April 1996
One late Friday night
Severus was home, sitting in bed, reading a book; a half-full glass of elven wine on the nightstand and Florence asleep on his left.
Perfect end for a week.
He smiled as he looked at his beautiful wife, closing his book and considering if he should wake her up for some sex.
But his plans were abruptly interrupted by a Phoenix Patronus appearing inside the room.
He stared at it, waiting for Dumbledore's message but the Phoenix just flew around the bedroom for a moment and disappeared.
Shit.
A silent Patronus meant just one thing: trouble at the school.
"Flor," Severus touched her back, "Love, wake up. We got to go," he got out of bed when she opened her eyes.
"Go?" Florence sleepily mumbled, sitting up, "Go where, Severus? What happened?"
"Dumbledore called. Silent Patronus."
"Shit," she uttered his previous thought, blinking the sleepiness away and jumping from the bed to get dressed.
They woke up Tiffany, told her to look after Chris and Sophie, and left to the castle by Floo.
The couple walked out of the fireplace and into the Headmaster's office, wands in hand and ready for battle – only to find Dumbledore alone, standing by his desk as if he hadn't just sent a distress signal to the two of them.
"You called us?" asked Severus, looking around, trying to understand the emergency.
"Ah, yes, good evening, children," Dumbledore smiled, "Dumbledore's Army has been discovered. Umbridge called Fudge and Kingsley to come arrest me."
"And you're smiling because...?" Florence asked, finding his lack of concern disquieting.
"I'm not going to Azkaban, dear," replied the headmaster, his smile giving place to a more serious tone: "Now remember what we've previously discussed: I leave the students' safety in your hands, I trust you two to-"
"They're coming, Albus," unexpectedly said one of the portraits.
"Thank you, Everard."
And seconds after the portrait's warning, the three of them heard noises from the stairs:
"I've been watching them for weeks, Cornelius!" Umbridge was saying to the Minister as they walked into the office.
Florence glared at them as she saw Harry being dragged by the collar of his jumper by a ginger young man that she recognised as being Percy Weasley; two aurors, Donahue and Shacklebolt, following them and condoning the way the boy was being treated.
"And did you see the name?" continued Umbridge, "Dumbledore's Army! Proof of what I've been telling you!" she suddenly stopped talking once her eyes fell on Severus, "Prof. Snape!" she greeted him, her hand going to her hair to make sure it was in place, "What a nice surprise. It's great to have you here as our witness!"
Severus just nodded at her.
Then Umbridge turned to the Minister again, completely ignoring Florence's presence, "Dumbledore's been trying to terrorise the public with his fake story about You-Know-Who's return! But it's all part of a plan to demoralise you, Cornelius, and seize control of the Ministry!"
For a few seconds, no one said a word; Harry looked at Florence and Severus, their presence there at that late hour making him finally realise the two of them were a lot more important than he had previously thought.
Then Dumbledore spoke: "You got me, Madam Umbridge."
Harry looked at him, shocked: "No! Professor!" he turned to Fudge, "Minister, he had nothing to do with this! It was all ME!" he looked at Florence, "Madam Delacour, it was all me!"
But she shook her head slightly, letting Dumbledore go on with his (most likely) mad plan.
The Headmaster continued: "There's no longer need to try to protect me, Harry. I am ready to confess that I instructed you to form this organisation; and I, and I alone, am fully responsible for its activities."
"That's enough of a confession for me," said Fudge, "Mr Weasley, send an owl to the Daily Prophet telling them what happened here tonight. Donahue, Shacklebolt: you're going to escort Dumbledore to Azkaban to await trial for conspiracy and sedition."
Florence looked at Dumbledore, but he didn't seem worried, he was actually smiling.
"Aah, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this," said Dumbledore, walking away from them a little, "For, you see, Minister, I have no intention of going to Azkaban. So, if you are under the impression that I will, as they say: come quietly. You are in for a surprise."
"Enough of this!" shouted Umbridge, "Take him!"
And then Fawkes suddenly flew into the room, engulfing Dumbledore in her flames and disappearing them both out of thin air.
The strength of the Phoenix's fire pushed Umbridge and Fudge a few feet away.
Florence took that moment to walk to Harry, casting a brief Inpulsa on Percy Weasley to make him let go of his arm.
