and their agreement could and probably would land her in trouble. Like this she felt a bit more in charge, the first ounce of power she had had in years. Sitting down on a chaiselong by the window she stretched her back and groaning in discomfort before lying down. Closing her eyes she breathed deeply, knowing that in this position her full pregnancy was showing more than she liked. Severus eyed the belly.

"When are you due?"

"None of your business!"

She didn't look at them, she didn't need to

"Why?"

Laughing Amanda opened her eyes and looked at Marcus

"Why what?"

Getting up she cracked her shoulder as she walked past him, she knew he hated that sound.

"Why not tell me, I mean, I deserve to know…?"

Was he truly so stupid? Sending him a dangerous glare, she turned and pointed a finger at him.

"You deserve? Are you kidding me? The only thing you deserve is to spend the rest of your life in Azkaban for what you've done to me!"

Marcus scowled

"I did it for you"

Amanda glared at him and with a cold laugh she replied

"For me? Keep telling yourself that, it was all a part of your little game for revenge, I was a mere pawn"

Seeing him advancing on her she stood her ground and as he towered over her she placed her hands on her hips

"What now?"

She said in a mocking tone while pursing her lips at him.

"Are you articulate enough to think of a comeback or am I right in the fact that you are all brawl and no brains?"

As he grabbed her collar she flinched but didn't look away

"You are lucky!"

She scoffed

"Hardly!"

"I should make you pay for this, for all of this!"

"What's stopping you?"

Seeing rage explode in his eyes she suddenly felt uncertain, that was not a smart move. Seeing him raise his hand she braced herself, closing her eyes, but nothing came. Opening one eye she saw Severus with a tight grip on Marcus' arm.

"Calm yourself, she's messing with you!"

Pulling Marcus' hand off her Severus placed himself between them, standing dangerously close to Amanda, much too close for her liking.

"I warned you!"

Like a scolded child she pouted before shrugging her shoulder, she sat down, casually leaning on a pillow and putting her feet up

"So what are you going to do?"

Amanda gave Severus a daring look

"We can't sit here all night as enjoyable as the company is"

Severus turned to Marcus and muttered something Amanda couldn't quite hear, the younger man nodded, shot her a dirty look and Floo'ed out of the office. She held her breath as her blood ran cold, why had he left? Seeing the professor turn and look at her, a devilish look in his eyes.

"All alone now"

She sat up straight, grabbing the edge of the seat.

"Time for a chat"

Eyeing him she held her breath again, biting her lip. His words echoed through her mind, he could hurt her without harming the baby, he had before.

"I told you what would happen if you lied to me"

"Yes you did but I can't live with him and certainly not have a future with him"

"Then why not stay with me?"

She scoffed, a sneer twitching her upper lip.

"Like I said, the plague or cholera, I swallowed a huge pill going home to my parents but it was all I could do, I'm tired of being alone"

"You're not"

She smiled as she suppressed a chuckle.

"True"

Hearing him growl she chuckled again, he had underestimated her and her family, her now allies. He knew the hot head she called her brother but he had no idea what to expect of their father. He was the brains of the family, their mother the heart. She felt guilty all of a sudden, should she had gone home at all? She knew Marcus would have found out sooner or later and then what? Hiding for the rest of her life, hiding her child from its father? Just so he or she could have one set of grandparents? If she had stayed away…

"So what now?"

Severus' brain was working in overdrive, she was playing with him and surely stalling, her family would come for her and having underestimated the Wood-family Severus Snape knew they had to find some clever way to sort this out if Flint was to have any chance of seeing his child.

"Why not settle?"

"I'm done with settling"

"He loves you, you know"

"He does not know love"

"You might be surprised"

"I'm getting too old for surprises"

Groaning he threw his hands into the air in frustration but as a whistle was heard from the fireplace he walked over and pulled her to her feet. Dragging her towards the fireplace he took a pinch of powder and threw it into the fire before pushing her into the emerald flames with a: 'Stone Hill´

As they appeared in a small living room she turned just in time to see him disappear again, engulfed by flames. The silence lingered behind.

