Back in the Order Headquarters, right after the rescue
Severus walked into Remus's house with his daughter in his arms and ran past everyone in the living room, ignoring the cheers and the questions of how it had been; he just wanted to get to his wife – who he had drugged.
There would be time for debriefing later, once everyone had gotten back – if he survived Florence's wrath.
"Are we going to see mummy?" Sophie asked against his neck, the stuffed hippogriff held tight in her left arm.
"Yes, baby girl," he whispered, as he walked to the third floor, "But she may be sleeping," he stopped by the bedroom door and called: "Tiffany."
And the elf appeared in the corridor, "Mistress Sophie!" the elf squealed happily, "Tiffany is glad to see her little Mistress is safe," she let out a relieved sigh and looked at Severus, "Mistress Florence is still asleep, Master."
He nodded and exhaled in relief himself, "I'll put you on the bed with your mum, Sophie, but you must let her sleep," For my sake. He added mentally.
The toddler nodded and he walked into the room, looking at his beautiful wife on the bed.
Sophie smiled, whispering: "Mum is so pretty."
"Yes, she is. And you look just like her, love," he kissed her forehead and set her on the bed beside her mother.
The girl lay down and hugged Florence tightly, closing her eyes.
"Keep an eye on them, Tiff," Severus ordered, "I need to take a shower," and he went to the bathroom.
Florence woke up slowly, feeling her mouth dry as if she had drunk too much the night before – which she knew she hadn't.
She blinked, surprised at the feel of someone beside her, too small to be her husband. She forced her eyes open and found a small pretty girl sleeping by her side.
"Sophie," she exhaled, tears falling from her eyes, "Oh, my baby!" she kissed her face softly a few times, not wanting to wake her up, allowing her worries to vanish; her daughter was back in her arms, safe and sound.
Severus? Florence called through their bond, afraid of learning the reason Sophie was there but he wasn't.
"I'm here," she heard him say, as the door to the bathroom opened and he walked into the room, dressed on dark blue joggers and no shirt.
After the relief of seeing him in one piece wore off, she glared at him, not letting his sexy body distract her from the earful he deserved.
You drugged me! She growled in his mind, not wanting Sophie to hear it.
"Nothing too strong," he replied out loud, carefully keeping his distance from the bed, still unsure what Florence was going to do, "A safe, Poppy-approved, dosage that would ensure you stayed put while I rescued Sophie," he pointed at their daughter, "Who is there, safe in your arms. And I'm completely unharmed as you can see."
She could see it alright, he was still naked from the waist up and his joggers hung really low on his hips; his hair still damp from the shower.
"I should hex you," she said, sighing.
He chuckled, not missing the desire in her eyes, "But you won't?"
After a few seconds of silence – which she did just to watch him wonder what she'd do – Florence shook her head, "No, I won't. You brought Sophie back and didn't get yourself killed," she paused again, caressing their daughter's hair, and then admitting in a low voice: "Part of me understands why you gave me the sleeping draught."
Severus smiled and finally approached the bed, sitting beside Florence and touching a hand to her face, pulling her to a kiss.
She fisted his damp hair, deepening the kiss for a moment, before she sighed and touched their foreheads together, "I'm glad your plan worked; Sophie is here and you're here."
"Now we just have to win the war," he added softly.
Florence grimaced, "Let's not talk war today, please," she looked into his eyes, "Let's have a calm day for once."
"We can try," said Severus, nodding and kissing her lips again.
"Mummy?" they heard Sophie's sweet sleepy voice.
"I'm here, my baby," Florence holding her tightly against her chest, as much as her swollen belly allowed, "You're safe, my love," she kissed her head, looking down and recognising the stuffed toy Sophie had in her arms, "And what do you have there?"
"This is Fluffy," Sophie explained, happily, "Aunt Cissy said dad gave Dray this."
"Yes," Severus nodded slowly, recognising it too, "I did. Fourteen years ago. Wow."
Time flies. Florence said in his mind. The twins will be twenty this year.
Severus shook his head in disbelief, making Florence chuckle.
"And how are you, baby?" she asked her daughter, "Are you hurt? Hungry?"
"I'm fine, mummy," the girl said with a smile, "Aunt Cissy took good care of me."
"I'm glad to hear it, love. And where is Cissy?" she looked at her husband.
