February 4 th , 1998
In front of Lupin's House
Lucius Malfoy stood in the shadows across the street from an – apparently – empty plot. The notice-me-not spell had been efficiently cast over the building, plus other protection and muggle-repellent spells. If it weren't for the three weeks he had been watching and following Order members, Lucius would doubt they were hiding there in that inconspicuous muggle neighbourhood.
But he was certain that he was at the right place.
He trembled in excitement; it was only a matter of time till he captured Potter – and then all his problems would disappear.
Capturing Potter had become a matter of survival for Lucius. He desperately needed to get himself in the Dark Lord's good side.
It hadn't escaped his notice that every man that had fucked Narcissa in the last year had suspiciously turned up dead somewhere during the past month. First Nott, then Rebastan, Travis and Goyle. There was only Greyback still alive and then Lucius feared he'd be next.
The Dark Lord had done nothing to find out about their deaths, which confirmed Lucius' suspicions that Snape and his bitch were the ones behind them – and also made his situation even more precarious, for he couldn't go against the Lord's family, therefore he needed Potter if he were to save his own skin.
So he waited across the street.
It was past midnight when Lucius finally saw Potter and his two friends, the ginger blood-traitor and the mudblood, walking out of the empty plot, being followed by Mad-Eye Moody and the werewolf, Lupin.
He followed them down the street, excitement making his heart jump – he could already see Snape's furious face as he was congratulated by the Dark Lord for being the one to finally give him Potter!
He watched the group stop by a park bench and used that moment to call Snape – something he hated that he had to do, but the Dark Lord had ordered him to.
Lucius also called Bellatrix and his own useless son – who he hoped would die that night; considering he had already tortured Draco himself before leaving the manor a few hours ago, the chances were real.
As he waited for the three of them to arrive, Lucius walked towards the group of five people by the bench, chuckling darkly as he approached them.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?"
Remus and Moody moved quickly and put themselves between Lucius and the other three, their wands pointing at the blond man's face.
"Malfoy," growled Moody, "Decided this is a good night to die, eh? Showing yourself to us all alone."
Lucius smirked, "Do you take me for a fool, Mad-Eye?"
"Is that a question?" sneered the auror.
"You useless little-"
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
The sound of four people apparating cut through the cold air, echoing in the empty park, and interrupting Lucius.
Remus looked at who had arrived and struggled to hide his apprehension at the sight of the most twisted woman alive: Bellatrix. He looked at the others, his eyes briefly meeting Severus' before glancing at James and, finally, Draco.
Bloody hell . Remus thought, the blond boy looked like he had just arrived from a horrible fight – of which he had been the loser side; Draco was bleeding from a wound on his head, the dark-red blood staining his white-blond hair and a thin red drip had dried down the side of his face.
James noticed Remus's concerned gaze and followed it until he saw Draco.
"What the fuck ?" he whispered, low enough that only his father heard.
Severus' eyes fell on his godson for a moment and he sighed, shaking his head and shooting James a hard stare, clearly telling him to be quiet.
"Now, let's skip introductions and talk business, shall we?" continued Lucius, smiling smugly, looking at Moody with glinting eyes, "Give us Potter and you, the werewolf, the blood-traitor and the mudblood can all go. We just want Potter."
Remus growled, "Your short stay in Azkaban has certainly affected your sanity, Malfoy; if you think or a moment that we'll do that!"
"YOU FILTHY ANIMAL!" Bellatrix shouted: "How dare you speak to us!" she raised her wand towards Remus but her eyes fell on Hermione and she cooed bizarrely: "Ooh, my personal branded mudblood," she looked like a kid whom Christmas arrived early, "I have so many ideas of what to do with you next," the sparkle in her dark eyes leaving no doubts about the level of depravity she had in mind.
James watched his fiancée's wand arm tremble slightly, but Hermione's face showed nothing but hatred for the female death-eater.
"You're not touching a hair of Mione's head!" shouted Harry, pulling his friend behind him.
