October 1997
Severus woke up one Thursday morning and took a moment to just look at his beautiful wife lying beside him on the bed; even in her sleep, Florence looked troubled.
It was clear she wasn't handling well the things she was forced to see at the Ministry; some evenings she could barely stay awake long enough to have dinner, while other nights she had terrible insomnia.
Severus pulled her closer, running a hand down her side and touching his nose to hers.
He had noticed that some days she ate like a starving woman, while others she had nothing but tea; and Dobby told him he had seen her vomiting twice.
Severus caressed her face tenderly; the previous night Florence had already been asleep when he arrived, so they hadn't talked about that Wednesday's events – but he could tell something had happened at the Ministry for, even though she was asleep, she didn't seem to be resting.
Not to mention her father had been a little too happy during the dinner Severus had been called to attend the previous evening.
He kissed her lips, whispering: "Menta spiritus," and kissing her again, "Hey, princess," he massaged her scalp, "You'll be late, my love."
"Hm," she mumbled, enjoying his kisses and caresses, "See if I care," she slowly opened her eyes to look at him, smiling.
"Morning, lov-" Severus stopped, worrying as he saw her smile turn into a sudden grimace, "What's wrong, Flor?"
"I'm just hungry..." she said dismissively, closing her eyes briefly, struggling to ignore the way her stomach churned.
"Are you sure, love? Maybe-"
"Yes, Severus, I'm fine!" she glared at him, changing the subject: "Did you see the pamphlet I left on your desk?"
"Yes," he drawled, knowing he wouldn't convince her to see Pomfrey if he insisted then.
"Who's the mastermind behind that lovely piece of propaganda?" he asked instead, hiding his concern behind sarcasm, a hand in her hair, "You or Umbridge?"
"The thing is titled Mudbloods and the Dangers They Pose to a Peaceful Pure-Blood Society; who do you think came up with that?" she asked rather cuttingly.
"Her Pinkness."
"Obviously," Florence sighed; then she remembered why she hadn't seen him the previous night: "And how was dinner with my father?"
"Bad," it was Severus' turn to grimace, "He got three new financial donors. And he bought off the rest of the werewolves that weren't following him yet."
"Shit," she exhaled, still struggling to control the strong nausea cramping her stomach, "The Order is not going to win this war, is it, Sev?" she whispered, through the discomfort.
"Honestly? No," Severus shook his head, touching her hair and kissing her lips again, seeing her distress and beginning to seriously consider giving her some sleeping draught and taking her to the infirmary himself, "Your father has money and a larger following. It doesn't matter that we control the Ministry and the school... we don't have enough people to face him in a battlefield any time soon."
"Not to mention the Horcruxes still available for him," she added, "Nagini, Harry and two others we still don't know. And Harry hasn't found a way to destroy the necklace yet," Florence closed her eyes again, and if she had been standing, she'd have fallen.
"The Order got some new members though," Severus said, knowing she'd be happy to hear it: "Neville, Luna and Ginevra have restarted Dumbledore's Army to defy the Carrows."
She chuckled weakly, "That's nice. If they get too injured, I can heal them in the middle of the night," she offered.
"Yes. I'll keep an eye on them. Now, talking about seeing a mediwitch," he decided to try: "You should see Pomfrey."
Florence got immediately annoyed: "Why? To hear I'm too stressed? That I shouldn't be overworking? I know that's my problem and there's nothing Pomfrey can do about it," she got up and went towards the wardrobe to change.
Severus lay on his back and stared at the very high ceiling above their bed, making a mental note to pick up the two vials of sleeping draught he still had in the dungeons.
"Why was your father happy last night?" he asked, letting her think he would drop the subject of her health.
Florence sighed heavily, "We inaugurated a new Family Room in the Ministry yesterday."
"Family room?" he frowned.
She sounded deeply upset: "A Muggleborn who married another muggleborn and then had magical children... they are sent there together – as a family."
"Fuck," Severus looked at the paleness of her face and he didn't have to ask what happened to a family in the Family Room, "Torturing and murdering children... that's beyond evil."
He got up and held her in his arms, staring into her troubled eyes, "Flor, no matter what happens next, I love you."
She smiled, rubbing her nose on his, "I know, Sev."
Then he gently held her face up and kissed her lips.
"You're everything to me, Flor."
She nodded and he continued:
"Win or lose, we're in this together, love."
