A week later

The Weasley kids, the Snape twins and others were once again training in the magically enlarged backyard under the watchful eyes of Remus and Severus, while Florence, Molly and Fred sat on the porch just watching them.

"I'm glad Ron is keeping his distance from Mione and James," said Molly, "I don't know what came over that boy to do what he did, I raised him better than that."

Fred snorted: "He's a bloody idiot!"

"Don't blame yourself, Molly," said Florence, smiling at Fred, "And Ronald better keep himself far from Mione. One wrong look and James will end him."

Molly gulped, "Couldn't you talk to him?"

Florence shook her head, "That is my son's personal life, Molly. I taught him that killing someone for no reason is wrong."

"My fear is that Ron gives him a reason," she said, exhaling heavily.

Tiffany walked into the porch then, carrying little cakes, tea and sandwiches.

"Thanks, Tiff," said Florence, pouring three cups of tea.

"It's a huge help having house elves," said Molly, smiling, "I can't remember the last time I was off my feet for so long!"

Florence nodded, "Having as many children as we have, plus demanding careers, wouldn't be possible if Sev and I didn't have Tiff and Mel. And Eileen always have at least two kids with her, so Sam is a blessing as well."

"I understand," Molly nodded, "I chose to stop working to focus on taking care of my kids, but I can see how impossible it would be for a healer to do everything."

Then the unexpected sound of the Floo being activated surprised them and they looked at the door of the house just in time to see a very angry Kingsley Shacklebolt storming out of the house towards the grass field where everyone was.

"Whose idea was it to cancel all attacks on death eaters and lie low for a while?" shouted Kingsley.

And everyone stopped training to look at him.

"Hi, Kingsley," greeted Remus, walking towards him, sensing the immediate tension between Severus and the ex-auror, "Last meeting, Florence suggested we–"

But Kingsley didn't let him finish, barking a bitter laugh: "Ah! Of course it was her!" he turned to look at Florence, suddenly noticing her swollen belly and glancing at Severus, who had approached him.

"So you've all fallen for these two's act then?" kept shouting Shacklebolt, "Can't you see they are just stalling us? They want us to do nothing! Meanwhile her father gets stronger! They are playing us for fools!"

The ex-auror walked towards Severus, who wasted no time and pointed his wand to Kingsley's face.

"You should be dead!" growled Shacklebolt, his wand in attack position, "You, along with your bitch and each one of your spawns should be dead!"

That granted him a dozen more wands pointed his way, the Snape twins stood beside their father, furious at the ex-auror.

"Kingsley," called Remus, trying to diffuse that situation, "We got sixty new members just this week. All thanks to Florence's idea of getting the Quibbler's subscription list-"

"Sixty is nothing!" Kingsley retorted, "Her father must've gotten three times that number! We can't call off the attacks on them!"

Remus continued: "Neither can we risk losing people before having everything ready to engage You-Know-Who in a final battle!"

"This week was a triumph," said Charlie Weasley, "We've never got that many new supporters in less than a month before."

"We've done more in a week," said Florence standing up in the porch, her voice dripping with hatred, "Than you got done in a year!"

The tall ex-auror moved fast towards her, his wand in hand.

Florence reacted just as fast; her wand pointing at his face, waiting for him to try anything.

"The spoiled bitch barks," Kingsley spoke in mockery.

"Don't be an idiot, Kingsley!" shouted Remus, knowing Florence could kill the man in a minute – or within seconds, considering the way her eyes sparkled in anger.

"I'm much more than a barking bitch, Shacklebolt," Florence replied in a soft and dangerous tone, "Are you here to prove a point? Scare us? If so, let me break it to you: you're not scary; we," she pointed to Severus and back to herself, "We know scary, and you're not even close to it."

Kingsley shook in fury, shouting at her: "You're nothing but a family of death eaters!" he brandished his wand towards her, "You killed Dumbledore knowing that the Order wouldn't survive without his leadership!"

Don't engage him, Florence. Severus ordered in her mind. He's too close to you, it's dangerous!

She slowly nodded and lowered her wand, exhaling and showing the angry auror that she meant no harm.

"I won't fight you, Shacklebolt," she said, "If we start fighting amongst ourselves, we really won't stand a chance in winning this war."

But the man didn't grant her the same courtesy, he kept his wand pointed at her, and his eyes glinted with contempt.

Move away from him, Florence! Said Severus.

I can defend myself, husband. She replied, glaring at him.