But his display of protectiveness only made Bella laugh, "Ooh, baby-Potter fancies the mudblood, eh? You just made my plans for her sweeter!"
Harry growled and attacked Bellatrix, casting Depulso right at her face, sending the woman backwards, throwing her on the swings with several loud clanks .
And that night's battle began.
Lucius attacked Remus while Moody had his target on Severus – spy or not, the auror had been waiting for a chance to hex the infuriating man for far too long.
George Weasley, who had gone in his brother's stead, (for Nicholas had said James would certainly go through with his promise to kill Ronald if he got near Hermione) tried to stop Bellatrix when she recovered from the Depulso spell, but the crazy woman ran towards them, cackling as she cast spells without bothering on aiming properly, almost hitting her own brother-in-law many times.
James joined his father in the fight against Moody and it didn't take much for the two Snapes to have Moody defeated and wandless.
Draco ran after Harry through the playground area; he planned to purposely miss his spells and not harm Potter, but as he tried to attack, he ended up missing due to the dizziness, caused by blood loss, that took over him; the effort of apparating, running and trying to cast spells was too strenuous for his thoroughly tortured body.
Draco fell onto the sandy ground in front of the slide and passed out.
Severus saw his godson fall but, before he could think of a way to protect him, his eyes met Harry's, the boy standing near Draco's fainted form on the ground.
Harry pointed his wand at Severus and he nodded unperceptively; the boy nodded back, before attacking him.
Hermione hid behind the huge tube-slide and watched Severus and Harry duelling, knowing they were missing on purpose; if Snape had wanted to kill Harry he could have done it with both his eyes closed, and years ago.
Boom!
A spell suddenly hit the side of the slide and Hermione got up, ready to attack who had tried to hit her.
But when she faced her attacker, her immediate reflex was to lower her wand and slap that smirk off her fiancée's face, "Attacking a distracted girl, Mr Snape? How ungentlemanly."
"I'm gentleman enough to miss the first attack, Miss Granger. I like to have a lady's eyes on me while I own her arse."
His double-entendre caused her to immediately shiver in desire, remembering how he had taken control of her the last time they had made love.
"Stupefy!" she cast, her desire for him fuelling her anger, forcing him to defend himself since she was truly aiming to hit him, "This lady is not afraid of hexing your arse ."
The way his dark eyes looked at her promised a delicious kind of retribution and she trembled again – rather improperly considering they were in the middle of a battle.
Hermione glanced at Harry and saw that George Weasley had joined him in the fight against Snape and they were both trying to hit him but failing.
More Death Eaters arrived, as well as more Order members.
James saw his brother had showed up with the Order.
Hey, bro.
Hey, James. Nicholas replied with a smile. Fancy seeing you here.
Are we supposed to be on opposite sides?
Hermione's next spell (Collido) hit James' ribs and he hissed in pain, narrowing his eyes at her, "I'll get you for this, Granger!"
"Stop talking to your brother!" she ordered. "You still haven't defeated me!"
James chuckled darkly: "Haven't I?"
And she bit her bottom lip, her amber eyes looking at him up and down, as if he had been suddenly transfigurated into her favourite sugar quill.
"Having trouble focusing, Granger?" he teased her.
"Fuck you, Snape!" she replied, enjoying shouting at him a little too much, knowing her punishment would be epic.
James smirked, "That is certainly happening in the near future."
And she trembled again – remembering what that smirk meant when he had her under his control.
"For fuck's sake!" they heard George shout before he was attacking James and nearly hitting him. "Get a grip on yourself, Granger!"
Hermione blushed and watched, surprised, how fast George was as he faced James.
"I've been waiting a long time for this," said George, silently casting: Levicorpus !
But James protected himself, "Mad my brother's fucking yours, Weasley?"
George narrowed his eyes at his friend, "Not at all, J-man. But I'm sure you'll be mad if you knew how much I'd love a pass at your little girlfriend," He glanced at Hermione with blatant desire.