After another sweet kiss, she said: "I love you, Sev," she rubbed her nose on his slowly, feeling his air on her face, "Will you ask the kitchens for some breakfast? I don't want to eat in the Great Hall this morning."
He nodded and did just that, while she finished getting ready to go to work.
November 1997
One evening before dinner, Florence entered her husband's former quarters in the dungeons and found James sitting on Severus' armchair staring at the flames in the fireplace with a silly smile on his face.
"You've heard from Mione, I gather," Florence said as she sat on the sofa across from him, knowing the Gryffindor girl was certainly the reason for her son's smile.
"Yes, mum," he nodded, "She's not yet fully over the fact that the Dark Lord is my grandfather, but she's already joking about it; she told me to invite her for the next family dinner."
Florence snorted: "That dinner would go just as well as the conversation she had with Tiffany about elven rights."
"Ooh yeah," he laughed, "Although potentially bloodier."
"No doubt about it," she smiled at her son, "I'm just glad she didn't break up with you again."
"You and me both, mum. Although I didn't think she would. I promised her a ring the last time I saw her."
"What?" Florence was really surprised, she gaped and brought her hand to her mouth, "You're going to propose to her?"
"Yes," James smiled, looking at his mother and noticing her teary eyes, "Oh, no, mum. Don't go all emotional on me," he got up from the armchair and sat beside her on the sofa, pulling her into a hug.
Florence embraced him tightly.
"Oh, my baby- my most infuriating baby. I can't believe you and Nick are thinking of marriage already. And Nick's going to be a dad!"
"Now that's still something I struggle to believe. And it's a baby girl, right?"
"Yes. Lynne Weasley-Snape," she wiped her eyes, looking at James with tenderness and caressing his face, "Listen, I know you hate when I talk about you and your siblings growing up so fast, but-"
He shook his head, being understanding, "Nah, I get it, mum. I complain, but I get it. All you went through to raise Nick and me, when you yourself were so young..."
"Then I almost lost you..." she whispered, holding his hand, noticing how big it was now, remembering when it was smaller than hers and so much softer, "I'll never forget that night, Jamie," she shook her head slowly, intertwining her fingers with his, "If you hadn't taken the bezoar, if I hadn't been a healer..." her voice broke, "And even so, there was a moment when I feared I wouldn't be able to save you, love."
He nodded, "I know, mum. I thought I was going to die..."
She sniffled and he wiped the tears off her face.
"You do like Hermione, right, mum?" James asked, uncharacteristically insecure, wanting to hear her approval, "I know dad doesn't-"
"Oh, of course I like her, James! She's brilliant! And your dad approves of her too, don't worry. He just likes to complain about things."
James smiled broadly and pulled her for another hug.
"Well," Florence said, finally managing to control her tears, "Have you bought Hermione's ring already?"
"Not yet."
"Go out tomorrow and get it then! And how is she and the other two boys doing?"
"They haven't found a way to destroy the necklace yet," said James, "And Uncle Albus left her his Beedle the Bard's book in his will, which she's been reading since she's never heard any of those tales, being muggleborn."
Florence tilted her head, finding it strange, "She's never heard of the Deathly Hallows?"
"Nope."
"Interesting. Oh, before I forget: I need you to send Mione a Patronus warning her not to use any other name to call your grandfather but You-Know-Who. His other more feared alias is a tracking charm now. Snatchers will apparate directly to the place of those who say it."
James nodded, "I'll let her know, mum. But... did you know uncle Albus left Harry the sword of Gryffindor?"
"The sword? Well... no, I didn't," she frowned, finding that really weird, "But it wasn't his to give. The sword belongs to the castle nowadays – to the Gryffindors."
"That's what Scrimgeour told them when he read Dumbledore's will to them," said James, "But what do you know of the sword? Why would Uncle Albus want Harry to have it?"
Florence frowned and thought about it, "Well, as for why he would want Harry to have it – I don't know. Must be a Gryffindor thing," she shrugged, "As for the sword itself, I know its history."
"The Gryffindor founder was its owner?"
She nodded, "Yes, Godric Gryffindor asked a goblin King called Ragnuk the First, to forge a sword according to his specifications. And he did. However, once he had finish it, Ragnuk loved it so much that he made up a story that Gryffindor had actually stolen it from him, so he sent goblins to steal it back."