Then Remus spoke again, walking closer to the auror, "Stop being foolish, Kingsley. They're helping us; they always have. And we all know Dumbledore asked Severus to kill him."

Shacklebolt shook his head, "Just because you lot believe that, it doesn't mean I do! They can't be trusted!"

Severus moved closer to Kingsley, not liking the way the man had a wand still pointing at his pregnant wife.

"You've never trusted me or my sons," his voice heavy with disdain, "But you want to talk about untrustworthy characters? Well, I don't trust you."

Remus knew one small movement from Kingsley, and Severus would kill him, "Stop this nonsense, Kingsley!" he tried again.

"Lower your wands, people!" said Arthur Weasley, glancing nervously from one man to the other.

Shacklebolt looked at Severus, shaking his head, "It's true, I've never trusted you, Snape! For years you gave us information that was rarely wrong. I always wondered how You-Know-Who never doubted you when his plans were intercepted by the Order nearly every time," he narrowed his eyes, "No one is that good of a spy. And Dumbledore's death? It was a plan alright – a plan to fool us all!" he repeated, "Even this near-death of yours from a week ago – it is probably all part of a plan to keep us here, while your Lord slaughters muggleborns and muggles without any opposition!"

"Kingsley!" said Tonks, concerned, "You're not sounding like yourself!"

"Lower your wands!" ordered Remus.

Harry, who also had his wand pointing at Shacklebolt, spoke: "Mrs Snape has helped me more times than I'm aware of in all of the years I've known her. I trust her and her family."

"C'mon, Kingsley!" said Charlie Weasley, "You can't be seriously considering attacking a pregnant woman!"

"And why not?" growled the ex-auror, "She could lose the death eater's child? Well, I say it's for the best!"

And Severus noticed the moment the man decided to attack, and he wasn't fast enough to stop him.

The turquoise light of Shacklebolt's Impedimenta spell hit Florence right on the chest.

Time seemed to have slowed down while Severus watched her fall backwards on the porch's wooden floor; he heard many shouts of "NO!", but all he could see was his wife falling unconscious after being attacked unprovokedly.

Severus jumped on Shacklebolt, punching him repeatedly; the physical attack taking the auror by surprise and he was unconscious on the ground before he had the chance to raise his wand or understand what was happening.

"That's enough, Severus!" Remus voice broke through the angry fog in Severus' mind and he stopped driving his fists into Kinsley's face and torso.

Severus got up and ran to where Florence had fallen. The twins and Elizabeth were already kneeling beside her unconscious form, and Tiffany had a hand on her belly, monitoring the babies.

"Tiffany cushioned her fall, Master Severus. But the spell..." the elf said, looking at him with apprehension in her large green eyes.

He fell onto his knees beside his wife, his children looking at him with similar expressions of fear in their faces.

Flor, love? Severus called through their bond, touching her face. Florence! Answer me, dammit! He could feel desperation taking over his body.

"Dad, is she answering you?" asked James, worried.

"No," Severus growled, "Fuck!"

"The babies are too agitated, Master," said Tiffany, concerned.

"Shit," he cursed, standing up and taking Florence in his arms, "Tiffany, get Pomfrey here!"

And the elf nodded, disapparating.

Severus walked into the bedroom he and Florence had been occupying and put his wife on the bed, taking her hair off her face and caressing her belly, feeling the babies moving a bit too much.

"Where is bloody Pomfrey?" he growled.

"Bloody Pomfrey is here!" said the mediwitch walking into the room and going straight to the bed, "What happened now?"

James replied: "Shacklebolt attacked mum with a close-range Impedimenta after she had lowered her wand."

Pomfrey gasped: "What a coward move! To attack an unarmed pregnant woman!"

"Enough about him!" shouted Severus, standing in front of the mediwitch, "Check Florence!"

"Well, look who's got his voice back!" said Pomfrey sarcastically, pushing him away, "Out of my way, Severus, so I can examine her."

Elizabeth wrapped her hands around her father's arm and pulled him away, looking at the twins' worried expressions and feeling tears prickling her eyes.

Pomfrey passed her wand over Florence's body, checking the babies twice, a deep frown marring her face.

"What?" demanded Severus, "What's wrong with her?"

Pomfrey sighed and looked at him, Liz and the twins, and then she spoke harshly:

"I talked to you about her condition already, Severus! Florence is expecting two babies when she shouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place! She gave you an unsafe amount of blood a week ago! And you allowed her to DUEL?" her angry voice had risen to a near-shout, "What the FUCK were you thinking?"

