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Chapter Text

Summer holidays finally arrived and Severus returned home, on Spinner's End. He sat down in an old chair from the living room and started to read the Daily Prophet. Stories about the death of one of his now former students, Cedric Diggory, were still covering the newspaper, along with some articles in which Harry Potter claimed You-Know-Who was back… Potter still managed to bother Severus, even during breaks… Rita Skeeter stated that he was lying, that is, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hadn't come back. She couldn't be more wrong: Potter was many things, but a liar wasn't one. In fact, just two weeks ago, Severus had taken his spy role…

Again.

He had been in a Death Eater meeting. Voldemort was very much alive and he wanted to succeed this time. It hadn't been easy to come up with excuses to questions like why he hadn't killed Potter when he had had the chance. At first, he was afraid his cover would be blown, but he had managed to make the Dark Lord believe in him again. He had also reported information about Albus during Voldemort's absent years. That was what had gained him the position as the most trustworthy and valuable Death Eater.

Severus was lost in his thoughts when he felt a familiar pain in his arm. Hissing, he grabbed his Death Eater robes and mask and put them on. It was strange to have a meeting first thing in the morning. Voldemort felt more comfortable in the dark of the night, so that was when he usually summoned them. The morning assembly couldn't mean good news.

Severus prepared himself for the worst and apparated in front of Voldemort. There didn't seem to be any more Death Eaters in the woods, but he wasn't alone with his master either. Before him a woman he had never seen before stood; dressed in black robes, similar to his but more feminine. Her expression was stoic and she didn't show any kind of emotion. She seemed to be about thirty years old. Her eyes were of a dark brown color, almost as black as her wavy hair, which went past her shoulders. The dark contrasted against her pale skin and fleshy pink lips. She was certainly attractive. But what was her identity? And more importantly, why was she standing next to Voldemort?

"Take your mask off," ordered Voldemort.

"Yes, my Lord."

He obeyed.

"I have one task for you, Severus. You know what I desire the most, you understand me. That is why you are my right-hand, my spy. Everybody believes I want to finish with Harry Potter and clean the wizarding world of mudbloods… And that is true. However, there is something more important… Immortality. That, Severus, is what I will achieve. There are different ways to accomplish it, and I am going to make sure I try all of them, in case one fails… That is where you enter in my plan. You are going to provide your services."

During his speech, Severus had kept an emotionless face.

When he saw the Dark Lord was waiting for a response, he reassured, "My loyalty is with you, my Lord, and only you. I feel honored that I am the one you confide this vital task with."

"I didn't expect any less of you, my dear servant. As you well know, a way to persevere in this world is to have a male heir. You are going to deliver me one. Meet my daughter, Skyrah Andraste Riddle. You will wed her in about a week. Your mission is to get my daughter pregnant as soon as possible. There is no one else I could consider to perform the task: you are my most trustworthy Death Eater, and you carry the blood of the Prince family. Of course, Dumbledore will meet her once you two are married by the Ministry of Magic. She will become a spy and a teacher at Hogwarts too. I'm certain you won't have a problem to persuade Dumbledore. My daughter is quite convincing too. She'll effortlessly get the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The curse won't affect her as she is my blood. This way, I'll get more information about Dumbledore and his little puppet, the Potter boy. "

Even though Severus didn't show it, he was horrified. Of all the things that he had expected, wedding Voldemort's daughter and having a child with her was the last thing he would have imagined to happen. He did not even know the Dark Lord had a daughter, to begin with.

Severus stared at Skyrah, the woman who was to marry him. Her face didn't betray her, for her expression was the same as before: emotionless. Severus couldn't escape this; he was trapped. On the one hand, if he refused, his cover would be blown and he would be tortured. He'd be lucky if he got out of it alive… His life was at the stake, but it wasn't the only thing: the Order needed him. He was the only member who could provide valuable information about Voldemort and his plans. On the other hand, if he accepted, he would be introducing Voldemort's daughter to his students.

He analyzed the pros and the cons and finally muttered, taking a bow, "As my Lord wishes."

Voldemort smiled evilly. "Excellent. Lucius Malfoy knows about the arrangement. His connections in the Ministry of Magic have permitted him to arrange a date for the wedding. You'll receive a letter with all the necessary information. You are dismissed."

Severus bowed down and apparated back home. He put the Death Eater robes and mask in the cupboard and pulled on his familiar black robes. As he was fastening the buttons, his mind was replaying the meeting on his head as if it was a muggle film. Why did he have to endure all this? How was he going to survive as the husband of Voldemort's daughter? And what about children? He had never wanted nor liked children, if the way he treated his students was of any indication. To make it all worse, he was sure he would be a horrible father, just like his own; and the thought terrified him. How would the children of Severus Snape and Skyrah Riddle grow up to be like? Only one word came up to his mind.

Monsters.

As soon as he fastened the last black button, he floo called Albus. He had to be aware of all this mess. The Headmaster was in Severus's living room in a matter of a second.

"What was so important, my child?" wondered Albus.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Don't call me child, and take a seat. You will need it."

Albus did as told and sat down on the sofa while Severus settled on the same old chair from the morning, in front of the beardy man. Severus took a big breath.

"I have just come from a meeting with the Dark Lord. He's assigned me a task which he considers vital and even more important than Potter and the end of muggle-borns."

Severus's expression turned bitter. Albus grew serious.

"What is the task, Severus?"

"He desires to be immortal. To attain so, he needs a male heir. He's ordered me to marry his daughter and give her a child… We're getting married in about a week and he wants me to get her pregnant as soon as possible. He also wants her to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher job and become a spy for him… The curse of said job will not affect her."

There was a long pause. The environment was tense, to say the least. It was so uncomfortable that Severus, someone who appreciated silence and solitude, decided to break it.

His voice was trembling, and he had a defeated look on his eyes, a look of a helpless man, "Please, Albus, say something…"

Putting a hand on Severus's shoulder, Albus spoke slowly, "We have no choice, Severus. You must do what he commanded, or else, your cover will be blown and all the effort will have been in vain… We'll think of something."

In that moment, an owl which carried a letter arrived. Severus took the note and it flew away. He opened it. It was the letter Voldemort had informed him about.

He read it and whispered gravely, "The wedding will take place in the Ministry of Magic, next Monday at six pm."

"I'm really sorry you have to go through this, Severus."

"Sorry doesn't make it any better, Albus."

The wedding day arrived. The room was empty except for the official and Severus Snape. No guests. Severus was slightly sweating, waiting for the bride. The doors creaked open and she entered. Her footsteps were elegant, confident and swift. She wore a soft pink dress that hugged all her curves and showed her neckline, making her look even more attractive. Her hair was pulled up into a classic bun. She looked severe. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce his black soul the moment she stood in front of him. What caught Severus's eye though was her bare arm: no dark mark was inked into her pale skin.

"We are here to make official this union between Mr. Snape and Ms. Riddle. Do you, Severus Snape, take Skyrah Andraste Riddle as your wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Skyrah Andraste Riddle, take Severus Snape as your husband?"

"I do."

She didn't even hesitate. It was the first time Severus had heard her voice and, to his surprise, it wasn't very high pitched like other women. Instead, it had a smoky quality in it.

"In that case, I declare you Mr. Snape and Mrs. Snape, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Severus didn't know what do to. Should he kiss her on the lips? Was it going too far? It would be suspicious if he didn't… What kind of groom didn't kiss his bride on their wedding day? Slowly, he bowed his head and pressed his lips against hers. It was just a peck and Skyrah had kept her emotionless mask on. What surprised him though, was that despite her stony look, her lips had felt warm against his, even if it had been for a fraction of a second. Nothing about Voldemort was warm.

The official retired and left the room, leaving the pair alone. After a short pause, she spoke.

"We should go home."

"Home?"

"Your place," she clarified while she grabbed his arm as a sign she was waiting for the disapparition.

Severus wasn't used to people touching him. Only Lily had ever got away with it, and occasionally, Albus, Minerva and Poppy; but never in front of other people. Granted, the touch surprised him, but what shocked him the most was that it felt… nice. Warm, like her lips. How could Voldemort's daughter have such a gentle touch?

When they got to their destination, Skyrah asked in a business-like manner, "Where's your bedroom?"

Rather than offering a verbal answer, Severus guided her upstairs and opened his bedroom door with somewhat flushed cheeks. No one had ever seen the room, not even Albus. She didn’t take in the details. As soon as she entered, she began to unzip her dress. After catching a glimpse of her completely bare shoulder, Severus turned around.

“I’ll wait outside. Call me when you are ready.”

“You aren’t going anywhere.”

"You’re getting undressed,” he hissed, hearing her kicking off her shoes.

“As should you.”

“Why?” he choked.

"Isn't it obvious? We have to consummate the marriage. Father is waiting for an heir. If we don’t try from the very beginning, he’ll be furious. His most loyal Death Eater wouldn’t disappoint him, would he?”

"I would never. However, there's no need to do it right now if you aren't... ready."

She snorted and let her dress fall on the floor, leaving her only in her underwear. "It's not about being ready: it's about surviving. I don't want to spend all day thinking about this. Turn around and take of your clothes."

Severus did turn around but kept silent, staring at her with an unfathomable expression, avoiding looking lower than her face.

"Please…" 

Even though her face was still covered by a mask, her words and her moist eyes had finally betrayed her. Voldemort's daughter. A woman who pleaded. Not what he had expected. 

"I-I have never… I'm not…"

What was wrong with him? He never stammered. But then again, he had never been in a situation like this: in front of a gorgeous woman who was giving herself to him. He was afraid she’d make fun of his nervousness. Much to his surprise, her whole body seemed to unstiffen. He hadn’t even realized how tense she had been until then.

"I'm a virgin too."

Given her age and beauty, Severus would have believed her to be lying. But then again, he couldn’t find any reason why a woman in her situation would lie about that.

His shock must have registered on his face, for the next thing he knew she added, "There are many things you don't know about me."

With that said, she reached behind to unhook her strapless bra. Before she could stand totally naked before him, Severus distracted himself by unbuttoning his robes. He didn’t raise his head until only his pants were left on him. He’d keep them on for the nonce. It was his way to feel safer, in control. Despite being a stranger, his enemy, he found himself staring at her body – from her bare feet and legs to her round breasts. This whole situation felt wrong, so wrong, yet he felt himself beginning to harden. Ashamed at his reaction, he looked at her slightly flushed face again. She was biting the inside of her cheek. He couldn’t help but think how disgusted she must feel, to be forced to lay with someone as unattractive as him. He was self-conscious of his appearance: too thin, to the point all his ribs were visible; a nose too big for his face and hair so greasy nobody but him would touch.

Skyrah lay down on the bed and whispered, "Come."

Her voice was slightly trembling as if she was about to burst into tears. As he settled on top of her, Severus told himself over and over again this was the daughter of the cruelest wizard alive… But her eyes… They were full of desperate tears that streamed down her face. Voldemort would never cry – the thought alone relieved him and disturbed him, for it meant Skyrah wasn’t like her father, at least, not completely; and if her tears were truthful, it meant she was trapped and afraid.

"I can't do this…"

She held back a sob and growled, "What's so difficult?! Many men would give anything to be in your position!"

"I feel like I'm raping you!" 

Her eyes widened, and then her expression softened. Oh, she didn't trust him, not yet, just like he didn't trust her. Of that he was sure. Still, his words had calmed her enough, for she no longer cried.

"You are not raping me. I want to do this. We must do this."

She had looked so honest and vulnerable that Severus felt lost. He didn’t know what to think anymore, what to do.

“Just… Get this over with,” she begged.

But if he did as told, he’d hurt her, and he’d never forgive himself if he hurt a woman, innocent or not, like that. He didn’t want his first time to be like that. Slowly, his fingertips grazed the side of her neck, expecting her to recoil or flinch. Her breath hitched and her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t look repulsed by him, merely curious. Encouraged, his clumsy fingers trailed down until they encountered her breasts, eyes fixed on her face all the time, silently seeking her approval. When he accidentally brushed a nipple, she gasped. He couldn’t help himself: he looked down, at her erect nipple, at the smooth skin he was caressing. Before he knew it, he was landing light kisses on her neck while his hand gave her tit a gentle squeeze.

"What are you doing?"

He froze and raised his head until they could lock gazes, hands no longer touching her skin. “Isn’t this okay?”

“I asked you to get this over with.”

"I'm trying to make the experience pleasurable."

“Did Father tell you not to… hurt me?”

“You were there when he talked to me about you. You heard everything he told me.”

She shut her eyes for a few seconds, unable to mask her resentment. “Why do you want to pleasure me then? Most Death Eaters would have taken me without giving it a second thought, much less cared whether I was wet enough to avoid pain or not.”

Because I am not a good man, but I am not a heartless monster either, he thought, but he could only gulp and say, “You are my wife now. It's my duty.”

Under her intense gaze, he felt she could read his soul; his mind was guarded though, and she hadn’t tried to use legilimency on him. She inhaled and exhaled slowly and, wavering a bit, she pecked his cheek.

"Thank you, Severus."

His mouth dropped half-open, astonished. For the first time in forever, a woman had willingly kissed his cheek. And she was not any woman but Voldemort's daughter. Confused as he was, he pushed the thought aside and inquired, “Was what I was doing to you to your liking or would you rather I…”

He was unable to finish the question, for Skyrah took his hand and put it back on her breast and softly pulled his head down so that his lips would resume the trail of kisses on her neck. His hands didn’t venture lower than her waist, not yet. Hers did. For a moment, he envisioned her stroking him until he was impossibly hard. She was touching herself instead, rubbing slowly, occasionally inserting a finger and pumping it. He looked at the movement of her hands and fingers fascinated, and didn’t realize his hand was moving towards hers until they brushed. He withdrew, mumbling an apology.

“You can touch me there. Just… be gentle, please.”

So he caressed her folds and imitated the way she had pleasured herself to the best of his abilities. He touched her with respect, stopping if she made a sound of pain, asking if he should add more pressure or not, if she liked being kissed in certain areas while he fingered her. It was awkward, but she answered, and he responded. Despite his non-existent experience, he must have been doing something well, for the room was filled with her soft moans and arousing sighs, and his fingers were becoming sticky with her juices.

"Do it now."

Severus took off his pants, releasing his hard member, and nervously positioned himself in her entry, not pushing in just yet.

"Are you sure you want me to do this already?" he asked.

Her eyes softened. She swallowed hard and lifted her hand. She stopped midair, pensive. Severus looked at her hand in wonder, and then, her fingers found his cheek and stroked it. The touch was so foreign yet so warm. He didn't lean into her nor did he speak or move away. He only stared at her almost in awe. Here he was, about to take her virginity, and she wasn't afraid to kiss or caress his cheek. What a pleasant yet scary thought.

“I’m sure.”

Slowly, he penetrated her. Even if she didn’t groan in pain, Skyrah seemed to be uncomfortable, so he didn't dare to move while she adjusted to him. A few moments later, she nodded and, following his instincts, he pounded his hips. It was then he allowed himself to feel. It was wetness and tightness and heat that surrounded his groin and extended to his whole body – pure pleasure – and Severus was losing control of his mind to the point he barely heard the soft moans that were escaping her throat.

“Is this rhythm okay?” he asked, stifling a groan when the hand that had been on his face gripped him by the shoulder, digging her nails into his skin – not enough to scratch him, but enough to send a jolt of desire through his spine.

“Y-yes,” she assured, but her eyes shone with unshed tears.

So he halted and pulled out, and sat up beside her, panting.

“You haven’t finished,” she said, glancing at his erection.

“I think we need a break.”

“Not me. Don’t delay this, please.”

“I don’t want to hurt the Dark Lord’s daughter.”

“You aren’t hurting me.”

“You look like you’re about to cry!” he snapped, and regretted raising his voice when she cringed.

After a lengthy silence in which Severus avoided looking at her, she said, “It isn’t you. The pain I feel isn’t physical.”

“So you admit you are in pain.”

“You were helping me. You made me feel good.” In a voice so low Severus struggled to hear her, she added, “I thought I wouldn’t feel good again.”

Funny, he thought the same. Those moments inside her had made him forget about the tough world and his profound regrets. Hesitantly, he positioned himself on top of her and studied her expression. Her eyes were no longer glassy but hopeful, and her legs spread a little wider in a silent invitation. He entered her, more swiftly than the first time. A small grunt alerted him. When her hips buckled, he realized she had groaned in pleasure, not in pain, so he thrust into her. Again. And again. And again. And her body kept welcoming him. Soon, he got lost in the sensation. He had to remind himself to go slow so as not to hurt her nor embarrass himself. He didn’t dare play with her bouncing tits either, afraid he’d come right then. She massaged them herself, though, and slithered one hand down to rub her clit in circles. He didn’t notice that, at the sight alone, his pace had increased.

Suddenly, Skyrah climaxed. He had never seen a woman orgasming, let alone a particularly pretty one. He was mesmerized by her arched neck, by the sounds she was making and the pulsations of her walls around him. She was feeling like this thanks to him – him. The thought was enough to bring Severus over the edge too.

When it was over, he felt so spent he almost crushed her with his weight, but quickly rolled over and rested next to her. This was hardly the way he had imagined he would lose his virginity. Strangely, this experience wouldn’t make it to the list of his life regrets. He felt an odd peace he wished wouldn’t end.

Though their breaths eventually evened, neither moved. And then, the comment was out, “I’d never thought you’d be like this.”

Severus would have cursed himself for confessing that if it wasn't for the fact he was aware he had to share his life with this woman, not only give her his seed. They would have to start talking sooner rather than later. It would be awkward enough, so his comment, if anything, would help break the ice.

She turned to him and wondered, "Be like what?"

"You seemed so…”

“Cold?” she finished for him, to which he gave her a nod. “And now?”

“You seemed...” Warm? Vulnerable? Human? In the end, he settled for, "Different."

She rolled her eyes. "My first impression of you was you were more eloquent than that, Severus. Besides, look who's talking. You didn't seem to be the loving type either."

She had sounded... playful? Was that even possible considering her blood? And what about her little smirk? Was she teasing him? The only woman who had ever done that was Minerva, and even then, she teased the Slytherin House, not him. Not directly, at least. The truth was that Skyrah had a point... and sass. A weird noise escaped him, a low chuckle. That was quite an achievement – he didn’t laugh easily. Perhaps he had chuckled because she had seen his naked ugliness and hadn't run away or looked at him with disgust, because she had kissed and stroked his cheek unafraid, because she was willing to joke with him, because having sex had that effect on him, or simply because the situation was surreal. At any rate, he had enjoyed the feeling of his chest rumbling with his low laughter. Plus, her observation had been correct. Nobody would describe him as the loving type, except Albus, maybe, and always when it came to Lily.

“Loving?” he asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Gentle. You were gentle, even if you only acted like that to avoid making my father furious. I appreciate it.”

The truth was that gentle wasn’t a word his students or anyone who knew him for the matter would use to refer to him. He hadn’t only behaved that way because of his fear for Voldemort’s wrath or discontentment either. That, however, was something he wouldn’t say out loud. Now that lust wasn’t clouding his judgement, he remembered he needed to be careful around her. This witch was still Voldemort’s daughter, no matter she had made him feel things he had never thought possible. For all he knew, those unshed tears and comments could have been an act, a trick. Even if she had appeared sincere, her blood was the only thing about her he knew for sure.

"Have you had dinner yet?" he asked, changing the subject.

"No."

"Would you like an omelet with some salad?"

Granted, that was quite a plain supper, but he had nothing better to offer.

She had a tiny smile on her face when she nodded, a charming smile which didn't go unnoticed by Severus.

Chapter Text

Skyrah had gone to pick up all her clothes and belongings to settle down on Spinner's End. When she returned, dinner was already on the table. Her husband was reading a book, but Skyrah couldn't quite tell the title.

"Hello, Severus."

Black eyes met her own dark ones, forgetting about the reading. He left the book aside and greeted her awkwardly, "Hello, Skyrah."

"I see you have already cooked," she commented with a little smile which took Severus aback.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you," he replied smoothly.

"Can we start eating already?" she hoped. "I'm hungry."

A curt nod was his response. They sat down in front of each other and started to eat. There was a tense silence which Skyrah decided to break.

"I know it's just an omelet, but it tastes surprisingly good."

Had Voldemort's daughter just complimented his cooking skills? Apparently. His black eyes faintly widened in confusion but he managed to mutter a soft thanks. That simple word made the woman grin faintly. What was wrong with her? Why did Voldemort's daughter keep grinning at him? It had been the second time in the same day.

"So, tell me, Severus. Do you like working at Hogwarts?"

Unbelieving. Did this woman want to chit-chat with him now? He pondered the answer in his head and carefully said in his silky voice, "It is a job which puts me in a perfect position to serve your father."

Severus hoped his answer would suffice. It didn't,for Skyrah lifted an eyebrow and tried again, "That's not what I was asking you. Forget about the spy thing for a moment, will you? Do you like being a teacher for the sake of it?"

Damn this woman, he thought. She wants to get to know me; a tiny mistake could mean the end…

"I didn't choose it. There are pros and cons, like all professions," he eventually said, staying on neutral ground and not giving much information about himself.

"What's the thing you enjoy the most about it?"

Bloody hell! Does she ever stop questioning? he thought exasperated. There was something suspicious about the situation. Why did she care anyway? He didn't know if he'd regret it or not, but he asked her boldly, "Why do you want to know?"

"You are my husband. I should know this type of things about you, and you should get to know me too. We need to convince Dumbledore, and for that, we must behave like a real married couple. How are we supposed to do that if we are complete strangers?"

So that was it. She was doing it for the sake of the mission. Of course! Severus wasn't surprised at all.

"Besides, I've been a Professor too and I liked it… I wanted to know if we had something in common," she continued.

Severus nearly spat out the water he had just drunk. Voldemort's daughter had been a Professor? And she had actually enjoyed it? That was a new one.

"Is that so?" he wondered. She had caught his attention. He'd give her that.

"I taught History of Magic in Ilvermorny for a few years. I studied there when I was young."

"America's wizarding school…"

A soft grin was plastered on her face the moment he recognized the school.

"You know it then?"

"I've heard of it… So how was your experience there?" 

He wanted to know what kind of information she provided him so that when she asked him, he could tell her something about the same lines. His plan backfired on him though, for the next thing he knew, she was saying, "I'm not telling you anything else until you answer my question, Severus. I asked first, after all."

Bugger! he cursed internally. He couldn't avoid it. He had to tell her something.

"What I like the most is correcting the exams or essays and seeing that there is at least somebody who is not a total dunderhead and actually paid attention in class… I do not show it, though."

Skyrah nearly laughed, but she controlled herself and let only a timid smile appear. "Teachers can influence a lot their students' lives. What I like the most is to know that I inspired some of them."

She kept on smiling and it looked like she was recalling some memories, probably related to some students she had had. If he hadn't known any better, he'd have never said Skyrah was Voldemort's daughter. Sure, at first she had seemed cold, but so was he. And now she looked… human. They were actually conversing. This woman just kept on surprising Severus. He cleared his throat and tilted his head towards her plate before inquiring, "Are you finished? Do you want a yogurt as a dessert? Or would you rather have some fruit?"