"Then what happened?"
"Godric, being the noble good Gryffindor he was," she rolled her eyes, "Defended himself with his wand, but refused to kill his attackers. He just sent them back to their king."
"Didn't the King try to steal it again?"
"No, Godric promised that if they tried, he'd unsheathe the sword against them all."
"Hm," James pondered, still trying to understand why Dumbledore left it to Harry, "Being that it's goblin made, it's right to say it's enchanted, right?"
"Yes," Florence nodded, "The blade is pure silver – it repels all charms and is virtually indestructible. It also absorbs what makes it stronger."
"Wait," James frowned. "Didn't Harry stab a basilisk with it?"
"He did," Florence seemed to realise what her son had concluded: "Therefore..."
"It can destroy Horcruxes!" James nearly shouted, "That's why Uncle Albus left it to Harry!"
"Well, it's in your father's office right now!" she exclaimed, getting up, "We just have to find a way to send it to Harry!" and flooing to the Headmaster's office.
Florence went straight to the corner of the office where she had seen the sword resting on a base.
"That's not the real sword," suddenly she heard Dumbledore's portrait say.
"What do you mean?" she asked in confusion, for there wasn't any other sword in that office
"I had that one made to fool the Ministry, for I knew they wouldn't let me give the sword to Harry. But I believe you've realised why he needs it by now."
"Yes, there's basilisk's blood in the blade. That's why you broke the Nuummite horcrux with it. Where's the real one?"
"Right here," Dumbledore pointed to the back of his own portrait.
Florence pulled his portrait forward and like a door it opened, revealing a large hole in the wall behind it where the sword was resting against the wall.
"Now," continued the portrait, "To give it to Harry, you can't simply send it to him – you have to make him deserve it."
Florence rolled her eyes, "Gryffindors must always prove themselves worthy of things. You lot should get free psychological appointments as soon as the Hat shouted your House name."
December 1997
Hogwarts
Nicholas was in the living room one Saturday evening, when Florence apparated into the Headmaster's quarters.
"Hi, baby," she greeted him with a smile.
He got up and hugged her, noticing she looked just as sick as she had the week before, "Evening, mum."
"Why are you here?" she worried, "Did something happen to Fred and Lynne?"
"No. He and Lynne are fine, it's just... I have news to give you and dad – bad ones," he grimaced, "The Snatchers have kidnapped Xeno Lovegood's daughter to force him to stop printing The Quibbler. I thought you should know she's not returning after the weekend."
"Oh, no!" she gasped, "Poor Luna! And do you know where they took her?"
He nodded: "Malfoy Manor. She's in the dungeons there."
"Shit!"
Then the door was opened and Severus walked in, going towards Florence and kissing her lips briefly.
"What happened?" he glanced at Nick but looked back at his wife, frowning at her tired face and the dark circles under her eyes.
Nicholas looked at his father and it was obvious he was worried about his wife but hadn't commented on it. So Nick answered his question: "Luna Lovegood was kidnapped to force her father to close down The Quibbler. She was taken to the Malfoy Manor."
"Shit!" Severus cursed just like Florence had, "Luckily she's a pureblood – the Lord won't let anyone rape her."
"At least she's protected from that," Florence said, her voice heavy with concern, "But... she's sleeping in the dungeons, Severus! Who knows if they're feeding her!"
"What do you suggest we do, Florence?" Severus asked, "We can't just go there and demand they release her!"
"Well, we can't sit and do nothing!" she retorted, angry.
"We need to find a way to help Harry find the Horcruxes faster," suggested Nicholas. "So we can end this once and for all!"
"But how much good will find the horcruxes faster that really do?" Severus asked, "Since Harry destroyed the necklace, the Lord has become even more paranoid and violent."
"Look," Nicholas sighed and they looked at him, "I know you're doing everything you can... but the Order is completely lost without Uncle Albus."
Florence nodded, "Yes. We know. It's been six months and they're nowhere near getting back on their feet!"
"Honestly, as of right now?" Nick added, "I fear grandfather will have won this war by this time next month."
He watched his mother's tired eyes fill up with tears and he looked at his father.
Severus shook his head, seeing the question clear in his son's eyes, knowing he wanted to ask about her health. He tried glaring at him, hoping Nick didn't say anything, for Florence would only get angry with both of them.