"What the fuck?" Hermione exclaimed, surprised at first – but suddenly realising George was just riling James up.
But James fell easily for that provocation: "You're dead, Weasley! Inpulsa !"
And George fell onto the floor, his body convulsing in shocks.
"Stop that, you idiot!" Hermione shouted at James.
And he immediately cast the counterspell (Intermitto), realising then that his friend had said that just to piss him off.
"Was that really necessary?" Hermione demanded as she helped George to his feet.
"Completely justified in my mind," James shrugged, suddenly looking up with a frown – something beyond Hermione and George had called his attention.
His fiancée turned around and understood his apprehension: Voldemort had arrived – and, with him, many more Death Eaters and a pack of werewolves.
"ENOUGH!" the Dark Lord bellowed, making all death eaters run to his side, immediately stopping the battle.
Hermione watched James disapparate and in seconds he was standing beside his father and Nicholas, near Voldemort.
"You've all fought bravely," said the Dark Lord, "But there's no need to continue the spillage of magical blood," his green eyes glanced around the semi-destroyed park, "Potter. I just want Potter," Voldemort stared at the boy near the swings.
"You're not getting him!" said Moody, raising his wand and then Bellatrix attacked him to protect Voldemort: "Avada kedavra!"
"NO!" shouted Remus and some other Order members, restarting the attack on the death eaters.
Voldemort glanced at Lucius and Greyback, and Severus suddenly realised, with apprehension, that those two were privy of a plan that he hadn't been informed. He kept his eyes on them but was attacked by Kingsley Shacklebolt and had to duel to protect himself.
"Stupid auror!" he growled as he attacked the man – Shacklebolt hadn't even tried to hide he didn't trust Snape or his family, he mistreated Nicholas at the Order's headquarters at every chance he got – even to the point of insulting Fred once (which earned the auror a broken nose from George's fist).
Shacklebolt didn't wait long to cast a Killing Curse, but Severus was able to move out of its course – the unforgivable hitting one of Greyback's werewolves instead.
"Enough of this nonsense, Shacklebolt!" Severus growled, attacking the man and getting him unconscious on the floor by the sixth spell – he couldn't deny that the auror was a worthy opponent at least.
Suddenly a loud collective gasp from the members of the Order had Severus looking around, quickly understanding the Dark Lord's plan that he hadn't been warned about: four metres in front of Voldemort Lucius had Hermione immobilised in his arms, while Greyback held Tonks to the side.
"Shit," Severus cursed low, glancing at James, who was frozen in place about two metres to his right, his eyes glaring murderously at the blond man.
Severus approached Voldemort, forcing himself to not look at Granger, "Are we taking prisoners tonight, my Lord?"
"Ah, yes, Severus," Voldemort nodded, smirking when Hermione let out a whimper.
James held his wand with white knuckles, remembering his fiancée saying that Lucius had threatened to rape her at the Malfoy Manor – and he could bet, by the look of terror on her face, that the blond man was whispering something down those lines in her ear right then.
"You two," said Voldemort, smiling as he walked towards the captives, "will be our guests of honour at tonight's party," he looked from Tonks to Hermione, stopping close to latter, touching her face slowly.
Hermione turned her face away, but he held her chin forcefully, making her look into his eyes as he used his wand to rip her blouse apart.
She closed her eyes and tears fell down.
"You know, mudblood," Voldemort spat the word out as if it filled his mouth with a foul taste, "Pretty filthy girls like you are useful for one thing – and one thing only: to serve real wizards."
He touched his wand to her lips, paralysing fear filling Hermione's body as she saw lust in ophidian man's green eyes.
"I know you requested the mudblood for yourself, Lucius," Voldemort said, lowering his wand down her chin to her bra-covered breasts, "But I want her now."
Severus walked towards his son, trying to silently stop James from doing something as reckless as trying to save her. His eyes met Remus's and the werewolf was as desperate as James, silently begging him to do something to save the two women.