"Are you ok, Harry?" she asked.
He shook his head, "Why did he say that?" he looked at the place where Dumbledore had been seconds ago, "He didn't know anything-"
"We know Harry," Florence whispered, leading him out of the office by the hand, "We knew something like this was about to happen," she pulled him down the spiral staircase with her, stopping at the gargoyle, "Listen, she's going to punish you and your friends for this, tell them to come see me – one at the time – for me to do to their hands what I did to yours," then she realised something: "Wait. Now Fudge will certainly give Umbridge full control of Hogwarts, if she sacks me-"
"Sacks you!" he exclaimed outraged.
"Yes. If that happens, Severus will give them detentions and I'll meet with them in the dungeons," she touched his face and briefly kissed his forehead, "Warn the others to stay low. Do not engage her again, Harry."
He looked at her, a little disconcerted after the unexpected display of care, "A-alright. I'll tell them."
"Good. Keep your eyes and ears open. Severus and I will try to control this situation as much as we can but... we'll need your help."
He nodded and walked upstairs, going to his common room to find his friends.
Florence returned to the Headmaster's office just in time to see Fudge signing another one of those blasted Decrees.
What did I miss? Florence asked her husband.
Meet our new headmistress. He replied with a discreetly arched eyebrow.
Fuck.
"So here we are," said Fudge, "Educational Decree number twenty-eight; having Prof. Snape as my witness."
"It'll be my honour to serve our Headmistress Umbridge," Florence spoke with a smile.
"No, it won't, Madam Delacour," Umbridge glared at her, "As of tonight, your services are no longer needed in this school."
Fudge looked a little surprised at first, but was nodding slowly next, "Dolores has told me all about you seducing Prof. Snape."
"Seducing him?" Florence replied, nearly laughing.
"Not that I have never heard the rumours before," Fudge continued, "But your past condemns you, Miss Delacour. You are, after all, a single mother."
"Excuse me, Minister," said Severus, "My personal relations with Miss Delacour aside, her services are needed in the infirmary and in the Potions Lab."
To what Umbridge snorted: "I am very aware of her services, Prof. Snape, and I can assure you, you can get them from more appropriate sources."
Severus was taken by surprise by her words, he raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife.
I tried.
Florence struggled to swallow her laughter: "Thank you, Severus. But if that's our new Headmistress' wish, I'll respect it. I only ask for a day to get my things."
"You'll have tomorrow until nightfall," said Umbridge with a smug smile.
"Thank you."
Then Florence said to her husband: You know she'll be offering you her services as soon as I'm gone.
I'm not sleeping in this castle until Dumbledore returns. I'd feel safer sleeping in Nagini's room in Little Hangleton.
Florence faked a coughing fit to cover up her laughter then.
Next day
Hogwarts
It was nearly time for dinner when Florence pretended to have finished getting all of her things out of the infirmary and was on her way to the dungeons.
She walked by the Slytherin common room, seeing Draco with some friends in the corridor and they all had a new badge on their uniforms, something circular and silver with the letters I.S. pinned on it.
Florence raised an eyebrow at him and Draco just smiled at her. She knew he had become part of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad just to mess with the Gryffindors.
She entered her husband's quarters, saying: "Have you heard, Draco is now part of Umbridge's Squad."
"Yes," Severus drawled, his wet hair letting her know he had already showered, "Out of the Squad's nine members, eight are Slytherin students. And the ninth is Filch."
Florence laughed.
Severus looked at her, unamused, "That's not funny, wife. The problems these kids are going to get into because they now can dock points and boss the others around? It'll be a nightmare!"
She looked at him with feigned innocence: "Why, you're telling me you don't believe Slytherins can keep wrongdoers out of the corridors and help maintain the order in the school basing their decisions on ethics and fairness?"
Severus scoffed, "No. And neither do you," he crossed his arms on his chest and stared at her.
"Of course not! That's what you get from coddling Slytherins for years," she sat on his desk, right beside the papers he was grading.
He shrugged, trying to justify his actions: "Slughorn did it for half a century. I'm just keeping up the tradition."
She shook her head, "A tradition of giving advantage to them just because a hat said they belong in a special House."
"Not my ancestral who came up with that idea," he raised an eyebrow at her.