"Mum," Nicholas spoke, ignoring his father strangled disapproving grunt, "Have you seen Pomfrey about your health situation?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at him while Florence glared at Nick, "Not you too! I'm bloody fine! I'm just working and worrying too much! I can't stop working and I certainly can't simply NOT worry!"
She turned her angry eyes on Severus, and he raised his hands in defence, "I didn't say anything, Florence."
"I am tired of hearing you telling me to go see Pomfrey!" she exclaimed, "I can't stop working!" she huffed, "If my father wins, what kind of future will we have? Hiding Liz, Chris and Sophie forever? James never marrying Hermione?" she looked at Nick again, "Baby Lynne being born into a prejudiced society?"
Both men recoiled due to her angry speech.
"Told you not to say anything," Severus muttered angrily.
"But you have to do something, dad!" Nicholas exclaimed, worried, "She's clearly not well!"
"SHE is right here!" growled Florence, "And you two are NOT making decisions for me – I'm fully capable of taking care of myself!" she pointed a finger at Nick, "And you better stop telling your father to do something about my health! I didn't raise a patronising little shit!"
Bam! Bam! Bam!
They were suddenly interrupted by heavy knockings on the door.
Florence narrowed her light-green eyes at her husband, "If that's Alecto, I'll kill her."
Severus walked to her and ran his hands down her sides, retrieving her wand from her pocket.
Florence snorted: "As if I need that to kill a death eater."
Nicholas seemed briefly surprised by his mother's darker attitude, till he remembered what had happened a little over a year ago: she had tortured Bellatrix with her own hands for forcing his father to make an Unbreakable Vow.
"Behave, Florence," Severus said, pointing her own wand at her before pocketing it and saying: "Come in."
The Carrow twins ran into the office and spoke at the same time: "They've got Potter!"
"What? Who?" asked Severus, trying not to show his concern.
"The Snatchers!" said Amycus, "And they took him to the Malfoy Manor!"
"Is it really him?" asked Severus.
"Yes, Headmaster," confirmed Alecto, getting close to him, biting her bottom lip and whispering in a sultry voice: "I'm soo excited!"
Immediately Alecto's blouse got tighter around her neck; the female death eater pulled at the fabric desperately as it suffocated her.
Severus looked to his side and saw Florence had her hand up, clawed in Alecto's direction – she was clearly the one who was choking the female death eater.
Nicholas looked from his mother to his father, not knowing what to do to stop her – not even sure if his father would be able to stop her.
"Enough, Florence!" Severus ordered.
But she ignored him; she was so done with that war, with her father and his stupid death eaters – prejudiced people that made her daily life hell and had forced her to break her family apart. She wanted them all dead.
"SHE'S KILLING HER!" Amycus screamed, terrified at the sight of his twin sister twitching and turning blue on the floor.
"Mum," Nicholas called, taking a step towards her, "Mum, please, stop."
And his voice seemed to break through the cloud of rage in her mind. She lowered her hand and Alecto gasped for air, coughing and wheezing and trying to crawl the farthest away from Severus.
Florence glared at her, daring her to say a word.
Severus cleared his throat, "About Potter. They took him to the Malfoys'?"
"Yes," said Amycus, helping his gasping sister from the floor, "Draco couldn't confirm it is really Potter and his two friends but-"
"Why was it necessary that Draco confirmed his identity?" asked Severus.
"Potter was somehow disfigured," explained Amycus, "It seems the mudblood hit Potter with some weird spell that made him nearly unrecognizable. But the spell wore off and it is now obvious that they caught him!"
"Bellatrix has already called the Dark Lord," added Alecto, her voice a little raspy, "He'll probably kill the boy the moment he gets there!"
"Tonight we'll be victorious!" exclaimed Amycus.
They both looked at Severus, expecting him to be as happy as they were, but he just stared back at them.
Florence glaring at the ginger twins, hoping they'd give her a reason to attack them.
"That's excellent news," said Severus in an unimpressed tone, "Thanks for letting us know. If the Lord calls us, we'll go to the Manor. Until then, we'll all stay here, where he has told us to be, doing what he has ordered us to do."
The twins reluctantly nodded, clearly disappointed that they couldn't go to the Malfoy Manor to witness Potter's death.
"You two can leave now," Severus dismissed them.
And the death eaters left in silence.
When the door closed, Florence wandlessly cast: "Muffliato," before asking, worried: "Do you think that's true?"