"A yogurt's fine. Thanks."

They ended the meal in silence. Severus muttered a few incantations and the dishes were washed in an instant. When he turned around, Skyrah was already lying on the sofa, skimming through the pages of the book he had been reading before she arrived.

"A potions book?" she mumbled with a giggle, shaking her head, "Figures." Severus kept quiet, so Skyrah continued, "Potions has always been my weakest subject. Would you consider teaching me?"

"Excuse me?"

"Teach me potions. I'm not that good at it, but I'm not a dunderhead either," she repeated with a chuckle.

Her little laugh caught Severus's attention. He actually liked the way it sounded. Wait… What was wrong with him? Why did he keep having these thoughts about Skyrah? Realizing she was expecting an answer, he nodded.

"Great! Thank you! By the way, why did you join my father?" she asked, narrowing her dark brown eyes.

Severus Snape hadn't expected that serious question after chatting about potions and school. What was she playing at?

"I wanted to be respected," he answered vaguely.

"I see…"

She appeared to be lost in her thoughts. This. This was his chance to find out why Voldemort's daughter acted so... strangely. Legilimens, he thought, staring straight at her. The intrusion had to be subtle; he wouldn't push into her mind violently, or there was a risk she would catch him. He underestimated her. Before he could see anything which could give him a clue about what she really thought and what she was playing at with all this chattering, Skyrah's occlumency walls were up. Fuck, Severus thought, watching her face grow severe. With that expression, she did look like the Dark Lord's daughter.

"Try that again, and I swear, what my father will do to you will be nothing compared to what I'll do," she threatened.

Severus didn't know what to do. He was too busy cursing himself.

"Forgive me. I don't know what came over me." Lame excuse, he thought. It was the best he had, though.

She snorted, "Of course you knew. You legilimenced me for a reason, Severus." He kept mum, feeling like he had screwed up for a lifetime. "Make sure it doesn't happen again, for your own good."

He nodded. Skyrah looked like she had really meant her threat, but the fact that she was giving him a chance after something like that could only mean two things. Either, she was a fool, or she was not as cruel as her father. It had to be the latter, for she had demonstrated to be clever and cunning during the previous conversation. She wasn't stupid and he couldn't underestimate her. Not again.

"What were you looking for in my mind?" she inquired as her expression softened gradually.

Lying to her when she had just threatened him would be a terrible mistake, so he opted for the truth, "I thought you were playing with me with all that chit-chat. I was trying to find out the reason."

"I already told you. I want to get to know you so that Dumbledore does not suspect anything."

"I know, forgive me."

She sighed and massaged her temples. "Shall we brew something together now? A sixth-year potion, perhaps? I never took advanced potion making lessons. I preferred History and Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Glad for the change of subject, Severus guided her to his potions lab. At least, brewing a potion would relax him.

"When was the last time you brew a calming draught?"

"Why? Is that what we'll brew? I studied the calming draught potion by the end of fifth year. It isn't an advanced one."

"So it has been long," he gathered, seeing she wouldn't tell him just how long. She didn't deny it, either. "Indeed. We will brew a calming draught. It will give me an idea of your strong and weak points in potion-making, and whether we need to refresh your memory on certain Potions knowledge."

"You could use any other advanced Potion for that."

"It takes thirty minutes to brew a calming draught, whereas more advanced potions require long periods of time."

That one convinced her. To his surprise, she acted on initiative and approached the shelves, in search of jars that contained the necessary ingredients. He waited until she collected them and started to work together. Skyrah wasn't as bad as she had claimed; in fact, she did a better job than most sixth year students. She questioned him whenever he followed a step she clearly hadn't been taught - his own improvements that were not in books, and she listened to him carefully. If only his students were as attentive as she was, he would not stress so much about blowing cauldrons and ruined ingredients. Granted, she almost made two errors, but Snape caught her before anything could go wrong. It felt strange to brew potions with someone else, and yet, he hadn't minded her presence. He had enjoyed her company, actually. She made it easy to work in group, and he was aware that teamwork wasn't his forte. He was more of the solitary type. He worked alone. He was always alone. The thought they made a good team terrified him.

Thirty minutes later, the calming draught was cooling in flasks they put in a cupboard from the lab.

"Can we go to bed?" she asked, covering her mouth to hide her yawn.

Again, a curt nod was his response. She transfigured her robes into a soft blue pajama and Severus did the same with a black pajama instead. She looked at him amused.

"What?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you always wear black? Even to sleep?"

"Obviously."

The response made her chuckle. It was as if the tense conversation which had taken place just before the potion-making had never occurred.

"Good night," he added when her mirth ceased as he made to leave.

Skyrah frowned. "Where are you going?"

"To the sofa."

"To do what, exactly?"

"Sleep?"

"It's your house! You have your own bed!"

Severus looked embarrassed now. "I figured you'd like some privacy…" I'd like some privacy, he added to himself.

"Flash news! We live here. We are married. We have to learn to trust each other. We'll sleep on the same bed. End of discussion."

Severus didn't have a say in the matter, for Skyrah took him to the bedroom and threw herself into the bed.

"Join me."

Flashes of what had happened on this bed hours earlier flooded his mind: the way it had felt to touch her skin, the soft moans coming from her sweet mouth, her wet and tight walls clenching around him, her face when she had finally reached her climax… Severus's cheeks started to heat up. Before Skyrah could notice though, he lay down as far from her as possible and gave his back to her. He closed his eyes, trying to think of anything but the woman who was lying next to him. Challenging, considering he heard her breathing and felt a warmth in the bed that never had been there.

"Good night, Severus."

"Good night, Skyrah."

Severus woke up to his wife's whimpers and moans. She was sweating and she kept tossing and turning, mumbling nonsense words. Severus was debating whether he should wake her up when he heard her crying out in her sleep, "No! Please! I'll do anything! Please, don't kill them! No!"

In that moment, Severus decided to wake her up or else he wouldn't get any rest. He got his wand and used lumos. The light didn't wake her up. He called her name. She kept screaming. He spoke louder.

"Skyrah!"

Her eyelids lifted, revealing dilated pupils. As she sat up, nearly hyperventilating, she did not acknowledge his presence. Severus stayed immobile, unsure of how to react. When her breathing became more regular, she wrapped her arms around her knees and hid her face behind her legs. Her shoulders were shaking and Severus could hear sobs coming from her mouth.

"Skyrah?"

She immediately shut up and looked at him, eyes red.

"Severus?" she held back a sob. "I-I d-didn't mean to w-wake you up… I-"

Tears were still streaming down her face, so Severus did the only thing that came to mind. He got to the lab and summoned a calming draught flask. The woman was still crying when he came back, but the big sobs had subsided. She took the vial and emptied the contents. In a few minutes, she was calm.

"Thanks, Severus, and sorry about that…"

"Don't mention it," he said hurriedly, slightly embarrassed and awkward.

She smiled and took his free hand, squeezing it in gratefulness. Her touch, strangely enough, didn't feel foreign. It felt like home. A part of him wanted to push her away. She was dangerous, the daughter of his enemy. Another part of him just wanted her, no matter her blood, to keep touching him. Nobody touched him.

"Do you think you'll be able to sleep now?"

She nodded.

"Good night, then."

He muttered a nox and lay down once again, missing her touch when she did the same and put some space between them.

"G'Night…"

Her breathing was steady and deep, indicating she had fallen asleep.

Severus didn't get any sleep for an hour though. Her screams had seemed so real. It was as if her nightmare wasn't actually a dream but a dreadful memory. Something told him that Skyrah wasn't the woman who cried due to a stupid nightmare… So he had to be right. The question was what happened in that memory.

He wasn't sure he'd ever find out.

When Skyrah woke up, the right side of the bed was empty. She got up, had a quick shower, got dressed and went downstairs. It smelled of… pancakes? It was then she saw her husband with his head buried behind the Daily Prophet. The sight made her smirk.

"Good morning, Severus."

"Good morning, Skyrah," he replied, leaving the newspaper aside.

"You've made pancakes" she observed. "Thanks."

Severus nodded and both of them had breakfast in silence. Getting one bite, she said, "About last night… I don't know how to thank you. I-"

"Forget it, Skyrah."

She gave him a sad smile.

"You know, you are a better man than you believe."

He looked at her dark eyes, astonished by her comment. He couldn't mull over it. His dark mark burned and he hissed, grabbing his mask and putting on the Death Eater robes. Skyrah knew it was her father.

"I'm going with you. He'll want to see me too."

Severus nodded and took her arm. The pair apparated and found themselves in front of Voldemort. They were alone in the woods, again. Voldemort approached his daughter and caressed her cheek.

"Skyrah, my dear Daughter. You two have consummated the marriage, haven't you?"

"Yes, Father."

Severus noticed she looked cold once again; even her eyes held no emotion. It was as if the Skyrah he had laid with and the Skyrah in front of Voldemort were two different people. The big question was, which Skyrah was the real one?

"Excellent. You understand the need of having an heir is something which must be fulfilled as soon as possible."

"We're taking care of it, Father. These things can take time, but we will be constant and won't stop trying until we achieve our goal. There's nothing we want to do more than granting your wishes. We live to please you. You can trust in me, Father."

"I know you wouldn't dare to disappoint me, Daughter. Severus, Skyrah must fill the vacant position at Hogwarts this year. Talk to Dumbledore this week ."

"Yes, my lord."

With a wave of a hand, Voldemort dismissed them. Skyrah took Severus 's arm, as if she was anxious to leave the woods, and they found themselves back in the living room. Severus noted his wife had closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She almost looked afraid… It was like she had held all the emotions in check in front of her father, and now she was delivering them all. Was Voldemort's daughter afraid of her own father? He did not know. What he did know was that Skyrah Snape was unquestionably a puzzle.

Chapter Text

Skyrah and Severus had just come back from the meeting with Lord Voldemort. There was an awkward silence which Skyrah broke, "Does Dumbledore already know we're married?"

"No."

A lie, of course.

Severus wanted to talk to Dumbledore alone first, and if he had told Skyrah he already knew about her, she'd probably want to meet him too. Not telling the truth was the wisest move. She bought it.

"Good. You should talk to him. Drop a hint about the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. We can meet altogether another day, after you and I know each other better and act like a believable married couple."

Severus nodded.

"Do you mind if I go to Hogwarts to talk to him now?"

"Not at all. I'll be waiting."

When Albus saw Severus and noticed his sober expression, he knew he carried bad news with him.

"Severus, have a seat, please," he offered, gesturing to the free seat in front of his office desk.

Severus complied. 

"I assume you are here to tell me how it went."

Going straight to the point, Severus started, "Her name is Skyrah and she is not like I expected."

Albus quirked an eyebrow. "What makes you say so, my child?"

Severus rolled his eyes at his last two words but didn't complain about them. No time to waste on lost battles. Albus insisted on calling him that.

"Skyrah seemed a cold woman at first. Her expression was stony; she didn't let any kind of emotion show on her face. It made me feel uncomfortable."

Albus chuckled, causing Severus to sneer.

"I do not understand your sudden urge to laugh, Albus. I fail to see how this is funny."

"The description was familiar," he said, eyeing Severus meaningfully. "You don't show your emotions either, Severus. It certainly makes some people uncomfortable too."

Severus chose to ignore the observation. "This changed when we… Er-"

He trailed off and avoided eye contact. His cheeks turned bright pink. Albus had seen many faces of Severus. A flushed Severus, though? That was a new one, even for him. Only one thing would fluster Severus. Albus spared him his little embarrassment by saying, "When you two consummated the marriage? It is something natural. There is no need to feel ashamed."

Severus suppressed a snort. Natural wouldn't be the word he would choose to describe the intercourse. Forced was more fitting. Forced yet oddly enjoyable, especially when she pecked and touched his cheek. That, though, wasn't something he was willing to confess.

"She looked like she was going to burst into tears, Albus. She wanted to get it done so her father wouldn't get mad. Her eyes were desperate, fearful, edgy. She seemed to be as trapped as I was. She looked… human."

"So did Tom Riddle when he was a student."

"I know, Albus. As a matter of fact, I was reminded yet again of her blood when she interrogated me. The witch is as intelligent and cunning as the Dark Lord."

"What did she ask?"

"About my position at Hogwarts. I remained neutral and pretended to be pleased to have the perfect position to spy for her father. She did not buy it. Every time I avoided a direct answer, she pressed me. She wanted to get to know me, Albus, the real me. She argued that we have to know each other well to look like a credible married couple. What surprised me is that she had been teaching History of Magic in Ilvermorny, where she studied… In fact, she admitted to like the job and claimed she loved to inspire youngsters."

This seemed to shock Dumbledore as well.

"Interesting… What else, Severus?"

"Then I screwed up."

The headmaster didn't say a word but pulled a face which urged Severus to continue, "She seemed to be playing with me with all those questions, so I legilimensed her. She caught me before I could see anything. She threatened me, and she did look like the Dark Lord while doing so. Yet, she gave me another chance and acted the rest of the evening as if the incident hadn't occurred at all. She was... amiable and insisted we shared the bed to sleep." He paused, expecting Albus to tease him about that. When he gathered Albus would remain quiet, he added, "She had a pretty rough nightmare."

"Did you figure out what the nightmare was about?"

"That's the thing. I reckon it wasn't a current nightmare but a memory. She was screaming and begging that she'd do anything to spare some people's lives. I do not know whose, though. When she woke up, she was so agitated I had to give her a calming draught."

Albus hummed. "Maybe it's a good thing that she wants to get to know you better. You could gain her trust and uncover her secrets."

Severus pondered this for a second and agreed. He cleared his throat and spoke once again, "She puzzles me. Her arm isn't marked. She appears to be afraid of her father. In front of the Dark Lord, she acts so cold and as if her only desire were to please him, whereas, when we're alone, she keeps smiling and asking me questions as if we were friends."

"You've known her for a day, Severus. Give her time. You'll figure her out."

"What if she figures me out before, Albus? Of all the people in the world, I had to be married to the only one who seems to have my level of intelligence. I do not like it one bit."

"Then you'll just have to be extremely cautious," he said seriously.

There was a short pause.

"Skyrah believes I'm announcing you the wedding news right now. The Dark Lord expects me to talk to you about the Defense Against the Dark Arts job this week."

"I will visit you on Spinner's End on Monday to discuss it. Thus, you will have time to inform me if something strange occurs before another meeting."

"I'll let her know."

"Good."

The spy was about to leave when the voice of the old man stopped him, "Severus, be careful."

Severus got home. Skyrah was not in the living room. He was about to shout her name when he heard a singing voice that came from his garden. Severus walked silently towards that part from his house. Skyrah was giving her back, but the singing voice belonged to her, without a doubt. Severus forgot for a moment about everything and became absorbed in her warm mezzosoprano voice. It was sweet yet powerful, and it had a great raw edge – a mix of contradictory adjectives, much like her personality. Who would have thought that Voldemort's daughter would have such a pleasant voice? That wasn't what astonished Severus the most though. No. What really shocked him was the song. As soon as he heard the lyrics and the melody, he recognized it: it was a very famous muggle hit. Why would she know this song?

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world... You...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Interrupting her would be awkward, so Severus went to the living room without making a sound, far enough she would not acknowledge his presence, close enough to hear her voice. When the song ended, he stood around a few more seconds and finally reached her.

"Skyrah?"

She turned around and Severus could see her eyes and nose were red. She had obviously been crying. The question was why. He had no time to ask her about that, for she was already inquiring about the meeting with Albus, "How's it been? Did he take the news well?"

"He did. He seemed happy that I've finally found someone to settle down with."

Skyrah chuckled. "It sounds like something a father would say."

My child, Severus heard Albus's voice in his mind. Yes, he did not like being called my child much, but he did not hate it, either. Albus was the most similar parental figure Severus had ever had, despite their complicated past, and he found himself thinking about how Albus would have reacted if he had actually got married to somebody for love. Then Severus got scared. What if Skyrah had somehow found out about his relationship with Albus? What if she was testing him, waiting for the right moment to tell Voldemort about his not so faithful servant? She was shrewd. He wouldn't put it past her. But then he realized something. She had been chuckling, yet her tone had been nostalgic. She wouldn't sound nostalgic if her comment had meant to be a trap.

"Have you told him about the Defense Against the Dark Arts job?" she asked.

"Yes. He'll come here to meet you and talk about it on Monday."

Skyrah smiled softly and thanked him for everything. "I didn't know you liked to take care of your garden… It looks beautiful."

"Thanks," he said rather awkwardly, trying not to blush. "Have you been here all this time?"

"Yes. I needed some fresh air and when I saw this place I just had to spend some time here… Lilies are your favorite flowers, aren't they? There are plenty."

An image of a certain woman with emerald eyes and auburn hair passed through his mind.

"Mine are white and red roses."

Shit. She was in a talkative mood, again. He wasn't, so he cleared his throat, and said, "I'll go and cook something."

"Oh! I'll help you! I've never been good at it, but you seem to be an excellent cook. I'm sure I won't burn anything with you by my side!" she joked happily, grabbing his wrist and taking him to the kitchen. At the contact, Severus's heart skipped a beat. Sweet Salazar. His body kept betraying him whenever she touched him. He had the urge to linger, but he made no move to stop her when she let go and opened the refrigerator. She turned to face him and pouted.

"What did my dear husband believe we could have for lunch?" she wondered with irony, tilting her head to the empty fridge. 

Dammit! Severus thought. He had been so nervous about the mess he was into that he had forgotten about something as basic as food.

"It's late now. The shops will be closed…" he finally uttered.

"Are there any good restaurants nearby? We can buy some food this afternoon."

"They are muggle."

She rolled her eyes.

"I don't care. I am hungry, and it can be good to be seen as a normal couple by other people, muggles or otherwise. We need practice."

She transfigured her robes into a simple flowery dress that reached her knees. "Put on some muggle clothes, come on."

So that was how Severus found himself in an Italian, muggle restaurant, having lunch with You-know-who's daughter. Any muggle out there would believe he was on a date. While they ate, Skyrah kept on trying to talk to Severus.

"So tell me, what are your hobbies?"

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Are we seriously going to have this conversation? We are not teenagers… and we are already married."

Skyrah rolled her eyes. "Excuse me for wanting to know you better, Severus. We may be married, but be realistic: we know nothing about each other. I meant what I said yesterday, we need to trust each other, and to do that, knowing each other well is fundamental."

He still didn't reply. She groaned.

"Okay! I'll start! But you have to answer me…" She waited until he nodded and then, proceeded, "I enjoy singing. I used to sing a lot when I was a child. It makes me forget about everything."

Singing, eh? Figures. He thought. He had to admit though, that she was extremely good at it, although he couldn't say it out loud. Just like he couldn't say out loud why she did not appear as disgusted about eating in a muggle restaurant as he would have figured. Practice, she had said. She's putting on our act as a credible couple, he convinced himself. The only thing that made no sense was Imagine by John Lennon, but he let it slide for now.

"I like brewing potions and cooking, but I guess it doesn't come as surprising."

She smirked. "No, it doesn't. Your turn."

"Excuse me?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You have to ask me something simple like I did."

Her eyes were expecting. Severus was fully aware he had to play the game, so he gave it some thought and finally inquired, "Favorite book genre?"

The conversation was fluid, and Severus had to admit he had had a good time. He hadn't let his guard down, but neither had his wife. Despite that, Severus could tell Skyrah was a curious and accepting woman and he found that they were quite alike: they sometimes could be a little rude, were introverted and intellectual, and sarcasm seemed to be their common language. Skyrah gave the impression to talk a lot, but she was also a good listener. Severus was actually glad he had forgotten about buying food this week. They paid for the meal and headed home.

"You know, I actually enjoyed it very much."

"Italian muggle food is tolerable."

She gave him a lopsided smile. "I found the food delicious, but I was talking about the company."

He stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't dare look at her face.

"It felt like a first date." If he had faced her, he would have distinghished her reddish cheeks. His own cheeks were not as pale as usual either. "I've finally got to know you a little better, even if we talked about insignificant things. Thank you."

Thank you. Severus noticed she uttered those two words an awful lot. Why would Voldemort's daughter be such a grateful person? He had no idea, but then again, he hadn't expected her to be understanding and friendly either. Cold, calculating and astute? Sure. She could be that, but she had demonstrated to be so much more. Whether she was pretending or not, he could not tell.

"I liked it too," he replied, terrified of his honesty.

His response drew in Skyrah's face a shy smile. She hesitated a little at first, but she finally grabbed his hand on their way home. Against his better judgment, Severus let her. It felt too good not to.

At home, they brewed for two hours until Skyrah needed a break from all the fumes the potions released. Then, they went to the grocery store and bought all the food they would need for one week. Severus had insisted in going to a wizard town nearby for that, but Skyrah had persuaded him. She didn't want wizards and witches who could recognize them to see them before they played their roles as husband and wife well. 

Reading occupied the rest of the day. It turned out that Severus had a big library, and Skyrah couldn't resist it. She borrowed a book and they read: he, the potions book; she, the borrowed book. For hours, the only sound which could be heard was that of turning pages. They had dinner and went to sleep.

This time, it was Skyrah who woke up in the middle of the night. Severus was the one with nightmares. He was sweating and he kept on repeating a name.

Lily. Lily. Lily.

Skyrah frowned and shook him. His eyes opened. He took his wand from under the pillow and pointed it at Skyrah, the tip touching her throat. His eyes were red in fury and his breathing was harsh. Her pupils dilated. 

"Severus? It's me. Skyrah. Please, lower your wand. You had a nightmare, I won't hurt you."

When Severus recognized her voice, he came back to his senses. His wand lowered. "My apologies. I didn't mean to scare you."

Her expression softened.

"It's okay. Do you think you'll be able to sleep again? I will get you a calming draught."

"It's not necessary."

"Are you sure?"

Skyrah wasn't convinced. After all, his breathing was still irregular and he hadn't stopped sweating. 

"Lie down and close your eyes."

He obeyed. He had assumed she would follow suit and sleep. He tensed when she grabbed his hand. He was about to ask her what she was doing when she began to hum a sweet lullaby.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,

Too-ra-loo-ra-li,

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,

Hush now, don't you cry.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,

Too-ra-loo-ra-li,

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,

That's an Irish lullaby.

"Better?"

"Yes."

It was true, her voice had appeased him, yet he couldn't help but wonder, "An Irish lullaby?"

"My grandmother was Irish. She used to sing it to me."

He doubted she was talking about Voldemort's mother. No. She was talking about the mother's side. He mentally kicked himself. Why hadn't he wondered about her mother's side before? Who was her mother? Did he know her? Was she a Death Eater? Was she dead? Was that why neither Skyrah nor Voldemort ever mentioned her? Realizing that mulling over the subject did nothing to relax him, he occluded. With a blank mind, it was easier to sleep.

Meanwhile, Skyrah's mind was reeling.

Lily. Lily. Lily.

Chapter Text

When Severus woke up, the first thing he noticed was that someone was pressed against him.

His wife.

He had his legs intertwined with Skyrah's and her palms were touching his chest. Last morning, there had been some space between them, a space he now craved. His stomach wouldn't be doing flip flops, now.