"She wasn't duelling!" Severus shouted back.

Nicholas continued: "Mum was just watching from the porch! But Shacklebolt–"

Pomfrey interrupted him: "Hit her with an Impedimenta. I got that. What I don't get is if you three were there, why didn't either of you hex him the moment he pointed his wand her way?"

None of them said a word for a few seconds, shame and regret in all of their eyes as they stared at the beautiful, but pale, woman on the bed.

"How is she, Pomfrey?" Severus asked, his voice shaking with worry, "And the babies?"

The mediwitch shook her head slowly, "I won't lie to you, Severus. The Impedimenta caused a strong muscle spasm. The uterus is a muscular organ, as you very well know, so it was affected as well. She had a partial cervical rupture, bled a little and... she'll need rest," she sighed, "Bed rest. And I'd advise you to take her out of here, away from the war. But..."

"We have nowhere to go," Severus said, his eyes fixed on Florence, "Her father can't enter our house in Hogsmeade, but he has used muggle bombs in Azkaban more than once, nothing guarantees he wouldn't bomb our home if he knew we were inside."

"I understand," nodded Pomfrey, looking at him sternly, "One more situation like this and I don't think the babies will make it, Severus," she said honestly, "And for Florence to give birth now... it wouldn't be safe for her either."

Elizabeth tightened her hands on her father's arm, whispering: "Could mum die?"

"No, Liz…" said James, looking at Pomfrey and falling silent under her concerned gaze.

"Oh no..." whispered Elizabeth, the tears beginning to fall.

"I warned you, Severus," said Pomfrey.

"But she was fine-" he replied, looking at his sleeping wife.

"You know she wasn't. The fact that she had energy to walk around and talk didn't mean she was well enough to withstand being attacked," Pomfrey walked to the door, "I'll go back to the castle now, before anyone notices I'm gone – things in there are very dangerous for us, you know. Call me again if anything changes."

But the man barely registered the sound of the door being closed as Pomfrey left; he approached the bed and touched Florence's face and her belly. The babies were calmer, having probably fallen asleep once the discomfort ceased.

"What will we do to the auror, dad?" James asked, the fury in his dark eyes showing exactly what he wanted to do.

"Remus won't let us kill him, James," Severus replied, his eyes on his wife, "No matter how much he deserves it. I'll let you two to handle that situation, boys. I'm not leaving your mother's side until she wakes up. I need to know she's fine."

The twins nodded, leaving the room with their sister.

A few minutes earlier

As soon as Shacklebolt had been locked in a room in the basement, Hermione ran upstairs and stood by the door of the bedroom where Snape and the twins had taken Florence to and waited, not wanting to intrude in such a delicate moment.

"Granger?" she heard someone call her name from inside the bedroom across from where she stood.

Hermione pushed open the already ajar door, but didn't walk in, "Hey, Malfoy. Has Pomfrey arrived?" she pointed to the closed door across the corridor.

"Yes, just now," he replied, closing the book he'd been reading and looking at her, not knowing what to say.

She frowned at him, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, clearly expecting a confrontation.

"Listen, Granger-" Draco began, but the sudden sound of footsteps in the corridor interrupted him.

Hermione looked at the direction of the sound, smiling, "Hey, Fred," she said.

"Hey, Mione," replied Fred Weasley, stopping by the door, "Any news of Florence?"

"No. Malfoy said Pomfrey is already in there, but no one came out yet."

Fred looked at the blonde on the bed and then back at Hermione, silence falling amongst the three of them.

Draco looked at Fred's distended belly, realising that the baby inside of him was Elizabeth's niece; he cleared his throat, making the two Gryffindors look towards him again.

"Listen..." Draco tried again, "I believe I owe you an apology."

The two Gryffindor at the door looked very surprised.

"I really don't care about blood status, Granger," Draco continued, "I was raised to care about it, but I realised a while ago it is all bullshit. And I'm sorry for not helping you when my aunt-"

"You did what you could, Malfoy," she interrupted him, "You bought us time."

"I should've done more."

"You couldn't," she insisted, "You stalled them enough to give Nicholas time to go rescue us. And for that I thank you."

"Don't ever thank me, Granger-"

"Just accept it and shut it, ferret," she narrowed her eyes at him, a small smile on her lips.