"James told her to come with us," said Severus, "But, as I left before the battle was over, I don't know if she came or not."
Then they were interrupted by knocks on the door and Florence told them to come in.
Eileen walked in with all four grandkids, gasping: "Sophie!" and going to the bed to hug her, "I was so worried, baby!"
"So... mum didn't kill you," James joked, looking at his father.
Severus just raised an eyebrow at him and got up to put on a shirt.
"Did Cissy come with you?" Florence asked, hugging Christopher, who was still upset for not having stopped his sister's kidnapper.
"Yes, she did," said Nick with a concerned expression, "But she is a mess, mum. We called Pomfrey to check on her."
"Lucius had started to pass her around again," added James, in a disapproving voice, "Dolohov made some comments that made that clear. I killed him, by the way."
"Draco got hurt too," added Liz, "Nothing too serious though; he's asleep now."
"Good," Florence nodded, "And who's with Cissy?"
"Charlie Weasley. He's the one who carried her here actually," said James, "He has a soft spot for abused creatures."
"She's a person , James!" Elizabeth admonished him, "Not a creature !"
"Are you defending the Malfoys now, sis?" teased James, "Can't wait to be one yourself, can you?"
"And so what if I am?" Elizabeth retorted, throwing her long dark hair back over her shoulder, "I will be marrying Draco in the future."
And isn't she a perfect Mrs Sacred Twenty-Eight? Asked Florence, knowingly annoying her husband.
Severus huffed and glared at his wife, before looking at his older daughter: "Not for at least another ten years you won't! And I don't want to hear another word about it!"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him but didn't reply.
"As you all can see," continued Severus, "Sophie is safe, your mother hasn't hexed me, everything's fine! You can leave!"
And they didn't have to be told twice; each one of them gave their mum a kiss and left the room, Sophie went with them, asking Nick if she could go show Fred her stuffed hippogriff, adding on their way out: "I'll be Lynne's best friend!"
Florence laughed and looked at her husband when the door closed, "It seems we are more traumatised by this whole episode than Sophie."
"Thankgoodness," Severus replied, sitting beside her again and wrapping her in his arms, "The absolute terror I felt when the stupid auror said Scabior had taken her..." he closed his eyes and shivered.
"I can imagine," she entwined their hands, "But you saved her, Sev. She's safe here with us," she touched her nose to his, "I love you," she exhaled, "You infuriate me to insurmountable levels... but I love you."
"We made quite a scene downstairs this afternoon," he chuckled, "But we wouldn't be ourselves without some- how do the twins call it? Oh, yes: aggressive flirting ."
Florence laughed and rested her head on his chest, trying not to think of anything but the peacefulness of that moment.
Meanwhile, one floor below
Charlie Weasley stood in the room he had been given in the headquarters and stared at the unconscious woman on his bed.
Every fibre of his being had compelled him to help her; his whole body had trembled in fury as he watched those two men hurt her. He hadn't thought twice the moment he saw her fall onto the marble floors of her own home: he had to save her, protect her. He had picked her up and brought her to the safest place he could think of: his own room.
Pomfrey had been there to check on her and declared she'd be fine – physically at least.
Mental and emotionally the mediwitch couldn't say for sure.
And Charlie knew what she meant; he had worked with many dragons that had been victims of every sort of maltreatment, imaginable and unimaginable, so he knew the lingering effects of abuse on one's brain – be it people or dragon.
He also knew who the woman on the bed was: a rich pureblood witch, used to having everything she wanted handed to her in a golden platter – and also someone who hated his family.
He was aware she wouldn't think twice about lashing out at him, just like the dragons he was used to caring for, if she knew he was daring compare her to animals.
A week after the rescuing , Florence was awakened one morning by loud shouts coming from the backyard; at first, she thought they were from the new members being trained, but soon she recognised her friend's voice.
"Cissy?" she whispered, getting out of bed and walking slowly to the window.
As she looked outside, she was surprised to see a very angry, unusually dishevelled, Narcissa getting up from the ground.
"I won't purposely miss just for your sake, your highness!" Florence heard Charlie Weasley shout, looking as angry as the blond woman, "You know very well death eaters won't go easy on you!"
"You stupid little man!" Narcissa shouted back, "How dare you! You have no idea what I've been through!"
