January 1993
Hogwarts
Lockhart walked into the Great Hall and smiled at the students on his way to the high table for lunch.
When his eyes met Florence, he winked as usual, completely ignoring the fact that Severus was sitting beside her and - if looks could kill - Lockhart would be falling dead between the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw tables.
Florence looked at her husband and had to hide her laughter while he growled low.
"Just five more months, Severus," unexpectedly whispered Prof. McGonagall beside him.
And both Slytherins looked at her in surprise.
"Never liked him," McGonagall admitted, "I have no idea why Albus hired that man; he's nothing but a vain attention-seeker."
"Students can learn from a bad teacher, Minerva," whispered Dumbledore, sitting beside her that day, "What not to do, how not to be."
McGonagall scoffed and rolled her eyes, making Florence laugh again.
"Of course," Severus said in his velvety voice dripping with irony, "His presence here has nothing to do with your desire to expose him as the fraud he is."
Dumbledore just cleared his throat and glanced at the place beside Florence, where Lockhart had just sat.
"Hello, Madam Delacour. I had the most amazing morning! Woke up with my gorgeous blond waves perfectly in place and my skin glowing as a sign of my excellent health. How about you, my dear?" asked Lockhart cheerfully.
"Well, I spent my morning surrounded by petrified students in the infirmary, Prof. Lockhart," Florence replied, purposely popping his happy-bubble, "So... not so great," she paused, letting her fork rest on her plate, "If only we had an expert in the Dark Arts who could find the entrance to this Chamber of Secrets and save us all," she sighed, adding with a sexy whisper: "You know, I'd be forever grateful to him."
Severus raised his head towards her and frowned.
Just watch me, husband. She told him.
Lockhart chuckled nervously and gave her a big smile, "I'll work even harder to find that Chamber, Madam! I'll be your saviour!"
Florence smiled sweetly: "That calms my heart, Lockhart. Although it also makes me wonder how you ended up in Ravenclaw? Such a brave man like yourself; you'd certainly have been more suitable for Gryffindor. After all, Ravenclaws are not known for being brave team players, but actually competitive backstabbers."
Lockhart's smile faltered slightly at the indirect insult, but then he proudly exclaimed: "One doesn't need a team when one's good enough for ten!"
Florence looked into his eyes and caught a glimpse of a Memory Charm being cast on several different occasions and on distinctly different people, "Oh, so that's what you do..." she whispered, clearly understanding where his heroic acts came from, "But it's good to have a team" she added, "someone to do your job for you when you're incapable of doing it yourself, you know."
Lockhart slowly raised his eyes from his plate to her, looking into her eyes with concern.
Florence just offered him a sweet smile and turned to look at Dumbledore, changing the subject completely, her voice filled with concern about a more serious matter: "Have you heard about the new anti-werewolf legislation, headmaster?"
"Yes, my dear. I have," Dumbledore replied, exhaling, "It's very sad that instead of working for a more inclusive society, Fudge is allowing such a law to pass."
"It was a Dolores Umbridge who wrote it. Was she a student here?"
"Ooh, yes, she was," said Severus, "She was a third year when I began my first year."
"So I barely missed her?" Florence asked her husband.
"Yes. We were here taking the O.W.L.s as she was taking the N.E.W.T.s," he sipped his coffee and added: "She was the kind of Slytherin that not even Slytherins like."
"Couldn't have explained it better myself," whispered Dumbledore.
"Wow. So it's not surprising she's writing such a law?"
"Not at all," said Severus.
Lockhart unrequitedly offered his opinion: "We should be thanking Miss Umbridge for that! I remember how hard it was for me to capture and save the Wagga Wagga werewolf!" he let out a long exaggerated sigh, "Those subhuman creatures should be removed from society!"
Florence slowly turned to face him, her blood boiling in anger.
Severus received a very concerned look from Dumbledore and discreetly touched her leg under the table. Don't do anything in front of the students, love.
"We have a very different idea of what is considered subhuman, Lockhart," Florence retorted.