Severus turned bright red and silently thanked whoever was up there that the woman was asleep. As quietly and gently as he could, he pulled away from her and went to have a shower. While the water poured against his skin, Severus kept thinking. Yesterday had been interesting. Skyrah kept on surprising him, to say the least. Why did she know a muggle song? It just didn't make any sense.

One minute she looked as scary as her father, and two minutes later she was smiling and holding his hand. It didn't make sense, not at all. And then there were those strange feelings she evoked. Why wasn't he repulsed by the Dark Lord's daughter? She was gorgeous. But then again, he had never been interested in the body or in anyone in general. He had only had eyes for Lily. Since he married Skyrah Andraste though, he found he liked her touch: it felt nice, warm. And they had been together for only two days. Saying that Severus was terrified was a massive understatement. He knew he couldn't trust her, but she made it so difficult when she simply chatted with him about trivial things like book genres. He was blessed and damned at the same time: there she was, the woman who could match his cunning and intelligence happened to be Voldemort's daughter.

He was a right mess.

With these thoughts still fresh on his mind, Severus got out of the shower with a towel that covered him from hips to knees. He headed to his bedroom to get some clothes and get dressed. When he stepped in though, he caught a just-woken-up Skyrah stretching her body like a cat. She sat on the bed and yawned, covering her mouth. Then she rubbed her eyes. She looked cute doing that in her messy hair. Not like Severus would say it out loud. Cute wasn't part of his vocabulary. For a moment, Severus only saw a beautiful woman waking up from a restless night, not the daughter of a monster.

When Skyrah acknowledged his presence, she raised an eyebrow, stared for longer than necessary at his chest and bit her lip. Her dilated pupils got him wondering whether she found him attractive.

Ha!

Attractive. Him? No. She was still sleepy. She wasn't in her right mind. Nobody would ever find him attractive. He had figured it out the first time he stared at himself in a mirror. And yet, she looked like she liked what she saw.

"Good morning," she purred.

Her voice was deeper than normal and Severus thought that he liked it even more. It sounded…sexier. Get a grip, he thought.

"You've already taken a shower… You smell… good."

Although his mind didn't know what to think, his body did know exactly how to react. Severus felt a familiar sensation down his groin. Sweet Salazar. He hoped she didn't notice. Unlikely, considering her gaze was fixed on that particular zone. It didn't help that she was licking her lips. Oh, gods, her lips. How come he hadn't seized the moment when he pecked her lips in the wedding, again?

Suddenly snapping out of her daze, Skyrah cried out, "Bloody hell! Just forget what I've said! I'll take a cold shower before I do or say something else I might regret!"

Severus was left alone in the room, alone with his hard member, that is. Shit! Think about a naked Potter, Albus in pink a swimsuit, the Dark Lord… Just stop imagining her.

When Skyrah came back from the shower, she found her husband reading the Daily Prophet.

"Severus?"

"Yes?" he asked, eyes fixed on the newspaper.

He was afraid his body would react again just by looking at her.

"I-I'm sorry about… Well, you know what I'm talking about. I shouldn't have commented on anything after you came back f-from the shower."

Did she have to bring that up? Hoping she would drop the subject, he adopted a casual posture.

"Why? We are married," he said, peeping at her over the newspaper that covered his face.

A deep blush spread from her cheeks to her ears. Severus never thought he'd live to see the day the Dark Lord's daughter blushed and stuttered. It nearly made him smirk. Nearly.

"Oh, don't play dumb with me. We have known each other for two days. We are strangers, and this lust was wrong. Yesterday felt like a first date, but I don't want to rush anything."

"Don't you think it's too late for that? We've already had sex, Skyrah. It's what your father wanted us to do," he stated with a monotone voice.

Skyrah lowered her gaze. It was the first time she looked so... ashamed and even disappointed with herself. He pretended to read. In fact, he was trying to fathom why someone like her would lust after someone like him. Sleepy, she was sleepy, he told himself again. She is ashamed because now she is fully awake, and she sees my ugliness.

When she didn't reply, he folded the Daily Prophet and left it on a small ebony table near the sofa. She had wrapped her arms around herself by then, as if seeking solace. For some unkown reason, the sight made him feel uncomfortable. 

A sense of protection came over him, and he found himself muttering, "Lust is not something you can control. Feeling bad for that is useless."

He didn't know what had possessed him to say that, but he did not regret it. He had earned a soft smile from her. 

Not many people smiled at him.

They had breakfast and sat on the sofa. Skyrah took the potions book and started to turn pages slowly, seeking something in particular. When she found it, she showed the page to her husband and told him, "This potion is complicated, but it can be done in three hours. Not long. It can tell us if I'm pregnant a few days after the coition. Not only that… It also informs about the gender of the baby. I know it is very difficult to get pregnant on the first try, but still… Could we brew it? Please?"

Severus was shocked. He hadn't expected this at all. He had actually forgotten about the heir thing. Skyrah gulped, expectant. It wasn't like he could refuse, so he nodded. She gifted him with a smile, again. A light kiss on his cheek was a bonus. His black eyes widened and, to his dismay, it was his turn to blush. This woman had kissed him like that two days ago when he told her he was going to make the experience pleasurable for her. Severus spotted a pattern: whenever she felt thankful and overwhelmed by emotion, she kissed his cheek.

He wasn't sure of what to think about that.

At his reaction, his wife chuckled light-heartedly and teased, "What's the matter, Potions Master? Not used to cheek kisses?"

No. Not used to kisses. Thankfully, she wasn't expecting an answer.

"We could brew it on Saturday, don't you think?"

"Whenever you want," he replied.

"Saturday, it is. Can we take a walk around the town?"

Severus looked at her as if she had grown two heads.

"You want to take a walk around a muggle town? I understand we had to go to the restaurant to eat something, but this is not a necessity."

She stood with arms akimbo. "I don't care. I want to stretch my legs. I refuse to spend days enclosed at home. I'm going out. You can come with me or stay. Whatever pleases you the most."

With that said, she transfigured her robes into muggle clothes. Nothing fancy; a simple striped shirt with some jeans. She was about to leave when Severus grabbed her wrist and turned her around. He didn't say anything, but his plain black muggle clothes were enough for her to gather she had convinced him. Skyrah smirked with triumph. They left the house and walked around the town. Spinner's End was not a pretty place, so he took her to the nearest park. At least, there were a few trees and a small lake. It was the place he had met Lily. They didn't chat. Both walked in silence, viewing flashbacks of the past days. 

She lay down on the grass with her arms crossed under her head and one knee flexed. He copied her posture. Memories of laying on the same spot with Lily came flooding back. It was painful. His heart ached with remorse. Pushing the thought of Lily aside, he tilted his head to look at Skyrah again. She had been staring, and was now pretending to look past him. Her cheeks were tainted crimson, and he'd be lying if he said her cheeks had ever looked more kissable. He had mastered emotional control, though. He did not move. He did not even stare at her cheeks, or worse, her lips. He looked up at the sky and shut his eyes. Their bodies were not in contact, yet he felt her close to him. Her presence, strangely, did not bother him. In fact, he was so relaxed, he could not estimate how long they had been in that position before Skyrah finally sat up.

"There is something I've been meaning to ask you."

Severus gulped and got into a sitting position, preparing himself for the worst. Those words were never good news when they came from the mouth of a woman.

"Who is Lily? Before you woke up from your nightmare you were mumbling her name."

This was on the top of 'the worst things Voldemort's daughter can ask Severus' list. His face sobered and paled considerably. He stayed silent, looking up at the sky as if the few clouds hovering over them held the right answer. Skyrah waited patiently.

"It doesn't matter."

"Sure, that is why you have been pondering for a full minute if you should tell me or not," she said sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest. "You don't fool me, Severus. This Lily is important to you. Who is she? I have the right to know, I'm your wife. And if you don't tell me I might get suspicious… If you don't confess now I can wait until we meet my father. You won't be able to hide then."

Damn this witch! he thought. Using her father as a threat was a low yet effective blow. Suddenly, Severus had an idea. Two could play this game, after all.

"You screamed something interesting the first night too, Skyrah… As your husband, I have the right to know," he mocked her. Her expression was emotionless, once again. Good, thought Severus, She puts her mask on when she wants to hide something, I got her. "It was something about the lines - Don't kill them! Please, I'll do anything! – So tell me, who were you trying to save? Quite frankly, you and I both know that was not a nightmare but a memory. You may be his daughter, but I'm his most loyal Death Eater, which means he trusts me. I'm sure he'd like to know about that little memory."

Skyrah's eyes didn't show any emotion, but at the end of his speech, she found herself snorting, "You are playing with fire, Severus. You threatened me in vain. My father already knows about it. Which makes me think, why would you threaten me if Lily's identity wasn't something you didn't want me to find out? My father would certainly like to hear about her."

Bloody hell! he thought. The possibility that she was bluffing still existed, but something told him he better not find out.

"Talking about Lily is not easy. You are right, as my wife you should know about her, the same way I should know about your dream. You said you wanted to trust me? Show it."

Despite her cold expression, her eyes clouded. 

"Fine. I was trying to save my family."

Her family? From whom was she trying to save them? Did she fail? Was that why she cried? Severus was about to question her further when she cut him off, "Your turn."

He shook his head and tried to get more information from her.

"What happened?"

"I asked first Severus. Don't expect me to open up to you with something as personal as that. I told you I didn't want to rush anything. I'm not ready and that's enough for the nonce. Your turn," she repeated.

Staring at her eyes, he confessed in a sober voice, "Lily was my childhood friend."

Her expression softened. She noticed the verbal tense - was. Lily was gone.

"I'm sorry."

She did sound sorry, almost as if she empathized with him, as if she had lost a friend once. Severus didn't want her pity. He rose up, cursing himself for taking her to this place to start with. He didn't extend his hand to help her get up. They walked back home in awkward silence. Once at home, he entered the kitchen, his sneer becoming more profound the more she followed him.

"Do you want to cook together?" she asked softly.

"I cook better alone," he hissed, still angry about the earlier conversation.

Skyrah huffed. "I'm sorry, okay? I can tell you are very fond of Lily. I didn't mean to upset you… I won't tell my father, if that's what you are worried about."

He turned his attention to her. She seemed sincere and even looked regretful. Each time he had been honest with her, she had seemed to open up. Maybe, if he confessed more things, she'd be willing to tell him about her memory and family. That was what Albus would have advised him to do, anyway.

"Your father already knows about her."

"Oh! Joke's on me then! Sorry again. I'll leave you cooking. I'll go and read or something," she babbled. She had reached the doorway when Severus grabbed her wrist. Skyrah swung around. "What is it? I thought you cooked better alone."

Severus ignored her resentful comment. "There's something I don't understand… If your father already knows about your nightmare, why can't you tell me? What's the difference?"

"I'll tell you more if I find it necessary or feel like it, which isn't the occasion right now. Besides, I could ask you the same… Obviously, my father doesn't know everything about Lily; you looked really troubled when I suggested it. And of course, you didn't hesitate to threaten me to avoid the answer… I don't want to fight, okay? We all have secrets, we should leave it at that."

Her words only assured Severus she was hiding something. He'd have to win her trust and spend time with her if he wanted to uncover those secrets, so he did the only thing he could think of.

"We shall cook together."

She frowned at first but then smiled shyly and admitted, "I'm not a good cook. I only said it to spend time with you and forget about that conversation. I'm used to having house elves, after all… Are you sure?"

Severus arched an eyebrow and muttered, "You also said you were bad at Potions, and you are better at it than you believe… I'm taking the risk."

Unexpectedly, Skyrah ran towards him and threw her arms around his neck, making his eyes widen in astonishment. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear. When he felt her hot breath on his neck, Severus felt shivers running down his spine. His body stiffened and he didn't hold her back. No one had ever hugged him since he was a kid, by Lily's doing, of course. He was still getting used to her touch. As soon as it started though, Skyrah broke the embrace and walked towards the now full fridge, nearly bouncing in excitement, as if she was a little child on Christmas Day. Her dark hair moved up and down, following her little jumps. When she noticed her husband wasn't following her, she turned around and put her hands on her waist.

"I have just told you I'm a horrible cook. If you don't come, I will unintentionally burn down the house. You don't want that, do you?" she teased with a little grin and a raised eyebrow.

Severus snapped out of it and approached her. It turned out she really wasn't lying: she was a dreadful cook. He had never reckoned someone could be that awful and helpless in the kitchen. He would never admit it out loud, but despite all the trouble, he had had fun with her. When they were finally eating the result, Skyrah mumbled, "Thanks for putting up with me. And sorry for nearly burning the meat."

"I'll keep an eye on you every time you enter the kitchen. I don't want it to blow up."

Severus had been dead serious, but the comment made Skyrah laugh out loud. He didn't understand why, but the sound made the corners of his mouth turn upwards in an attempt of a smile. It had been so long since he had smiled though, that it turned out in a strange grimace, but not quite a smile. Voldemort's daughter didn't seem to care about that though; she simply smiled back brightly and said, "Sounds fair… I should take up cooking classes too, shouldn't I?"

The following days Skyrah and Severus didn't have any more arguments or nightmares. Skyrah kept on surprising him with affectionate gusts from time to time and Severus didn't mind them one bit. He was starting to really enjoy her company. He had always been lonely, but in a few days, Skyrah had brightened up his life once again. He didn't forget why he was married to her, and whom exactly he was dealing with; but it didn't change the fact that he liked waking up next to her, and the way she concentrated while reading, the little touches they shared while brewing potions and the best part of the day… Cooking. She had managed to make him laugh with her little jokes. Sure, he was expecting a sarcastic sense of humor out of her; but her goofy side caught him off guard.

Severus was afraid of her, but what he was most afraid of was of his feelings… A simple touch sent shivers down his spine. In the most unexpected moments, he kept having flashes of the time he lost his virginity and the lust in her eyes when he had just had the shower. He knew he had to stop that; it would only end up in pain. Eventually, the war would be over and the marriage would end with it, that was if he got out of it alive.

It was Saturday. Severus woke up and missed the warmth he had gotten used to feeling first thing in the morning. That could only mean one thing: Skyrah was already up. Weird. He had always been the first to rise.

He opened his eyes and noticed Skyrah was actually in the bedroom. She was staring at him intensely, but she wasn't in the bed. She was already dressed, leaning on the doorway, her hand caressing her abdomen absentmindedly. Today was the day they found out whether she was pregnant.

Chapter Text

After having some cereal for breakfast, Skyrah and Severus went to the potions lab and started to work together on the potion that would reveal whether she was pregnant or not, and if positive, the gender of the baby as well. Skyrah was more serious than usual, trembling in edginess, pacing.

While he stirred the potion and Skyrah kept reading the instructions, he interrupted her and offered, "Skyrah, do you want to drink a calming draught? I can finish the potion on my own. Rest. I will call you when it is ready."

Stubbornly, she shook her head and replied, "I'm not going away. I'll help you with this."

"You should calm down. Lie down. I will call you as soon as I finish it, I promise. I am just trying to do what is best for you."

Skyrah smiled sadly, on the verge of tears. She couldn't help but hug him from behind and kiss his cheek. With her arms still enfolding him, she murmured, "You are a good husband, Severus."

A warm feeling grew in his stomach. His cheek tingled pleasantly. Her footsteps faded away until there was only silence.

Severus ignored the coldness he suddenly felt and focused on the potion. Since it was related to the Dark Arts, it wasn't very famous. In truth, it was only considered dark because it required a bit of blood from the parents. The Ministry had declared as dark all the potions which required human blood samples, stating they weren't ethical. Severus didn't have any problem with it though; he had prepared worse potions for the Dark Lord, after all, lethal potions. He spent the next two hours brewing. When it was ready, he searched his wife.

He looked in the living room and in their bedroom. No sign of her. Where could she be? Acting on a hunch, he strode towards the garden. There she was, in the same fashion he had found her the last time, with her back to him. The more he approached her, the clearer the melody that came from her lips became. He called her name softly so as not to startle her. When she got up and turned around, her eyes were dry. Severus sighed relieved. Weeping women made him uncomfortable. He didn't know how to react. She wrung her hands - still nervous - but the fresh air had done her good. She was the one to lead the way to the lab.

"We'll need a drop of your blood. If it doesn't change colours in one minute, it will mean you aren't pregnant," explained Severus.

Skyrah inhaled and exhaled deeply, willing to calm down, and took a knife. A small cut on her hand, and a blood drop poured into the cauldron.

She kept fidgeting, so Severus did something which amazed himself: he took her hand. Usually, it was Skyrah the one who initiated any kind of physical contact, so the gesture surprised her, too. If his gaze hadn't been fixed on the potion, too embarrassed to glance at her, he would have perceived the corners of her mouth moving upwards. 

He was as nervous and scared as she was; he just masked it better. What if she was already with child? Would they make good parents? A few days ago, the answer would have been negative. Now, though, he wasn't so sure. Skyrah wasn't as reluctant as he was to show affection, something every child needs. He could also tell a lot about someone by the way they brewed potions. She had demonstrated dedication and hard-work – good qualities. Maybe they could raise a child despite the identity of the grandfather.

The main question was, did he want to be a father? Although Severus had never liked children, the scenario of having a child with Skyrah was not something he had aversion to. He even got warm fuzzies from imagining Skyrah singing the Irish lullaby to their child. He didn't know when his attitude had changed and he still kept in mind this was Voldemort's daughter, but somehow, he didn't care as much. He didn't hold on to false hope though. The chances to get her pregnant on the first try were minor. Too many couples struggled for years to have children. 

Skyrah gasped and squeezed his hand, bringing him back to reality. The potion had turned from red to orange. She was pregnant.

"Severus…" she whispered, quivering.

He swallowed hard. 

"I have to drop my blood to know the sex of the child. Do you wish to hold on longer to let the news sink in?"

She shook her head and requested, while caressing her belly, "Do it now, please."

Severus made a cut and let the blood drops fall. She was more anxious than ever, eyes misty all over again, hand trembling in his. They waited until the orange shade changed into purple.

"A girl." 

As soon as he revealed the gender, Skyrah stormed out of the lab. He was too shocked to go after her.

Pregnant.

She was carrying his child.

His.

He was to be a father, and not a common one at that. No. He was about to be the father of You-know-who's grandchild. 

He guessed, minor as the possibility had been to get her pregnant, it still existed. He spent ten minutes standing in silence with his racing mind, he flounced out of the potions lab and rushed to the garden. She was seated on the grass, with her hands covering her face. Her shoulders shook violently with her sobs. Severus was at a loss. Hadn't they obeyed the orders? And sooner than expected too. Then it clicked. A girl. The Dark Lord wanted a boy, an heir. Fuck, thought Snape.

"Skyrah?"

When she looked at him, her eyes were red and her nose was puffy. She was hyperventilating. Alarmed, Severus sat on the grass next to her and did the unexpected: he held her. Granted, it was awkward, his arms were too tense, unused to the gesture, but Skyrah didn't seem to care and held him back as if her life depended on it, while her breathing kept on being fast and irregular.

"Take big slow breaths. Like that. Perfect."

Her breathing had returned back to normal. Silent tears were still streaming down her face though.

"That's it. Very well, Skyrah."

She hugged him even more tightly after this and didn't loosen her grip for thirt minutes.

"He can't know," she whispered dead serious, extracting herself from the embrace.

"Pardon?" he asked. "We cannot hide a pregnancy," he tried to sound gentle, but it came out as a snarl.

"We can try. I'm only a few days pregnant. We can hide it for the first four months. Then, not even spells will be able to cover it up, but I'll think of something. I'll invent the spells myself if I must. Please! I know it seems unreal but it's not. Even if right now she's minuscule, she's still alive. If everything goes well, this little girl I'm growing inside will be my daughter in nine months. If he finds out, he'll kill her. I'm not losing my daughter!" she begged, screaming to the point of hysterics.

Trying to remain calm, he murmured, "Your father is no fool, Skyrah. He will find out."

Letting out a bittersweet laugh she growled, "Of course you'd say that! I'm married to his most loyal Death Eater. I don't know why I thought for a moment you were human. I guess I was wrong."

She stood up and was about to leave when Severus caught her wrist. She stopped but didn't turn to face him. Trying to reason with her, he said, "Do you think the Dark Lord would kill her? What he seeks is immortality. A girl can also grant him that."

"You don't get it."

"Then help me understand. You are pregnant! You should be happy!" he exclaimed. "I am happy…" 

She faced him at his confession. "Is that so? Do you want to have a daughter?"

He hesitated. Should he reveal his deepest thoughts and feelings? His mind told him it wasn't safe, but the look in his wife's eyes, the one who had managed to make him smile, persuaded him.

"I never wanted children. I'm not good with them. When the Dark Lord asked for an heir I knew I had no choice but to obey. And now… Now I am happy you are with child. My child. Not only to satisfy your father's will but for me."

Skyrah gulped. "If that's true, you have to trust in me. He can't know, or she'll die. He threatened me. He wants a boy. He already has a girl: me."

Severus was speechless. There had only been one day she had shown her vulnerability like she was doing now: it was when she lost her virginity.

"Please! He doesn't know about the potion. This will give us some time. Please! Please, don't tell!"

Terrified as he was to lie about the heir to Voldemort, Severus found himself thinking they could actually win time, considering they both were good occlumens. He wasn't letting his daughter go so easily, so he nodded solemnly. At his response, a bright smile appeared on her pretty face, making all the sadness go away. Her tears were of happiness and relief now, and Skyrah couldn't help but throw herself at him, enfolding him in her arms.

"I knew you weren't bad," she whispered against his chest. 

His students wouldn't agree with her, but it felt nice to hear somebody say he was not a bad person. His hands timidly searched her waist. Skyrah looked up at him. He withdrew his hands, feeling like he had overstepped the limits. To his surprise, she tiptoed and leaned in. Oh, Gods! She was going to kiss him. On the mouth. The idea was not repulsing. Not at all. In fact, he became aware of his breathing and pulse, and he bowed his head unconsciously.

His lips hadn't been Skyrah's aim; she pecked his cheek, instead. He opened his eyes in disappointment but let out a shaky breath at the contact anyway. She did keep her lips there for longer than necessary, caressing his cheek. She whispered a thank you, letting her lips brush his cheek one last time before drawing back. 

After the intense morning, they cooked together, as always. Skyrah was extra clumsy in the kitchen, most likely because of the news. Not that he blamed her. He was nervous, too.

During the meal, Skyrah suggested taking a walk around the park again to forget about the drama for an hour. Severus was happy to oblige. When they got home, Skyrah had a piece of fruit grudgingly. She wasn't hungry, but he insisted she had to eat something for the baby's sake. He won the battle. While he was finishing dinner, Skyrah told him she'd be reading on the couch.

By the time he joined her, she had already fallen asleep, the book nearly falling off her hands. He took it and left it on a table nearby. Then, he put a rebel lock of hair which was covering her face behind her ear, using it as an excuse for caressing the point where her jaw and her ear met, sometimes brushing her cheek. Her face was relaxed, at peace after the rollercoaster of emotions she had been through. He was glad she was finally resting. He wondered if he would still care for her well-being if he didn't know she was with child. He was afraid of discovering the answer. Hence, he put the thought aside and studied her features under deep scrutiny.