"Yes, actually, I do!" shouted Charlie, "For years I've worked with abused dragons–"
And all the way from the third floor, Florence could hear her friend's affronted gasp:
" Dragons !?" Narcissa shrieked, "You're comparing me to filthy animals?"
Charlie smirked: "You should be flattered! I thought you loved them, since you named your kid after them!"
"It's a CONSTELLATION!"
Severus. Florence called through their bond, smiling. Are you seeing this?
Of course, love. As loud as they're shouting, it's impossible not to, at least, hear them.
When did that start? She asked, curious.
They started training yesterday and quickly found out they can't get along. Narcissa keeps acting like a spoiled princess and even called him a blood-traitor. Severus sounded annoyed. The Weasley saved her, for fuck's sake! She's being an ungrateful little shit.
Hmm. Florence chuckled. That's not what I see.
Severus seemed confused , And what do you see?
Aggressive flirting. She said suggestively.
He was quiet for a few seconds, and the increasing shouts between Narcissa and Charlie showed they weren't going to stop any time soon. Finally, Severus replied: I believe you're right, love. Narcissa Black Malfoy has a thing for a Weasley.
She could sense the mocking smirk in his thoughts.
And he's not even their firstborn son. Florence added.
Severus laughed. How scandalous!
Scandalous love-lives apart, all seemed to be going well for the Order of the Phoenix; as the next couple of weeks went by, the Order managed to get more members, but the attacks on any one who dared speak anything against the Ministry became more frequent.
One evening, by the first week of March , Andromeda Tonks flooed to headquarters unexpectedly, tripping on her way out of the fireplace – clearly running from something or someone – and falling on the living room rug, sobbing.
The sound of the floo and the sobs had many members running into the living room with their wands in hand.
"Mum?!" Nymphadora exclaimed at the sight of her, quickly kneeling beside her mother and being hugged tightly, "What happened, mum?" she asked, noticing the woman's despair, the dirty state of her clothes and the cuts and bruises on her face.
"They attacked!" Andromeda cried, "They attacked Clare City!"
Tonks gasped, looking at the dying embers in the hearth, "No. No! Mum? Mum where's dad?" she asked, already knowing the answer – her father was a muggleborn wizard, there was no doubt what the death eaters did to him.
"He's gone, Dora!" Andromeda said, in a broken voice: "They killed him!"
Tonks held her mother's trembling frame as they both cried.
Narcissa, upon hearing her sister had arrived and the circumstances that had brought her there, went looking for her immediately.
Despite the fear of being rejected by Andromeda – with reason – she wanted to be there for her in that moment of mourning.
Andromeda, being the sweet forgiving person she was, hugged her youngest sister tightly, welcoming her presence in her life once again.
By the second week of March , Florence was no longer allowed outside of her room, no matter the reason.
Pomfrey hadn't liked to know that she had been sneaking out of the room on walks downstairs, eager to get some fresh air.
"Fresh air? Open the bloody windows, Florence!" Pomfrey shouted, turning to look at Severus, "She could've fallen down those bloody stairs! You're a potions master! Keep her asleep if you have to!"
Severus glared at the mediwitch, but kept quiet, for he knew she was right.
But Florence snorted from the bed: "You do know I can hear you, don't you, Poppy?"
"Yes, Florence. And you'd better listen well: I'm giving your husband medical permission to keep you under a Sleeping Draught if you don't behave! Hear me?"
"Yes. Heard you," she replied, clearly unhappy.
"You cannot leave this room!" Pomfrey continued, "And no more than ten minutes on your feet each time you get up! You're 32 weeks already, both babies are doing fine, you haven't leaked any fluid so all is as perfect as it can be... now just sit there and look pretty for the next month, will you?"
Severus had to stifle a laugh at her words, which granted him a dangerous look from his very pregnant wife.
"Also," added Pomfrey, looking at Severus, "No orgasms for her."
"What?" both Florence and Severus exclaimed.
"Don't act so surprise, Florence," Pomfrey said visibly irritated, "You worked the maternity ward many times at St. Mungus. You know orgasms cause uterine contraction, sex triggers the release of oxytocin and semen helps to ready the cervix for it to open when labour starts."