Severus shook his head once, unperceptively; he couldn't ruin his cover right then, they had got that far, there were only three horcruxes left – and they knew what two of those were!
No. We're too close to ending this! Severus thought, desperate for that night to be over. The Lord will certainly take the women to Little Hangleton, we can find a way to rescue them with Polyjuice like Nick saved the others from the Malfoy Manor. Yes, that's- his thoughts were interrupted by Voldemort's voice:
"Perhaps, I should start the party right here and now. After all, battlefields do excite me."
He vanished her trousers and Hermione screamed: "NOO!"
Severus held James's arm tightly, never taking his eyes off the scene in front of him.
"Dad," James whispered with urgency, "We have to stop him, we can't let... Hermione-"
Severus watched Voldemort run a hand down the girl's waist and he knew right then that he wouldn't be able to stand and do nothing.
"Bloody fucking hell," Severus exhaled, deciding to sacrifice his cover and do the huge idiocy of trying to save the two women.
"Get ready. Warn your brother," he whispered, before focusing all his power and silently casting: Stupefy !
Voldemort was thrown to the far-left side of the park, hitting the climbing wall and landing on the sandy floor, temporarily unconscious.
The battlefield seemed to freeze for two seconds, then it exploded in shouts and spells being cast.
"I KNEW IT!" shouted Lucius Malfoy, throwing Granger onto the ground, a deranged triumphant smile on his face, "YOU TRAITOR!" he pointed his wand at Snape.
Severus quickly took his cape off, throwing it at his son, "Cover her, get her out of here!" and then he attacked Lucius.
James ran towards Hermione, who was kneeling on the floor, crying profusely.
"No! Let go of me!" she screamed when he tried to hug her.
"It's me, kitten... love," James whispered, covering her half-naked body with his father's cape.
"Jamie!" she sobbed, clinging to him desperately.
He picked her up in his arms, "It'll be alright, love," James kissed her temple, "You're safe now."
She nodded and cried against his neck.
"Bloody coward!" Severus shouted when Lucius Malfoy suddenly disapparated once he saw Severus was going to kill him.
"I'LL KILL YOU! YOU FILTHY HALFBLOOD!" Bellatrix shouted, attacking him, "YOU BETRAYED OUR LORD! YOU DESERVE TO DIE!"
Severus defended himself to the best of his ability, but the woman was not only too fast but also too insane to be stopped. Remus joined him and, together, they were able to at least not die by her wand.
Nicholas attacked Dolohov and a few other death eaters who hadn't run, while Tonks, George and Harry worked together and managed to kill Greyback.
Bellatrix suddenly ran away from them, and Severus saw why: Voldemort was up on his feet again and coming towards him.
"You must go, NOW!" he shouted at his sons and the others, "Disapparate!"
James hesitated, having a bad feeling about leaving his father there. He looked at Nicholas but his brother nodded, silently telling him to go.
"Go, James!" Severus ordered, "Get Granger out of here!"
Focusing on his fiancée's safety, James obeyed and disapparated with Hermione in his arms.
Severus looked at Remus, "Take Harry away from here!"
"No! We won't leave you here to face him alone!" Remus replied, his wand pointing at Voldemort.
Harry, Tonks, George and Nicholas did the same.
"You idiots!" Severus growled.
"TRAITOR!" Voldemort shouted, practically flying towards them, fast and furious, his wand pointing at Severus, "How?" he seemed utterly confused, "YOU! You've fooled me? You've been working with Potter? Since when?"
"Yes!" Severus shouted, the elation of finally telling the truth right on his face making him feel weightless: "Since before you tried to kill him!"
Voldemort paused, surprised by that; then he asked: "Does Florence know?"
"Of course," Severus replied as if her not knowing was absurd.
Voldemort looked unexpectedly disturbed; if he was anyone else, Severus would say he was heartbroken, but Voldemort didn't have a heart.