She told him she liked roses. He found himself comparing her to one. Both had thorns - she had a cutting tongue, and she was not afraid to fight. Dangerous. Like her father. Both had petals. Delicate. Soft. Beautiful. He was especially fond of her small refined nose. He would give anything for his daughter to inherit the nose of her mother. Oh, Merlin. He had just found out he was going to be a father, and he already fantasized about his daughter. He was getting carried away. He took his wand and levitated her body with the intention to lead her to their bed. When she touched the mattress, she made a sound and Severus knew she had woken up.

"Severus?"

"Sh. It's been an exhausting day, go back to sleep," he whispered while he took her hand and unwittingly drew a pattern with his thumb on her palm.

"But-" 

"No buts. Rest. I will join you later," he said in a soft voice he never imagined he possessed.

She complied, falling asleep with a gentle smile.

Severus went back to the living room. He reclined on the couch and debated whether he should report Albus about the pregnancy. For some reason, he felt like he was betraying Skyrah, hiding this from her. After today's events, after seeing her so worried about their child, he couldn't do it. Waiting a few weeks to tell Albus wouldn't hurt.

His thoughts turned to Skyrah. He found himself caring about the Dark Lord's daughter. It scared him to death and, at the same time, he felt blessed to have somebody in his life who wasn't afraid to touch him. Severus was starting to feel something for that woman, his wife, the future mother of his child. He had never felt anything similar since Lily. It wasn't logical, but that didn't change the fact that he was thrilled to have a daughter with her despite having spent only a few days with Skyrah. He just couldn't understand how someone like her could be Voldemort's daughter. Sure, the woman was as shrewd, intelligent and cunning as her father; but she was also affectionate, funny and compassionate, qualities He-who-must-not-be-named had never shown. Skyrah had even confessed he had threatened her and Severus didn't believe she had lied about that. Voldemort be damned! He wasn't going to lose his only chance at having family because of him.

When he woke up, Skyrah was still sleeping. Her hands were touching his back and he could feel her hot breath on his skin, which made the hair from his nape bristle. Yesterday had been stressful for her. Stress wasn't good for the child. He wanted to do something for her. He wanted her to know she would take care of her and the unborn child. Thus, he prepared some orange juice and cooked pancakes. She adored them the last time he cooked them. He put the food on a tray and went upstairs. She was still asleep.

"Good morning."

Her nostrils dilated. She had woken up. "Pancakes?" 

"They are your favorite breakfast, are they not?"

She finally opened her eyes and giggled at the sight of her husband with a tray with of pancakes and some juice.

"Are we going to eat here, on the bed?" she wondered in disbelief.

He raised an eyebrow and teased, "If you have any objection, we may go to the kitchen and sit on those cold hard wooden chairs."

Playing along, she ribbed, "Oh no! I wouldn't want your body to suffer because of those horrible chairs!"

"Pardon? Are you calling me old?" he asked as a smile was threatened to appear on his face.

She was the only one who took the time to joke with him. He appreciated that.

She chuckled. "Just sit next to me, Severus. I can't believe you did this!"

He complied and positioned the tray in front of them. Skyrah slowly turned to him and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Severus."

He blushed.

She noticed. She was smirking.

Damn her 'thank you' cheek kisses. They always flustered Severus. Embarrassed, he started to eat. So did Skyrah. When the glasses were empty and the plates only held crumbs, Severus rose up. He was about to took the tray and go to the kitchen to wash the dishes, when Skyrah grabbed his hand and yanked him down.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to cuddle. Do you mind? I thought I might give it a try," she said with a smile.

"A-are you serious?"

Touching someone to comfort them, like holding their hands or hugging them, was one thing. Cuddling just for the sake of it was something he had never done in his life and wouldn't feel comfortable with, for sure. Before he could complain though, Skyrah had already removed the tray so that it wouldn't bother them, settled in between his legs and lay with her head against the crook of his neck and her hands touching his chest. He wasn't holding her. With a frown, she took his stiff arms and wrapped herself in them.

"Better," she purred, closing her eyes.

He was cuddling. In bed. With Voldemort's daughter. She was still in her nightgown. He was completely dressed in his robes. She had her eyes closed, completely relaxed. He let out a breath and shut his eyes. Now he could feel her warmth better, how her body fit against his. The sensation was not unpleasant. He did not feel so lonely, holding her. Soon, he unstiffened. He would have sworn she had smiled against his chest, but the fabric was too thick for him to be certain. 

Skyrah shot her head up. His eyes flew open. She looked in trouble. She lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. The contact was so pleasant he gasped and shut his eyes. He didn't even acknowledge that he leaned into her palm, seeking more. She kissed his forehead, then his cheekbones and his nose. The last one got him opening his eyes just in time to see her leaning in. This time, his mouth had been her aim.

They had never kissed before. That forced peck at their wedding hardly counted. Even when they were consummating the marriage, their lips hadn't met. It would have felt way too intimate otherwise. They hadn't been ready. But as she cupped his face and pulled him closer to deepen the kiss, he found he was more than ready to kiss her back. Her fleshy lips were incredibly soft against his thin ones. Severus couldn't help but close his eyes and let out a moan as she opened her mouth, giving him access to explore it. She tasted of pancakes and orange, and it nearly made him smile into the kiss. Just when he was about to put his hands on her back and caress her, she broke the kiss.

Her icy mask was back, reminding him of the first day he saw her. She left the room without looking back, leaving him flustered and disconcerted.

He had just kissed Voldemort's daughter, and he had liked it.

Chapter Text

Skyrah avoided Severus all day long. No brewing lessons. No cooking together. They ate in absolute silence. Their gazes never locked. She read, did some chores and went to the garden. Alone. Each time her spouse tried to talk to her or to spend some time together, she had some kind of excuse ready to shoot.

"I feel tired."

"Maybe later."

"I'm busy."

"I don't feel like it."

"Leave me the hell alone, Severus," she even hissed once.

He didn't know what had happened, but she had started to behave like that since that kiss. Shouldn't have he kissed her back? She had been the one to initiate it, and Severus didn't regret it. He had felt something funny in his stomach which he quite liked. Just closing his eyes he could remember all the details, how her lips felt against his, her taste, the way she cupped his face. He also remembered her look before and after the kiss. She had been troubled, and she had put on her mask. Why? Why would she push him away, now that they had started to develop something? They took one step forward and two steps back. She was even colder than on their first day together. 

Fed up with her illogical behavior, he snapped during dinner, "What has got into you?"

She lifted an eyebrow. "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb with me! We both know you are a smart witch! Figure it out!"

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to be more specific," she replied calmly, something which infuriated Severus.

"You've been avoiding me all day long," he huffed. "Why? Everything was fine before the kiss, a kiss you initiated, had you forgotten."

At the mention of the kiss, Skyrah's eyes got cloudy, but only for a second. She had her mask on. Again. Severus was starting to hate that mask.

"I fancied being alone. You have been able to work on your potions without my inconvenience for once. You strike me as a man who appreciates solitude from time to time. I don't comprehend why you are complaining."

Severus would have believed her if it hadn't been for the lack of emotions on her face. It didn't seem like her to wish to be alone all of sudden either, even less when she had been by his side nearly all day these few past days. Her tearful eyes when he mentioned the kiss hadn't escaped his notice either. She was hiding something. Before he could question her though, Skyrah changed the subject, "Dumbledore's coming tomorrow, right?"

Severus nodded.

"Good. We'll have to behave like a normal married couple. What did you tell him about me?"

"Not much, just that we had been dating in secret and that you were interested in applying for a job at Hogwarts. I did not reveal anything else about you. He just was happy I was settling down with a woman."

She nodded, putting an end to the conversation. She retired to bed soon after that, without talking to him.

Severus didn't like that Skyrah that much. He wanted the other Skyrah back, the Skyrah who smiled and teased him, the one who accidentally touched him while brewing potions and made silly jokes while they cooked. He wanted to hear her sing, to hold her hand while they took a walk around town. He missed his wife, the woman who kissed his cheek whenever she felt grateful. A nasty voice in his head kept taunting him, telling him that Skyrah was an illusion. The real Skyrah was cold. It was in her blood. She, his enemy, was pregnant with his child, and to cap it all, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her again.

He was fucked up.

Skyrah woke up. Her body was pressed against her sleeping husband. In his sleep, the hard lines of his face were not so visible. She smiled at the sight and moved a hand to caress his chest, but stopped right before touching him. She gulped. With a sober expression, she went to have a shower. The water fell into the bathtub. Steam enveloped her.

"I don't know what to do, Daniel," she muttered to herself, resting her head against a wet tile of the wall, letting the water pour onto her back.

She panicked, thinking that Severus might have woken up and overheard her, but the water kept flowing. She had spoken so low there was no chance he would have listened to her, that is if he was awake, to begin with. Don't be paranoid, she scolded herself. Later, she covered herself with a beige towel and got into the corridor. She was lost in her thoughts, and would have bumped into him on her way to the bedroom if he hadn't spoken.

"Good morning, Skyrah."

He could have easily glanced down his nose, into her visible cleavage, or her uncovered legs. Any man would have had. He did not. He stared at her face, looking for something, anything that told him she was not going to ignore him today.

"Good morning," she said in a passive manner.

She looked at him as if she wanted to add somethingm but her face grew cold. Again. She left him alone so that he could also shower. Albus arrived via floo network after they had a quiet, uncomfortable breakfast.

"Severus! My boy!" he greeted, removing the green dust off his shoulders.

Severus rolled his eyes.

"Hello, Albus."

In a blink of an eye, Skyrah's expression changed from ice cold to sweet. She was a decent actress. Severus would give her that. It only added to his worry. Had she been pretending to tolerate him and even like him all this time?

"This must be your lovely wife, Skyrah." 

"The one and only, sir. Welcome to our house," she replied with a sunny smile.

"Call me Albus," he said, winking at her.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Albus."

"The pleasure's mine."

Skyrah smiled even more brightly and offered, "We have just had breakfast, but if you haven't eaten anything I can prepare some coffee or something. Just ask."

"That won't be necessary. Thank you."

"Please, take a seat," she instructed.

The three adults sat down. Albus was on the big sofa of the room, next to Skyrah. Severus had summoned a chair from the kitchen and sat down in front of them.

"Severus was discreet regarding your relationship. I didn't know until you two were married."

"My husband likes to keep things private," she provided with a shrug.

"True, that! I am happy he's finally settled down with a lovely woman like you."

"I feel lucky to be married to a man like him," she replied, reaching for Severus's hand and squeezing it.

It was the first time she touched him since their quarrel.

He let out a small gasp. His eyes shut in longing for a few seconds. Details Albus missed not. Blue eyes sparkled curiously behind half-moon spectacles. Severus mentally kicked himself. He had let his guard down. A spy couldn't afford that.

"Severus told me you were interested in working at Hogwarts…"

"Correct. I would love to have a job which could give me the possibility to stay close to my husband."

"Which position do you wish to apply for?"

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts position although I would be happy working in the kitchens with the house elves. Like I said, I only want to be close to Severus. I would understand it if you didn't want to have me at the school, after all, you don't know me. There must be a lot of people aiming for the job…  I merely request you consider it."

Albus could see the traits this woman had inherited from her father. Physically, she had the same dark eyes and hair and pale skin young Tom Riddle did. They had a similar character too: both of them managed to sound polite and humble to get what they wanted. She was definitely an attractive, charming woman. Albus didn't trust her one bit but knew that he had to offer her the job or else, Severus could suffer to the point of blowing his spy cover.

"I will gladly consider it. An interview is in order. We shall start now. Severus, would you mind leaving us alone for this?"

Neither Severus nor Skyrah had expected this to happen so fast, but really, it was even better. Voldemort would be pleased. 

"I will be upstairs, may you require anything."

With that said, Severus left.

"I know it may sound precipitated, but I hope you don't mind it."

"Not at all, Albus."

"Good... Where did you study and what were your NEWT marks?"

"I studied in Ilvermorny, North America. I got outstanding marks in History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Charms and exceeds expectations in Arithmancy and Divination."

Albus noticed she had had the same results in the same subjects as her father, remarkable results. The witch was intelligent, all right. The only difference was that instead of Potions, she had chosen History of Magic and Charms, which meant she was more ambitious than Tom, at least, academically speaking.

"That's impressive," he mumbled, in all honesty.

"Coming from a wizard like you it means a lot. Thank you, Albus."

"Do you have any teaching experience?"

She grinned. "I do. I taught History of Magic in Ilvermorny for nine years after being in an apprenticeship for two years."

Albus acted surprised and exclaimed, "That's good. Do you consider yourself a good teacher?"

She gave it some thought and finally replied, "I always give my best and try to make my students feel at ease in the classroom. If they're tensed, they can't really learn. I'd say I have the patience, dedication and communication and interpersonal skills which are necessary for the job. As a con, I believe I should work more on my creativity and explore new ways of teaching. So to answer your question, I frankly don't know if I'm a good teacher or not. What I do know is that this profession makes me happy. It's my vocation, it's what I want to do."

Either, she was a talented actress, or she was genuine. Albus hoped it was the latter, considering he would be hiring her no matter what.

"You have taught History of Magic before. Are you certain you can handle a Defense Against the Darks Arts class? The subjects are quite different."

"History of Magic is mostly theory which helps us understand the world we are living in. Defense Against the Dark Arts has got theory too, but the aim is for students to be able to defend themselves, so most of my classes would be practical. I have given some practical lessons in History too, reading manuscripts and visiting places of relevance for America's History, so I'm not foreign to it. I will adapt to teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."

He grinned softly.

"We could keep up with this interview for a long time, but I can already see that you are the ideal applicant for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The job is yours. Congratulations."

Skyrah's eyes widened and a big smile appeared on her face as she thanked him.

"No! Thank you, Skyrah. I'm sure you'll be a great teacher. We shall call Severus back."

"Wait!" Her face had changed from blissful to fearful. Her whole body tensed. "Don't call him yet. I need your help."

She had spoken in such a low voice Albus thought he had heard wrong.

"Help?"

"I need to tell you something which you will probably dislike, but please, let me finish. I-I'm not just Severus's wife. I'm You-know-who's daughter. I need your help, but it's not for me. My father has kidnapped my family. If I don't do what he says, he hurts them. Please you have to save them! Severus… He's his most loyal Death Eater! I can't trust him." Tears started to slide down her beautiful face. "My mother and my sister… Help them! I- I can tell you about my father's plan in exchange. I'll do anything! Please!"

Albus kept his usual calm pose.

"You understand that I have to corroborate this and make sure you aren't lying. This is very serious, Skyrah."

"I understand. I'll take veritaserum, you can use legilimency… Whatever! You have to believe me! I have nobody else to turn to!"

Albus was still skeptical of her. Severus had described her as cunning and intelligent. It could be a trap. But then again, what would she win by telling him Severus wasn't loyal to him? And why would she be willing to show him her mind, when she had raised her occlumency walls on Severus? 

He stared at her eyes and legilimenced her. He saw a woman and a teen - mother and daughter, judging by their curly red hair - being taken away by a masked Death Eater. He saw how she refused to obey Lord Voldemort, only to be tortured and to witness the death of a young man about her age. He saw her tears and heard her desperate cries. He saw her falling on her knees, feeling like her whole world had been destroyed. He felt her fear, her impotence, her nerves when her father ordered her to have a child with his most loyal Death Eater.

Albus had seen enough. He didn't wish to invade her privacy anymore, so he got out of her mind. He was horrified. Severus had been right. This woman was just as trapped as he was in this marriage, and what he had seen was the memory that had troubled her at night, the memory Severus had suspected.

"Skyrah," he whispered with pity.

"Will you help them? I can take care of myself, I'll handle Severus. But I'm afraid my father will end up killing them if something doesn't go as planned," she murmured with a trembling voice, no longer crying but still teary-eyed.

"I'll see what I can do."

She hugged the man. She kept crying, but, this time, they were tears of felicity. Albus kept rocking her as if she was an innocent child until she composed herself.

"This changes everything." Raising his voice, he added, "Severus, you may come out of hiding now."

Severus obeyed. Her eyes widened. She took her wand out, got up and pointed it at her husband, who didn't take more steps but didn't take out his wand either.

"He spies for my father, Albus. We have to obliviate him or we won't have a chance to save my family."

"His true loyalty doesn't lie with your father. Severus has spied for me for years now. I already knew you were Tom's daughter before I came here. Lower your wand, please."

Skyrah gaped. Severus was spying on her father? He wasn't like any other Death Eater she had met, and he had taken care of her. He wasn't cruel. He hadn't passed on the information that she was pregnant to Voldemort. The fact that he was a spy would explain it. He wasn't a Death Eater, not a conventional one, at least. She lowered her wand and looked at him, searching for reassurance.

Severus gave her a nod. Then the unexpected happened. Skyrah giggled. She actually giggled. She ran to him and hugged him tightly. Severus was dazed but managed to put his arms around her waist, despite the obvious twinkle in Albus's eyes. She cupped his chin, shifting his gaze from Albus to her, and tiptoed. He held his breath in expectation, and he felt it. That softness. That warmth. Her lips molding against his. The room blurred around him, including his boss. He could only think about Skyrah and how good it felt to have her in his arms while she kept moving the tip of her tongue along his bottom lip. An electrifying feeling jolted through his body, and he found himself tightening the grip on her waist.

They broke the kiss to breathe. Skyrah sweetly caressed his nose with hers. She was smiling and she couldn't help but give him one last peck. And then, she hit his arm.

Hard.

"What was that for?"

Not the kiss. He wasn't questioning the kiss. He wanted another. The hit. He meant the hit.

"For making me believe you are my father's most loyal follower, you fool!"

"Look who's talking! You are his daughter!"

She was about to retort but realized he was right, so she pouted and mumbled, "Touché."

Albus chuckled. 

"What's so funny?" Severus snarled, hiding his blush behind his snark.

"You two. You are fighting like a real married couple in love. And dare I add, kissing like one."

Skyrah and Snape looked at anywhere but at each other.

"I'm sorry," she said so low only Severus heard her. "I forgot he was here."

Severus didn't reply, for he too had forgotten they weren't alone when her mouth was on his. He was certain Albus would tease him about it for the rest of his life.

"As I was saying, this changes everything," said Albus. "We should talk, don't you agree?"

Chapter Text

The Snapes and Albus got back to their previous seats. 

"When Severus informed me of Tom's plan, I had to agree," started Albus. "If Severus hadn't married you, his cover would have been blown. The situation remains the same. You two must do as he orders so that he doesn't suspect you. The most elementary mistake could cost us the war... Does he talk about Harry Potter?"

"The Dark Lord hasn't mentioned him since he came back," replied Severus. "He's focused on recruiting an army, not on the boy."

"That's what he wants his Death Eaters to believe," countered Skyrah. "He wants me to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job not only to spy on Albus but to influence and spy on the boy."

"Why would he do something like that when Severus is already at the school?" Albus inquired.

Severus rubbed his chin. "The Dark Lord knows I can't stand him. I am able to deliver information about him, but I cannot influence upon the boy with respect to a deep emotional level, except for anger, that is. Skyrah is meant to be the good cop. I am the bad cop."

Albus nodded.

"What exactly do you know that could help us defeat Tom, Skyrah?"

She pondered the answer. "I presume Severus has already told you about our... mission."

"Delivering an heir to reach immortality."

"That's right. What you may not know is that the heir is his plan B."

 Albus frowned. "What is his plan A, if you know?"

"Horcruxes. He hasn't told me about them, so he doesn't know I'm aware of this."

"How did you find out about them?" wondered Albus.

Skyrah smiled sadly. "My mother. He confided in her… I always knew he would come back. He never was gone, not really."

"I'm sorry, but I'm lost," interrupted Severus. "What exactly are horcruxes?"

"They are objects in which one deposits a part of their soul. I don't really know much about them. I don't even know which objects my father selected."

"So if those horcruxes were destroyed, he would die?" he guessed.

"Not exactly. He'd be mortal. I believe that is why he wants a male heir. His plan B. If someone discovered his horcruxes and found a way to destroy them, he could live in our child."

Severus shuddered at the thought.

"So we have to figure out which his horcruxes are and how to destroy them first," he said.

Easier said than done. Darting Skyrah a meaningul look, Albus said, "You are the most suitable person to figure out what his horcruxes are and where to find them."

"I'll try, although I'm not sure he'll tell anyone. I may be his daughter, but he doesn't trust me. That's why he holds my family captive," she said bitterly.

"Do you know where he may be keeping them?" Albus wondered in a soft voice.

With a sigh, she said, "I wish I had a clue."

"I'll do whatever I can for them," Albus vowed.

"Thanks," she whispered with thick emotion, attempting to grin at the man. The smile didn't reach her eyes.

"I guess that's all for today," announced Albus, standing up. "We'll keep in touch."

The Snapes mumbled a goodbye as the old wizard used the floo network.

Silence swept over them. It wasn't awkward. Rather, it was perfect to assimilate the implications of Albus's visit. Only Severus found himself wondering about Skyrah's behavior rather than the horcruxes. It wasn't like he could do something to find one now.

"Why did you ignore me yesterday?"

She stared at his black eyes for a long time. Severus waited patiently, holding her gaze. Just when he accepted he wasn't going to receive an answer, she confessed, "It's long and difficult to explain."

"I have time."

A few wavering seconds followed, and then, she spoke.

"I thought any man would take advantage of me after the wedding ceremony, especially a Death Eater, supposedly, the most loyal one. But you were different. You were so gentle with me, so considerate."

He averted her gaze. He wasn't used to compliments, even less when they were related to sex.

"You took me to bed when I fell asleep and comforted me when I most needed it. When I had that nightmare, you didn't question me or make me feel uncomfortable. You just helped me." A half-snort, half-giggle escaped her. "A Death Eater who cooks for his wife, teaches her potions and has a great first date with her! You intrigued me."

And you intrigued me, thought Severus.

"I wanted to get to know you, and it wasn't only for the sake of the mission. I was starting to like you. And when I saw you in that towel I-" she trailed off for a moment and her cheeks turned scarlet, "remembered how good you made me feel and I just couldn't help but think how good it would feel to have you inside me again. And I was angry at myself for having these thoughts."

Ashamed and disappointed as well. That had been the impression she had conveyed while she apologized afterwards. He didn't remind her, though. He didn't wish to transfer her attention to him and his pinkish cheeks. Thankfully, she was too lost in her tale to notice.

"While cuddling after having breakfast in bed, I wondered if I was starting to feel something for you or if it was only lust. I figured kissing you would help me understand my own feelings. And the kiss was amazing, Severus. I have never felt anything like that for anyone, not even for-"

She gulped.

"F-For my f-fiancé. I felt terribly guilty and stupid, that's why I avoided you, to stop having these feelings for you. How was it possible to fall in love with a Death Eater just weeks after my fiancé's death?" she asked with tears in her eyes. "I felt horrible. I still do. But it doesn't change the fact that right now, I just want you to kiss me."

Severus was speechless, overwhelmed... overjoyed. All this time, she had been having similar feelings and thoughts than he had. The only difference was that, while she thought she was dealing with a loyal Death Eater, he reckoned he was dealing with a mini-Voldemort.