Looking around the room, she had no idea where she was, this was a place she had never been before though nicely decorated she thought it to be the home of someone she didn't knew. Walking a few rounds around the room she noticed empty picture frames, gaps in the selection of books. This was a hide out or something, anything personal had been removed for reasons she did not know.

Stifling a yawn she knew she was locked in, there was no doubt in her mind and being too tired to explore any more, she curled up on the couch and fell asleep in seconds.

Oliver entered his parent's house

"There was no sign of them there"

Looking around he found his mother sitting alone by the kitchen table and it dawned on him. Kansas City Shuffle! Damn the old man. His mother gave him an apologetic look

"He knew you would be too emotional to bring along"

Roaring with rage Oliver threw himself in a chair across the table from her

"Father doesn't trust me and he blames me!"

Shaking her head his mother grabbed his hands

"Don't say that love, he thinks highly of you but he also know you can be a bit hot-headed"

Groaning he rested his head on their hands.

"Always weight your opponent!"

She nodded

The older man sat at the table, looking at the two men entering the room. As he motioned for them to sit down they did. Eyeing them over he started

"A pleasure to meet you Professor Snape, I have heard a lot about you"

Severus narrowed his eyes, he wasn't sure if it was good or bad things.

"I'm sorry to say I have heard nothing about you, from anyone"

Elijah Wood chuckled

"I know, I am somewhat of a shadow figure in the Ministry"

Marcus fiddled with the hem of his robe as he watched the two older men size each other up, why were they wasting time? He had Amanda like he wanted, now they just had to hide her away so he could keep her and raise their family with her. Meeting with her father was pointless in his opinion.

"So this is the young man who wishes to marry my daughter?"

Eli looked at Marcus

"and had the audacity to take her away from her family"

Swallowing nervously Marcus cleared his throat before making an attempt to speak but Severus cut him off.

"You know how teenagers are, not thinking about the consequences."

Severus smiled coldly, if he had been able to do a kind smile he would have but at present time he needed to let this man know that he was no one to be messed with.

"Yes, we were all young at some point"

Eli chuckled, assuming a relaxed posture

"Now how to we fix this mess?"

Severus cocked an eyebrow

"In my opinion they should be together"

Eli laughed, lightly before narrowing his eyes at the Potions Master

"I think not, Amanda does not love him nor does she wish to be with him"

"But what about my child?"

The older men looked at Marcus who seemed to have finally found his voice, Eli let out a light laughter

"We will provide everything the child will need, he or she will be brought up in a good home with love and family!"

Marcus jumped to his feet, aiming his wand at the older man

"You have no right taking them away from me!"

Severus hissed, as he pulled the younger man into the chair again

"Calm yourself!"

Keeping perfectly still Elijah glared at the younger man, his wand at the ready though still in his pocket, this Marcus Flint should be careful, he would rather go to Azkaban than see his daughter with such a person, bad tempered and out of control.

Severus looked at the Colonel

"My apologies, he's been through a lot lately"

The older man nodded

"Understandable but this just confirms it, he should stay away from us, I am sure he will find someone else who's life he can ruin"

Severus glared

"That's a bit harsh!"

"But no untrue"

Getting up he walked to the door

"This meeting is over, there is nothing to talk about and we certainly cannot reach an agreement which benefits both parties"

Severus and Marcus both got up

"But we have Amanda…"

The older man gave a curious smiled

"Yes you do… for now…"

As a crack was heard Amanda sat up straight, her eyes misty from being pulled out of her sleep so abruptly. Looking around she saw the two former Slytherins standing not far from her and with a moan she laid down again, pulling the cover over her head. Marcus looked at Severus.

"What did he mean by 'for now'?"

The older man schussed him

"Kitchen!"

Pushing him out the living room Severus closed the door behind them

"He must have a plan"

Marcus nodded, not entirely certain what such plan would be or how it would be executed.