Draco nodded, deciding to accept the small token of truce, "Well," he added, "It's clear the three of us are marrying into the Snape family, so... our kids will all be cousins. We will be family... I'd like to apologise for being a prick. For years," he looked at Hermione, "I know you bleed the same as I, Granger; and I have yet to meet a pureblood as smart as you."

Hermione uncrossed her arms and blushed.

"And your mother, Weasley," Draco continued, looking at Fred, "She helped me from the moment I arrived bleeding in this house. She didn't look at me and saw a Malfoy, she saw a wounded person and... if being kind makes your family blood-traitors, you should be proud to be called that."

Fred smiled, walking into the room, "We are bloody proud, man."

Draco looked at the girl still at the door.

"All you said is true," said Hermione, staring at Draco with a glimmer of suspicion, "However, I still need to know if you knew your father was going to try to kill James."

Draco shook his head, "I learned of it only after it happened; Mrs Snape told me. But I didn't know about my father's plans then. James and Nicholas were my best friends when I was a kid. I'd never keep that a secret, if I had known of it!"

Hermione slowly nodded and walked into the room, sitting on a chair between the door and the bed, "I accept your apology then, Draco," she used his given name, showing she meant it.

"Thank you. Hermione," he tilted his head, politely.

Then Fred patted his shoulder: "I never had a problem with you personally, Draco. Just hated your family as a whole. We're good."

"Thanks. And how about that, man?" Draco pointed to his swollen belly.

Fred smiled, touching his large bump, "This was a very sweet surprise."

"Liz said it's a girl," continued Draco, smiling, "Lynne, right?"

"Yes. And... you and Elizabeth? How are you alive, man?" Fred laughed, "I thought you'd be dead the day Snape found out about you and her!"

"The magical bond I have with Liz saved me. And her mother helped of course."

Then they heard a door being opened in the corridor and Hermione ran to the door, seeing Pomfrey walking down the corridor in a hurry.

"Who was it?" asked Draco.

"Pomfrey left, and she didn't look happy," murmured Hermione, biting her bottom lip in apprehension.

But before she walked back to the chair she had been occupying, the door of the Snapes' room was opened again, and she saw James leaving the room with his siblings.

James frowned when he saw her, "What're doing in Malfoy's room?" he asked, entering the room and going towards where she was sitting.

Elizabeth also walked into the room, sitting on the bed beside her boyfriend, burying her face on his neck and crying softly.

Draco looked from her to the twins with worry.

"Hey, Nick," Fred said, touching his fiancée's face, "How's your mum?"

"Not good, Red," Nicholas kissed his lips briefly and touched his distended belly, "What are you and Mione doing here?"

"We were talking," answered Fred.

"No bloodshed?" asked James, picking Hermione up from the chair and sitting on it himself, with her on his lap.

"No," she said, "We've reached an understanding of sorts. As our kids will all be cousins... we've decided to be amicable. Draco even apologised for being a prick."

James looked at the couple on the bed, grimacing as he saw his sister sitting between Draco's legs, but the sound of her muffled tears made him control himself.

"How bad is it?" Hermione asked, touching James' chest, making him stop looking at the bed.

"Mum's in bed rest until birth. Dad's staying with her."

"And what will be done with the auror?" asked Draco, clearly as furious as the Snapes about the attack.

"I'll go downstairs now to talk to Uncle Remus," said James, his hands fisting on Hermione's lap, where they rested.

She looked up at him and saw in his eyes that he'd kill Shacklebolt if he had the chance.

"Fred," Nick said, "You stay in our room, I'll go downstairs with my brother."

"I'll keep him company," offered Hermione.

"James," Draco said, "I'd like to join you two, when you face the auror. If you let me."

James narrowed his eyes at him.

He is asking you more than just to join us in a fight, you know. Nick said.

Yes. I get it.

They're blessed. Continued Nicholas. Draco is not going anywhere, so...

Then James nodded, "Fine, Draco. You can come with us."

The blond boy exhaled in relief and turned to Liz, "Will you stay with Fred and Hermione?"

Elizabeth looked really unhappy, but one glance at her brothers and she knew there was no way she'd be able to argue her way into going downstairs with them.

"Fine," she huffed.

Then the twins, and Draco, left the room.

Remus was sitting on the sofa in the living room, talking to Arthur and the two older Weasleys, Bill and Charlie, when James, Nick and Draco walked downstairs.

"Where is he?" James asked.

"He's locked in the basement room. I warded it myself and took his wand," said Bill.