The man smiled as if he pitied her, then he added, in a patronising voice: "I wouldn't expect such a cosseted woman of your stature to understand the danger these creatures represent to civilised society. You've never seen one in person, my dear; let me tell you: they're not cuddling puppies," he laughed at her.
"My knowledge of them goes far enough to know that there's no such a thing as an Homorphus Charm," Florence couldn't stop herself from replying contemptuously.
"Of course there is, dear!" Lockhart kept his patronising tone, "One has to be very powerful to successfully cast it."
She looked into his eyes, easily breaking through his mental barrier and accessing all his memories, seeing him Obliviate the true heroes of his books; then she smirked, leaving no doubts that she knew his secret.
Lockhart froze in his seat and she simply turned to continue her talk with Dumbledore.
"Is there anything you can do about that law, headmaster?"
"I can try talking to Fudge, and maybe help our dear friend that might be affected by that."
"That would be great!" she smiled, "So do we already know who the next DADA teacher might be?"
Dumbledore just winked at her and smiled.
Severus mumbled: "Great, now I'm starting to agree to Umbridge's law," clearly unhappy at the thought of having Remus Lupin around his wife five days a week for a whole year.
Florence just looked at him and rolled her eyes. And you still wonder how James turned out to be such a jealous pain.
That evening
Florence had reached the Entrance Hall, coming from the Infirmary and on her way to the dungeons, when all of a sudden she had her arm grabbed by someone.
"Prof. Lockhart," she smiled politely, "How can I help you?"
His usually overly-friendly demeanour had given place to bitterness and fury, "Who do you think anyone would believe if you were to open your mouth, Delacour?" he tightened his grip on her arm.
"Pardon me?" she played dumb.
"Tell anyone anything about what you think you know about me, and the rumours you're Snape's bitch will be the least of your problems!"
She laughed, "I have no qualms being Severus's bitch, professor – it's a very pleasant position," she pulled her arm out of his grasp, "Very different from the position you'd be in if I were to open my mouth."
He gulped, looking at both sides to check if anyone was around, "What is it that you want?"
"Nothing," Florence shrugged, "I enjoy watching you squirm. Just be careful with your lies, now that you know that I know. Have a great afternoon, professor. I know I will spend mine in my favourite position," she winked at him and resumed walking to the dungeons.
Florence walked into her husband's private quarters and burst out in laughter.
"What happened?" Severus asked, raising his head from the pile of essays he was grading.
"I found out how Lockhart did the many heroic things he claims to have done."
"Money?"
"No, something way more repulsive," she stopped by his desk, finally telling him: "Memory Charm."
Severus looked at her in horrified surprise: "He obliviated the people who actually did those things?"
"Exactly. How shady is that? Beyond unscrupulous," she sat on his desk, shaking her head, "And just now he threatened me; he said being Snape's bitch would be the least of my problems if I exposed him."
Severus smiled, knowing his wife did not let that slide unreplied, "What did you tell him?"
"That I enjoyed being your bitch," she shrugged.
And he laughed, "Did you now?", getting up from his chair next to stop in front of her, between her legs.
"I actually said it was a very pleasant position," she whispered over his lips, touching his chest.
"Mm, you can show me that position right now, assistant."
"Mmm..." she bit his bottom lip, "I sure can, professor."
And she spent the next hour bent over the essays he had been grading.
April 1993
Saturday
Even though it was the weekend – and Florence usually didn't go to the castle on the weekends – that Saturday she went to Hogwarts to watch a Quidditch match: Gryffindor against Hufflepuff; the day was beautiful and she was excited to watch Harry play, for he was a truly gifted seeker.
But as she was walking towards the Quidditch pitch, Florence was called by Prof. McGonagall to return to the hospital wing.
"Another student has been attacked by the monster!" the professor told her as they hurried side-by-side to the first floor.
"Oh, no!" Florence exclaimed as soon as they entered the infirmary: "Hermione!" running towards the girl's bed.
"She was found near the library. Is there anything you can do, my dear?"