"Go to bed, we'll sort things out in the morning"

Nodding the both of them went to the bedrooms upstairs

As the morning broke Amanda woke up with a face full of sunshine, groaning she rolled over, forgetting she had been sleeping on the small couch and found herself on the floor a second later. Cussing she got to her feet, looking around the room, the previous day's events flowing back to her. Walking into the kitchen she put the kettle on for a cup of tea before slicing a piece of bread and looking out the kitchen-window. She wondered where she was, by the looks of it she was in the countryside but that was as much as the fields and small patched of vegetation told her. Sipping the warm fluid she sighed while sitting down on one of the small chairs by the table, how had she gotten herself into all of this and more importantly, how was she going to get out? She could not turn back time and even if she did she had trouble remembering when all of this had started. Hearing someone entering the living room, follow by a rushed entrance into the kitchen she eyed the former Captain as he sighed in relieve.

"Yes I am still here"

Sitting down across from her he eyed her curiously as she munched on the bread

"Anything I can get you?"

"Your head on a plate would be nice"

Letting out a frustrated growl he pushed himself away from the table.

"Merlin woman – are you ever going to forgive me?"

"Probably not… "

Stopping to think for a second she added with a sweet smile on her lip

"Most certainly not…"

Seeing him leave the kitchen in a fit of rage she put her now empty cup in the sink before grabbing the door handle, twisting it and much to her surprise; the door to the garden was unlocked. Casting a quick look over her shoulder she slid outside. Carefully closing the door behind her she breathed the fresh air and looked at the small garden, it was maintained which made her wonder who lived here. There were several rows of carrots, potatoes and onions, there were a few wooden boxes of herbs and other dry-looking plants. Looking up she saw a familiar figure standing just outside the fence she smiled, glancing over her shoulder she hurried over and stepped outside the protective barrier, wrapping her arms around the man she whispered.

"I knew you'd come for me!"

Looking back over her shoulder for a second she smiled as she saw her former professor bursting out the small door, spotting them just in time to see the Colonel wrap his arm around his daughters shoulder and vanishing in thin air.

A few months later Amanda gave birth to a boy whom she named Theodor. He had raven dark hair and big blue eyes, as time passed they turned her shade of green, something that gave her a peace at mind, not all his father. As the boy grew he developed quickly, learning to walk at only 10 months old and from then on time flew, getting himself into trouble, keeping his mother on her toes at all hours of the day. The time he got hold of her wand she learned not to leave it somewhere where he might, at some point, be able to get it. The broom he got for his 2nd birthday, from uncle Oli, was a big hit and Amanda had to take it away from him more than once but he always seemed to get a hold of it again, at some point Amanda suspected all the males in the house of conspiring against her, trying to drive her bonkers. A few months before Theo turned 4 a war broke out in the northern part of Bulgaria and though almost 60 Colonel Wood was deployed. While packing his bags Amanda looked at him, walking over and sitting down on the bed.

"Be careful ok?"

She looked at him

"There is no such thing in war"

Rolling her eyes she sighed

"I know but … just be safe ok?"

"Again my dear, it's not something I can control"

Scowling in frustration she got up, turned her heel and stormed down the stairs and into the kitchen. As her father passed behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"The protective spells are up and both your mother and brother are protective keepers"

She nodded while watching Theo playing catch with the cat, or rather, chasing the cat around the kitchen table.

"If something should happen to me, go to Aunt Myriel's place"

Spinning around she wrapped her arms around him

"Don't say that!"

Patting her head he pulled out of her grasp

"We need to be realistic and prepared for everything"

Amanda gave him half a laugh through the tears.

"Constant vigilance!"

He nodded before walking out the door. Amanda picked up Theo, following him slowly before stopping in the doorway she saw him close the garden gate behind him and Disapperating.

((A/N: again, hormones is my argument for her loss of judgement, a bit stupid as Yellow14 have commented but again, what's the fun in a know-it-all? ))