Fools, both of them. They had been oblivious.

He cupped her chin with one hand and lifted it up until they both were standing, gazes locked. Never had he thought vulnerability could look so beautiful. She was a mess, but she was not afraid to show it to him. With his free hand, he dried her cheeks. Skyrah gasped and shut her eyes, leaning into his touch. Softly, he caressed her cheek, and she let out a purr.

That was it.

Severus couldn't help himself. He granted her wish. It was a gentle kiss, no tongues involved, but somehow, it felt really intimate.

I have never felt anything like that for anyone, not even for my fiancé.

Shit. He had forgotten about her fiancé. She had been engaged to someone who had died not so long ago. Now Severus felt like he was using her, taking advantage of her grief.

How was it possible to fall in love with a Death Eater just weeks after my fiancé's death?

In love.

She had said she was in love with him. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe her so badly. There had to be somebody out there who did not mind his hooked nose, or his grouchiness. That somebody had to be the one who was kissing him and making him feel like there was an army of butterflies in his stomach. It was easier to pretend she was being sincere when one hand massaged his neck and the other grasped his shoulder, keeping him in place to prolong the kiss.

The kiss ended. She was still holding his shoulder. One second, she was staring up at him. Another second, and she was throwing her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. It got soaked. He held her back, rubbing her back in awkward circles. Her grip tightened to the point Severus found it hard to breathe, but he didn't mind it. It felt nice to feel needed. 

"You aren't on Father's side. You aren't. You aren't. You aren't," she chanted like a mantra.

He repeated she was safe with him until she calmed down and her tears finally dried. He kept holding her, even though she was not even sniffling by then. He found this was not so different from cuddling in bed, despite the fact they were standing. He had enjoyed cuddling with her. He was enjoying holding her now.

Suddenly, his chest rumbled as if she was... snickering? She pulled back, hands on her belly as her body shook. He raised an eyebrow in question at her sudden mirth.

"What, pray tell, is so funny?"

"The irony. He chose you, convinced you were the most loyal Death Eater, his most valuable servant and spy. He even overlooked your blood status. You are not his least loyal Death Eater. You aren't even loyal, and I love it. It was about time somebody beat him at his own game."

A proud smirk appeared on his face, then he frowned. "He told you about my blood status?"

"Yes."

"You don't care about it?"

She grew serious. "I learnt there are two kinds of wizards and witches who believe treating muggles and non-purebloods as inferiors, even killing them, is justifiable or ethical. The first kind are sociopaths like my father. The second are the brainwashed or ignorants. I do not consider myself either."

"Yet you call your father a sociopath."

She shrugged. "I haven't found a better descriptor yet, except hypocrite, maybe. My grandfather, his father, was a muggle. Father is a half-blood, and so am I. Mind you? If my mother hadn't told me, I wouldn't have believed it."

Yes, he was aware. Albus had told him. Yet, hearing her telling him as if he was into gossip brought a tiny smile to his face. Anybody else would not have perceived it. She did. She smiled back. He noticed, though, that her eyes did not shine as usual. 

She was still thinking about her dead fiancé.

"We could bake a cake for dessert."

Lily used to eat sweets whenever she felt down, and Severus figured that, if it worked for his former friend, it could work for his wife. 

Her eyes shone at his suggestion.

It had worked.

"A chocolate cake, please! It's been so long since I ate one of those."

Severus chuckled at her enthusiasm, glad his Skyrah was back. The real Skyrah. While they were cooking, Severus realized just how attached he was to her. He had missed her terribly yesterday. He didn't understand why, but somehow, these past days with her had been the happiest since Lily passed away. And the kisses… Merlin, her kisses were perfect - soft, sweet, warm.

Skyrah realized he was lost in his thoughts, unaware of his surroundings. Grinning slyly, she grabbed a fistful of flour from the cake they were about to make and threw it.

"What the… Skyrah!"

Severus Snape, all covered in white with a disbelieving look on his face. The black of his eyes and a few locks of hair contrasted greatly against the flour. He would have felt embarrassed in front of anybody else, enraged, even, but the sight of Skyrah laughing irrepressibly, nearly crying, made it worth it.

"Sorry! I just had to do it… It was an impulse," she apologized, still chortling as she approached him to clean him up.

Severus didn't let her though, for the next thing she knew, she matched him, face and neck covered in flour. She stood still, mouth agape. Severus didn't laugh, but there was a smirk on his face. 

"Sweet revenge," he said in a sing-song manner, not caring how childish his move had been.

She squinted. Oh, he was in trouble. He had never been so happy to be in trouble.

"Severus Snape… This is war!"

Soon, they were hurling all the flour and sugar they could find at each other like two kids misbehaving while their parents aren't around. Her laughter was priceless, and Severus was smiling so much his face hurt. Failing to notice that the floor was slippery from all the fallen ingredients, she slid off and collided with Severus when she tried to dodge sugar. Both fell down with a thud.

Skyrah ended on top of him, with her hands on his chest. His arms were tense, stuck onto his sides. She raised her head and stared at his lips, covered in sugar and flour. Cracking a crooked grin, she lowered her head and husked, "I'd have kissed you just now, but I don't fancy flour-and-sugar-filled kisses, so that will have to wait."

Severus shut his eyes when her hot breath grazed his ear, sending shivers down his spine. It didn't help, either, that her breasts were pressed against his chest. She was back on her feet too soon to his liking. He stood up. A little wand movement, and the floor was no longer slippery. No trace of sugar and flour on them.

"I couldn't even see your robes. Only white," teased Skyrah. "I won."

He snorted. "Need I remind you that you were the one who fell on me? Not my definition of victory."

Skyrah pouted. "A draw?"

"A draw."

She smiled at him and Severus couldn't help but smile right back at her after that. If someone had told him one week ago he'd have a food fight with Voldemort's daughter, he would have suggested checking their mental health. He was starting to behave differently around Skyrah, more freely. That woman would be the end of him - or at least, of his reputation - he just knew it. 

"Can we still bake the cake?" 

"Yes. I have more flour and sugar."

"Thank Circe!" she said with a giggle.

She stopped laughing when his eyes shifted from her chest to her mouth, and rested there, barely blinking. Without a warning, he took her by the waist. Surprised as she was, she didn't push him away. In fact, her arms circled his neck.

"My mouth is not covered in sugar and flour now," he said, hoarsely.

She licked her lips. "Not very patient, are we?"

Skyrah could only gasp before his lips came crashing down on hers. A part of him was snogging her out of fear. He didn't want to wake up to find she had come to her senses and realized she did not even want to touch him, realize her grief for her fiancé had blinded her. He'd rather seize the moment. He wanted something. He took it. He wasn't a slytherin for nothing.

This kiss was the most passionate they had exchanged until then. It was a battle of tongues, of dominance, as if both of them weren't content with the result of the food fight and tried to win the game then. They only stopped when their lungs demanded air.

"We really should start baking the chocolate cake," she panted.

They worked on that together, through jokes and accidental touches that were not that accidental from neither Skyrah nor Severus.

At night, under the bedsheets, Skyrah held his hand.

He let her.

Chapter Text

Skyrah woke up in her husband's arms, but not in a casual way. Her back was pressed against his torso. His hand cupped her breast.She could have easily removed it and pretended nothing had happened. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that Skyrah could feel his morning erection against her butt and, as if on cue, flashbacks of the time she lost her virginity flooded back. Just great, now I am horny, she thought.

"Severus?"

There was no reaction out of him, so she tried again, this time louder.

He didn't move, he just whispered in a deep voice still half-asleep, "Yes?"

His breath hit her skin, making the hair from her nape bristle. She bit her bottom lip.

"You have a morning problem which is typical of men… Apart from your hand on my breast."

He stiffened. Now he was fully awake.

"Shit! I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," he excused himself as he retrieved his hand and distanced himself as much as he could from his wife.

His cheeks and ears burned in embarrassment. Skyrah turned around so that they were face to face, even though they kept their distance.

"You haven't made me feel uncomfortable, Severus, you've turned me on."

His pupils dilated at her sultry tone. He didn't move, but Skyrah crawled towards him and lay on top of him.

"Should we take care of this?" she asked in a low pitch that sent shivers down his spine.

"I thought you didn't want to rush anything," he said, out of breath.

She gave him a lopsided grin. "I remember you said it was too late for that."

She traced patterns on his pectorals with her fingers. 

Gods.

This was heaven. And yet, he didn't want to have sex with her like this. Rushed. Messy, getting on it because he had woken up with a hard-on. He wanted her. Merlin only knew how much. True. Yesterday he hadn't hesitated to snog her. Snogging and having sex were different, though. 

"You don't have to do this."

"I want to," she husked, putting her hand on his cheek like she had done right before they lost their virginities. 

He shut his eyes. Fuck. She was slowly grinding herself on his erection now. He had to bit his tongue to keep from moaning. He thanked Merlin they weren't naked. This would have been even more difficult to handle. Her hips stopped its wiggle once she noticed he wasn't moving or speaking.

"Look at me." He opened his eyes. Her expression was as soft as her touch. "We won't have sex until we are both ready and want it. I am already pregnant. We aren't forced to do anything. If you would rather wait to have sex, tell me. I will not get offended. I know it is soon."

He gulped and lowered his gaze.

"I see..." She pulled a disappointed face but recovered quickly and gave his cheek one last stroke. "Let me know when you are ready, okay?"

He nodded, thankful he hadn't needed to speak for her to understand him. He didn't trust his voice. Not right then.

With a sly grin, she added, "You aren't going to deny me a good morning kiss, too, are you?"

And she captured his mouth in a kiss. She tried to remove her body from his lower zone so that he wouldn't feel uncomfortable with their pelvises rubbing together, but she ended up brushing his hardness with her hip anyway. He let out a smoldering moan, breaking the kiss. First, he made it clear he wanted to wait for sex. Then, he went and made a sound of pleasure when she hadn't even tried to gain pleasure sounds from him. He was afraid to look her in the eye and see her reproach or confusion, so he shut his eyes and waited for her to leave. If he had kept his eyes open, he would have realized Skyrah was pleased with his reaction, smiling smugly.

When he was sure she was out of earshot, he groaned and wondered why the bloody hell he had declined her tempting offer. Again, he found himself inwardly reciting, Think about a naked Potter, Albus in pink a swimsuit, the Dark Lord…

 Breakfast was not as awkward as he had expected. She behaved as if she hadn't been rejected, and for that, he was thankful. They had just finished washing the dishes when Severus grimaced and grabbed his forearm. Skyrah already knew what that meant. Seconds later, his Death Eater robes and mask were on. Skyrah wore her own mask, as well, that mask that occluded her humanity in front of Voldemort. They apparated in the woods. Voldemort and Nagini were waiting for them. As always, there were no Death Eaters to witness the reunion.

"Remove your mask, Severus." 

"Did you get the job?" Severus heard Voldemort ask while he took the mask off.

"Severus arranged a meeting. I only had to convince Dumbledore, and I did. The job is mine."

"Does he suspect you?"

Severus said, "No, my Lord. He is satisfied with your daughter's addition to the teaching staff."

Grinning evilly, Voldemort caressed Skyrah's cheek.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." Lowering his voice to the point only Skyrah heard him, he added, "Andraste and that pathetic excuse of a witch you have for half-sister will be glad to hear you followed my orders. They won't be crucioed today."

She controlled the urge to clench her fists. Aware she had to do something to get a clue about their whereabouts, she met his eyes and said, "I demand to see them. I have done as you wish. Sooner than expected, too. It's the least you could do, Father."

Even though Severus couldn't hear what they were talking about, he nearly cringed when Voldemort slapped his own daughter so hard the blow resonated across the dense trees. She didn't cover her stinging cheek with her palm, she didn't even blink, as if being hit by her father was normal, something she had experienced all her life.

Severus felt sick.

"Insolent child, you will not take that tone with me."

"You taught me that rewarding your servants for a good job is important to keep them motivated. It is as important as punishing them to ensure they do not fail again. I presumed I would be rewarded."

"You are my daughter, not my servant."

"I am serving you," she retorted.

They stared at each other, neither backing down, and then, he smirked and dismissed Severus without even glancing his way. Severus apparated home with a bad presentiment growing in his stomach.

"Your motivation is not an issue. I can easily order my Death Eaters to murder your half-sister while Andraste watches." Skyrah blanched. "However, I am pleased to know my lessons taught you something. Take my arm."

She didn't vacillate. They disapparated with a pop. They appeared in a dark corridor. There was poor light that came through a small, rounded window. The walls and floor were made of stone. Skyrah distinguished the beginning of stairs by the end of the corridor.

"The reward comes with conditions, Skyrah." She met his eyes, listening attentively. "Stay no longer than five minutes."

"Or else?"

"A Death Eater will report me. You will regret it profoundly."

She gulped. "Anything else?"

Her feet did not touch the ground. Her hands went to her neck. His fingers were not touching her skin, but she couldn't breathe. The more Voldemort twisted his wand in the air, the tight the invisible grip on her neck became. 

"Do not ever question my authority in front of my followers," he hissed. "I am your superior."

The curse came to an end. Skyrah dropped like a ragdoll, coughing and rubbing her neck in an attempt to alleviate the pain.

"Do not bother coming back later. They will be moved after the reunion."

By the time he left, she still was in a coughing fit. She forced herself to breathe slowly and calm down before walking down the corridor and climbing down the stairs. She didn't wish to scare her family. She was certain Voldemort had had strangled her aiming for that. One minute later, she had composed herself. Four minutes to go. She broke into a run. After reaching the end of the stairs, she spotted a cell a few meters away. 

"Mum! Dione!"

Her throat was still sore, and her voice was scratchier than she would have liked.

"Skyrah!" two feminine voices yelled at the same time.

Skyrah cast silencing charms, in case a Death Eater eavesdropped them, and reached her family. She slid her hands through the bars. Each took one hand and squeezed it tight. Tears formed in their eyes. 

Skyrah had inherited her mother's shape of face and lips, but they looked nothing alike. Her mother's hair was curly red with white locks and her eyes were of a lively blue. Skyrah's half-sister had curly red hair and blue eyes, as her mother. Unlike the older woman though, the teen had freckles on her face and her nose and her lips were thinner. Both looked paler than usual and had bags under their eyes.

"Thank Merlin you are together!" said Skyrah.

Her mother snorted. "Tom wouldn't separate us. It would mean having more Death Eaters 'looking after' us instead of serving him and helping him recruit an army."

Skyrah smiled sadly. It was good to see that, gaunt as Andraste's appearance was, she had not lost her sarcasm. "I missed you."

Her mother grinned ruefully and kissed her palm. "I've thought about you every day."

Skyrah turned her attention to her sister. "How are you, little one?"

Dione rolled her eyes. "I'm not little! I'm fifteen!"

Skyrah and her mother chuckled, and Dione ended up chortling too. Soon, the Andraste's expression sobered and she wondered, "What has he done to you, my child?"

"Nothing serious."

"What's happened to your voice?" pressed Dione.

"A cold."

The girl frowned. "You used to lie better."

Skyrah huffed. "You used to keep your mouth shut so that Mum wouldn't catch me lying."

"I'm worried about you!"

"I don't want you to worry about me! I'm not the one captive!"

"Don't. Quarrel," growled their mother. "You will regret it later."

Skyrah shut her eyes and took a big breath.

"Sorry," she said, opening her eyes. "I'm a bit stressed. I don't have much time. I need to ask you something."

"Fine, but I expect you to tell me what else Tom has done to you, apart from bruising you," said Andraste, eyeing her neck and cheek meaningfully.

Skyrah mentally kicked herself. She had not thought about the bruises. 

"Tell me everything you know about horcruxes, how to destroy them and where to find them. Which are the objects he selected?"

Her mother gasped. "Do you want to kill him?"

"Do you still love him?" Skyrah shot back.

Dione looked at her mother worriedly.

"You know whom I married. He was the love of my life," she said, wrapping her free arm around her youngest daughter.

"You can still love my father. You can still want him to be alive."

"The man I once loved is no longer alive, Skyrah."

"Help me, then. Tell me everything you know about horcruxes. If he dies, you will be free. All of us will."

Andraste shook her head. "You aren't a murderer... You aren't like him."

"Mum," begged Skyrah, close to tears. "Somebody has to stop him."

"Not you."

"I have help, okay? It doesn't have to be me, but we need the information. We need it."

Andraste stared at her for a full minute. Skyrah counted every second, getting sweatier and sweatier.

"He told me the objects, but not where to find them nor how to destroy them. He didn't trust anybody with that, not even me. It was in his slytherin self-preservation blood," her mother finally said.

"If you are hiding the truth just because-"

"I have never lied to you."

Skyrah gulped and gave her a nod, urging her to continue.

"His diary, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, Slytherin's Locket, Hufflepuff's Cup and Ravenclaw's Diadem. I don't know if he's created more horcruxes now that he's back."

Skyrah memorized them and asked, "So they are objects related to Hogwarts founders, a family ring and his diary… Is that right?"

"Yes."

Skyrah squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Mother."

"Will someone tell me what horcruxes are?" Dione asked with a pout.

This made Skyrah and Andraste crack a grin.

"I'll tell you later, Dione. Now, let your sister speak. I recall she was going to tell us what that monster has done to her."

Skyrah bit her bottom lip. "He hit and strangled me today. I think he wanted to scare you."

"What else?" pressed her mother.

"I will work as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Hogwarts teacher."

"You were always keen on teaching," whispered Andraste with a relieved smile.

"Yes. I hope my spying skills convince Father, though." At Dione's frown, Skyrah added, "I'll be teaching Harry Potter."

"Oh..."

"Tom didn't kidnap us just so that you would spy on a teenager, Skyrah. What is the real mission?"

"I had to wed his most loyal Death Eater. We have to give him an heir."

Her family would have gasped horrified if it weren't for the twinkle in her eye. They exchanged looks.

"Skyrah, dear, you had that twinkle in your eye whenever you were naughty as a child. What is the mischief?" wondered Andraste.

"Let's just say 'most loyal' aren't the words I'd choose to describe him."

Andraste smiled a crooked smile. Her sister, though, furrowed her brow. 

"And that makes it good? What about Daniel?"

Brown eyes got moist. "Don't... Don't mention his name now. I had to marry a Death Eater. I did, and I've been lucky enough to find that he is not a bad person. He's treated me with respect. There's nothing else I can ask."

"Are you sure you can trust this man?" she insisted.

"He hasn't given me a reason not to."

"What about the heir? Have you... Have you already... Er... Did you and that man..."

"Dione!" yelped her mother.

Skyrah would have blushed if it weren't for the fact she was currently trying different spells to break them free. Alohomora. Incendio. Bombarda Maxima. Tears of frustration streamed down her face. Time was against her. She would have to leave her family in a bloody cell.

"Stop it, Skyrah… We can't leave. And don't even think about facing that Death Eater. He is not alone in here. They move in packs, like wolves… You can't beat them all."

Skyrah let out a sob when she realized her mother was right. "I love you. I love both of you. I'm so sorry you have to go through this."

"We know," her sister replied.

"We love you too," her mother followed. "As long as Dione and I are together, we will be fine."

Footsteps were heard. Five minutes had gone by.

"Go, Skyrah, go!" screamed Andraste, holding her youngest daughter to comfort her.

Her last thought before disapparating was that she hadn't told them she was pregnant.

 Severus was pacing in the living room, mind racing, when Skyrah apparated home.

She let herself fall on her knees and covered her eyes. All the tears she had held back when she saw the conditions her mother and sister lived in brimmed over. Sobs racked her body. Alarmed, he knelt in front of her and put a comforting hand on her shaking shoulder.

"Skyrah…"

There was no response from her, so he took her hands and uncovered her face. She still didn't look at him. Hence, he cupped her chin and caressed her wet cheek, the one her father hadn't hit. She held back a sob and threw her arms around him. He slowly put his arms on her back and consoled her. He kept picturing possible scenarios of what could have upset her, and his stomach churned. They stayed in that position until Skyrah composed herself.

"What's happened? Why did he slap you? Why didn't he want me around?"

"I asked to visit my family as a reward for getting the job so soon. He disliked my bold attitude but he agreed. They looked like they hadn't slept in ages and like they aren't fed enough… He said..." She swallowed hard. "He said they wouldn't be crucioed today. And I can't do anything to get them back. They are being moved now, Merlin knows where. My mother is so strong... I know she can survive this. My sister, though... She's just a child. She's fifteen." 

His face hardened. "We'll save them."

Skyrah gave him a little smile and squeezed his hand in gratefulness.

"I also have good news and bad news… I have to talk to Albus."

"What is it?"

"My mother has told me about the horcruxes. The good news is that I know five of them. The bad news is that I don't know where to find them, how to destroy them or if there are more…" 

"You did a good job. We will tell him later. It is nearly lunch time. Do you wish to join me in the kitchen?" he proposed, in hopes that would cheer her up.

She bit her bottom lip. "Sorry. I feel like lying down right now."

Severus nodded. He left the room and came back shortly after with a balm. He spread the solution across her cheek. Despite his rough appearance, his touch was so delicate Skyrah was overcome with emotion.

"Severus. You don't have to do this."

He raised an eyebrow. "I can stop."

"That's not what I meant. It's just that you really don't have to do this. My father could have easily crucioed me, he has done so for less important matters. My guess is that the only reason he hasn't done it is because he knows I might be pregnant and he doesn't want to risk losing his heir." Severus kept silent. "What I'm trying to say is that they are bruises. They'll heal. They're nothing serious."

"A simple thank you would have been enough, you know?"

He would have felt sorry for being rough if she hadn't smirked and teased, "Are you seeking thankful cheek kisses?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he snarled, ignoring the sudden heat on his cheeks.

He had meant to apply the balm. Nothing more, Nothing less. A cheek kiss, though, would be a bonus.

"So you don't like them?"

"I didn't say that," he muttered under his breath.

She heard him anyway. Regardless, she kept quiet and tilted her head, giving him an easier access to her neck bruises. He took it as an invitation to keep applying the balm. She shivered. He told himself it was due to the cold balm, not to his touch. He was done, but he lingered. Her skin was so soft...

Pulling back, she wondered, "Aren't you going to ask me how I got the neck bruises? Why?"

"The Dark Lord hardly needs a reason to harm his servants," he said darkly.

A tawny owl entered through the window. Severus opened the letter the owl had brought and read it. Crumpling up the parchment, he explained to her that Albus wanted to meet them at five o'clock to talk about pressing matters. They agreed they would inform the headmaster about the horcruxes then.

Severus made to go to the kitchen, but Skyrah spun him around. He only had time to see her twinkling eyes and impish grin before her lips pressed against his cheek. 

"Thank you for taking care of me, Severus."

He did get his bonus, after all.

 Albus arrived punctually on Spinner's End. Skyrah looked better now that she had eaten something. The bruises were no longer visible. After the formal greetings, they took a seat. Skyrah and Albus sat on the couch, while Severus took a chair from the kitchen, like they had done in their previous meeting.

"We need to talk about Harry Potter," started Albus.

Skyrah frowned and Severus groaned.