"No, Prof. McGonagall; luckily she's just been petrified, like all the others," Florence said, passing her wand over the girl's stone-hard body.
McGonagall took a deep breath, "Well, I have a Quidditch game to cancel. If there's nothing to be done, I'll be going."
Florence checked on the other petrified patients – but nothing had changed with them. So she flooed home.
The next Monday
Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter were outside, complaining about the cancelled Quidditch match and trying to finish their History assignment when they saw Severus and Florence walk by.
"Why do you think they spend so much time together?" asked Ron.
"She works here too. They must be friends," Harry answered.
"Yes, but…"
"But, what?"
"They're always together! All the time. Fred and George have told me many stories about them..."
"What do you mean, Ron?"
"That rumours around the school say that they are… you know… together together."
"Snape and her?" Harry laughed, "Never! You're really nuts, Ron. Those rumours are certainly not true!"
"Why not? Yes, she is gorgeous and he's, well… he's Snape, but… maybe she likes dungeons' bats. And the twins also told me some say he's truly a vampire!"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Stop thinking such nonsenses and focus on your History of Magic assignment, Ron. If Hermione were here, she'd be laughing her head off because of what you just said."
"If she were here, I'd have finished this stupid assignment already!"
"You mean to say that you'd have copied hers."
"We really need her back, Harry," Ron murmured.
"And we will have her back. Soon," Harry tried to cheer his friend up, "Now, let's go to the library and finish this."
And they went into the castle.
A week later
Severus was in his quarters, sitting on the sofa, resting after dinner, Florence beside him, reading a book, when there were knocks on the door.
"Could it be Dumbledore?" she asked, worried, "Another attack, maybe?"
Severus sighed, "Let's hope not," and got up to open the door. "Lucius?" he said, surprised, as he saw the man on the corridor, "What brings you to Hogwarts?"
"May I come in?" Malfoy asked, politely.
"Of course."
Lucius entered the living room, his eyes immediately falling on Florence, whose dress wasn't too revealing but it did show some cleavage.
"Miss Delacour," he looked at Severus and then back at her, "What a delightful surprise seeing you here. And at such late hour," he made sure to point out.
"Hello, Lucius," she smiled, walking to him, ignoring what he has insinuating, and briefly hugging him, "How's Narcissa?"
"Great. She's great," the blond man replied, looking at her up and down, his hands on her arms, holding her close.
"And what brings you here, Lucius?" asked Severus, closing the door and stopping by his wife's side.
Malfoy let go of Florence and turned to his friend, "Nasty business with all the petrified students, of course. The Governors and I have decided Dumbledore should step-aside. I've just delivered him his order of suspension. And then I thought about having a drink with an old friend before leaving."
Shit. Dumbledore's gone. Florence sent her husband, faking a smile as she replied: "I'll just leave you two to talk then."
"No, my dear," said Severus, his hand on her waist, showing intimacy, "Stay."
She looked at him, frowning.
Then he said, through their bond: His suspicion is as dangerous as his certainty. Let him be certain.
Alright. She replied, maintaining her forced smile and looking at Severus: "What shall I serve our guest, Sev?"
"Mead or firewhisky, Lucius?"
"Mead, my friend," the blonde replied, sitting in an armchair by the sofa in front of the fireplace, his eyes never leaving Florence as she walked to the liquor cabinet, "Draco's mentioned the many stories about you and her that run around the castle. There's some truth to them then?"
"Yes," Severus nodded, sitting back on the sofa.
"You're a lucky man," whispered Lucius with a smirk, "How long have you been doing her?"
"Steadily, a few years," he replied, hating the crude way the man had worded the question.
"I remember you mentioning taking her out a few times throughout the years. Is it a relationship?" Lucius frowned, clearly curious.
Severus kept the pretended nonchalance and shrugged, "We've never labelled it. And I'm not dumb to question her and risk ruining it."
"No. No. You're right. Don't mess with it if it's working," Malfoy never took his eyes away from her, "She must be a dream."