Pomfrey pointed a finger at them both, "No orgasms for her," she looked at Severus, receiving an angry glare from him, "Yes, I'm commenting on your sex life again," she rolled her eyes, "Spare me the offended act, Severus!"
"Fine," he said between gritted teeth, "No sex."
Pomfrey sighed heavily, "I can't believe you've reached this far, Flor. If you give birth next week, they'll be fine."
Florence smiled, nodding, "Thanks for all your help, Poppy."
Pomfrey nodded and turned to the door, touching Severus' arm, and he followed her to the corridor.
"So she's fine?" he asked as he closed the door, hoping to hear at least some reassuring news.
But, for his despair, Pomfrey shook her head, "No. The babies are doing great. Florence not so much. Her body is doing it's very best to keep the pregnancy going, Severus, but labour will be dangerous for her. Remember Sophie's birth- how weak she was? This will be worse on her."
He ran his hands through his hair, agitated.
Pomfrey continued: "Make sure she eats healthily. She'll need the energy. And a couple orgasms won't harm her, but... we must delay labour for as long as we can."
He nodded, "I understand, Poppy."
And the mediwitch left.
Florence looked at her husband as he walked back into the room, "What did Pomfrey tell you?" her tone daring him to lie.
He didn't, but he also didn't tell her everything: "She told me to make sure you eat well. And reinforced that I can't fuck you."
She huffed in annoyance, "I hate that she's right."
He sat beside her and caressed her face, "We spent many months apart years ago, love. We can survive a month."
"Tell that to my bloody pregnancy hormones!" she replied angrily, rubbing her nose on his neck, "Right now... all I want is to feel you fucking me and hear you groaning in my ear every time I clench around your dick," she trembled at her own words.
And he grabbed her chin, biting her bottom lip in retaliation, "Stop teasing me, Florence. You can't cum, but I can fuck your sexy mouth if you keep that up."
"Yes. Please," she moaned.
And he groaned, letting go of her face and getting out of the bed, "I'll go help the others train the new members that showed up today."
"Hmm," she bit her bottom lip, looking at him up and down, "So I get to sit by the window and watch you duelling? Is that your plan to not make me horny, husband? Cause if it is, it's terrible."
He walked to the dresser, tying his best to ignore her, and picked up a jumper, putting it on, "Has Narcissa been here today?" he changed the subject.
"No. I haven't seen her in the past two days, actually. She must be with Dromeda or Draco. He's always around her now; Liz told me he's worried about Cissy's feelings for Charlie."
Severus made a face as if he had just eaten an earwax-flavoured Bertie bean; hearing his daughter's name and Draco's in the same sentence was still a reason of anger for him.
"Oh, yes, Draco's been really worried about his mother," he replied, sarcastically, "Snogging my daughter all the time, spending hours with her locked up in his bedroom. I can see how worried he is."
"Oh, please, Severus!" Florence laughed, her hands on her belly, watching her skin move for the twins had awakened.
"Why does he have to touch her all the fucking time?" he asked resentfully.
"I have a few words for you," Florence said, "You, me and the Astronomy Tower. Ring a bell?"
"It's not the same thing, Flor," he rolled his eyes, putting his boots on rather aggressively.
"More words, then: you, me and late nights in your mother's kitchen."
He approached her with a warning look and she laughed.
"I'll go help them," he kissed her lips, touching her swollen belly, "Behave, love. I'll send Mel or Tiff to stay here with you."
She nodded, kissing him again, "Love you."
"And I love you, princess."
After a few more kisses, he left.
Later that day , after Florence woke up from her afternoon nap – something she didn't use to do before but was like a daily necessity now – she sat on the bed to enjoy some tea and biscuits Tiffany had prepared for her.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," Florence said to whoever was at the door.
Narcissa walked in, "Hi, Flor. How are you doing?"
"Cissy! Join me for tea," she invited, "I'm going a bit crazy alone in this room... being on bed rest is no fun," she touched her belly.
"I can imagine. But it's a small sacrifice; soon you'll have two little angels in your arms."
Florence snorted, " Little angels ? That's not very likely. As long as I don't have two little Jameses, I'll be glad."
"He was a difficult child?" Narcissa sat across from her on the bed.
"That's an understatement!" she laughed, "James was turning into a bear cub before his third birthday and loved to vanish the water from the tub when he didn't want to have a bath. He stole Eileen's wand and even my own so many times I lost count!"