"We know Harry can be really stupid sometimes; so, yes, it could be true," Severus ran his hands through his hair, something he only did when he was really nervous.
"What will we do?" Nicholas asked, looking from one parent to the other.
Severus stared at his son with a frown, "What do you think we can possibly do, Nicholas?"
"Rescue them!" the teenager bravely said as if it was obvious.
"Sure, let me get my coat and I'll be on my way," Severus' tone dripped sarcasm.
Nicholas glared at his father, hating that he was mocking him, "Well, father, none of us can go there rescue them looking like ourselves. Obviously. But I could go if I looked like somebody else and changed my voice."
Both Florence and Severus stared at him in surprise and hesitation.
Do you think he means... to polyjuice himself? Asked Florence.
Yes. Stupidly brave of him. Clearly this one's not a Slytherin.
"Nicholas," said Florence in a concerned voice, "We get what you're proposing but... how exactly will you prepare Polyjuice Potion in the next few minutes?"
"No need to. I already have it," then he took a medium-size vial full of a brownish liquid from a small bag he carried, "James prepared it a while ago and I put it in a stasis spell. And here is who I'll be turning into," he took another vial from his bag, this one smaller and containing some hair strands.
"And whose hair is that?" asked Severus, frowning.
"Bill Weasley," Nick put it on the table beside the other vial.
Florence looked at her husband, I don't know about you, but I'm impressed.
Yes, only this plan is extremely dangerous and reckless and Gryffindor-ish.
"Now," continued Nick, ignoring that his parents were obviously speaking through their bond, "All I need is someone to put me inside the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor," he smiled smugly, "And I believe I can get out of there by myself, right?"
"Yes," Florence replied, not hiding her concern regarding that plan, "There's an apparition spot in the backyard, right by the fountain."
Severus narrowed his eyes at Nicholas, "If you get caught..."
"I won't, dad."
But Severus was still unsure, "This is too dangerous, Nicholas! I won't agree to it!"
"I can do this, dad!" Nicholas insisted, "Get in, get them out. Quick and simple! Mum-"
"I agree with your father, Nick," she shook her head, but she could see her son's confidence and had to admit his plan wasn't completely stupid, "That being said, I think you should go."
"What? Florence-" Severus held her arm, looking at her face with confusion and disapproval.
"We're at war, Severus!" she shouted, yanking her arm out of his grasp, "If Harry and the others are really there, they won't get out alive! We can't go, but Nick's plan is as good as we can come up to on short notice!"
"Fucking hell," Severus growled, running a hand through his hair, before nodding: "Fine! Fuck- I do not agree to this! But... your plan is all we've got," he paused and growled low, clearly against that idea, "Now, to get you in the Manor is easy. Dobby!"
In a few seconds, the small elf appeared in the office.
"Did you call Dobby, Sir?" asked the elf.
"Yes," Florence was the one who replied, "Harry Potter is in trouble, Dobby, and we need your help to save him."
The small elf looked confused for a moment; he looked from Florence to Nicholas and to Severus a few times, then he seemed to understand what was happening and smiled a big smile.
"Dobby sees," he said, "And Dobby will always help Harry Potter and those who want to help him too."
"Thanks, Dobby," said Nicholas, "Now, I'll drink this potion and it'll make me look just like Bill, then you'll get me inside the dungeons of the Malfoy Manor and we'll rescue Harry and his friends. Got it?"
"Yes, young Mr Snape," said the elf, bravely.
Nick uncorked the potion, added the hairs, stirred it and drank it, trying hard not to vomit.
"Fuck! I've never had that before. It's bloody disgusting!" he wiped his mouth, looking nauseated once he finished drinking it.
Then the transformation began and soon Bill Weasley stood in front of Severus and Florence, dressed in Nick's clothes.
"Do you have any idea how weird this is?" Severus asked, "My son is ginger!"
"Should get used to having a redhead in the family, dad," said Nick/Bill, chuckling, "Lynne might be one."
Florence smiled, but her eyes showed she feared for her son, "Now, you only have around ninety minutes, Nick. Dobby, grab him and go."
"Good luck, son," Severus said.
Nick/Bill nodded and disapparated with Dobby.
Malfoy Manor
"HERMIONE!" that was the first thing Nicholas heard when he appeared in the dungeons with Dobby.