"We'd like a word with him," said James.

Remus grimaced, knowing exactly what he meant, "We don't torture people here, James."

"Maybe you don't," he retorted, "But I do."

Nicholas and Draco both nodded, backing him up.

"You're not killing him, James," said Remus, his tone leaving no room for questioning.

"Fine," James reluctantly agreed, "But I want him bleeding."

Remus nodded, understanding their need for revenge.

An hour later, the twins and Draco walked out of Kingsley's basement cell, leaving the ex-auror a bloody whimpering mess on the stone floor.

It was close to dinnertime when Severus felt Florence stir against his side, he had spent the last four hours lying beside her, falling in and out of sleep, checking on the babies and between her legs every time he woke up, fearing she had had another bleeding episode or that her water had broken.

"Sev," she whispered, "What happened?"

"The auror attacked you, love."

She blinked and slowly recalled what he was talking about. She suddenly put her hands on her belly and looked at him with fear, "How are the babies, Sev? I remember feeling a strong contraction–"

"They're fine," he reassured her, "You did bleed and Poppy put you on bed rest, but they're fine."

She seemed to relax, but her eyes hardened as she asked: "Did you kill him?"

"No. He's locked in the basement. James, Nick and Draco worked him up good but Remus didn't let them kill him," he caressed her face, relieved to see her awake, "I haven't left your side since."

"James let Draco help?" she frowned.

"Yes. Apparently he's more accepting of him since Malfoy apologised to Granger and Weasley for years of being a prick."

"That's good," she sighed, touching his chest, "We don't need the kids' problems adding to the mess we're in."

"No, we don't," he kissed her lips, "Are you hungry? I'll get you some dinner."

"Yes. Please."

And he left the room after another kiss.

Severus walked downstairs, breathing in relief for Florence's condition hadn't worsened and she had woken up feeling fine.

He could've sent Tiffany, Sam or Melody to get her food, but all elves were busy around the Order and helping his mother to look after Christopher and Sophie.

Speaking of which, he found his youngest daughter playing with Fred, Draco and Liz on the rug in the living room. Nicholas was sitting on the sofa, keeping an eye on his fiancée and siblings.

Severus looked at the young redhead's large baby bump and smiled, his first grandchild.

"Daddy!" shouted Sophie, running towards him and hugging his legs.

"Hey, baby-girl," he picked her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead, "Are you behaving?"

"Of course, daddy!" she touched both hands to his face, "Oh want to see something, daddy? Dray teached me how to fly! Drop me!" she demanded.

Severus looked at Nicholas with a question but his son nodded reassuringly. So he opened his arms and, instead of falling fast, Sophie floated to the floor, falling on her feet and clapping happily.

"See daddy?"

"Yes, that was amazing, love," he praised the little girl.

Sophie ran towards Draco and Elizabeth and Severus went to the kitchen, finding Tiffany and Remus in there.

"Master Severus," greeted Tiffany.

"Florence is up. Can you put together something for her, Tiff?"

"Yes, Master! Gladly!" squealed the elf, picking up a tray.

"Hey, Severus," said Remus, "How is Flor?"

"What do you want to hear?" Severus bitterly replied.

"The truth."

"She's not well, Remus. Pomfrey said she had a small cervical rupture which could evolve to a premature labour and she'd lose the twins, if that happens... they're too small to survive at this stage," Severus shook his head, "I don't even want to think about it. I'm just focusing on looking after her."

"The twins and Draco were in to see Kingsley," Remus' tone let him know he didn't approve of that.

Severus nodded: "Yes, I know. They told me. And by see you mean torture him."

"Yes," Remus didn't hide his displeasure, "Kingsley passed out and hasn't woken up yet."

Severus nodded, "Good. Hope he dies," he fixed Remus with a serious gaze, "Now, Lupin, I know the Order is still miles away from finally being able to fight the Dark Lord. And considering the delicate situation my wife is currently in, I want to let you know that my main concern for the time being is her. I know it sounds selfish, but–"

"Selfish, Severus?" Remus barked a laugh, "You've earned the right to be selfish after all these years spying for us," he shook his head, "Don't worry about it. Flor's idea to recruit through the Quibbler list is paying off greatly, your house elves are an incredible help and the twins have been of vital importance for us with the training of the new members. You've done more than many of us. Florence needs you now."

Severus nodded, "Thank you," and sat down at the table, waiting for Tiffany to finish putting together Florence's dinner.