"What is it this time? Is he tired of being famous yet? Maybe he can't find his own socks… Or perhaps he-"

Skyrah prodded Severus in the ribs to silence him.

"Go on, Albus. Let's pretend my husband kept quiet," she interjected, sending Severus a glare which told him you better shut up and listen to him at which he simply rolled his eyes.

"He's been having nightmares…"

Severus snorted. "Potter is not the only one who has trouble sleeping. I have more interesting matters to discuss."

"They are not the usual kind, Severus. He sees through Voldemort's eyes," claimed Albus.

A long pause followed.

"This means that my father and Harry Potter are connected. What if he can enter his mind? What if he can control the boy? Trick him?"

"My worries, exactly. That is why I have concluded Harry Potter must learn Occlumency," he said, looking at his spy meaningfully.

 Severus got the hint. He sneered.

"Absolutely not! I'm not doing this!"

Skyrah put a hand on his knee. She had meant to calm him down. She had only managed to race his heartbeat.

"Severus, listen to Albus first. My father is up to something. He's obsessed with the boy… He considers him a threat, even if he doesn't admit it. Potter can play an important role in my father's defeat. If I can help the boy out, I will. Won't you do the same?"

Severus kept scowling. Skyrah withdrew her hand. Severus wished she hadn't.

"If my husband doesn't agree to do it, I will. I'm a decent occlumens. I don't know the kid, but I don't see the problem."

Albus touched his beard. "You both should teach him. Harry has spent a month in Privet Drive. The blood wards are already recharged. He could stay here until school begins. It could do him good and he could also learn some advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I will not have the brat living in my house during school break! I already put up with his insolence during school year!" growled Severus.

Skyrah sighed, not really understanding why Severus reacted as if the boy himself was worse than Voldemort.

"Albus, give us time to think over it, please."

"There is nothing to think over!" "Of course, I understand it is asking a lot," replied at the same time Severus and Albus.

"I'll take my leave."

Before Albus could stand up and go, Skyrah cried out, "Wait! We have to tell you something."

And so she told him about the visit to her family and the information she had obtained.

"This has been an impressive progress, Skyrah. Thank you. As for your family..." He shook his head. "I will not lie to you. If Tom keeps moving them, finding them will be challenging."

Skyrah gulped.

"I know. We'll let you know what we'll do about Harry as soon as we can."

Severus rolled his eyes at the mention of Potter.

Albus left.

Chapter Text

Skyrah folded her arms across her chest, clearly annoyed by the rude behavior her husband had just exhibited in front of the headmaster.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I understand that you don't want anybody else living with us, but what has this Potter boy done to you? You spat his name as if you despised him!" Severus stared at her. In a softer tone, Skyrah tried again, "I'm a teacher too, and there are kids who can be brats. It's difficult to deal with them. Did he misbehave at your class? Did he disrespect you? Is that why you are so uncomfortable?"

Severus kept quiet. When Skyrah thought she wasn't going to receive an answer, she heard him admit, "It's complicated."

"I'm listening." 

He didn't elaborate though. 

"Severus, you can tell me. I need to understand why you are so against tutoring Potter when it could help us vanquish my father."

Silence.

Skyrah was growing tired of his lack of cooperation. She shook her head in defeat. "If you ever want to tell me, I will listen to you."

She made to leave him alone when his silky voice stopped her, "I'm not against Potter receiving Occlumency and advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. I'm against being the one in charge of them. The brat hates me, it would lead nowhere."

Skyrah turned to face him. "But why do you hate him?"

"I told you. It's complicated."

She looked at him sadly.

"Albus was convinced that you are the right man, and I agree. You have been fooling my father for so long… You are a master of the Occlumency art. Maybe we could teach Potter at his home. We would visit him a few times a week. He doesn't have to stay with us. Advanced Defense lessons can wait until school. Occlumency can't."

Severus cringed. "I'm not going to teach Potter!"

She took a big breath, gathering all the patience in the world. "I meant what I said, if you're not willing to help, I will. Would you agree to that? To me tutoring him a few times? You wouldn't have to see the boy."

"I guess," he drawled.

Skyrah smiled. At last. Progress. 

"Good. We will tell Albus tomorrow." She paused, seeing he was still uncomfortable. "So… What do you say? Shall we brew some potions? You said I was ready to brew everlasting elixirs."

The suggestion cheered Severus up. He was thankful she did not mention Harry again. 

He was getting used to waking up with her body pressed against his. He should probably have a shower and let her rest longer, but he found he quite liked studying her features while she slept. A lock of hair fell down her cheekbone. He tucked it behind her ear to uncover her face. The gentle touch was enough to wake her up. She squinted and rubbed her eyes. When they adjusted to the light, she gave him a smile.

"Good morning."

He said it back, wishing he could wake up like this until his dying day. He bet her fiancé had wished that as well. Severus pondered asking her about him. He did not wish to intrude, but he was curious, and dare he admit it, jealous, despite recalling her saying Severus's kisses felt better than they had ever felt with her fiancé. Before he could open his mouth, she leapt to her feet and said she'd have a shower. 

He did not pluck up the courage to ask her until after breakfast, when she took a potions book to tell him which potion she would like to learn about next. As she flicked through the pages, he said, "There is something I have been meaning to ask you."

"What is it?" she asked, eyes still fixed on the book.

"It probably is a sensitive topic for you, so if you're not ready to tell me, I will understand." 

She left the potions book on a table and met his eyes. He took it as a sign to question her. 

"You mentioned your fiancé… What happened, exactly?"

The lines of her face darkened. She stood in silence. Severus felt like an idiot for asking.

"My apologies. You don't have to tell me. Forget about it."

"No! I-I'll tell you. It's just that I haven't talked about him to anyone since he passed away. This will be difficult for me... May we sit down?"

They sat down on the sofa, next to each other, but not close enough to brush their shoulders or knees. Skyrah gulped, staring at her wringing hands. Severus waited patiently for her to start. When she did, she wasn't really looking at him. It was as if she was looking at the infinity, lost in her memories.

"His name was Daniel. He was my best friend at Ilvermorny, even though we were in different houses. He was a Pukwudgie, which represents the heart of the wizard and favours healers; while I was a Horned Serpent, which represents the mind of the wizard and favours scholars. We were so different, and yet..." 

She smiled sadly.

"I loved him, I loved him so much. And he loved me even more. We became engaged. When my father came to the United States to look for me, I was with him. My father didn't even vacillate to kill him the moment he found Daniel was a muggle-born wizard."

Her expression darkened as much as her voice. The light in her eyes died out. Surprisingly, they didn't hold hate, only emptiness. It occured to him that Skyrah might have loved Daniel as much as he did Lily.

"I saw my own father uttering the k-killing c-curse without remorse. And he was going to do the same to my mother and Dione, my half-sister. I couldn't let him… I..." she trailed off.

"I am sorry." 

Unable to speak, she gave him a nod.

"Is Daniel the reason why you know muggle songs?"

He realized his mistake as soon as she gasped.

"How do you know I know muggle songs?"

"I heard you singing Imagine by John Lennon."

I thought you spied on my father, not on me, she thought, but then she realized all he knew about her back then was that she was Voldemort's daughter. He had probably told Albus about her, and she found she did not care that much. He had been doing his job.

"It was one of Daniel's favorite songs."

"Lily liked the song as well."

"Lily? Was she a muggle-born, too?" He gulped and stared at the floor. "S-sorry. You don't have to tell me about her."

He gave it some thought. Should he tell her about Lily? That would mean showing that part of him he kept from the world, being vulnerable. He wasn't sure he was ready, but a part of him told him that talking about her would help him close his still open wound. Skyrah had opened her heart to Severus more than once. Even though she had just said that he needn't tell her anything, he felt like he owed her.

"I met Lily when I was just a kid. I was the one who told her she was a witch."

The small smile she gave him encouraged him to continue.

"She was my first and only friend. She was sorted into Gryffindor, whereas I was sorted into Slytherin. Historically, these two houses have never been on good terms. The house rivalry is very strong, even nowadays. We remained best friends for years. However, we drifted apart in fifth year when I called her a…" he trailed off.

Pronouncing the insult was still dolorous. 

"Mudblood?" muttered Skyrah.

Severus nodded. He had expected her to judge him or look at him with disgust. He wouldn't have blamed her, considering she had almost married a muggle-born. She did nothing of the sort. She just listened.

"She never forgave me. She married my school enemy and had a son with him. I joined the Death Eaters and told the prophecy to your father. He targeted them. I was unaware of whom the prophecy referred to at the time. When I found out, I went to Albus. I've been loyal to him ever since."

Skyrah looked at him sadly and then, her eyes widened.

"The prophecy... Harry Potter is Lily's son?" she asked, although it sounded like a statement.

"He is."

Her expression softened. "That's why you dislike the boy... He is the actual proof that your best friend left you for your school enemy."

He didn't affirm nor deny it. He didn't have to speak. The fact he avoided her eyes was enough to gather she was right.  

"I'm sorry," she said, putting a hand on his knee.

He gasped and locked their gazes. After everything he'd told her, she still was unafraid of touching him.

"You know, our stories are quite similar…"

He snorted. "You never insulted your friend and you were about to marry him. I'd say they are quite different."

"Perhaps, but we both were fond of a muggle-born who was sorted into a different house and who had been our friend in spite of it. We both lost them because of my father, the same curse, and yet, we blame ourselves." He looked away. He hadn't said he blamed himself for Lily's death. Somehow she knew. And it might be because... "Severus, you and I aren't that different. We can heal each other."

Skyrah squeezed his knee. Gods. His heart was pounding fast. Lily was able to speed up his heartbeat with one simple touch, too, and he knew how attached he had grown to the red-haired witch all too well. He was getting just as attached to Skyrah, and it was terrifying. It wouldn't be so scary if he knew for certain that she felt something similar.

"You told me you felt something for me which you hadn't felt for your fiancé. Is it true?"

"I would never lie about that. Daniel was my first love; he'll always have a place in my heart. But I... I think I'm falling in love with you," she confessed with a blush on her pretty face.

His cheeks turned bright pink as well. It wasn't every day that somebody said they were falling for him. He couldn't tell her he returned her feelings. He was neither sure nor ready.

Skyrah wasn't expecting him to say it back anyway, for she inquired, "Have you ever been with somebody? Have you ever had a girlfriend or…"

"No. I've always been alone."

"Hence, why you were still virgin," she quipped, trying to lighten up the mood.

"You are the one to talk," he scoffed. "How come you were virgin if you had a fiancé whom you clearly loved?"

She bit her bottom lip. "His parents were religious, and so was Daniel. He didn't want to get to it until after the wedding."

He snorted. "And you agreed? You were whipped."

She smacked him playfully on the arm. "Shut up!"

"Just saying…"

She grinned again, but unlike all the sad smiles from this morning, this time, the smile was of happiness. It suited her. It made her look even prettier. It made him want to kiss her. He restrained himself, although he couldn't help but stare at her lips. His gaze lowered to her visible cleavage. It had been an unconscious move, but now that he had done it, he found it impossible to look elsewhere. After all, the soft blue shirt she was wearing hugged all her curves and made her breasts look-

"Severus."

"Yes?" he asked, still gawking at her chest.

"You are staring," she stated, not amused.

Finding that attempting to deny the undeniable would be even more humiliating, he whispered a low yes. She took a pillow from the sofa and hit him with it square on the face.

"You don't stare at a lady like that! My eyes are up here, not down there!"

"I apologize," he said, now looking at her face. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Uncomfortable?

No. She had only mentioned it because she was getting aroused, and he had told her to wait for that. If he hadn't looked at her with hungry eyes, she might have waited, but right now, she needed to persuade him. She was a descendent of Slytherin, after all. She was ambitious and cunning enough to try. Hence, she lay beside him, took his arms and enfolded herself in them, while her head rested on his shoulder and nuzzled his neck with her nose.

"What are you doing?"

"Cuddling. I liked it the last time."

They stayed in that position for some time, no words exchanged between the pair. Holding Skyrah like that made him feel warm inside. He had been a foreigner in the emotional field, he still was, but Skyrah was teaching him how to progress, and he found that cuddling was an activity with great potential. She had been the Horned Serpent? If she had been the mind he could only begin to imagine just how emotional and affectionate her Daniel had been.

We can heal each other, she had said.

She didn't know he was unfixable. But he could pretend. He had deceived one of the greatest wizards of all time, after all.

Skyrah pecked his neck. Quick as it was, his breath hitched. Noting it, she smiled against his skin and started to kiss, lick and nip his neck.

He felt giddy.

"S-Skyrah."

"Mhmm?"

"What ex-exactly are you pursuing?"

She stalled and sat astride on his lap, her hands on his shoulders. 

"We have been thinking about death, regret and misery for too long. I'm trying to rest my mind and focus on pleasure… I won't go one step further until you are ready."

Was he ready for more? His body definitely was. He was sweating in anticipation.

"I feel that we know a lot about each other now. I feel close to you, and I want to feel even closer. Do you?"

She said it with a smoky, deep voice while leaning in. By the end, her lips were barely brushing his and her hot breath on his mouth made him gulp. Caressing ever so slowly the crook of his neck, she husked, "You liked what I was doing to your neck, didn't you?"

Yes.

He liked it.

He liked her mouth on his neck very much.

Her dark brown eyes were pure lust and the sight was enough for Severus to feel his member hardening. Damn this woman! he thought. He remembered her soft moans when they consummated the marriage. The way her skin felt against his, the way her walls tightened against him. Her lust when she saw him wrapped in a towel. The way she had offered herself just yesterday.

Suddenly, she was kissing him. It started off as sweet, almost chaste, and he didn't collaborate. She parted, bit her bottom lip and kissed him again. This time, she squeezed his shoulder, making him open his lips in surprise. It gave her the perfect excuse for exploring his mouth with her tongue. Severus kissed her back. It felt so good, after all, and he had already denied her sex twice even though he had clearly been turned on. He had never expected Voldemort's daughter to be so passionate, so warm, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't like her like that. He wanted her. Badly. He couldn't believe she was willing to have sex with him.

"Is that a yes? Are you sure you don't want to wait?" she panted, hope etched on her features.

He pushed her off him gently and got up. Disappointment and shame ate Skyrah. Every time she tried to get close to him, she scared him off. It was frustrating. She wanted to live her life the fullest. She had already lost Daniel. She didn't want to look back someday and feel like she had wasted opportunities with Severus. 

"I am sorry for pushing you. We don't have to do anything you don't want to. I-"

"Skyrah, I am not doing this in this cramped sofa. Let's go to bed." 

Her head shot up, eyes wide. He only had time to smirk before Skyrah pushed him against the nearest wall, kissing him roughly, possessively, curling her fingers in his hair.

Oh, shit.

Now she would realize touching him was repulsive. His greasy hair would disgust her.

Or not.

She did not stop playing with it. Nobody had ever dared to touch his hair. He welcomed the gesture with a low moan. His hands caressed her back and slid down tentatively until they reached her bottom. The contact made her gasp and break the kiss. He feared he had gone too far until she grinned up at him with playful eyes.

"To bed. Now!"

They got to their bedroom amid a tussle of kisses. Skyrah shoved Severus into the bed. She was on top of him next, snogging him senseless while struggling to unfasten the buttons of his robes.

"These buttons are so sexy yet so impractical!" Severus almost choked. His name and sexy had never gone together. "Take this off, for Merlin's pants!" 

Well, she was impatient. Not that he minded. With a flick of his wand, he was just in his pants. She copied him as soon as she found her wand. She was straddling him in her black underwear. Severus took in her appearance once again. She was so bloody perfect: her round breasts, her slender waist, her strong legs… Everything about her. What did she see in him, again?

She kissed his chest while her hand teased him down there, barely touching him through his pants. He tried hard not to whimper. He failed. Then she gently bit his nipple, never distracting her attention from his erection. He had to remind himself he had to breathe. She had too much power over him. He was too vulnerable to her warmth and her touches. Astutely, he rotated their positions so that Skyrah was under him and he was the one in control.

He kissed, licked and bit her neck in the same manner she had done to him on the couch. When he reached the crook of her neck, her breathing sped up, a little whimper escaped her throat and her eyes shut in ecstasy while she gripped rumpled bedsheets. He grinned wickedly. He had just hit upon her weak spot. After memorizing it, he left a trace of butterfly kisses that reached her lacy bra.

Unclasping it was proving to be one of the toughest challenges he had ever faced. Skyrah chuckled and untied it in a second, throwing it away and exposing herself. Severus started to massage her voluptuous breasts, playing with her nipples, something she had seemed to enjoy the first time they had had sex. He had enjoyed it even more. On instinct, he sucked on her erect nipples, causing Skyrah to swear.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked, alarmed.

"Do that again."

He hadn't hurt her, then. He complied. Meanwhile, she toyed with his hair and grinded her hips against his. His hand caressed down her belly until he encountered her panties.

When she nodded, he took them away, exposing her curls. His hand was trembling, but he followed his impulse and touched her intimate area. Skyrah closed her eyes and let out an urgent moan, as she raised her hips to scrub herself against his hand. Severus found her clitoris and rubbed it with his thumb, drawing circles like she had done to herself before climaxing the last time. She was getting wetter and wetter and he could only focus on her urgent sighs and the blood that pumped through his veins.

"I want you." He halted. She arched her eyebrow at his astonished face. "Don't be so surprised! Your hands are driving me crazy right now… And I want you inside of me."

He didn't need to be told twice. He positioned himself at her entrance and was about to enter her when she put her hands on his chest.

"Wait. I... I want to try something."

She rolled them so that she was on top of him and straddled him. She took his erect member, gaining a grunt from him. She thought it had been from pleasure. It had been from surprise. He tensed, and she met his eyes. That was when she realized he was... uncomfortable?

"Relax. I only want to feel good. I want you to feel good. I have never done this, but I... I'll give my best. We'll change positions if it doesn't work."

His gaze.

It turned so intense. He wasn't scared, anymore, but amazed, as if the thought that somebody wanted to pleasure him was something irrational, as if he had been convinced that the only reason that she wanted sex was to satisfy her needs, and now he found out he had been wrong. He still felt more comfortable being on top. After all, he had been on top during the only sexual encounter he had ever had. She had reached her climax in that position. What if she didn't reach it now? What if he couldn't last long with her having the power?

Because she had the power. The fact he found it difficult to think when she rocked her core against his throbbing member was proof enough.

"S-Skyrah."

She licked her lips.

Severus shuddered at the sight. Dammit. He couldn't wait anymore. If she wanted to be on top, so be it, but he wouldn't let her tease him longer, or he'd come before the fun really started. He raised his hips and filled her, making them both cry out in pleasure. It took her a few seconds to adjust to his size, and then, she started to move experimentally. Soon, she found a rhythm she liked. He liked it just as much, especially when she moaned his name. He had been reluctant to let her take control, but right then, he decided to stop thinking and let himself feel. How could he not feel, when she was kissing him?

It wasn't a regular kiss. This kiss was different. This kiss screamed that she was in love, that she was giving her all to him. Severus was overwhelmed: overwhelmed by her passion, overwhelmed by her strong emotions, by her throaty moans, by the way she touched him, by the way she looked at him, by the way her tight wet walls wrapped him so perfectly…

She broke the kiss and increased the rhythm, resting her hands on his chest. Severus held her firmly by the hips and followed her with every thrust, mesmerized by her bouncing breasts and lustful eyes. He was close, so close, and when she took one of his hands and brought it to palm her breast, he spilled his seed inside her. Skyrah followed him two thrusts later, crying out his name. Her contractions felt amazing against his member and Severus could only focus on his flushed spouse. She was beautiful with her head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut, thighs squeezing his hips - so freaking beautiful. How come he had married her, again? Oh, yes. It turned out becoming a Death Eater hadn't been such a regrettable mistake, not when he had met somebody who actually cared for him thanks to it.

The pleasure waves faded and peace settled in. Skyrah landed on the mattress with a thud. Both of them were utterly satisfied and spent, breathing hard and sweating.

"This was even better than our first time."

"Indeed," he let out, struggling to even his rapid breaths and pumping heartbeat.

She smiled at him and tenderly kissed his cheek. Her fingers spidered and found his hand, taking hold of it. Severus tangled their fingers unwittingly, and she sighed contently. They stayed like that, in comfortable silence, until Skyrah got up and got dressed.

"Where are you going?" he asked, hiding the disappointment of her leaving his side flawlessly, like the spy he was.

"To the living room, to floo call Albus. Let's see how he takes that you aren't going to cooperate with Potter and that instead, I'll do the job a few times a week in his place, never here."

Before he could object, she had already climbed downstairs. Sighing, Severus got dressed and waited for their conversation to finish. Eventually, Skyrah faced him and told him that Albus wanted to discuss the matter in depth at Hogwarts right then.

"Why did you have to tell him so soon?"

He wouldn't have minded it if they had spent the rest of the day in that bed, just being with each other, chatting, or even repeating the performance. Heck, just cuddling would have brought him joy. Now, they could do none of that since the headmaster required their presence elsewhere.

"I'm not going to give my father more time to screw up anything else."

He grunted. Now he saw why she was a Horned Serpent. She may be emotional, but she knew when to follow her mind.

"Point taken. Follow my lead."

Chapter Text

Severus mumbled something that sounded like a muggle sweet (the password, she guessed). The Snapes entered the headmaster's office. Skyrah took in every detail of the room with a tiny smile plastered on her face. Chirps got her turning her head towards Fawkes. The chick looked at her with big curious eyes that looked way too big for its head.

Her amazement was cut short by a familiar voice, "Welcome to Hogwarts, Skyrah."

"Thanks, Albus," she replied as her smile widened.

"Hello, Severus."

Severus nodded as a greeting. 

"Please, take a seat," said Albus, sitting on his chair behind the desk himself.

The Snapes sat on the wooden chairs in front of the desk.

"I'm going to talk to the Dursleys and see what I can do regarding your suggestion. However, I doubt they will welcome any witch or wizard at their home. You must be aware of it."

"I know Petunia Dursley, Albus, if that's what you're implying. I also know you can be quite persuasive if you set your mind to it," Severus conceded flatly.

By the way her husband spat Petunia, Skyrah guessed they had a past, not a good one, at that.

"I don't doubt Skyrah's occlumency skills, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you I am disappointed you refused to teach the boy, Severus." Severus snorted. "Could you at least tell me why you are so against it?" 

"Where do I begin, Albus? The teacher and the learner must trust each other in order to learn occlumency. Otherwise, it might get… nasty."

Skyrah was tempted to joke, Yes, that's why I'm a far better option. Harry Potter will blindly trust You-know-who's daughter! Wisely, she kept quiet.

"Potter hates me and I don't precisely like him either. He's just like James bloody Potter. In fact, it's you, Albus, the one he trusts the most. Why don't you teach him?"

"Although I admit I am a decent occlumens, I have not mastered the skill. You two, nevertheless, have deceived the greatest legilimens alive. Harry must do the same."

Severus scowled but did not retort. Albus had a point.

"I must know, if the Dursleys don't accept the offer, will Harry stay with you?"

His scowl became more visible.

"Those classes are of utter importance. Lily would have wanted you to reflect on it and to give her child a chance. You made a promise, Severus."