Then another scream chilled him to the bones: it sounded like a girl being tortured somewhere upstairs – and he feared it was Hermione.
"What's happening here?" he asked, using Mutatio vox to make himself sound different.
Everybody looked at him and Dobby, shocked to see them there.
"Who are you?" shouted Ron, furious, "Don't even try to say you're my brother! I know you're not him!"
"It doesn't matter now," replied Nicholas, "I'm here to help. What happened? Where's Mione?"
"Upstairs!" shouted Harry, "Bellatrix is torturing her!"
"Who else is here?" Nick asked.
Harry looked at the other people there and Nick followed his gaze, finding Luna Lovegood, a goblin and Garrick Ollivander, every one of them looking dirty and bruised.
"Dobby, take them to Remus' house and come back for us as quickly as possible. Meet us upstairs."
The elf nodded and did as he was told, having Luna, the goblin and Ollivander hold his arms and disapparating.
"Now, we're going to rescue Hermione," Nick said looking at the two boys.
"How?" asked Ron, "We're locked in here and we don't have our wands!"
But before Nicholas could answer, someone was walking downstairs.
Ronald turned the lights off with Dumbledore's Deluminator seconds before Wormtail appeared by the dungeon gate.
"Who were you talking to?" asked Wormtail.
"To each other, you imbecile!" growled Harry.
"O-ok," stammered Wormtail, "Now, I'm going to open this door and take the ginger one upstairs. Stay back, Potter!" the death eater's wand hand was shaking and he looked frightened as he slowly opened the door, keeping his wand pointed at Harry's face while he grabbed Ron's arm.
Nicholas chose that moment to show himself.
"How dare you threaten Harry! You filthy animal!" he said, knowing who that man was: he was the one responsible for framing Sirius on the Potters' death, because of him Padfoot spent twelve years in Azkaban and Harry was an orphan.
Wormtail looked at him, "Who the fuck are you?"
Nick didn't reply, he just cast: "Avada kedavra!" thinking: This is for Sirius and the Potters.
And Wormtail fell dead on the staircase.
Both teenagers looked at him, their eyes as big as saucers.
"You're definitely not Bill," said Ron.
"It really doesn't matter now who I am," said Nick, "All that matters is to get Hermione and escape from here alive; and in less than an hour," he walked by the boys and over Wormtail's body, feeling happy for seeing him dead, and ran upstairs.
The boys followed him and they quickly located the room where Hermione was being tortured; they stopped by the half-open door, hearing her screams echoing on the long empty corridor.
"What's the plan?" asked Harry in a low voice.
"To make use of the element of surprise," explained Nicholas, "We'll surprise them by running into the room, then we'll get your wands, save Hermione and find Dobby. In that order. And as quickly as possible."
The two teenagers nodded, although not entirely certain about that plan.
Nick kicked the door open and the three of them ran into the large living room.
"What the fuck?" shouted Lucius Malfoy, pointing his wand at the three of them.
Nicholas silently cast a shielding charm and then accioed Harry and Ron's wands. The two wands flew towards his hand, he threw them at the boys and a small battle began.
Nicholas duelled against Lucius and a Snatcher that he believed was a werewolf, while Harry and Ron dueled against Bellatrix; Narcissa and Draco ran out of the room as soon as they could.
Nicholas sent the werewolf through the window and faced Lucius.
"Insolent brat!" the man shouted, "I'll kill you! You and all your blood-traitor family – you will die!"
Nick understood he meant the Weasleys, since he had polyjuiced into Bill. And before Malfoy could utter another spell, he sent the blonde against the wall, the man falling onto the floor, unconscious.
Nick looked at him for a moment, pondering if he shouldn't just kill him – but fear for his own soul stopped him, for he had just taken a life, doing it twice in less than ten minutes couldn't be good for his soul.
Bellatrix's loud cackle caught his attention and Nick joined Harry and Ron in the fight to defeat the female death eater.
He hit her with a strong Inpulsa and the two teenagers cast Stupefy; she fell to the floor unconscious, her whole body trembling due to the shock waves.
Once all the death eaters were on the floor, Nicholas ran to where Hermione was; he kneeled beside her and touched her face seeing she was alive but half-conscious, a pool of blood by her arm – then his eyes fell on the ugly word carved in her arm.
Fuck!
"Adoze," he cast – for he didn't have enough knowledge to heal her, he needed to take her to his mother.