"Oh, she is," replied Severus with a lopsided smile, truth ringing in his voice, "Truly delicious."
Lucius's eyes sparked in anger and jealousy, as he kept staring at Florence, undressing her with his eyes, but he didn't say anything in reply.
Florence walked back to them, carrying a tray with three half-full glasses, she set the tray on the side table and handed Lucius one glass, giving her husband the second one and getting the third for herself.
Sit on my lap. Severus ordered her mentally.
She arched an eyebrow but did just that, sitting across his lap as if they didn't have company. She sipped her mead and he pulled her face for a kiss, tasting the alcohol on her lips.
Where are you taking this, Severus?
Just enough to try and make him lose his mind and spill his game.
Lucius watched them snog for a moment with great interest, as predicted.
Severus stopped the kiss and sipped his mead, asking afterwards: "You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with these attacks, would you, Lucius?"
"Me?" the man exclaimed affectedly, "Of course not!"
They both could hear the lie in his words.
Severus added: "I would hate to see you getting into serious trouble just because you wanted to kill some mudblood kids, my friend."
Lucius smirked, "There's a bigger game at play here, Severus. That's all I can tell you."
Florence glanced at her husband, Do you think he means...?
Yes. Somehow your father is involved in this mess.
Shit. But it makes sense, after all he is Slytherin's heir. But how is Lucius involved?
Severus shook his head discretely. No idea, love.
The blond man finished his mead and spoke: "The Ministry also took away the abomination Dumbledore allows to stay on the grounds as gamekeeper earlier tonight."
"Hagrid? They took him where?" Florence asked.
"Where? To Azkaban, my dear," patronisingly explained Lucius, "Fifty years ago he was expelled for doing exactly the same thing: opening the Chamber of Secrets. Fudge himself came to escort him to prison."
She looked at him, wanting to claw at his smug face. It was obvious Hagrid wasn't the one responsible for opening the Chamber.
Easy, princess. Severus put a hand on her thigh, his fingers moving below her dress, trying to call her attention back to him. You can't attack him.
He deserves it. She replied.
Severus chuckled low and fisted a hand in her hair, pulling her face to his and kissing her nearly violently.
Lucius gaped as he watched them, his blue barely-blinking eyes following Severus's hand as it moved up her thighs, between her legs.
Florence let out a soft moan and slid down her husband's lap, kneeling on the rug, between his legs.
Make him go. She ordered, rubbing her face on his bulge and unzipping his trousers, freeing his half-hard cock from his boxer-briefs.
Let him watch a little longer.
And she smiled at the clear desire in his voice - he wanted the other man to watch her sucking his cock.
Florence licked from his sack up to the large head of his member and he hissed when she closed her lips around him.
"Fuck," he whispered, looking at the other man, "Thank you for letting us know about Hagrid and Dumbledore, Lucius- shit," he cursed as she lowered her mouth down his length and bobbed her head, "Now- as you can see, I'm about to be-" he fisted a hand in her hair again, "yess, just like that, love- very busy."
"Y-yes," whispered Lucius, "I can... clearly see that," but he didn't move.
Florence took her husband's cock down her throat, swallowing around it.
"Fuck!" Severus groaned, moving his hips towards her face and momentarily choking her, "Yes, fucking cocksucker," then he barked: "Get the fuck out, Lucius! Now!"
And the blond man fumbled to get up from the armchair, walking to the door without getting his eyes off of that sexy scene in front of him.
Severus slammed the door shut as soon as Malfoy had crossed the threshold and locked it with some spells.
"You can stop-" he groaned as the suction on his cock got tighter, "Fuck! I thought you were only doing this to get Lucius to leave."
"Yes, I was," she gasped, licking his hard cock from the balls to the tip, "But now that I have this delicious cock in my mouth... you know I can't stop, I just have to suck you dry."
He smirked and relaxed back onto the armchair, sipping his mead and watching that beautiful woman servicing him, licking his balls, deep-throating his thick cock.