"What a disappointment, Severus," the Dark Lord shook his head, "But I have to say... it makes sense. It makes so much sense !" he shouted, suddenly furious again: "I believe there is only question left: what to do with you?" he glared at Severus, " Killing you will make Florence come after me – which I have to admit could be dangerous to me," he seemed to ponder for a moment, "However," he smiled evilly, "She's pregnant , vulnerable , out of control."
Severus growled: "You have no idea how powerful she is!"
"Oh, but I do," Voldemort nodded, "I really do, Severus. I raised her . I trained her . But I won't kill her, no. I want the kids, the babies she's carrying."
Voldemort's green eyes fell on another pair of green eyes exactly like his own: "Nicholas. Am I right to believe you and your brother were aware of your parents' true allegiance?"
Nicholas smirked, "Well, grandfather. Of course we were," he said, standing beside his father, pointing his wand at Voldemort as well.
Voldemort laughed, "See, this is why I want the kids! You and Florence raised James and Nicholas in a loving household and yet they're both powerful and fearless. Imagine how the twins she's expecting will be when raised under discipline and order! They'll be unstoppable!" he shouted.
"You're not even laying eyes on my siblings!" growled Nicholas.
"Oh, but I will, Nick. I will. I'll have them!" said Voldemort, with certainty, "I'll kill your filtrhy traitorous daddy here and make Florence come after me. I'll keep her alive until the babies are born. Simple as that."
Severus was trembling in anger, a hint of fear taking over his heart.
"Now," continued Voldemort, "How should I kill you?" he seemed to think a moment and then began speaking Parseltongue.
Harry and Nicholas shouted at the same time:
"NO!" shouted Harry.
"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Nick shouted, forgetting it was a non-verbal spell in his desperation to stop the huge snake that had jumped out of nowhere.
Sectumsempra! he tried again, silently this time, but Nagini's skin was too thick and she barely felt his spell.
Severus didn't have time to escape; Nagini struck, her poisoned fangs digging deep into the left side of his neck and he fell down onto the ground, his whole body convulsing violently.
Florence. He thought as he fell, closing his eyes and passing out.
"This is the beginning of the end!" shouted Voldemort, "Take his corpse to my daughter and let her come to me! You'll all be dead within a month!" and he disapparated, taking the snake with him.
"DAD!" Nick shouted, falling onto his knees beside his father, desperately pressing onto the bleeding wound, but removing his hands quickly for it burned him.
"Nicholas!" shouted Remus, "We have to take him to headquarters and call Florence!"
"Yes! Yes, mum will save him!" he said, trying to reassure himself as he picked up his father's limp body and disapparated.
Tonks took Moody's dead body and Remus helped Shacklebolt get up; Harry and George disapparated carrying a fainted Draco.
At Headquarters
James had carried Hermione to her bedroom, locked and warded the door, then sat on her bed with her still sobbing in his arms.
"You're safe now, my love," he spoke in her hair.
She nodded and suddenly fisted her hands in his hair, pulling him to a kiss, straddling his lap and letting the heavy cape fall from her shoulders.
"Hermione-" James tried to speak, but she kissed him again, magically unbuttoning his shirt.
"No, Hermione. Stop-" he tried to hold her hands, but she was faster and fisted them in his hair again.
"Make me forget, Jamie," she begged, touching her nose to his, "I need to forget his touches, please," she sobbed, kissing him again, "I need you to touch me!"
James shook his head, it was clear she was not herself, she was in a fragile state of mind, "Kitten. I won't touch you tonight-"
"But I need you! Put me under you! Dominate me!" she demanded.
"No!" James was firm, "When I touch you is because I want to pleasure you, Hermione, not to make you forget a trauma."
She glared at him, but before she could snap, he was speaking again: "Now, you'll listen to me!" his voice firm.
"Yes, Jamie," she nodded, her response to his tone being immediate: she relaxed, knowing he was there to take care of her
"That's it, good girl," he said, touching her face and wiping her tears, "You'll take a shower, kitten," he softly ordered, "Then I'll-" he stopped talking all of a sudden, frowning, "Something's wrong,"
Nicholas? He called through their bond.