Florence laughed again, "Touché."
Severus got up and stood between her legs, "How about you stay the night here with me and show me your services, assistant?"
"Hm... but I'm no longer your assistant, Prof. Snape," she wrapped her arms around his neck and playfully pouted, "I was sacked. I'm an unemployed single mother now."
He chuckled, saying playfully: "So marry me."
"Well, now that's tempting," she kissed his lips, "Maybe I will marry you."
He deepened the kiss and pulled her closer to his body, pulling her dress up to her waist, and caressing her thighs.
Then they suddenly heard a screech from the door: "Delacour? What are you still doing here?"
Severus looked into his wife's eyes, accusingly: You didn't lock the door.
Florence smiled and replied: Nope. I had a feeling she'd come here as soon as she thought me gone.
He sighed in annoyance and turned around to look at Umbridge.
"Headmistress, what I do in the privacy of my quarters is no one's business. You have sacked Florence, yes, from her duties as my assistant and Hogwarts Mediwitch. But if I want her in my bed, it's not of anyone's concern."
Umbridge swelled in anger, her face turning bright red, matching her pink clothes horrendously.
"I got rid of her for you!" she shouted, "You shouldn't have your name associated with the likes of her! She's a single mother who-"
Severus interrupted her: "She's a single mother because I impregnated her, Headmistress. She didn't make those kids alone."
"She's a gold-digger!" Umbridge pointed a finger at Florence, "Using her veela-powers to bewitch you! Only harlots do that! And men are all shallow and frivolous and stupid enough to fall for it!" she paused, breathing hard, "I had hoped you'd be different, Prof. Snape! Lucius Malfoy once spoke very highly of you. What a disappointment!"
Florence jumped off of the desk, standing flush against Severus' body, saying sensuously: "Oh, but he's far from being disappointing, Headmistress," she touched his chest and went lower, getting down on her knees, "Quite the contrary: he always impresses."
Florence. He called her name in a warning as she rubbed her face against his crotch.
"I will expose you for the whore you are!" Umbridge screeched, furious, "The whole wizarding world will know how you kneel before a man! Shamelessly rubbing yourself on his privates!"
Florence laughed, "You'll just make a whole bunch of old misogynists jealous, Dolores. Now, if you can excuse us. I'm about to offer Severus my services."
"I-I'll sack you too, Snape!" Umbridge shouted.
Get up, Florence! He said, We can't both be thrown out of the castle.
Florence stopped moving and looked up at him.
I can still obliviate her. She offered.
But Severus just shook his head and quickly thought of a reply: "Really, Umbridge? And tell me where will you find a Potions Master less than two months before the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s?"
Umbridge opened her mouth but didn't think of anything to say.
So Severus continued: "That's what I thought," then he looked down; Florence had lowered his joggers and was about to get her mouth on his dick, Fuck, wife, "Now, get out of here, Umbridge!" he ordered, his voice heavy as he watched Florence lick the head of his cock.
And Umbridge shouted, indignantly: "Is THAT how you spoke to Dumbledore?"
"No!" Severus growled, "If you were him, I'd tell you to get the fuck out!" he finished with a low groan as his half-hard cock slipped between Florence's hot lips into her wet mouth, "Fuck."
Right then Florence decided shed'd had enough of that situation and, with a flick of her hand, she cast a banishing charm, sending Umbridge out into the corridor.
Severus quickly raised his wand to the door, closing and locking it.
He held her head with both hands, feeling his dick going down her throat, and accioed his chair, sitting down to enjoy the show.
"Fucking cocksucker," he groaned as she swallowed around him, the pure elation he could feel coming from her through their bond letting him know how she had loved to show to that woman that he was hers to pleasure.
She ran her tongue around the head, teasing him for a second, before taking him deep again.
He hissed in pleasure, "You've been dying to make her watch you servicing me, haven't you, princess?"
She hummed affirmatively around his cock, the vibration making him groan.
"You're trouble, wife. So. Much. Trouble," he marked each word with a thrust between her lips.
Florence swallowed him again and he was thankful he had sat down, for his legs shook, letting her know it wouldn't take him much longer to climax. So she had her way with his member, licking around the head, alternating between sucking hard and hardly sucking at all, just barely touching her lips and tongue along his length.