She circled her tongue around his hard dick, licking the sensitive spot under the large head, making him groan as pre cum filled her mouth; she hummed in appreciation.
"Fuck, such a sexy mouth," he murmured, touching her head.
Florence sucked him harder, feeling his legs shake as she concaved her cheeks; he tightened his grip in her hair, moaning, his dark eyes focused on her lips stretched around his hard flesh, her pink cheeks, her light-green eyes letting him know how much she loved sucking his cock.
There was only one thing sexier than having her like that, and that was having her cumming under him.
"You love it, don't you, princess?"
She hummed affirmatively, his moans and crude words making her hornier. Then she slowed down her movements, knowing how wild that would make him.
"Oh, no! You're begging to have that pretty mouth fucked hard, aren't you?"
And he added his other hand to her hair, fully controlling her; he fucked her mouth, choking her on his cock, and she moaned, the vibration adding to his pleasure and soon he was cumming, spurting hard into her mouth, watching as she swallowed it all like it was chocolate syrup.
"Such a good and filthy princess," Severus whispered, letting go of her hair and watching her sit on his lap, straddling his hips.
"I seem to have lost my knickers, professor." she whispered, rubbing her bare pussy on his half-hard cock.
He quickly vanished her dress, exposing her breasts to his eyes and relishing at the sight of her fully naked on his lap while he was fully dressed but for his dick.
Florence tried to pull his shirt off but he stopped her, holding both her hands behind her back and pulling her down, impaling her on his already full-hard cock and ordering: "Ride me, princess."
"No," she replied, just circling her hips, "I want you naked," she closed her eyes, the pressure of his dick inside of her making her tremble in pleasure.
He captured a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, but she didn't moan. He looked up at her and noticed she was biting on her lip, holding her moans in.
"Oh, so that's how it'll be? I don't take my clothes off and you don't moan?
"Exactly," she exhaled, struggling to keep her whimpers in as well.
Severus smiled, loving when she challenged him like that. Then, putting both hands on her waist, he forced her up and down, watching as her face contracted in pleasure and she closed her red lips to keep her moans inside.
He did it again, pulling her hard onto his cock, her hands holding onto his shoulders.
"So silent, princess. It doesn't sound like you're enjoying yourself. I guess I'll just give up then." And he let go of her waist, stopping all touches, his hands behind his head, his dick still buried into her cunt.
She touched his chest, going down his abs and pulling his shirt up again.
"No!" he said, holding her hands, "I'm keeping my clothes on, I'm fucking you like this or not at all."
"Are you? I'm not seeing a lot of fucking happening," her voice strained by need and anger.
He held her waist again but only to get her off of him, his dick leaving her hot body, as he sat her beside him on the sofa and got up to walk to the liquor cabinet, refilling his glass with mead, his hard glistening cock still hanging out of his pants.
"What are you doing?" Florence growled, and he could tell she was angry and horny, "Get your sodding clothes off and fuck me, Severus!"
She walked towards him, and he waited until she was close enough; then he turned around, wrapping his arms around her, taking her lips violently.
"I'm fucking you with my clothes on, princess, and you're going to scream."
"No!" she shouted, between breaths, "Get your clothes off!" she fisted her hands on his shirt.
He turned her around, pushing her against the back of the sofa they had just been sitting on and then he rammed into her from behind, impaling her down to the hilt.
Florence couldn't stop the moan that left her lips; she loved their power play, she loved to be fucked fully naked while he was still dressed – and she also loved to play hard to get.
Severus's hand came down hard on her arsecheek, making her moan louder.
"You sexy, dirty, princess. You like this; when I take you, when I fill your pussy with my thick cock and slap your round delicious arse in punishment."
She was nearly screaming, completely taken, her body his to own and pleasure.
He held onto her hair, slamming into her harder, touching her clit as he fucked her, and Florence couldn't stop the screams that left her throat.
"Scream my name, princess. Yes!" he growled, moving mercilessly, taking her body from one orgasm to another, "Fucking delicious cunt."