Dad's hurt! Nicholas desperate voice reached him. Help me, James! The snake attacked him. Get mum!
"What is it, James?" Hermione asked concerned.
James quickly moved her from his lap, "My father is hurt. I have to go!" There was emergency in his voice, "Stay here, love. I have to get my mother!" he left the room, running down the corridor and finding Remus.
"Get Florence here!" Remus ordered, "FAST, James!"
And James disapparated.
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts
Florence suddenly woke up and sat on the bed, her heart racing, making it hard for her to breathe.
She looked around the room, noticing Severus' side of the bed was still empty.
She got up slowly, the weight of her pregnant belly making her hips burn every time she had to stand.
"Tiffany?" she called.
The elf appeared in less than a minute, "Yes, Mistress?"
"Something's not right, Tiff. I can feel it. Is Severus back?"
"No, Mistress Flor. Not yet."
Florence sighed, "I have a bad feeling right now..." she heard a noise in the living room and called: "Severus?" her hand closing around her wand, a feeling of wrongness in the pit of her stomach.
Then she saw her son appear on the door of the bedroom, "James!" and his worried eyes and painful expression told her everything she needed to know, "Where is he?" she demanded to know, "What happened?"
"Lupin's," James said, his voice raspy, "Nick was desperate, mum. Grandfather found out… Nagini attacked dad."
CRAACK! BAM!
The sudden sounds of spells being forced down cut through the air.
"Someone's trying to break through our wards," Florence said, clearly concerned.
"It's surely grandfather," James worriedly replied, his wand in hand.
She looked at her elf, "Tiffany, collect our things and go home. Check our home protections and wait there for instructions."
"Yes, Mistress," the elf replied, quickly doing as she had been told.
Florence walked to the fireplace as fast as she could and flooed to headquarters.
Once she walked out of the fireplace in Lupin's home, all eyes were on her.
But Florence ignored them all, her focus was finding her husband. Her eyes met Nicholas' at the top of the stairs and she went towards him, noticing he had sizable blood stains on his sleeves.
"It's not pretty, mum," Nick whispered, holding her hand and leading her up another flight of stairs and down the corridor of the third floor, they passed by a room and she saw Molly Weasley cleaning someone's forehead with a damp cloth.
"Is that... Draco? Is he alive?"
"Barely," Nick said, "But he'll survive."
The way he said that had Florence trembling. It sounded like he knew Draco would survive, but Severus wouldn't.
Then he stopped by the door of a room and she walked in, her legs nearly failing her as she looked at the man on the bed.
"Severus!" his name left her lips in a broken gasp as she moved to his side, her medical-training kicking in as she passed her wand over his body.
"Oh, no. No no no," Florence desperately chanted, struggling to breathe as she thought of how to begin to heal the several damages she was finding in her husband's body.
Severus? She called through their bond, but there was no reply.
"How long has it been?" she asked Nicholas, who was standing hear the door with his twin. "How long, Nicholas?" she shouted when he didn't reply at once.
"A-around ten minutes," he said, "Mum will he–"
But she didn't seem to be listening to him anymore, her eyes on her husband. She ripped his blood-soaked shirt and saw the dark-grey colour irradiating from his neck, the venom turning the veins nearby dark green.
She touched his face, Severus? Please, my love. Please, answer me! But he didn't, his skin colder than it should've been, and she knew what all of that meant.
"Mum," James called, "Will dad surv–"
Florence rudely cut him off: "Don't ask me that, James!" refusing to say what they all knew was most likely going to happen, "I must think!" She closed her eyes, the sight of the love of her life dying in front of her wasn't helping her focus.
Think, dammit! She ordered herself.
"Nagini bit him," she spoke out loud, looking for an answer, "Nagini is a venomous hybrid snake so... I need an antivenin," She breathed, thinking of all antivenin she knew and trying to identify what could work for a Maledictus-turned-Horcrux venom; then she suddenly gasped: "My blood! I have the antibody!"