Skyrah wanted to help Harry and was on Albus's side, but she hadn't missed the emotionally manipulative words.

Severus felt sick. Albus always did the same: he spoke of Lily to persuade him to do whatever he deemed was for the greater good. He despised those low blows, effective as they were.

"I am only considering it for Lily."

"Of course, my child."

The nerve! First he practically obliged him to do something against his will and then he called him my child as if he cared for him. Skyrah was starting to fume.

"Don't call him my child, Albus, not after you have practically blackmailed him into agreeing to help you. I accepted to do it since the beginning. Severus didn't. We should respect his wishes."

Severus was speechless. He wasn't used to people defending him and he didn't know how to react.

"I didn't blackmail him, Skyrah. I only reminded him of a vow he took a long time ago. And believe it or not, I do care for him. A lot." A tense pause followed in which Severus avoided Albus's gaze. "I give you my word that I'll try to persuade the Dursleys. In fact, I'll go now." Albus looked at Skyrah. "Do you fancy a walk around the school? I'm sure Severus will gladly show you around so that you start to get familiar with the facilities."

"Thanks, Albus," she said in the most polite manner she could utter, "I'd like that very much."

"Come to my office to get updated after the tour."

Severus guided Skyrah out of the office. He looked as composed as ever. The conversation had agitated him, though. His forehead, which glistened with sweat, gave him away. Before she could question him, he walked to the closest classroom.

"Filius Flitwick, a part-goblin part-wizard Professor, teaches Charms here. He is the Head House of Rav-"

Skyrah touched his arm, cutting him off. "I'm sorry about what has just happened, Severus. I would have never thought that Albus would do something like this to-"

"It is no big deal. I am used to it, anyway," he finished in a bitter tone.

"You shouldn't. Albus should have used logic, not feelings, to convince you. He pressured you. If Harry ends up staying with us, I will teach him. I will make sure that you see him as little as possible," she said, squeezing his arm. When she noticed he was as immobile as a statue, she asked, "Are you all right?"

"Why have you defended me against Albus if you truly want to help Potter?"

She shrugged. "Your opinion matters. I didn't like how he used Lily against you. And you... You are my husband."

He felt warm inside. Was this what being cared for felt like?

"I'm sorry, but could you repeat again what this classroom is for? Hogwarts seems so similar yet so different from Ilvermorny…"

Severus was glad for the change of subject - he was not so glad for the fact her hand was no longer on his arm. They spent the following hour walking around the Library (which she thoroughly venerated), the Great Hall, the Black Lake, the Hospital Wing… Every time he showed her a new part of the castle, she smiled like a child on Christmas Day. Severus could tell that the witch really adored school, books and teaching. Despite everything, he was glad that Skyrah was going to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He had no doubts in his mind that with someone as sharp yet as sweet as her, the students would actually learn something. Adore her, even. Unlike him, the greasy bat of the dungeons. Talking about the dungeons, they had just reached them

"My chambers are here," muttered Severus, afraid of her reaction.

The dungeons were home to him, but they were cold and dark, and most non-slytherin students did not like to spend time there. Her smile hadn't faltered, though. Maybe she was a slytherin. Voldemort was one, after all.

"It's our chambers now, Severus," she said amused. "Unless you do not want me here."

"I find your presence tolerable."

"Yeah, I figured, especially when I am snogging you or.... riding you. Tolerable, indeed."

He choked, and blushed, and thanked the stars there were not portraits nearby.

"Skyrah!"

Timid chuckles resonated in the dungeons. The louder her laughter got, the more his sneer vanished. She landed a kiss on his cheek and said, "I was just teasing you. You still find me tolerable, don't you?"

"A little less tolerable," he said, gnashing his teeth.

"You are so grouchy."

"Stellar observation skills."

She gave him a lopsided grin. "You have a sarcastic sense of humor, too."

"Are you going to analyze me?"

She shook her head, sniggering. "I really like you, even if you only find me tolerable."

Encouraged by this statement, he whispered something Skyrah didn't quite catch. The door opened. They entered. She wasn't surprised to see that the place resembled their home. The minimal and simple-designed old wooden furniture required for only one person decorated the entire chambers. It could be easily changed, for the room was spacious enough. A smile was unconsciously drawn on her face. She could see herself living there with this man.

"I know it's not much but-"

"It's tolerable," she said, grinning playfully. Severus raised an eyebrow, and a chuckle escaped her. "Kidding. It's perfect, Severus. We'll just have to enlarge the wardrobe with a few spells. Oh! And we should also add a little room for our baby girl."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. Severus had frozen.

"I-I'm sorry. I got carried away," said Skyrah, no longer in a mischievous mood. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

He gulped. "No, you are right. We should think about it."

Skyrah took his hand, smiling gently.

By the time they got back to the office, Albus was already waiting for them, caressing Fawkes's wings.

"I have just talked to the Dursleys. They have agreed. You will go there four times a week, starting this afternoon. I will ask you to go at least once a week, Severus."

The Snapes nodded, relieved Harry Potter wouldn't be living with them.

"I suppose you've seen the school," Albus muttered, looking at Skyrah.

The unasked question regarding her opinion hung in the air.

"Yes. I love it. Hogwarts is much older than Ilvermorny, of course, but at the same time it's more…homey. I see myself working here."

"I'm glad."

He sounded sincere. His eyes darted to Severus's and Skyrah's tangled fingers. She hadn't let go of his hand yet. Albus looked at them with a twinkle in his eyes. Severus withdrew his hand, expecting the headmaster to tease him about having grown accustomed to her touch. To his surprise, he spoke to Skyrah.

"I see you are more affectionate than your father ever was."

She shrugged. "It is quite easy to beat him in that department."

Albus smirked. "I imagine so. Regardless, I'd suggest using charms to conceal certain love bites you left on your husband's neck before meeting Harry. Hogwarts teachers have a reputation to uphold."

Wasn't there a nearby rock to crawl under? Both Skyrah and Severus would appreciate it.

"O-of course, headmaster. This will n-not happen again," she stammered. 

Albus turned his attention to Fawkes. The Snapes gladly took their leave.

"Use the charm before we forget about it," Skyrah said, back at home.

Severus didn't move. She frowned.

"Go on."

He averted her gaze. She sighed.

"You don't know the charm, do you?"

"It is not like I had many reasons to use it," he excused himself.

A pink light came out of her wand and tickled his neck until the love bites faded.

"But I guess you did..." he said, lifting an eyebrow.

"I was a virgin before I met you, but I did have snogging sessions, Severus," she said, amused.

He didn't want to think about another guy leaving love bites on her neck, so he went to the kitchen to cook lunch. She followed him, like his shadow. No matter how much Skyrah joked in the kitchen, he remained stiff. Even after eating, while reading on the couch, he remained colder than usual. She took the book from him and left it on the floor. She sat on his lap and put her hands on his shoulder, the same position that had convinced him to have sex with her earlier.

"Is something bothering you? Did I say something that offended you? I apologize, if that is the case. It was not my intention."

"You have not done or said anything wrong."

She sighed, relieved. 

"If you are still upset about Albus or Potter, you can tell me. I will listen to you. And if... If you need some space, I will give it to you. It is okay."

"It's not Albus or Potter," he replied slowly and locking their gazes.

Skyrah frowned. "What is it then?"

"We are going to have a child."

Her mouth formed an "O" shape. "You are upset for my comment back in the chambers."

He shook his head. "I am not upset. I am worried. How are we going to hide a pregnancy from the Dark Lord?"

Skyrah took a big breath. "I don't know yet… I have heard of some spells that can help us with that, but none of them is adequate from fifth month on. They can endanger the baby's life. The secret will get out eventually. I just hope we think of something before that happens, or she... She'll die. I'm afraid, but I'm also hopeful. I will fight for her."

Absentmindedly, she caressed her belly under his gaze. It felt unreal to know that there was growing life he had contributed to creating inside of her.

"I will fight for her too."

She squeezed his shoulder, overcome with emotion.

"But I-" he trailed off, trying to think of the fitting words. Skyrah waited for him to continue. "I'm afraid I will not be the father she deserves."

"Why not?"

He hesitated. The hand that had been on her belly was now massaging his nape, steadying his nerves. "I didn't exactly have role models for parents."

Skyrah raised an eyebrow. "Welcome to the club."

"You aren't like him," he said, and for some reason, her eyes got misty.

"I try not to be like him. Father wasn't around much, and when he actually was, he only brought despair, death and misery. I am afraid of parenthood, too, but I refuse to ruin my child's life with my insecurities. I will not be as bad as my father. And the fact you are determined to fight for her and worried you are not worthy of her," She touched her womb. "Says a lot about you. You care for her. You are the father she needs." 

Severus avoided her gaze. It was too intense, too sincere.

"You don't have to go to the Dursleys today… I'll start the lessons."

He shook his head. "No. Today we'll go together. I want to see Petunia's face when he recognizes me with a woman by my side."

It sounded like an ultimatum, so Skyrah didn't object. She preferred going with him on her first visit, anyway.

The Snapes were in the front door of Privet Drive number four.

"Are you ready?" Skyrah asked.

As a reply, he knocked on the door. They heard some unintelligible screams and, a few seconds later, a teenager with glasses and a scar on his forehead opened the door. His emerald eyes widened as he gasped, "Snape?!"

"Harry! Who's come? Answer me!" a voice shouted from afar.

Severus sneered, ignoring the strident sound. "Professor Snape. Just because it is summer, it does not mean you can forget about manners, Mr. Potter." 

Harry was too shocked to say anything. In fact, he didn't even notice his usually solitary Potions Master had company.

"Are you going to let us in or do you fancy an outdoors class?" Severus growled impatiently.

"I…" started the boy.

In that moment, Petunia, tired of not receiving answers, stood next to Harry.

"You!" she yelled, eyes wide.

Severus could only smirk at her. He didn't bother hiding his amusement as he replied, "Yes, me."

"That freak told me that two Professors would come… But you?!"

"Mr. Potter is my student, Petunia. He has attempted to learn Potions under my supervision for four years."

Harry's gaze shifted from Severus to his aunt. He wasn't a fool; Aunt Petunia and his Professor knew each other. The question was why.

Petunia shook her head in disbelief, and turned her attention to her nephew. "And who's the woman? Does this freak teach you too?"

On the one hand, Skyrah was glad that somebody finally noticed her. On the other hand, Petunia's manners, the way she had referred to her as a freak and the tone she had taken led Skyrah to realize the reason her husband disliked the muggle woman.

"This freak is Skyrah Andraste Snape," said Skyrah, before Harry could provide an answer.

Harry was speechless. Skyrah Andraste Snape? She didn't resemble Severus. This woman was far too attractive to be Snape related, unless…

"You are married? The Snape boy got married?" Petunia asked, grimacing.

"Thought I wasn't able to, Tuney? Believe it or not, she said I do on our wedding day."

Severus smirked. He was enjoying her reaction much more than he should have. He regretted it not.

"And to answer your other question, I haven't taught him yet, but I applied for the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor job, and I got it; so I will, next year," added Skyrah.

Harry blinked. Snape's wife was going to become the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Hadn't Snape always been after the job? Since when was he married, anyway? And to such a pretty woman? The git?! He was ugly! If Ron had been the one to see the woman, he would have blacked out when he found out she was the wife of the bat of the dungeons.

"May we enter, Mr Potter, or do you wish to cause a bigger scene?" inquired Severus with sarcasm in his voice.

Harry's last thoughts before letting them in were that he was doomed.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"I don't feel so well, sir," Harry confessed.

"It's entirely normal. Your body isn't used to apparition…" explained Severus.

He glanced at Skyrah, silently asking her to look for an anti-dizziness potion. She went to the lab.

"What's this place?"

"My house. You'll spend the night here."

Harry had always imagined that Snape's house would be dark, cold and dismal. It wasn't like that at all. Instead, it was simple and with wooden furniture. He was going to sleep at the Snapes. Ron would have never believed it. It was a nightmare.

"What did you do to the Dursleys? I heard screams."

"Nothing you should care for," his Professor said without looking at him.

Harry snorted and shook his head, but accepted the answer. By the tone Severus had taken, Harry knew better than to insist on it.

"What's going to happen to me?"

Severus stared at him for a long time. He didn't want to lie to him. "I don't know."

Skyrah appeared with the flask.

"Here, drink this. It's against dizziness. In five minutes you'll feel better."

Harry looked at it distrustfully but drank the content anyway. He was feeling so bad that he thought nothing could make him feel worse. He had nothing to lose.

"Yack! It's awful!" he complained once the flask was empty.

Severus was about to make a snarky remark, but Skyrah didn't leave him time to do it.

"I know. But it will make you feel better in a few moments... Do you need anything? A glass of water? Some tea?"

Harry was taken aback by her hospitality and he stammered, "Er- no, t-thank you."

"Do not hesitate to ask, okay?" she told him, putting a consoling hand on his shoulder.

She waited until he nodded and then turned her attention to Severus.

"We don't have a guest room," she whispered.

"I'll sleep on the sofa if that's what you are worried about."

Skyrah shook her head. "It's not just the sleeping, Severus. What are we going to do with him? Is it even safe for him to stay with us? We should tell Albus..."

They had kept the volume of their voices low, but, apparently, Harry had a sharp ear.

"You can't tell him! You can't tell anyone!" he begged, nearly hysterical.

"Sweetheart, you have to unders-"

"No! It's my life! My private life! I don't want anybody else to know!"

"Professor Dumbledore could help you," Skyrah tried again.

"No! Please, don't tell him!"

His lip quivered, about to cry. Skyrah put her hands on his shoulders, trying to calm him down.

"Harry, this is serious. Professor Dumbledore should know. He's the most appropriate person to help you. You need to rely on someone. You trust him, don't you?"

He shook his head as some tears finally streamed down his face.

"You and Snape know already. You can help me. Please, don't tell anybody else."

Severus was shaken. He had never seen the boy so distressed. Harry must be truly desperate to be willing to trust me and a stranger rather than Albus, with this, thought Severus. His heart ached when he looked at his green eyes, her eyes. Lily had never looked at him as if he was her last hope. Harry did.

Skyrah was at a loss. She had been abused by her father, still was, and knew how difficult it was for a teenager to confess something like that. Heck! She was an adult and it still hurt to admit it. She looked at Severus for guidance, and he approached them slowly.

"Potter, Skyrah is right. The headmaster should be aware."

"No!"

Severus put his palms forward.

"With that said, I will not act like a hypocrite. I have been in your place, and no one ever knew. I made sure of it." His voice had been neutral, but Skyrah detected a hint of pain in his coal eyes. She realized why he had said he hadn't had role models for parents and it caused her stomach to turn. Aware it hadn't been easy for him to confess that, she took his hand in a clear symbol of support. Harry saw that Severus intertwined his fingers with hers before continuing, "If you wish for us not to tell, we won't. I would have done the same in your place. Nevertheless, you have to promise us something."

Professor Snape was abused, thought Harry, yet he cried, "I'll do anything!" 

"You have to tell at least one of us about it. You have to let your feelings go and claim that you didn't deserve what those people did to you, or else you'll end up like me. Is that clear?"

The way he had uttered or you'll end up like me hadn't been expressed in a threatening tone as Harry had expected. Harry didn't want to get in depth into the abuse topic, but what choice did he have? He didn't want anybody else finding out, so he nodded.

"A verbal answer, Potter," demanded Severus, sounding more like the Professor Harry was accustomed to.

"I promise, sir."

"Good."

Skyrah disrupted the awkward silence that had invaded the room by saying, "It will be dinner time soon. We don't have much space in our bedroom, but we can make some space for today, right Severus?"

Severus nodded. "I'll cook."

The part of take care of him, Skyrah was left out, but she knew he had thought it. Skyrah kissed Severus's cheek to reassure him, something which surprised both wizards. Severus was ashamed and kept cursing himself. What would Harry think of him now? He wasn't the sentimental type and he had a reputation to uphold. Harry was too shocked to think of anything though. The image of any woman, especially a gorgeous one like her, kissing the greasy git was something which he had never thought he'd ever witness. Severus headed to the kitchen before they could see the blush that was starting to appear on his face.

Harry followed Skyrah upstairs quietly, his bag on his hand. She stalled abruptly. She had just recalled how they had left the bed after the sex. Damn! She thought. The bed is a mess, he can't enter!

"Er- Just wait here a second, I'll be right back," she babbled.

Confused as Harry was, he moved not. Skyrah got into the room and with a wand swish, the bed was well-made once again. The bedsheets did not smell of sweat and sex any longer. She sighed in relief. If she hadn't remembered about that, the boy could have found out just what his professors had been occupied with before he came home.

From up the stairs, Skyrah smiled a little awkwardly at Harry and said, "Sorry about that! The room was a little…er-messy."

Harry nearly tittered at the surreal situation, but he didn't have the guts to actually do it. "Don't worry, madam. I'm sure it wasn't as messy as mine."

Her nose wrinkled. "Don't call me madam, please. It makes me feel old. I never let my students call me that either in Ilvermorny. Professor was just fine."

"You have already taught?" Harry wondered in amazement.

She hummed. "For some years, in America."

Harry guessed that Ilvermorny must have been the name of said school.

"Shall I address you as professor or as Mrs. Snape?"

Skyrah chuckled light-heartedly, despite the situation. 

"Oh no! Although I'm going to tutor you in Defense Against the Dark Arts and occlumency, we aren't at school yet. Leave professor for the school year. Mrs. Snape is too formal, so I guess Skyrah will do." A short pause followed as she opened the bedroom door. "This is our humble bedroom. You may leave your belongings in the corner. I know it's not much, but it's all we have."

"It's fine, mada-er Skyrah. I could barely walk in my own room," he said, leaving the bag at the place she indicated.

Skyrah mentally kicked herself for bringing that up. He did not seem to mind about his former bedroom, though. What had distressed him was the abuse Severus had witnessed. The boy kept rubbing his nape, not knowing what else to do with his hands.

"What Severus said was right. You have to let go of your feelings. You don't have to do it now. It's too soon and you must be overwhelmed and confused by all of this. I don't expect you to… I know we are practically strangers, but I just wanted to let you know that whenever you feel ready, you can count on me."

Harry didn't know what to say. Nobody had ever offered him so much comfort in such short time.

"I want you to know something… My f-father isn't a very nice man. He did unforgivable things to me…"  He does, she added to herself. "I may be able to understand you because I've been through something similar. You may find solace in me."

Harry felt out of his comfort zone talking about something so personal to a Snape, so he averted her eyes, yet she cupped his face tenderly and locked their gazes.

"My husband has told me about you…"

He snorted, "All bad things I guess."

Skyrah smirked for a second, but got serious once again as she explained, "I know you two haven't been at your best but he has been the one who opened our home to you. He's even told you he's been in your place. He isn't very good at showing his emotions, I'm sure you've noticed it." Harry suppressed another snort. He had thought Severus didn't even have emotions, for starters. "The single fact that he offered to help you, despite your not-so-perfect-past and relationship, says a lot about him, don't you think? Even if he isn't your favorite teacher, you must know that you can confide in him. He can help you. We can help you. We'll give our best, I promise."

Harry he gulped soundly, teary-eyed.

Feeling a sense of guilt, Skyrah murmured, "I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable… I'll give you some space."

Harry's eyes widened and he cried out, "Wait! Don't leave!"

Surprised as she was, she stayed. He looked like he wanted to add something else but couldn't find the right words, so she grabbed his hand and smiled, encouraging him. Harry was astonished by the sudden contact, but he actually liked it. It made him feel like someone cared, even if it was a stranger, even if it was Snape's wife.

He had felt like nobody cared this summer.

"I-I'm not ready yet," he rasped.

"I understand. I'm not going to pressure you."

"I-It's just that I'm not used to people offering me comfort like this," he confessed as a tear he had been holding back finally coursed down his face.

"And Professor Snape's wife was the last person you thought would give it to you, right? Merlin! What is the world turning into?" she joked, gesturing dramatically.

Harry couldn't suppress a chuckle and Skyrah smiled, feeling triumphant for making him happy. Wiping the tear away with her thumb, she murmured, "Everything will be alright, you'll see." 

There was a pause and Skyrah had an idea.

"Do you know what I do when I feel down? I go to the garden. The fresh air and the smell of the flowers calm me down. Do you want me to show it to you?"

Harry hesitated but agreed in the end. His first impression about Skyrah was that she was severe and cold, but she had demonstrated she actually was a really compassionate and warm person, funny even. He felt safe around her, despite having met a few minutes ago, and he liked the consolation touches she provided. He would have never thought that Snape's wife would be like this, but, was he glad!

"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes," informed Severus when he heard some footsteps.

"Thanks, Severus! Harry and I are going to the garden before dinner."

A domestic Snape? Yeah, right. Harry had figured all Severus did was scheme and brew potions... or poisons. Yet here he was, in front of the cooks. He would have stood still, astonished, if Skyrah hadn't grabbed his hand and pulled it to the garden.

"Here we are! Severus does a stellar job, doesn't he?"

Harry was stunned. The garden wasn't very big, but he could see a little orchard on a corner and lots of flowers, especially lilies, whose smell invaded the air, making him feel at peace. It wasn't difficult to note that this garden was taken cared of pretty well.

"Snape looks after the garden?" he blurted out without thinking. "Er- I mean… I'm not implying… Er- It's just-"

Skyrah chuckled and waved off his discomfort.

"I'm not that good with plants. It's all his doing. Do you like it?"

"It's great. Thank you, ma-Skyrah. I actually feel better," he said in all honesty.

Skyrah smiled at him. "Do you want me to leave you to your thoughts or do you want me to keep you company?"

"I'd rather be alone… Dinner will be ready soon, anyway."

She squeezed his hand and left. Skyrah went to the kitchen to find her husband still focused on the cooking.

"Hey!"

Severus stared at her, wondering why she was in such a good mood. Harry's situation would turn anybody's stomach.

"What happened?"

"We talked. I told him he could count on us. He took it better than expected. He's in the garden now… I even made him chuckle! Can you believe it?"

He rolled his eyes. "You are the only person in the world who manages to make me chuckle, so yes, I do believe it."

Skyrah sgrinned and looked at him with a strange emotion which Severus couldn't quite place. Raising an eyebrow, he snapped, "What?"

She bit her bottom lip and interrupted the cooking muttering a non-verbal spell so that nothing blew up. Her hands cricled his neck as she stared intensely at his deep black eyes. She leaned in until her lips were pressed against his, kissing him sweetly. As soon as it started though, it was over. She pulled away with a gleam in her eyes and a soft smile on her face. His stomach felt funny again, but in a pleasant way.

Merlin. The things she did to him.

"What you did today was the noblest thing I've ever seen… You've been against teaching Harry since Albus suggested it. And don't let me get started when he implied he should live with us! But look at you! You didn't even hesitate to do the right thing. You forgot about your past and focused solely on the present, on Harry's well-being. It's admirable."

He lowered his gaze. "I did what anyone would have done in my place. It is not something which should be qualified as admirable."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please! You could have easily gone to Albus and let him take care of it, yet, Harry is here… You offered him help and welcomed him home. Actions speak louder than words, Severus. You care for the boy, despite everything."