Narcissa laughed, "I can't imagine having five kids. And two more on the way."
"It's a lot of work, no doubt about that, but it's also so much fun. Of course, if it weren't for Tiff and Mel, my life would be a complete chaos. I'm lucky to have them."
Narcissa sipped her tea, smiling fondly as she said: "Draco was the perfect baby. I often thought he'd be the perfect big brother if I were to ever have more."
Florence nodded, "I remember how Severus used to say he was such a sweet kid," she hesitated before continuing, "Sev feared for Draco, you know."
"I know. So did I," Narcissa nodded, having a bicuit, "I still do."
Florence took the opportunity to speak about something that had been weighing on her mind: "The way Draco was forced to take the Mark was a crime in itself. And all the torment he went through on his sixth year..."
Narcissa's eyes filled with tears, "He told me you and Severus were always around him then. At first he hated it, until he realised you were looking out for him."
"He was so angry at us," Florence chuckled, "And we really pestered him. I even called his attention over his weight loss."
Narcissa smiled, even though her bottom lip trembled, "But he's fine now."
''You both are, Cissy," Florence touched her arm and then she smiled knowingly and changed the subject: "But tell me, how is your training going? I hear the most furious arguments whenever you and the Weasley are out in the backyard."
Narcissa's blue eyes hardened immediately, "Don't play dumb with me, Florence. I'm sure Severus has kept you well-informed about my recent–"
"Crush?" Florence added over the rim of her cup.
"Issues!" exclaimed Narcissa, blushing furiously, "My issues with that Weasley-boy!"
"Hm. You've got issues alright. I've heard you two flirting in the backyard."
"Flirting?" Narcissa tried to sound outraged.
"Stop pretending with me, Cissy!" Florence touched her hand, "It's way past the time you found a man that deserves you."
The blonde hesitated and dropped her eyes to her cup for a moment, "You never liked Lucius."
"Nope," Florence said, shaking her head, "I didn't even go to your wedding, remember?"
"Of course I do! I resented you for that!"
"I bet you did."
Narcissa frowned, remembering something, "But if I'm not mistaken, Severus went."
"Yes, he did. I told him to go if he really wanted to. He met my father for the first time there."
"Yes, he did!" Narcissa exclaimed, "I completely forgot about that! Lord Peverell was at my wedding! Obviously I had no idea then that he and the Dark Lord were the same person."
"Not many did," Florence said, "I had only found out about it myself a few months before your wedding."
"That's why you went to Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Florence nodded, "But, back to what really matters," she said, insisting on the other subject: "What are you going to do about Charlie?"
"Do?" Narcissa seemed nervous again, "Nothing! I'm a married woman, Florence! He's seventeen years younger than me! I'm not–"
"Do you smell that?" Florence said all of a sudden and Narcissa glared at her, knowing she was about to be mocked. And Florence continued: "I smell bullshit," she gave her friend a serious look, "You deserve to be happy, Cissy! If you fancy Charlie – go for it! Fuck society rules! You've abided by them all your life; go live a little, my friend."
Narcissa stopped denying it, she put her empty teacup on the tray between them and sighed, "It doesn't matter what I want, Flor. Charlie will never want a woman like me-"
"Sounds like something he should decide, not you..." Florence smiled, "Do you know how my kids call it when Severus and I start screaming at each other? Aggressive flirting – and that's exactly what has been going on between you and Charlie!"
Narcissa shook her head, "Still, I can't-"
"Besides," Florence added: "It's not like you'd be sullying yourself. He is a pureblood wizard after all."
Narcissa closed her eyes as if she'd been slapped, "I'm not thinking about that, Florence! I've learned my lesson."
"Good to know," she sipped her tea, "Go have some awesome sex, Cissy. Salazar knows that's all I wish I could have lately."
Narcissa laughed, "Severus hasn't been a good husband?"
"He's been nothing but good," her green eyes flashed in annoyance, "I hate all that goodness. But I can't have the hard pounding I crave; that's why you must let me live vicariously through you! Go get your brains fucked and then come here and tell me all about it!"
Narcissa blushed as she laughed, shaking her head at her friend's antics; however, her blue eyes sparkled mischievously when she left the room, an hour later.