Opening her eyes, Florence moved her wand around the room, transfigurating a few items into an infusion set with two catheters. She quickly and efficiently got one needle into a vein in Severus' arm and the other in her own.
"Mum? What're you doing?" asked James, deeply concerned.
"This is called a blood transfusion," she replied, "Muggles do it all the time," she used magic to increase her heartbeat and make the blood flow from her to him a little faster than it naturally would
Nicholas frowned as he and his brother watched her blood go through the transparent tube and into their father's body.
Should she be doing that? He asked James.
I don't think so, man.
"Boys," Florence whispered, her eyes blinking slowly, "Get me two vials of Blood-Replenishing potion from home and help me take them. Also, get a Golden Potion and the aerosol Dittany for your dad," she paused, breathing fast and trying to think what else they needed, "And Pomfrey. Get Poppy here as fast as possible," she pointed her wand at Severus, checking his vital signs again, unable to hold in her tears anymore.
His heartbeat was slow and his chest barely moved – the venom had reached his heart and lungs, critically damaging those vital organs.
Sev, please. Don't do this to me.
The twins watched their mother lower her head to their father's chest and sob.
Fuck. They thought at the same time.
Then her sobs abruptly stopped.
"Mum!" they shouted, running towards her unconscious form.
"She passed out," said James, breathing fast, on the verge of a panic attack.
Nicholas quickly stopped the blood transfusion Florence still had going on, getting her in his arms and laying her on the bed beside his father.
I'll go get Poppy and the potions. Said James, leaving the room.
Five minutes later , James ran back into the bedroom and Nick helped him make their mother take the two blood-replenishing potions she had asked for, giving the Golden one and the Dittany to their father next.
"What's happening here?" exclaimed Pomfrey from the door, taking in the scene in front of her, running to the bed.
"Nagini attacked dad," said Nicholas.
"Mum performed some blood transfusion…" said James.
"She gave him her blood!?" shouted Pomfrey, "But she's pregnant!" and she passed her wand over Florence's body, checking on her and the babies.
"Poppy…" Florence murmured, opening her eyes, "Not me. No! Severus… check him first!"
"No, I'll check you and the babies!" said Pomfrey, her wand running over Florence's belly, "Don't make me put you in a coma, Florence! You've taught me how to do it and I will do it!"
"No! Save him!" Florence shouted desperately, trying to stay awake but feeling she was seconds away from passing out again.
"Calm down! The babies are fine. Thank Merlin," Pomfrey exhaled, relieved, as she began checking on Severus, "How long ago has he been bitten?" she ran her wand over him.
"Around twenty minutes," said Nicholas.
The twins watched her work in silence, not liking the faces she was making.
"How is he, Poppy?" James asked, fearing her answer.
"Hard to tell, dear," Pomfrey murmured, her wand stopping, "You did well giving him the Golden potion – I bet Florence told you to do that. Now, we must keep giving him the aerosol Dittany every two hours and I'll need you to get me one vial of anti-inflammatory potion and two of the Tissue-Reconstruction Draught,"
"What exactly is wrong with dad?" Nicholas asked, worried.
Pomfrey sighed, dejectedly, "His lungs and heart have been severely compromised and... I fear his nervous system may have sustained some damage too," She took a deep breath, "The venom is no longer a concern now, for Florence's blood-immunity is helping his body fight it, but the harm has been done already..."
"What are you trying to say, Poppy?" James asked.
"If his heart doesn't stop within the next few hours…" Pomfrey finished in a pain-filled whisper: "I fear he might never wake up again."
"NO!" both twins shouted.
"If dad dies, mum'll follow him!" exclaimed Nicholas, tears running down his face, "She won't survive without him!"
James pulled his twin closer, tears staining his cheeks as well.
"Is there anything you can do, Poppy?" asked James, desperate.