Then he fisted both hands in her hair and moved her faster, "Suck me, wife... I'll fill your filthy mouth with cum," he grunted, seconds before holding her head in place and cumming down her throat.
"Fuck," he moaned as he watched her swallow every drop and lick him clean before getting up from the floor.
"Do you have to stay here?" she asked, breathlessly, "I really need some help showering at home."
And he followed her to the fireplace, going home right after putting his dick back into his joggers.
May 1996
Florence was at home, reading a book in the library when Tiffany walked in.
"Mistress Florence. Headmaster Dumbledore is here."
"Dumbledore?" she frowned, finding his sudden visit strange, "Send him here, Tiff," she said, standing up to greet the Headmaster.
"Hello, my dear," he said, walking into the library.
"What brings you here, Dumbledore? Will you be returning to the castle?"
"No, Florence, I'm afraid I can't return just yet. Let Umbridge and Fudge have their fun for a little longer."
"Fun? The castle is a mess," she said with concern, "I was sacked the night you left. And the way the students are being punished for being part of the Dumbledore's Army is simply barbaric!"
"I'm sad to hear that, Florence. But I'm sure you and Pomfrey are handling those injuries."
"No one is being actually injured," she smirked, "I used a tricking charm to make her think she's hurting them. They won't even have a scar, although some want to keep the fake wound as a permanent tattoo. But still, her intentions are evil!"
"I knew you'd help protect the students," he smiled for a second, turning sombre before continuing: "Florence, what brings me to your home is a favour – a strange favour – that I have to ask of you. I need something and I believe you're the only person capable of acquiring it for me."
"You need me to chat with some snakes for you?" she frowned, not thinking of any other unique ability she possessed.
"No no. I need you to talk to Kreacher."
"Kreacher? The Blacks' house-elf?" she found that very strange, "What information could he possibly have that you need?"
"I have reason to believe that he has information regarding Regulus Black's death."
That caught her attention.
Dumbledore continued: "I know he was a friend of yours. And Kreacher likes you. So-"
"I'll help you," she promptly replied, wanting to know what happened to her dear friend.
Later that day
#12 Grimmauld Place
It was late night when Florence and Dumbledore walked into the dark and dirty old house of the Black Family.
There were sounds coming from the living room, so Florence peeked in to see who was there, smiling at the scene she encountered: Tonks was on Remus's lap, being thoroughly snogged.
Remus sensed someone was at the door and opened his eyes, expecting to see Sirius but then he saw her.
Florence smiled and waved her hand, telling him to keep going at it.
Then she returned to the corridor, going to the kitchen.
"I'm glad to see Remus and Tonks together," she said, "He deserves so much more than life has given him."
Dumbledore just nodded, a silent shadow following her.
"Kreacher?" she called as they entered the empty kitchen, "I would like to talk to you, Kreacher."
"Miss Florence!" squealed the elf when he saw her, "Of course! Can Kreacher offer you anything, Miss?"
"No, dear, thank you," she sat at the table, Dumbledore beside her, "I just need you to help me understand something."
"What can Kreacher do for beautiful Miss Florence?"
"You remember how Regulus was a dear friend of mine, don't you?"
The elf nodded, his eyes turning immediately sad as he heard that name.
"I want to know if you can help me understand how my friend died. Do you know anything about it, Kreacher?"
Kreacher seemed suddenly scared, fidgeting with his nails.
Florence insisted: "Please, I need to know what happened to my friend."
The elf looked at her and then glanced at Dumbledore before taking a deep breath, getting up on the table and sitting on top of it, before speaking: "Master Regulus volunteered Kreacher once to serve... the Dark Lord," he whispered, "The Lord took Kreacher to a cave where there were huge transparent stones and a lake," he seemed to tremble as he remembered the next part: "T-then the D-Dark Lord fo-forced Kreacher to drink a-a p-potion and-"
"What kind of potion, Kreacher?" Florence asked.
"Kreacher doesn't know. But it was evil, Miss, it made Kreacher cold, it sucked all happiness from Kreacher and made Kreacher wish to be dead."
Florence tensed up and glanced at Dumbledore.
"Do you know what he's talking about, Florence?" the Headmaster asked her.