"There's Dobby!" shouted Harry, pointing at the elf, who was hiding behind a column.
Nicholas silently urged him to come towards them.
"You two go with Dobby," he said, picking Hermione up in his arms, "I'm taking Mione with me, my mother can heal her."
The two younger men paused and looked at him for a moment, realising who he most likely was.
"Mione told us about your grandfather," said Harry.
"Yes," Nick nodded, letting them be sure of his identity, looking around to see if anyone was coming up the stairs, "The Dark Lord is my grandfather."
The two grimaced and Ron said: "That sucks, man."
Nick just smiled and urged them to get going: "Grab Dobby's hand and go to Headquarters. Wait for Hermione there, she'll meet you in a few days. Go!" then he ran from the room to the backyard, carrying the unconscious girl in his arms, and he found the apparition spot his mother had told him and disapparated, taking Hermione with him.
Snapes' family home
Nicholas walked into the house and let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the lab door was closed – that meant James was down there brewing; if James saw Hermione passed out and bleeding, Nick knew his brother would certainly freak out.
Nick carried Hermione upstairs, entering one of the guest rooms; he sent his mother a Patronus message as soon as the girl was comfortable on the bed.
Florence ran into the room a few minutes later.
"Nick! Are you ok?" she touched his face – which still looked like Bill Weasley's.
"Yeah, mum. I'm fine. Not even a scratch."
"Good," she sighed, turning to look at the girl on the bed, immediately seeing her bloody arm, "Holy shit! This is sick! I bet Bellatrix did this."
"Yes. She was torturing her when I arrived," he watched his mother begin to heal Hermione.
Florence cleaned up the bleeding wound and cast a couple of Vulnera sanenturs, focusing her magic into rebuilding each layer of skin in Hermione's arm – trying to avoid scarring.
After some thirty minutes, Florence stopped working on the girl's arm and sighed; there'd be some scarring, unfortunately.
She turned to Nicholas – who had his own physical appearance back – and hugged him tightly.
"How were things there, Nick?"
"Fast and crazy, mum. I found Mr Ollivander, Luna Lovegood and a goblin in the dungeons. They're all safe at Headquarters now. Harry and Ron are there too. But I couldn't let them take her with them," he looked at the girl on the bed – that was the woman his twin brother loved, "She was tortured for long minutes... I didn't think it'd do her good to go to Lupin's without seeing a healer first."
"You did good, my son," she caressed his face, "Have you told your brother she's here?"
"Not yet."
"Call him here. It'll help her heal, having him with her."
James? Nick called through their bond. Don't panic, but...
Don't tell me not to panic, you twat! He heard James exclaim in his mind. That's the way to make me panic! What happened? Are mum and dad ok? Are you in trouble?
No, I'm fine. I'm home and... Hermione was hurt, she is here.
The sound of someone running on the stairs let them know James was coming.
"WHERE?" James shouted in the corridor.
"Here! Green guestroom!" Nicholas replied.
"Mione!" James gasped by the door, walking slowly towards the bed.
Before Nick or Florence could explain what had happened, they saw Hermione move at the sound of James' voice, and her eyes fluttered open.
"Jamie?" the girl whispered.
"I'm here, love," he stood by the bed, looked at his mother, silently asking if he could join his girlfriend on the bed.
Florence nodded.
So he lay down beside Hermione and she buried her face in his chest, sobbing, startling him.
"What happened to her, mum?" James looked at Florence, concerned.
"The trio was kidnapped by Snatchers and taken to the Malfoy Manor," she explained.
"What?" he exclaimed, caressing his girlfriend's tousled hair.
"Yes," nodded Florence, "But Nick got them to safety with Dobby's help."
James looked at his brother with gratitude, "Thanks, man."
"Don't mention it, James," said Nick.
Florence touched Hermione's shoulder, "Is the wound on your arm the only thing they did to you, Mione?"
The trembling girl took a deep breath, understanding she was asking about sexual assault, "J-just the torture. Just m-my arm," she whispered, "Nothing else."
"Thank Merlin," Florence exhaled, "I did my best to close that wound, dear, but I'm not sure it won't leave a scar."
Then James gently held his girlfriend's left arm, to see the wound his mother was talking about, and gasped.
"Holy shit," the word 'mudblood' could be faintly read in her arm.