"I'm sorry, boys," she sighed, "But we'll have to wait and see. Get the potions I asked, let's give him those and hope Severus survives long enough to give the potions time to heal him."
"He will. He has to," said Nicholas firmly.
Pomfrey looked at them both, allowing herself a quick trip down memory lane, to the night when she saw those two being born and thinking how far the couple passed out on the bed had come.
"James," she said, gravely, "You should bring your grandma and siblings here. They deserve to-"
He shook his head, "Don't say it, Poppy. Please don't say it," knowing she meant they deserved to say goodbye.
"I'll go get the potions and the others," Nicholas said, "You stay, James."
And Nick left, leaving James to look after their parents.
Pomfrey looked at him, her heart breaking for him and his family as she watched him stare at the bed.
Thirty minutes later
Eileen sat in a bedroom with her three younger grandchildren.
Nicholas had appeared at the safe-house, unexpectedly, and taken them to the Order's headquarters without any explanation.
"Grandma," said Elizabeth, "Why do you think we're here? Could it be that the war is about to end?"
"Maybe, dear," Eileen replied, unsure, "We'll have to wait for your mum or dad to come here, or maybe one of the twins," She glanced at the door and saw a shadow stopping on the other side.
James stood by the door in the empty corridor, gathering his courage to enter that room and tell his family what was happening.
Pomfrey walked out of Draco's room and went towards James, pulling him into a hug.
"I don't want to tell them," he whispered.
The pain in his voice breaking Pomfrey's heart, "It's your family, Jamie. If your parents die... you'll be the one responsible for your siblings. You're the oldest."
Hey, James. he heard Nick in his mind a second before he saw him walking out of their parents' room, "I'll go in there with you."
James nodded, turning to face the closed door, and slowly opening it, walking into the room with his brother behind him.
Eileen stood up and walked to them, "Jamie, dear, what's going on? Nick's asked us to wait here, but we haven't seen either Severus or Florence yet."
James closed the door and looked at Nicholas standing beside him, You tell them.
But Nick shook his head, No. You were born first.
James scoffed, By minutes! And you hate to be reminded of that!
Not today. You're the oldest, you tell them.
"Can you two stop that?" complained Elizabeth, pointing at the twins, "Tell us what the fuck is going on!"
James glanced around the room for a moment; they were all there: his grandmother, his four siblings – his whole family. A family that was just about to lose one of its most important members.
He took a deep breath and said: "The war may be reaching an end. But... it's not a good one."
"Where's Florence, James?" Eileen asked, worried.
"She's with dad. She's fine, the babies are fine, but dad is..." his voice broke.
"What happened to dad?" Christopher asked.
"He was attacked..." Nicholas said, clearing his throat, "By Nagini."
Elizabeth gasped, as did Eileen, both realising what that meant.
"How's he?" asked Eileen, fearing the worst.
James hesitated.
Nick shared a look with him, Tell them, man; they deserve to know.
James gulped, gathering strength to speak that horrible truth out loud: "He's dying."
"NO!" shouted Liz, "No! He can't be!"
James walked to her, pulling her to an embrace, feeling his own tears beginning to fall again.
Eileen closed her eyes, holding on to little Sophie tightly, "No..." she whispered, her only son was dying. He had fought so hard to get that far just to die, "How's Florence taking this?" she asked, concern mixing with her despair.
"She tried to save him," James continued, "Pomfrey says it's still possible that he survives but... the venom damaged organs, so she can't say for sure what kind of life he'd have."
Eileen sobbed, the pain of hearing her son was most certainly suffering in his last hours of life breaking her.
"James," she whispered, wanting to warn him: "If he dies, you know she won't..." Eileen said, trying to see if he was aware that his mother wouldn't survive long without his father.
"Yes, grandma. I know," James nodded, still holding his sister.
Nicholas hugged a sobbing Christopher.
This is a nightmare, Nick. Said James.
His twin just nodded, holding their younger brother and hoping for a miracle.