"Don't stop," she moaned, "Don't. Fucking. Stop!" and she was screaming louder, her pussy clamping on his dick again, hard, milking him.
"Fuck!" he grunted, "I'll fill this cunt with cum," and he was spurting inside of her, each spasm of her channel making him shiver in pleasure. "You're sucking my cum in, such a cum-hungry princess," his dirty talking and the feeling of his seed filling her up had another wave of orgasm taking over her.
He leaned onto her back, feeling her body still shaking from all the pleasure he'd given her.
"I love you, you wicked princess," he kissed between her shoulder blades, feeling her soft body melting against his hard one, his dick slipping from her body.
Severus pulled her up and held her against his chest as they both still panted.
She turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he kept her close to his body and tilted her chin up for a sweet kiss.
"And I love you, Sev," she whispered, looking into his eyes with a hint of worry, "Do you think we did right by letting Lucius be certain about us?"
"He has heard the rumours, love. And I have mentioned fucking you in the past. Let him be certain."
She nodded, still looking a little worried, "Alright. Now... carry me to bed, husband, I'm too relaxed to walk."
"Right away, my princess," he smiled and obeyed.
May 29th, 1993
Florence and Pomfrey had just finished administering the Mandrake Draught to the petrified victims, who had all woken up, drunk some water, eaten a light meal and were now resting – when McGonagall's voice echoed through the corridors:
"All students must return to their common rooms at once! All teachers to the second-floor corridor immediately!"
The two mediwitches checked on their patients once more and ran to the second floor, finding McGonagall, Severus and other teachers there already, staring at yet another bloody message on the wall.
"Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever." Florence read it, "What does it mean?" she asked looking at the Head of the Gryffindor House.
"It means," McGonagall's voice trembled, "that a student has been taken by the monster into the Chamber itself. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts!"
"Oh, no!" gasped Pomfrey.
"What are we go-" Florence stopped talking as they all turned to see Lockhart walking towards them.
"Sorry," he said with a smile, "Dozed off. What have I missed?"
All teachers glared at him, and Severus was the one to answer, with unmistakable sarcasm: "A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. It seems your moment has finally arrived."
"M-my moment?" Lockhart stuttered, failing to see he was being ridiculed.
"Well," added Florence in the same tone of subtle mockery, "weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"
"That settles it then," continued McGonagall, "We'll leave it to you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legendary."
Florence took a moment to appreciate how one was fucked when Slytherins and Gryffindors worked together.
"Ah, very well," said Lockhart, struggling to hide his nervous squirming, "I'll be in my office then, getting... getting ready," and he left.
"Now, what will we do?" McGonagall asked all the others with urgency, "You really have no idea where the Chamber might be, Florence? Severus?"
"No, Prof. McGonagall. I'm sorry." Florence said.
Severus just shook his head.
"Who is it that the monster has taken, Minerva?" asked Pomfrey.
"Ginny Weasley."
"Oh, poor girl," whispered Florence, thinking that Ginny was but a year older than her own daughter. She glanced at Severus and he looked as worried as her.
"We must call Dumbledore back," said McGonagall, looking at the teachers and staff, "Patrol the corridors, see if you can find anything. As for you two," she looked at the Snape couple, "You come with me," and she walked to the Headmaster's office, being followed by Florence and Severus.
Headmaster's office
1 a.m.
McGonagall sent Dumbledore a Patronus as soon as they entered the room.
And then they waited.
Florence looked around the space, reading the titles of the many old books in the Headmaster's bookshelves. There were some pretty dark tomes – and even some forbidden ones. Then she realised that something was missing.
"Where's the Sorting Hat, Prof. McGonagall?"
"In its usual place, dear. Over there," McGonagall pointed to an empty place in the bookshelf, "Wait. It should be there!" she looked around, trying to find it, "This is highly irregular! The Sorting Hat must never leave the Headmaster's office but for the Sorting Ceremony!"
"Harry has it," announced Dumbledore, as he suddenly walked out of the fireplace.
"Why would Harry have it?" asked Florence, without greeting him, sensing she wouldn't like his answer.
"Harry has found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets," he said in a calm manner, as if he had just let them know the boy was in Hogsmeade having some butterbeers, and sat behind his desk.
"What?" the three other adults exclaimed.
"Fawkes took the Sorting Hat to him, so that he could summon the sword of Gryffindor with it," the same calm tone remained in his voice.
"And what would he need the sword of Gryffindor for, Headmaster?" Florence asked, getting angrier.
"To kill the monster of course!"
"What is the monster, Albus?" asked McGonagall, apprehensively, "Surely you know what it is to allow a student to face it alone."
"The spiders run from it," said Dumbledore, "It petrifies people that look at its reflection; and it kills instantly when looked straight in the eyes. Both Harry and Florence can hear it moving around the castle."
"No no no," said Florence realising what it was, "You are not telling us you allowed Harry to fight a freaking basilisk on his own!"
Severus and McGonagall looked from Florence to Dumbledore, shocked.
"Not alone, no! Fawkes is there with him. And the Sorting Ha-"
"An oversized chicken and an old hat?!" shouted Florence, furious, "You must be fucking kidding me!" her eyes changing colour to show that her veela was on the surface.
"Minerva. Please leave us," Dumbledore requested, and they waited for her to leave the office and door to close behind her.
Then Dumbledore continued: "You're about to get even angrier, Florence. The hover-charm that was cast in Little Whinging in August, the platform passage sealing itself at the beginning of the term and the crazy bludger that broke Harry's arm: those were all Dobby's attempts to, believe it or not, protect Harry."
"Dobby? Dobby who?" asked Florence confused.
"Wait. Dobby as in the Malfoys' house-elf?" asked Severus, surprised.
"Yes," nodded Dumbledore, "Lucius Malfoy has a finger in the Chamber being opened."
"So he was the one opening it? How? He's not a descendent of Slytherin's! Florence exclaimed, confused.
"No," replied Dumbledore, "Not him. But he is the one who gave a student the key to do it."
"Draco?" Severus asked with heavy concern.
"Not him either," Dumbledore shook his head, before finally saying: "Ginevra Weasley is the one who has been opening the Chamber of Secrets."
"What? But the Weasleys have no connection to Slytherin," said Severus, frowning.
"No, they don't," agreed Dumbledore, "However, young Miss Weasley has been writing on a magical diary since the beginning of the term. And that diary was the key; it has been controlling her and making her set the monster free and put the writings on the walls."
"What?" said Florence, sceptical, "The kind of magic you talk about is very dark. For a diary to control a person to that extent... such a spell would have to be cast by a very powerful wizard."
"The diary was your father's - and I have reasons to believe it was a horcrux," added Dumbledore in an ominous voice.
The couple fell silent, both staring at the headmaster in absolute shock.
"A horcrux?" Florence whispered, after a while, feeling cold dread run down her spine, "Shit... that would explain how my father survived in 81. But... how did Ginny Weasley get her hands in that? How would Lucius give her that without anyone knowing?"
"That I still don't know," said Dumbledore.
"But it was certainly him," added Severus, "He was bragging about having something to do with the attacks. The diary must have ordered him to give it to a student. And poor Dobby probably heard about his plans and tried to stop Harry from getting to Hogwarts."
"That's possible, yes," nodded Dumbledore.
Suddenly Fawkes appeared into the room, twitting softly and looking at Dumbledore.
"Harry is back," smiled the headmaster.
Then, almost at the same time, Florence got a Patronus from Pomfrey.
"I have to go," she gasped and ran out of the office.
When Florence arrived at the infirmary, Harry was sitting on a bed, Ginny Weasley was sleeping in another; Ronald Weasley was on a third and on a fourth bed was an unexpectedly very happy Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Hello, beautiful lady! Have you heard? Magic is real!" he greeted her.
Florence frowned, walking towards him cautiously.
"He is the reason why I called you, Florence," said Pomfrey, "If I remember correctly, you worked at the permanent damage ward at St. Mungus."
"Yes. I did," confirmed Florence, "I worked at Janus Thickey Ward for a few months. But what happened to him?"
"He tried to obliviate Harry and me," explained Ronald, "But my wand is broken, so it backfired."
"He doesn't know who he is," added Pomfrey, clearly hiding her amusement.
Florence widened her eyes in silent surprised amusement, "I'll see what I can do, but it would be better to send him to St. Mungus. They are better-equipped to deal with this kind of injury there," she stopped by the man's bed and passed her wand over Lockhart's head.
"Oh! You're a witch too!" he exclaimed, excitedly, "Will you marry me?"
"I would, but I'm spoken for, I'm sorry," Florence politely replied as she kept examining him, her medical training reminding her to avoid displeasing unstable patients.
"Is there a counter-spell for it?" asked Pomfrey.
"Yes. Although I don't think it'll work," Florence took a deep breath and moved her wand in a very complex sequence of gestures, casting: "Recupere memoriam," and she touched her wand to his temple for a few moments.
When she stopped the spell, she shook her head, "Give him a full vial of Wiggenweld and another of Memory potion," she told Pomfrey, who quickly walked to the storage room.
Then Florence checked on the other patients.
Harry and Ron were physically fine, but Ginny would need a few days to fully recover her strength.
By the foot of Harry's bed, Florence found a black leather diary with a hole in the middle.
Father's diary.
She touched it, but didn't feel anything coming from the destroyed object, and it's pages were ruined beyond repair.
Of course, basilisk venom is extremely poisonous and corrosive with only one known antidote: phoenix tears.
"Florence," called Dumbledore from the door, where he had just arrived with her husband.
She set the book back where it had been and walked towards them, "Lockhart should be taken to Janus Thickey Ward, Headmaster."
"Is it that serious?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so. He's got brain damage from a backfired Obliviate."
Severus stifled a laugh and Dumbledore looked at him disapprovingly.
Same sentiment here, Sev. Florence sent him through their bond, with a smile.
Love your sense of humour, princess. He replied.
"Send an owl to the hospital and have him transferred in the morning, Florence," said Dumbledore.
"I will," she nodded.
"How is Harry, and the others?"
"Ginny will spend a few days here, but she'll be fine," Florence sighed heavily before saying: "Harry fought against the basilisk, and one of its fangs pierced his arm, but Fawkes saved him. He killed the giant snake with Godric Gryffindor's sword," she quickly explained.
"I always trusted he'd be able to do it all," said Dumbledore, smiling.
"How lovely," Florence replied sarcastically, "Was it, at all, necessary?" she whisper-shouted, "Couldn't any of us do it instead of him? He's twelve and he's already had a teacher try to kill him, burned said teacher with his own hands, killed a basilisk and nearly died by its venon!"
And destroyed a horcrux. Added Severus through their bond.
And that! She exclaimed to him.
Dumbledore didn't reply, he just looked at Severus, who sighed, knowing that the headmaster needed him to control Florence – which never ended well for him.
Florence rolled her eyes as soon as her husband started to talk to her in a very low tone, so that only she could hear: "I think it's best if you go home, Flor. I know that you want to be the one taking care of Harry… but he's fine."
"Stop patronising me, Severus!" she hissed, getting close to Dumbledore, "Know this, Headmaster. I blame you, for all of it. Daddy-dearest sure makes things hard, but you... you're enabling him. I will not allow Harry to get killed because of your Gryffindor ideals of dying for the greater-good. I'll stop you myself if I have to!"
"Florence," Severus called. Your eyes, love. Control yourself.
She took a step away from the Headmaster, still looking at him in anger.
Then she glared at Severus, saying through their bond: Don't bother going home tonight. And she left the hospital wing.
Severus sighed, "I often wonder if you annoy her on purpose, just to make me suffer."
Dumbledore smiled as they watched her walk down the corridor, then he admitted: "Sometimes."
And Severus left.