Remus kept looking at him, "You know, Severus, I have yet to meet a man as strong as you," he touched his shoulder in camaraderie, "And I rest my case: I'd never choose to be on your shoes, my friend."

Meanwhile, upstairs

Hermione was sitting on the bed, waiting for her fiancée to finish his shower for them to go downstairs together to join the others for dinner.

"Finally," she murmured when the door to the bathroom opened.

"Had to wash off all the blood, kitten," James replied with a smirk.

She looked at him as he walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around his damp body. His casual comment about "washing off the blood" had her pause.

She had always known he was a dangerous man who had certainly killed a few people in the war already; but that evening she knew for sure he had tortured and beaten a man to near death in revenge.

Part of her believed she should be feeling repulsed by his actions; however, she felt the need to be even closer to him – she felt protected by him.

"You know you can tell me whatever happened downstairs, James," she said, "I've seen the horrors of war first-hand."

James dried his hair with a movement of his hand and sat on the bed beside her, touching her face lovingly, "That's why I'm not telling you anything, kitten. There's no need for you to hear what happened. I don't want you to think of me as a torturer," he kissed her briefly.

She smiled, "I'd never think of you like that, Jamie. Whatever you did to Shacklebolt, he deserved. It's not at all like what happened to me."

He sighed and pulled her to another kiss.

She looked at his hands as he held her chin and noticed he had superficial wounds on his knuckles – certainly from hitting the auror downstairs.

"Let me heal you, Jamie," she asked, kneeling on the floor between his legs.

He nodded and she brought his hands to her lips, whispering: "Cicatrice sanentur," over each of his hands.

"That's one of my mother's spells," he said, recognising it.

"Yes. She taught me that one after Umbridge tortured Harry," she kissed his healed knuckles and looked up at him.

"I hope you didn't kiss Potter's hands after healing him," his dark eyes filled with jealousy.

She laughed, "Of course I did!"

He pulled her up, making her straddle his towel-covered lap, and fisted a hand on the back of her head.

"You like getting in trouble, don't you, kitten?"

"Of course not!" she gasped, "I'm a good girl. "

"Are you? Really?" he asked, his voice reaching a low sexy tone.

"Yes," she moaned softly, "Please, Sir, let me show you how good I am."

James smirked, ordering: "Get your clothes off!"

And Hermione showed him just how good a girl she was.

"You're perfect, kitten," James praised her as he lay beside her, pulling her to his chest and kissing her lips, "Was it too much?"

She shook her head and smiled, looking at him with adoration, "It was amazing, Jamie."

"You're amazing, Mione. I love you," he kissed her ring finger and she sighed.

"I love you, Jamie," she closed her eyes, "Can we ask Tiff to bring us some dinner? I don't want to go downstairs."

He chuckled, mocking her: "Aren't you a spoiled little thing, asking the elves for dinner like the Lady of the Manor."

She slapped his arm and he pulled the soft duvet over their naked bodies.

"I need a nap," he said, "We can eat later."

And they fell asleep mid-kiss with their legs intertwined.

In the morning

Severus knew it was early when he felt someone trying to wake him up.

He opened his eyes and looked at Florence peacefully asleep on his chest.

"Severus!" he heard his mother's urgent whisper and he turned to look at her standing beside the bed; he immediately frowned at the bruise he could see on her cheek – it had been decades since he had seen such a mark on her face.

"What the fuck happened?" he whispered, blocking his mind from Florence to not wake her up with his worry.

Eileen pointed to the door and he carefully got out of the bed, moving Florence's head to the pillow and following his mother, thanking the Gods he had slept in joggers and not naked.

"What happened, mum?" he asked as soon as he closed the door and they stood in the silent corridor, "Who hurt you?"

Eileen's bottom lip trembled and she cried: "It's Sophie, Severus! Sophie is gone! He took her!" she nearly shouted.

He felt his blood run cold in his veins, "What are you talking about, mum? Sophie's gone where? Who took her?"

"H-he came into the room a few minutes ago- he punched me and took Sophie from my arms! I grabbed my wand but he punched me again. Chris hit him with a Sectumsempra, but the man didn't fall and stupefied him," she was talking fast, desperation clear in her voice, "I tried to pull Sophie from him! I did! But he punched me on the face and I fell a-and when I got up he was gone! He took her, Severus!"

"Who did that? Who took her?" he asked, fearing he already knew the answer.

"Shacklebolt!" Eileen cried out.