"I'll give her some pennywort to apply in the next days," Florence replied to the unspoken question in her son's dark eyes, "Hopefully, that will disappear completely in a week."
James nodded, holding a still crying Hermione.
Florence continued: "I'll get Tiffany to-"
"Not Tiff," James interrupted, shaking his head, "She and Hermione had some disagreement in the past."
"I know. But Tiffany respects her opinion – she just wants to have her wishes respected too. I'll send Tiff up with tea, potions and sandwiches" She looked at James. "Will you stay here with her? I wouldn't like her to be alone."
"I'm not leaving, mum," James lay back, still holding his girlfriend – who had calmed down a little.
"Good," Florence smiled and left the room with Nicholas.
James held Hermione close to his body, just glad to have her there, choosing not to think of what could've happened if his brother hadn't gone there to rescue her.
The door was opened again after a few minutes and Tiffany walked in with a tray floating in front of her.
"Master James, Tiffany brings food and potions," she looked at Hermione with compassion.
"Thanks, Tiff."
Hermione turned to look at the elf, "Thank you, Tiffany."
The elf nodded and touched her leg, "You rest, love of my Master. Tiffany will gladly help the Miss get better."
Hermione nodded and turned to lie on James' chest again, watching Tiffany leave the room and close the door.
"So, I'm the love of her Master?" Hermione whispered, looking up at him.
"I guess I'll have to ask her who he is and challenge him to a duel," James replied playfully. He kissed her lips, before saying: "Of course, you're my love, Mione," he touched her face lovingly, "And I fear we'll have to name our firstborn after Nicholas, since he saved you tonight."
She smiled, "No problem. He really saved me from..." she stopped, her eyes clouding with fear again.
"What, love?" he gently pulled her chin up.
"Lucius Malfoy," she whispered, "He was saying things... things that he likes to do with mudbloods..."
"That bloody disgusting wanker!" James exclaimed, furious, "I'm going to kill him!" he held her tightly.
"Yes. Please do," she agreed as she ate a piece of the steak Tiffany had made for her.
"Quickly agreeing to violence now, love?" He murmured, teasing her, kissing her softly, "Your Gryffindor values have been officially compromised."
And she chuckled, offering him some of her dinner.
James accepted and watched her eat, calling his brother: Hey, Nick?
Need something, bro?
Yes. Can you bring me the ring I bought her? It's on my nightstand.
Sure. Be there in a minute.
Thanks, Nick.
"You're talking to your brother, right?" Hermione said, as she sipped her juice.
"Yes. How do you know?"
"You make this face... like you're listening to someone, but there's no one talking."
"Nice face?" James asked, kissing her again.
Hermione smiled and caressed his cheek, sighing, "I love you, Jamie. I'm glad I'm here."
"You don't have to worry while you're here, my love. You're safe. My parents ward this place in such a way that not even my grandfather is able to get here unnoticed. Believe me, he's tried."
"Good to know," She allowed herself to relax, glancing at the ugly wound on her left arm.
"Don't worry about that, kitten," he looked at it, "Honestly? It looks better than a Dark Mark."
Hermione smiled at him and resumed eating.
Then Nicholas opened the door and threw something at his brother, closing the door as quickly as he had opened it.
"What was that?" Hermione asked, looking from the door to her boyfriend beside her on the bed.
"You'll know once you finish eating," said James with a sweet smile.
"Okay," she replied, a little suspicious.
Once she finished the last of her salad and steak, James made the tray disappear, sending it to the kitchen as he usually did.
Then he held her right hand and said: "Mione, I told you a while ago that I'd get you a ring – and I did," he heard her breath hitch as he used magic to make a small black box float in front of her, its lid open, showing the delicate eyelet diamond ring inside.
She gasped, "That's so beautiful, James!"
"I wanted something bigger, and green. But I don't think you'd agree to either, considering you're still fighting in the war and are a Gryffindor princess... so I chose this instead."
"Why not rubies?" she teased him.
He arched an eyebrow at her, "You're marrying into a Slytherin family, love."
She chuckled, "I love it, Jamie."
He picked up the ring and her right hand.
"Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"
A happy tear rolled down her cheek, "Yes, James Snape, I will marry you."
He slid the ring on her right ring finger, surprising himself as he picked up her hand afterwards and kissed the engagement ring – finally understanding the sentiments behind that action that he had seen his father do a million times: devotion, commitment, love.