Severus kept his head down, glad that his dark hair covered his face... and his blush. He had forgotten how sharp-witted she was. She bared his face from his black locks and asked him to look at her. Her tone had been so soft he found he couldn't deny her request.

"I meant what I said the other day. You are a good man, Severus, even if you don't believe it."

He shook his head and gulped. His eyes held pain and regret. "If you knew all the ghastly things I've done-"

She cut him off before he could finish the sentence, putting her finger on his lips to silence him.

"That's the past. There is nothing you can do about it. Everybody makes mistakes; it's part of being human. The important thing is to learn from them and to do something to fix them. You are doing just that right now. I am proud of you."

She finished her discourse with a kiss on his cheek and let him continue with the cooking, even though Severus was replaying her words on his mind, making it difficult for him to concentrate on making dinner. She was the first person to ever be proud of him, or at the very least, to say it.

A few minutes later, Harry, Skyrah and Severus were sitting around the kitchen table, ready to eat.

Chapter Text

At first, they ate in absolute silence. Every time Skyrah directed her gaze to Harry or Severus, both averted her eyes. The atmosphere carried an awkward and pretty uncomfortable air which disturbed everyone, mostly Skyrah.

However, just when she was about to break it and start a light-hearted conversation, Harry wondered, eyes fixed on his plate, "How long am I going to stay here?"

His home.

Severus had opened his home to the boy. And this is how the arrogant thanked him: wondering when he will be free of him. The question offended him. He clenched his fists.

Before he could snarl at the boy, Skyrah replied, "We still don't know, sweetheart. Try not to think about it. We'll make sure you feel comfortable here, right Severus?"

She raised an eyebrow, urging him to collaborate and tranquilize the child. Nonetheless, Severus snorted and kept eating quietly. Skyrah shrugged, thinking it could have been worse. At least, she had avoided a nasty comment which could have resulted in an argument or in an even more awkward dinner. She still felt bad for Harry though, so she turned her head to the boy and whispered loud enough her husband could hear her words too.

"Don't mind him, Harry. He's just a little grouchy… I'm sure you've noticed."

She winked at Harry, making him chuckle slightly in disbelief. Severus nearly choked but masked it well. He would have made a snarky remark, if it weren't for Harry's little laugh. He laughed like Lily. Genuinely.

The corners of Skyrah's mouth moved upward and drew on her pretty face a little grin. It wasn't directed to Harry though, it was directed to her husband. She wasn't being serious or insulting him, she was just trying to bright up the mood, and for that, he was thankful.

"The meal is delicious, sir," said the boy, more at ease.

Severus was taken aback by the honesty the boy had conveyed. He also noticed that he had addressed him as sir. At last, some respect from his part, Severus thought. Skyrah lifted an eyebrow, as if telling him to say something to Harry. Severus cleared his throat and unenthusiastically muttered thanks, all while avoiding those green eyes.

The most awkward dinner in the Brittish history was finally over. Harry got up and started to wash the dishes the muggle way. Skyrah and Severus exchanged alarmed looks, but the man didn't know how to react. He had seen in his memories that Harry was the one who dealt with the house chores.

Skyrah hadn't seen it, but she was the one who mumbled in a soothing voice, "Harry, sweetheart, there's no need to do that…"

Harry didn't even look at her and continued with the task."You are welcoming me home. It's the least I can do."

Her expression softened as she approached the boy. She put a hand on his shoulder and with a wave of her wand, the dishes were clean and the hands of the boy were dry. Then, she turned him so that they were face to face.

"Listen to me, Harry. I truly appreciate that you want to help with the chores, but I don't want you to think about them at the moment. Relax. Today's been hard enough."

Harry gulped and nodded.

"Thank you, Skyrah."

His voice was thick with emotion, and the woman couldn't help but squeeze his shoulder.

Severus was watching the scene from afar. If he hadn't known any better, he would have never guessed who Skyrah's father was. How could Voldemort's daughter turn out to be so compassionate? She had witnessed her fiancé's death at the hands of her own father, seen her family trapped in a cell in poor conditions, been forced to marry a Death Eater and to have a child with him…. And yet, there she was, grinning and making everybody else feel better. She was a fighter. She walked through hell with a smile. It made him wonder how she did it. He had been through hell too, but he never managed to smile. Instead it had made him turn even bitterer. Just before dinner, she had told him that what he was doing was admirable and that she was proud of him. What she didn't know was that he thought the same of her and that, in comparison, he was unworthy of her words.

The swirl of thoughts were interrupted when somebody grabbed his hand. Skyrah. She didn't voice her thoughts, but it was clear by her expression that she was worried. Of course, she must have noticed he was in his own world; so he simply squeezed her hand to calm her down and assure her everything was fine. She didn't look entirely convinced, but still gave him a tiny smile. She guided him to the old sofa, where Harry was already seated. Skyrah sat in between of the wizards.

"Where will I be sleeping? I heard you say you have no guest room… I can sleep here," Harry said, indicating the sofa.

"I am going to sleep on the sofa, Potter. This is my house and you'll do as I say," Severus instantly replied with sternness.

"But I-"

"Obey for once in your life," snarled Severus.

Harry kept cursing Severus in his mind. Before another uncomfortable silence could reign over the room, he wondered, "Can I… I mean, may I go to the garden again? I need to think."

He felt awkward sitting so close to Severus, he needed to go out. Besides, he was still digesting that he was going to spend the night there. And who knew how many other nights would follow… This couple, who happened to be the greasy git and his wife, had found out he was abused and tried to help him. It was too much to take in, even though Skyrah was trying to make him feel better. Besides, Harry wasn't a fool. He knew that Severus and Skyrah hadn't had time to discuss anything related to him. They needed to talk and this was the perfect excuse to let them do so while he also found a way to finally breathe.

"You may go… If you need anything you know where to find us."

Harry nodded at her and hurried to the garden in a failed attempt to escape the stark reality. Once the Snapes were left alone, Skyrah turned her head to her husband.

"We really need to talk about Harry. I don't mind having him staying with us, but is it safe?"

"Can your father reach you somehow?"

She shook her head.

"Good. Then there's nothing to worry about. The house has got protection wards. Only Albus, Minerva (the Transfiguration teacher) and Poppy (the medi-witch) can enter it without permission, apart from us. The Malfoys know where I live, but I don't think it is an inconvenient. Your father likes to meet in the woods. He wouldn't come here even if Lucius revealed the location."

Skyrah nodded in agreement. She had met Malfoy, since he had organized the wedding and was one of the select Death Eaters who knew about the arrangements.

"Right. For how long will he stay with us?"

Severus sighed.

"All I know is that he can't go back there. What he said was true: he has nowhere else to go. Sirius Black, his godfather, is on the run. His best friend has enough siblings and they aren't exactly rich… Other teachers have their own families or are too old for this. Besides, we promised we wouldn't tell anybody and I don't break my promises. If he was to live with someone else, questions would arise. He could stay with us until school begins. We'll be able to teach him better this way too. It's what you want, isn't it? We'll tell Albus that you persuaded me because his room wasn't spacious enough to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Skyrah grinned at the excuse he made up to retain his dignity in front of the headmaster.

"So you've changed your mind. Not only is he going to be living with us, but he will also be taught by you; despite your obvious refusal when Albus proposed it."

"I had no idea that he was being abused by his family then."

"I know," she replied taking his hand. "We should think about the sleeping arrangements. The library is the biggest part of the house. Maybe we could take advantage of the space and transfigure a little bedroom there."

"The library?" he growled, pulling away his hand.

"Would you rather divide our bedroom in two to build him a room of his own?" she asked in a mocking tone.

"Obviously not!"

"Then listen to me! Look, I adore books. You know that. I'm not telling you to throw some of them away. I would never ask you to do something like this. All I am saying is that we should put the bookshelves closer to each other so that there is enough space to create Harry's bedroom."

He still didn't look convinced.

"Besides, he'd sleep downstairs and we'd be upstairs. Everybody would have their space. It could be the room of our little girl in the future…"

This final argument did the trick, for Severus found himself muttering, "We'll start to arrange it tomorrow. It will take at least all morning between the two of us."

Skyrah smiled brightly at him and threw her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her. The hug only lasted for two seconds though, and just when Severus's mind registered what was happening, she pulled away and thanked him. With that small grin and shiny eyes, gratitude was evident on her face. He found himself slowly leaning in, as if charmed by her beauty. He caught himself before anything happened though, and put some distance between them; cursing himself for not concealing his emotions. 

"What will happen when my father summons us?"

"We'll have to think up an excuse."

"The boy isn't a fool, Severus."

He rubbed his temples and snapped, "I cannot think of anything else. I wasn't expecting any of this to happen. Unlike me, Potter is breathing fresh air to let it sink in!"

"Don't say it like that! He's the one who was being abused!"

"I don't need you to remind me!"

Skyrah breathed deeply. Her voice came out stern, almost as if he was her student and she was his teacher, when she said, "Don't take your anger out on me, Severus. Harry is the victim here. I understand that this situation is difficult for you. I cannot even begin to imagine what you must be feeling. Snapping at me will not make it any better, though."

She was right, but his pride, his stubbornness and his embarrassment did not allow him to apologize. The words wouldn't come out, even if he tried. So he stared deeply at her eyes, hoping she would see right through him and know that he was sorry for taking that tone with her. Skyrah's eyes softened as she lay her head on his shoulder. Severus tensed but didn't push her away. It felt too good to push her away, too comforting.

"Today's been exhausting. Aren't you sleepy?"

"A little…"

Skyrah got up.

"Stand up."

Severus complied. Then, she took her wand out and started to transfigure the sofa into a mattress.

"I said I would sleep on the sofa, Skyrah. There is no need to-"

"Severus Snape," she interrupted him, "there's no way you or anyone can get some rest in this sofa. You should be thanking me. Now, are you assisting me with this or not?"

He helped her.

"For the record, I'm not planning on telling Potter he will be spending the rest of his summer days with his Potions Master and his wife."

Skyrah chuckled and ribbed, "Sure, I don't want you to cope with the stress that would cause you."

His lips twitched into a slight, close-lipped smile. She smirked back.

By the time Harry returned to the living room, the sofa - now a bed - had already been made. Severus and Skyrah kept staring at each other. He had to clear his throat to make his presence known.

"Harry! I didn't hear you coming in. Do you need anything?" wondered Skyrah.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little sleepy…"

"All of us are, sweetheart."

"Brush your teeth, Potter. The bathroom is in front of the bedroom."

Harry nodded and made to leave, but stopped dead in the tracks and said, "I want to sleep here. It's not a sofa anymore, I'll be fine."

"I am in the habit of giving the best to the guests, Potter. A transfigured mattress will never be as comfortable as a real bed."

"But I won't be comfortable next to her!" he cried out. "Er- I mean- You are not bad, it's just that… Well, you should be with your husband and-"

Skyrah saved the boy from his misery by assuring, "It's all right. We can pretend the living room is the guest room, but only for tonight…"

"Only for tonight? What do you mean?"

"Go brush your teeth already, Potter."

Severus had sounded so strict that the boy hurried upstairs without looking back.

"I told him I would be sleeping here, Skyrah. Why did you have to intervene? It's just one night. Guests are supposed to feel welcome."

"That's why I'm doing this! I promised the boy we'd do anything to make him feel comfortable. Sleeping next to his Professor's wife isn't his definition of comfortable… Why are you complaining, anyway? Is it so horrible to sleep next to me?" she joked rolling her eyes.

The truth was that Severus had gotten used to her presence on the bed. It soothed him better than any calming draught. Feeling her warmth and watching as her chest moved following her breathing rhythm while her face looked at peace had become a pastime of his. He was too embarrassed to tell her that he liked sleeping next to her though, so he kept silent, hoping she wouldn't notice his crimson cheeks. She giggled.

"What?" he grunted.

She shook her head and confessed, "You look adorable when you blush like that."

He narrowed his eyes.

"I. don't. blush. and. I'm. not. adorable."

To his dismay, his cheeks turned rosier. So did his ears, but his hair covered them.

"See? Adorable."

"Just this morning you called me grouchy. Grouchy and adorable are incompatible."

"Nonsense. You are adorably grouchy."

The comment should have embarrassed him more, but for some reason, it got him smiling softly.

"You are impossible."

"I'm tolerable enough, especially when I touch you."

Was she flirting with him? No one had ever talked to him with that intention. His flirting experience was null. How was he supposed to respond? Should he act on his sudden urge to wipe that sly grin off her face with a kiss? Should he tease her back? Smile? Touch her? Let her touch him? He didn't realize that, while he kept mulling over how to act, he remained still, eyes fixed on her mouth. 

Suddenly, she was looking at him like that morning she caught him in a towel - with lust. She took one step closer, noses bumping, and brought her lips to his. Just a peck, enough to drive Severus crazy.

Skyrah bit her lip. One moment, she was staring at his half-hooded eyes. Another moment and she was kissing him again, sucking on his bottom lip. That caught him off guard, and a moan escaped him. He would have been mortified had it not been for the fact she let out a small moan, too. Timidly, Severus's hands found her slim waist. Skyrah smiled into the kiss, laying her hands on his chest, seeking his palpitating heart. They parted to breathe without breaking the embrace. Skyrah grinned broadly at him. Her smile was contagious that Severus gave her a small grin too.

It didn't last long though, for he said with a serious voice while pushing her away gently, "I will not let Potter see me in such a state, mind you? I have a reputation to protect and I reckon it has already started to suffer today… I'm not going to speed up the process of its destruction."

Skyrah burst into laughter.

"Sure thing! It would be horrible if other people found out that underneath the black robes and the cold exterior an actual human being lies."

"I am dead serious!" he exclaimed, trying hard to keep a straight face.

Her infectious laugh was making it difficult. Where were his spy skills when he needed them? Why did she disarm him so easily?

"I know. Your secret's safe with me," she whispered, still in a playful tone.

"I wasn't wrong: you really are impossible," he muttered under his breath, letting go of her waist.

"I heard you!"

"I intended you to!"

Just then, Harry walked into the living room. He noticed that Skyrah and, to his surprise, Severus looked more relaxed...

Until they saw him, that is. 

"Is that your sleepwear?" Skyrah inquired softly.

Harry nodded, self-conscious. He knew his pyjama was over-sized and old. From Dudley.

"Well, we'll have to buy you new pyjamas now that you're going to stay with us until September."

"What do you mean?"

"Really, Potter? I am aware it is late, but my wife has spoken clearly. Everybody else would have realized that she meant you will be spending the summer break with us until school starts. Horrendous clothes are not tolerated in our house, even if they are meant to sleep," claimed Severus, leaving no room for discussion.

Chapter Text

Harry's eyes widened when he heard his Potions Professor claiming he was going to live with him and his wife until the school term began. He knew he had nowhere else to go; nevertheless living with the greasy git was certainly a frightening thought. Maybe it was too soon to tell, but he liked Skyrah. Yet, he was aware they had just met, so he didn't really know her. She had been scary with Aunt Petunia, but nice to him. He was going to live with a stranger, and it made him feel out of his comfort zone. What would it be like, to live with a married couple of Professors anyway? The Snapes, at that. But then he remembered how living with the Dursleys felt like, and he knew that he'd rather stay with two Snapes than with Vernon, Petunia or Dudley another day. At least, the Snapes had welcomed him home, cooked dinner and tried to make him feel better. Well, Skyrah had tried to make him feel better. Severus had been grouchy, not as bad-tempered as usual - he had even promised not to tell about the abuse - but still grouchy.

"Are you all right?" wondered Skyrah, worry etched on her features.

"Ugh, I-I… I just…" Harry tried to answer her.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but we are only trying to do what's best for you," she said, as if understanding what he was trying to convey.

Her words showed nothing but honesty, as did her eyes.

"Thanks."

Skyrah smiled at the boy and took his hand, squeezing it. Severus stood, watching the scene. He wasn't a religious man, but inwardly, he was thanking whoever was above for not being alone in this. He didn't know how the events might have turned out if he hadn't been married to Skyrah. She obviously possessed better interpersonal skills than he did (not that it was something difficult to beat, but still). She had been the one to lend emotional support to the boy and he knew that he could have never done that.

"We're going to sleep now. If you need anything, you know where to find us. Don't be scared to wake us up, even if you believe it is something stupid," she offered, squeezing his shoulder.

Harry nodded. After five hesitating seconds, she brought the teenager close to her and held him. Harry stood frozen. Snape's wife is hugging me, was all he could think. He looked at Severus only to find his professor was as taken aback as him by the gesture. 

"Good night, Harry," she said, releasing the boy.

Harry was so shocked by the hug he found it difficult to say it back.

"Are you that rude, Potter, or did you lose the ability to speak?" Severus snarled, rolling his eyes.

Skyrah subtly trampled his foot as a warning, and Severus had to struggle so as not to let out a whine. Luckily, Harry didn't notice it.

Rather, his eyes widened and he hurried to babble, "Er- Good night, Skyrah." It gained him a soft smile from her. As an afterthought, he added, "Good night, sir."

Severus raised an eyebrow in a clear sign of surprise and answered in a softer voice than intended, "Good night."

The Snapes turned around to go to bed, when Harry's voice stopped them, "Can I go get Hedwig? She's in your room…"

Severus groaned.

"You better take that bird of yours and put it away from my bedroom, Potter."

"I obeyed Skyrah! She told me to leave everything there! And it's an owl!"

Severus turned to his wife with an arched eyebrow.

She shrugged and mumbled, "In my defense, I am going to say that we thought he'd be sleeping there…"

Once everything was settled, Skyrah and Snape went to bed. Severus's body was tense. She noticed even though their bodies weren't touching. She waited a few minutes, expecting him to relax and fall asleep; but he was just as rigid.

"Severus? Are you all right?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"Just fine."

He had intended to use a reassuring tone. It came out as a snarl. Old habits.

"Sure, you're fine. That's why you are so stiff and growl at me when I only asked about your well-being," she said sarcastically, lifting an eyebrow.

"Go to sleep, Skyrah." 

She felt offended. She had only been trying to help, after all. She wasn't one to give up, though. Today's events had overwhelmed him. He deserved to rest. She hit upon an idea that got her grinning like a naughty child.

"Lie on your stomach."

"Excuse me?!"

"Severus Snape, do as I say, or else..."

The silent threat was quite palpable. He still wasn't obeying. Now that he knew she was nothing like Voldemort, he had no reason to be afraid of her. She whined.

"Severus... Come on."

Nothing.

"Humor me." She bit her lip and and blurted in a much softer tone, "Please."

To her delight, he complied. Skyrah grinned in victory and took out her wand. She put her knees on each side of his back and sat upon him, straddling him. He was left shirtless with a wand wave.

"Skyrah?!" he choked, already regretting his decision to satisfy her desires.

"Sh… Let me work. If I hurt you, tell me and I'll stop. Focus on your breathing," she murmured as she moved her wand again over his back. Her comments only scared him more.

Before he could protest, a kind of oil moistened his skin. His eyes widened and he got even more rigid.

"Relax, Severus," advised Skyrah, amused by the situation.

She massaged his lower back, pressing lightly with her palms and her fingers, especially her thumbs, and increasing the pressure slowly. Once he unstiffened a bit, she started to caress all his back muscles, going upward until she reached his neck. Her hands explored the zone, using gliding movements in long even strokes and augmenting the pressure as the time went by, then going down to his back again.

Severus breathed deeply; lost in the delightful sensation. No one had ever touched him like that, and he had to admit that it felt tremendously good. He had never felt that calm before and, unconsciously, he let out a moan of pleasure. Skyrah smirked at the effect she was having on him as she traced his spine with her index finger, from the bottom to his neck. She forgot about his back for a moment and started to massage his shoulders and neck area, not only with her palms but also with her knuckles, pushing all the right buttons, making him sigh. Potter, Albus, the Dark Lord... They disappeared. Only Skyrah and her heavenly touch occupied Severus's mind.

Too soon to his liking, she dried her hands with her wand and lay down next to Severus. He stared at her, stomach still flat against the mattress. In the gloom of the room, the glow of his eyes stood out. Skyrah had never seen Severus with such a peaceful expression upon his face, so handsome. It made her want to stroke his cheek, so she did.

"Feeling better?"

He hummed, making her smile in satisfaction.

"See? You have to trust me… If you ever feel stressed, helpless or angry, tell me. I'll do whatever I can to help you."

She pecked his lips and turned around in a fetal position, showing her back to him. Severus couldn't help but smile softly now that she wasn't watching him. Voldemort's daughter, the massager. It was hard to believe, but true, just like the fact Skyrah Andraste Riddle had become Skyrah Andraste Snape, his wife, a witch who touched him and kissed him and smiled at him and made him feel human.

He didn't know if it was an aftereffect of the massage or not, but he got the urge to touch her. He lay on his side and put an arm around her waist, pressing her back to his chest. A smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth at her surprised gasp. After a few moments of hesitancy, she held his hand. It wasn't long before they drifted off to sleep.

Severus woke up in the same position in which he had falling asleep: with Skyrah in his arms, asleep. He pondered getting up and having a shower, but that would imply leaving her warmth and possibly his rare serenity behind. No. He didn't want the moment to end. He decided to relish in the sensation of having a woman like her in his arms and closed his eyes. The spell was broken a few minutes later, when she stirred and turned around to face him, still in his embrace.

"Good morning," she purred.

"Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?" she wondered, concerned.

"Do you honestly think I didn't sleep well after the wondrous backrub you gave me?" he asked in a teasing tone.

She rolled her eyes and hit his chest playfully.

"Severus? Are you all right?" she asked, noting he was staring at her intensely.

He gulped and nodded. "Thank you."

"For the massage you mean? Oh, don't mention it. I-"

"Not just for the massage. You took care of Potter and made him feel at ease. And you tried to make me feel comfortable as well. I truly appreciate it. You'll be an excellent mother, Skyrah. Affectionate, compassionate, supportive... Our girl will be lucky to have you."

Her vision blurred with tears. She smacked him playfully on the chest again. "Stop talking like that. You'll make me cry. Who knew you could be this sweet?"

He grimaced. "I'm not sweet."

She chuckled at his response and kissed his nose, making him blush. Merlin. Not even his monstrous nose scared her.

"By the way, what did you do to the Dursleys?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"I got Petunia and Vernon to spend some time in the cupboard. And their son couldn't talk for once..."

"Severus!"

"What? The spells only lasted for a few hours and they deserved worse. Most house-elves I know are treated ten times better than Potter ever was in that house."

Noticing he was tensing again, she told him to have a shower while she cheked on the boy. Next, he was left alone and cold, wondering how the hell he had grown so attached to Voldemort's daughter.

The more stairs he climbed down, the louder the cries got. Then he saw it: Skyrah scolding Harry. That was not something he would have expected to happen. He had thought that all the punishments would be his doing.

"Harry, how do you think I felt when I woke up and you weren't here? You scared me to death! I told you to let us know if you wanted or needed something; I told you to wake us up. Instead, you disobeyed and left the house without our consent," she said disappointed, gesturing with her hands.

He did what? thought Severus.

"Don't you ever do that again, did you hear me? Something bad could have happened to you! Can't you see? