December 24th 1994

The night of the Yule Ball

Severus had been tricked by Dumbledore to stay in the castle and help chaperone the students during the Yule Ball – as if he cared that teenagers were shagging in the corridors.

"Let them have fun, Dumbledore!" he had said.

But the headmaster looked at him over the rim of his half-moon glasses, saying: "Because It's fun to get pregnant before the N.E.W.T.s?" which shut Severus up very quickly – for that was what had happened with Florence and him.

Dumbledore continued: "The Board of Governors hasn't allowed me to distribute condoms in the school during the TriWizard Tournament."

"So it's up to me to stop those idiots from conceiving?"

"Don't be irrational, Severus," said Dumbledore, "You were like that once. Or do you think I don't know what you and Florence used to do in the Astronomy Tower, the Room of Requirement, and even in the Slytherin Common Room?"

Severus looked at him, surprised, "How do you know that?"

"I didn't, but you've just confirmed my suspicions," laughed Dumbledore, "In the common room? Really? You Slytherins sure are kinky."

He ignored that last comment and said: "Well, you can't give them condoms, but I can."

And that was why Severus had to cut short the marvellous Christmas Eve he was having with his family to go to the castle at five in the afternoon to spend the night watching over hormone-driven teenagers snogging around the castle.

He could be at home, lounging on the sofa, with his beautiful 7-month-pregnant wife on his lap, a good elven wine on his hand and his kids bickering and playing games on the rug.

But nooo, he had to stop a couple of bastards from being conceived.

On top of it all, it took him but a couple of minutes to realise that most of the students nearly shagging in the corridors were Slytherins – and if he kept on docking points, his House wouldn't stand a chance in winning the House Cup that year.

Therefore, Severus resorted to walking around the corridors just throwing condoms and glares at the snogging couples and forfeiting docking points.

After all, he knew the teenagers would shag anyway – no matter how many points he threatened to take from their Houses.

Severus stood near a wall in the Great Hall, looking at the time in the pocket watch he rarely used, it marked 11:45.

Finally.

At midnight, the Hall would be closed and the Ball brought to an end.

Severus walked to the Headmaster and told Dumbledore he was leaving. The considerably inebriated man just wished him a Merry Christmas, and Severus went to the dungeons to use the Floo, his thoughts on his warm bed where his beautiful wife was probably already asleep.

However, it seemed his nightmare of an evening wasn't over yet: for in front of the door to his living quarters stood Igor Karkaroff.

"What the fuck do you want?" he growled at the man.

"Severus! We have to talk! The Mark is reappearing!" Karkaroff whispered in desperation, "It's becoming more and more visible each day!"

Severus struggled to control his desire to just kill the annoying man, "I've already told you, Igor: that doesn't worry me," he turned to enter his private quarters.

"You can't pretend nothing is happening!" Karkaroff nearly shouted before quickly lowering his voice again: "You can't deny he's coming back!"

"And I'm not denying it. I have nothing to be afraid of, Igor. Can you say the same?" Severus turned to face him, furious with the man and his irritating accent. "Why don't you run? Disappear and I'll let them know how much of coward you truly are!" he walked into his living room and stopped Karkaroff from following him with a hand shoved against the man's chest, "I did not invite you in."

"We need to talk!"

"I have nothing else to tell you; and nothing you might say could be of interest to me. Now, if you'll excuse me," and Severus slammed the door on Karkaroff's face.

Snapes' family home

Florence woke up with the sound of steps on the stairs. She took her wand from the nightstand and walked slowly to the corridor.

The twins weren't home, but Elizabeth and Christopher were asleep in their beds, if someone somehow had managed to enter that house, she wasn't going to let them hurt her children.

She reached the top of the staircase and immediately relaxed, lowering her wand with a smile, "Hi, Sev."

He looked at her, noticing the wand in her hand, "What are you doing with that wand, love? You know no one can break into this house."

"I heard footsteps and just… I worry, you know that," she sighed as his arms closed around her.

He kissed her lips and then her swollen belly, feeling little Sophie moving inside of her.

"Let's go to the bedroom," he whispered, "I desperately need to shower and relax."

"Have you had dinner already?" Florence asked as they walked into their room and closed the door.

"Yes, I just want to shower and go to bed. I'm knackered. This evening was by far the most annoying one of the past decade."

Florence followed him into the bathroom and sat on the small sofa they had in there.

"Is something wrong, Sev?" she asked, sensing his irritation as she watched him remove his clothes and enter the shower stall.

"No, nothing worrisome for once, love. Just the stupid Ball itself, all the fucking teenagers and... Karkaroff – he's afraid of retaliation," he explained as he shampooed his hair.

"Is he going to run away?" she watched the suds running down his body and bit her lip, admiring the hard planes of his chest, navel, thighs.

"I hope so. Then I won't have to look at him ever again," He rinsed his hair.

Florence chuckled, still looking at his body like she wanted to lick him.

"Is everybody asleep already?" Severus asked, not missing the way his wife was eye-fucking him.

"Yes, but..." Florence exhaled heavily and he knew exactly what she was about to say before she said it: "The twins aren't home."

"Leave them to me. Do you have any idea where they went?"

"They said they were just going to hang around the main square with some friends after dinner, but Tiff popped there an hour ago and found it empty. If I have to guess, they're somewhere with the Weasley twins."

"And that's even more worrying. I'll find them through the Trace if they're not home by breakfast tomorrow morning"

Florence just nodded, still concerned about the boys.

"Hand me a towel, love," Severus asked turning off the shower, "And how have you felt this evening?"

"As well as this afternoon," she replied, handing him a fluffy white towel, "Some weakness, some nausea; but Sophie is moving normally. I checked on her a few times," then a sudden kick to her diaphragm had her wincing, "Speaking of her," she touched her belly, "Sophie is awake now that you're home."

Severus smiled, wrapping the towel around his waist and caressing her round belly, "Hey there, little baby-girl," he got a kick on his hand and chuckled.

Florence touched his face lovingly, kissing his lips softly, "So you predictably hated chaperoning the students and nothing of concern happened?"

"Yes. There were just snogging couples everywhere; Dumbledore way too drunk for a school headmaster; Madam Maxime and Hagrid flirting in the Great Hall, and Karkaroff annoying me. What was there not to hate?"

He walked to the closet and put on a comfortable pair of joggers, before continuing: "But the Great Hall was as beautiful as it always is when there's a Ball in the castle," he said as he towelled his hair dry, "Also, Dumbledore knows we fucked in the common room."

"What?" she was surprised, "How could he possibly know that?"

"He tricked me into admitting it," he reluctantly said.

Florence laughed as she sat on the bed.

Severus lay beside her and she laid her head on his chest, one of his hands going to her stomach, feeling Sophie.

"It's really darker," Florence whispered, holding his left arm and looking at his Dark Mark, "And... it's moving?" she whispered, surprised, "Why is it moving?" she stared at the snake in the tattoo as it seemed to move side-to-side slowly, "It's never done that before!"

"Yes, it has been doing that... whenever I'm home," he reluctantly said, "I believe it's reacting to you and the kids, because I don't feel your father getting any stronger and when I'm at Hogwarts it doesn't move at all."

She nodded, "Yes... we are his family... no matter how easy it is to forget."

"Yes," he paused, staring at the vaulted ceiling above the bed, "I often wonder which one of them would be his favourite."

"What? What a silly thing to think about, Sev!" she chuckled.

He thought for a while and then asked: "James or Liz?"

"Liz, of course! James is too reckless and impulsive. Liz is intelligent, poised, and has no qualms about telling anyone to fuck off. She'd be his absolute favourite."

Severus shivered, "That's so true. Just another thing to add to my nightmares now: your father taking Liz to Balls at the Malfoy Manor..."

Florence softly chuckled and entwined her left hand with his right one over his stomach, admiring as always how sexy his hands were.

He snorted, "Hands aren't sexy, Florence."

"I think yours are," she looked into his eyes, "I love you, you know."

"Yes… and I love you."

And after a sweet kiss they fell asleep.

But inside a room two doors down from theirs, there was a beautiful girl that couldn't sleep.

Elizabeth had found a letter on top of a small package on her bed after dinner.

She had picked up the letter and immediately recognised the family crest in the dark green wax.

The large letter 'M' and the Latin words Sanctimonia Vincet Semper inscribed on a banner bellow it left no doubt about the family and affiliations of the person who had sent her that.

Genealogy wasn't something taught in Beauxbatons, but Latin was, and Elizabeth knew those words meant Purity Will Always Conquer. And her father had made her read enough books about the Sacred Twenty-eight for her to know to which family that crest belonged to.

The Malfoys.

She hesitated, wondering if maybe she should wait to open the letter with her mother.

But curiosity got the best of her and she broke the wax seal, reading the letter:

Miss Delacour,

We met at the welcoming feast at Hogwarts about three months ago; and since then I just can't stop thinking of you.

I come to you through this letter to express my desire to meet you in person and to get to know you better – if you so agree. Place and time of your choice, of course, just tell me when and where and I'll be there.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you like the little gift I sent you. I fear I might have fallen short, but I was unable to find anything as beautiful as you – that gift was the closest I could find.

Yours sincerely,

Draco Malfoy.

Elizabeth had already opened the little black box that accompanied the letter and gasped at the beautiful ring that lay in its velvety black interior.

It was a flower-crown silver ring made of twelve little flowers, and each flower had a sparkling centre made of – Liz suspected – diamonds.

Her hands trembled as she thought of putting it on her finger – it was so beautiful and she was itching to see how it would look on her hand – but she stopped herself.

She had the feeling that if she put it on, she'd accepting more than just Draco's admiration.

Elizabeth laid the ring back in the box and put it, and the letter, inside her nightstand drawer.

Then she lay down on her bed, staring at the enchanted ceiling that her father had charmed for her to always look like a perfect Summer night sky, a beautiful dark blue with a big round moon and full of stars. It was a beautiful magical present. She loved it.

Dad would kill Draco if he knew about this letter.

She knew her father was Draco's godfather and she knew everything there was to know about the Malfoys. Lucius Malfoy was bigoted, immoral and evil; and her dad feared his godson would turn out to be just as bad because of his devotion to his father.

But I felt something that night… when I first saw Draco. I can't forget him since that night... just like he says he can't forget me.

She closed her eyes and brought forth memories of his beautiful grey eyes.

They'd sure look silver in the sunlight.

He wanted to see her.

And she wanted to see him.

But how will that be possible? I'll have to talk to mum. Maybe she'll let me. Maybe she'll understand.

Elizabeth switched off her bedside lamp and closed her eyes.

I must remember to do my Occlumency exercises before going to breakfast tomorrow. If dad catches a glimpse of anything related to Draco in my mind, he'll lock me home for the rest of my life.

And the girl fell asleep, dreaming about a certain blond-haired boy and his silver eyes.

In the next morning

Florence woke up before her husband.

Sophie was kicking all of her organs and she felt too uncomfortable to stay in bed – not to mention the nausea; and the last thing she wanted was to vomit on her favourite duvet.

So she got up and walked a bit around the house, checking the twins' room and sighing exasperatedly as she saw their still-made beds – they hadn't slept home.

Tiffany found her on her way to Elizabeth's room and handed her some ginger tea.

"Thanks, Tiff," Florence smiled and knocked on her daughter's door, hearing some sounds from inside, "Liz, are you awake?"

"Yes, mum, come in."

Florence walked into the room, closed the door and sat on the bed beside her daughter.

"Morning, baby girl."

"Morning, mum. Morning, Sophie," she kissed her mother's belly.

"Your sister is not behaving this morning. I slept like a baby the whole night but then she started practicing Quidditch inside of me ten minutes ago," Florence chuckled, but Elizabeth didn't share in the laughter and she frowned, "Is something wrong, love?"

"Mum, is dad still asleep?" Elizabeth asked, getting serious.

"Yes, honey, why? What's happening?" she touched her hand.

"Nothing serious, it's just..." she sighed and retrieved the letter from the drawer, "You better read this, and then you'll understand."

Florence looked at the broken wax seal and glanced at Liz with a frown, before opening the letter and reading it, her eyes getting bigger as she read.

Once she finished it, she folded the letter again and looked at her daughter, noticing the girl's anxiety as she waited for her to speak.

"Well... I'm not fully against this, Liz," Florence spoke, for the girl's surprise, "And the reason I'm not is because I saw the way Draco looked at you that night in the Great Hall... it was interesting..." she looked down at the letter, "But your father will never accept this," she handed the letter back to her daughter.

"I know that, mum. But maybe you could talk to him and…"

"No, I can't," Florence shook her head, "Believe me: nothing I say that involves you and a boy will ever be accepted by Severus. Not to mention: you're just twelve, love,"

She saw her daughter's eyes filled up with tears, "Your father also noticed the way Draco looked at you that night, and he wasn't pleased."

"Mum, I felt something when Draco kissed my hand that night," Liz whispered as if she was confessing to a crime.

Florence seemed worried, "What did you feel, honey?"

"I don't know how to explain it... but as we were walking side-by-side to the Headmaster's office, I felt safe and happy; it was like we were old friends. It felt good to walk beside him."

The look of worry never left Florence's face as she stared out the window, suddenly seeming sad.

"Maybe you're blessed by the Enchantment as well…" she murmured, "I hoped none of you would be..."

It was Elizabeth's turn to frown. "What is that, mum? What's an Enchantment?"

Florence sighed, "It's when your magic recognises other person's magic as your other half."

"You mean like soul mates?" Liz sounded surprised and excited by the idea.

"Sort of, yes," Florence nodded.

"Are you and dad blessed by it?"

"Yes. But it's not always a blessing, dear. When things go bad between a blessed couple, it can make you physically sick."

"Did it happen to you?"

"Yes. The Enchantment, and my veela, have caused me trouble more than once," Florence grimaced, "There are also... let's call it consequences, when you're blessed by the Enchantment… but let's think about those some other time. Maybe you're not," Florence smiled weakly, "It'll be better if you're not."

Liz tilted her head, "Is it so bad to find your soul mate, mum?"

"No, dear. It's not bad! Your father and our family are everything to me," she held her daughter's right hand between her own two, "The problem is, Liz, there's a war coming and Draco's family is not on the same side we are. In fact, his father would do anything to destroy yours."

Elizabeth just nodded, looking upset.

Florence continued: "The letter mentioned a gift. Where is it?"

The girl picked up the small black box and gave it to her mother.

Florence opened it and smiled, "This is gorgeous, Liz. You know this means much more than just friendship, don't you?"

"Yes. I haven't put it on yet."

"Slytherin men and their obsession with gifting jewellery," Florence shook her head looking at the ring and touching her jade necklace. She closed the jewellery box and sighed, "Honey, you're only twelve. Draco's fourteen. You are both too young to get into a serious relationship. Just make sure that you remember that and that Draco does too, okay?"

Elizabeth gasped, her eyes sparkling in happiness: "So that means you'll let me meet him?"

"Yes, Liz. Write back to him. He'll get your owl before dinnertime, the Malfoys live in Wiltshire and that's pretty far from here. Invite him to come to Hogsmeade next Wednesday afternoon at three. Your dad has a meeting in Hogwarts that day. However, don't tell Draco you live in the village and don't mention your father's name."

"Thank you, mum!" the girl hugged her mother and kissed her face, "Will you tell dad?"

"Do you want to meet a living or a deceased Draco?" Florence arched an eyebrow, "I'm not telling your father anything, for now. And when you meet Draco, feel free to use all the snarkiness and confidence you've inherited from your dad and-"

"From dad? Really? You don't consider yourself snarky?" Elizabeth interrupted her.

"Well... not as much as your father."

Liz snorted, "Sorry to break it to you, mum. But you can be worse than dad sometimes."

Florence chuckled, "Alright, Elizabeth. Use all the snarkiness you've inherited from both of us and let Draco know you're not some wide-eyed girl impressed by his money or his family name."

"Ok, mum. I will make him wet his pants," she replied with a smile.

"Don't go too far though, or he truly might," Florence laughed, before adding with a sigh: "Draco is a good kid. Severus just worries his desire to please his father might make him choose to follow the family tradition..."

Liz looked at her with hope in her dark eyes, "Maybe if we get to date... he'll think again and change sides."

Florence smiled at her daughter's wishful thinking, remembering that she herself had once thought she could stop Severus from choosing the wrong side.

"Don't hold your breath, honey. I don't want you to be disappointed," Florence touched her face, "The Malfoys have been following the Dark Lord for two generations – Draco would be the third."

"I get what you're saying, mum," Elizabeth took the black box from the bed where her mother had left it and she put it back into the drawer.

"I just don't want you to suffer what I've suffered, baby," Florence said, hugging her daughter, "I cannot believe I'm talking about boyfriends with you already."

"Oh, no, mum! Don't start it!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes in a way very similar to her older brother, "Let's go down to breakfast before you start crying and saying how we all grow up too fast."

"I don't think I'll be able to eat much this morning," Florence said as she sat at the breakfast table, making a face at all the delicious-looking food Tiffany and Melody had prepared, sipping her ginger tea.

"Just a little over one month to go, mum," Liz smiled at her mother, "I'm so excited to meet Sophie."

"Really? I thought you'd be angry and jealous of her."

"I can't say I won't be," Liz shrugged, "She'll probably be as crazy about dad as Chris is, and everybody knows that I want dad all to myself."

Florence smiled, "You can be sure she'll be as crazy about your dad as you all are. I remember the first time Severus spent the day with the twins. He let them do anything they wanted, he even gave them his wand!" she shook her head slowly at the memory, "When he came to live here, he allowed your brothers to do many things that I'd always prohibited – watch TV until late, eat sweets at all hours, help with potion making."

"What? But that's not fair!" Liz exclaimed, making herself a sandwich, "Why could they do all those cool things and I can't?"

"Right," Florence looked at her through narrowed eyes, "As far as I know, you, young lady, can't complain about limits. Because I know that half the things I say 'no' to, you go and ask your father and he says 'yes'! I don't have to mention the shopping sprees you and Nick always go on every time I'm not looking, do I?"

"Oh, mum!" Liz dramatically sighed, "Susan Malkin always gets us the most exclusive pieces – she knows exactly what Nick and I love! And my blue fur coat? No one else in the world has a coat like that! And we can afford it, we have enough money for a simple coat and more. I don't understand why you didn't want me to have it! The girls at school seethe with envy every time I wear it."

"It's not because we can that we must buy things, Liz. And that's what I've been trying to teach you, but your father keeps spoiling you all!"

"Are these two gorgeous girls talking about me?" Severus asked walking towards them with Chris on his back.

"Yes!" said Florence smiling. "We were talking about a certain very expensive coat that you let someone buy. Over three hundred galleons if I remember well."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, then," Severus said, kissing his wife and then his daughter before sitting down.

Chris kissed his mum too and sat beside Liz.

"We could have dinner at my mother's tonight. What do you think?" asked Severus.

"Good idea."

"Hey, where are big brothers?" Liz asked, noticing that Nick and James hadn't gone down for breakfast.

"In trouble," Severus replied with pursed lips, "They didn't sleep home last night and didn't tell your mother where they were going."

"Well, I know where they went last night," Liz said, smiling smugly.

"Where?" asked Florence, surprised.

"Muggle London. Nick was going to take Fred to some motel and James and George were going to hit the clubs – their words, not mine."

Severus looked at his wife, smirking. If only I was to apparate inside this motel room... can you imagine the Weasley's face?

Florence nearly spit her tea as she laughed.

You wouldn't do that, Nick doesn't deserve it. Then she added: James on the other hand...

On it! Severus stood up fast and went to the library to locate the boys through the Trace.

James was first.

Severus apparated to the place his oldest son's Trace showed he was and, as he opened his eyes, he found himself inside a very girly room.

James was asleep on the bed in front of him, although by the movement he could see under the covers, someone was about to wake him up.

Severus smirked and waited for James to open his eyes.

"Hmm, Kelly," hissed the boy in obvious pleasure, "...that's a very good way to wake up."

"I agree," Severus replied softly, "Love when your mother does that."

"Holy shit!" James shouted, rolling out of the bed, fighting with the covers and losing, falling onto his but on the floor.

Severus ordered: "Get home. Now," and disapparated, going to find Nicholas.

But when he apparated in front of a crooked house in the country, he just rolled his eyes and sent Nicholas a silent Patronus. The last thing he wanted was to see his son and one of the ginger-menaces engaging on anything – he had known Fred since the boy was eleven and Nick was his good son, he didn't deserve the humiliation.

So Severus just disapparated home.

Florence still sat at the dining table, alone since Liz had finished eating and went to her room; the antiemetic potion was finally taking effect and Florence had just started eating when a very angry James walked into the house through the backyard door.

"Jamie!" she exclaimed, relieved to see he was fine, "Where have you been? And where's Nick?"

But he seemed furious, "DID YOU KNOW HE WAS GOING TO DO THAT?"

"Do what?" Florence tried not to laugh, imagining what her husband had done.

"Dad simply apparated in a room while I was-"

"STOP! That's enough!" Florence shouted, "I don't need to know! The last thing I need to hear is about your sex-life, James!"

Severus walked into the house and pointed at his son, "You. On the sofa. Now!"

Did you really caught him...? Florence asked.

Yes, I did. He fell out of bed onto his naked arse.

She eyed James and hid her laughter behind her tea cup, clearing her throat before asking: "And where's Nicholas?"

"At the Burrow," both Severus and James replied.

"I sent him a silent Patronus," Severus added.

"A bloody Patronus!" indignantly exclaimed James, "You walked in on me while he gets a Patronus?"

"Yes," Severus simply replied, looking at his son in the eyes and daring him to complain any further.

James silently glared at his father, furious.

That was when Nicholas walked out of the fireplace and Florence and Severus looked at him with surprised worry.

"Don't tell me you asked to use their floo!" Severus exclaimed.

Nick shook his head, "No, dad. No one saw me but Fred."

"Sit!" Severus ordered.

Nicholas exchanged a look with his twin, trying to understand what was happening: What's this about?

What do you think? James replied, We both spent the night out. They're mad.

Oh, that's easy to solve. Just look like you're sorry.

Then Nick spoke out loud: "We understand, dad: we messed up. We're sorry," he feigned guilt and put on his repentant face, "We shouldn't have-"

Ooh, he's trying to play you! Said Florence through her bond with her husband, surprised.

Not the good son anymore, it seems. Severus replied.

"Don't even start, Nicholas," he interrupted his son, "I'm not falling for it. You'll be seventeen this year, you're no longer kids; so I understand that you want your freedom. But: there's a war coming "

James huffed in annoyance: "Yeah, for the past four years there's a war coming! What should we do? Wait in our room until Potter finally finishes the Dark Lord and then we can live our lives?"

Severus just pulled his sleeve up and showed his Dark Mark to the boys – who were used to seeing it pale and grey for he wore short sleeve shirts around the house in the summer.

"Fuck," whispered Nicholas, "It's darker."

James just stared at it silently.

"Yes, it's darker," Severus nodded, "You two cannot go around partying as if nothing is happening."

Shit! It's really happening. Said James to his brother.

"What will happen when he returns?" asked Nicholas, worried.

"I'm still not sure yet," Severus honestly replied, "But it won't be good for me. And you... the whole wizarding world knows about you two already."

"We won't go out all night again, dad," said James, sounding sincere.

"Yeah, we didn't know how serious things are," added Nicholas.

Severus nodded, tugging his sleeve back down, "Now, go apologise to your mother. She was worried."

The twins got up and walked towards Florence but she raised her hand: "Do not get near me without showering and brushing your teeth first! I've always cleaned up after sex, before getting near you-"

"UGH!" groaned James, "Just tell us to shower, mum! No need for gross details. Geez. Sometimes I wonder how there aren't twenty of us here, instead of just five."

"Contraceptive potion!" exclaimed Severus, "And you'll be learning how to brew it this afternoon!" he finished in a louder voice as James walked upstairs.