She nodded, "It's the Draught of Despair; a dementor in a vial."
"One of Severus' creations?"
She nodded again, her heart heavy at the thought that her husband had something to do with the death of Regulus, "What happened after you drank all the potion, Kreacher?"
"The Dark Lord put a locket in a basin and filled it with the evil potion again. Then he left Kreacher there; Kreacher got thirsty and there was a lake b-but... the dead grabbed Kreacher and then-"
"The dead?" Florence asked.
"I believe he means Inferi," explained Dumbledore, "And how did you escape, Kreacher?"
"Kreacher apparated home," he let out a long sigh, "For Master Regulus's orders were for Kreacher to come home when the Lord finished his task."
"Ok," Florence nodded, horrified that her father had invoked Inferi to protect a necklace, "But what happened to Regulus, Kreacher? How did he die?"
Kreacher began a different story: "When Master Regulus became a follower of the Dark Lord, Mistress Walburga was so proud of him! But after a while, Master regretted his choice and made Kreacher tell him about the mission Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord. Then... one weekend, Master Regulus came home in secret and made Kreacher take him to the Cave with the Crystals. And in there-" his voice trembled, "Master drank the evil potion himself and o-ordered Kreacher t-to switch the Lord's locket with a fake one and t-then go home and destroy the Lord's locket," his old eyes filled with tears, "B-but Kreacher was never able to fulfil Master's orders!" he finished in a loud sob, openly crying on his hands.
Florence frowned, looking at the distressed elf, whispering to Dumbledore, "Why didn't he ask Kreacher to apparate him out of the cave?"
"He'd die either way, Florence. You know Tom would kill him in ways more painful than drowned by Inferi."
She slowly nodded, her eyes filled with tears when she looked at the elf again, "So... Reggie died in the Crystal Cave?"
Kreacher nodded, "Kreacher saw the dead pulling Master into the lake."
"Why have you never told Sirius any of this?" she asked.
"Master ordered Kreacher to never tell the family what had happened to him. Sirius is family, Miss Florence is not."
She couldn't argue with his reasoning, so she asked: "Where is the locket now, Kreacher?"
"It was stolen!" He shouted, angry all of a sudden, "Filthy Mundungus Fletcher stole it!" he started crying the next second, "Kreacher was unable to destroy the locket, despite trying so hard. Master's last order and Kreacher failed him!"
Florence pitied him, "It's alright, Kreacher. I'm sure Reggie forgives you. You go rest now, we'll be leaving."
She stood up and left with the Headmaster close behind her.
Florence apparated them back to her house and they walked inside without another word.
When she closed the backyard door, she finally spoke:
"It was another Horcrux, wasn't it?"
"Yes. It was. Regulus died trying to destroy your father. He was a hero."
She grimaced, walking to the sofa and sitting down, "Reggie was fifteen, Dumbledore, he was a bloody child on an impossible quest," she replied, hating his romanticising of what had happened to her friend.
"About Severus' potion, Florence... when did he create that?" Dumbledore asked.
"Before Christmas break of our sixth year. I remember arguing with him about it," she sighed, shaking her head, still digesting all that she had heard, "Regulus got himself killed, drove Kreacher to insanity with an order the poor thing would never be able to fulfil, and broke his mother's heart – for aunt Wal died without knowing her son's whereabouts," she exhaled angrily, "He was a fool."
"Fools can be heroes too, Florence," Dumbledore said.
She was about to tell him to sod off when green flames filed up the empty fireplace and Severus walked out of them in black joggers and a green shirt.
He looked from Florence to Dumbledore.
"I sensed something was wrong with Florence," he briefly explained, sitting beside her on the sofa.
"We just found out how Reggie died," she said in a strained voice, as she laid her head on his shoulder, crying silently, "Your Draught of Despair played a part on it."
Severus tensed up, "How?"
Then Dumbledore quickly explained it all to him.
Then Severus simply nodded and looked at Florence, pulling her chin up gently.
"Flor. You know how sorry I am to have ever created that."
"I know," she whispered, slowly moving to his lap, "Just hold me, Sev."
Dumbledore watched them together with a knowing smile, thinking to himself that that right there, on that fancy white sofa, was how they were going to defeat Tom.
With unity.
And with love.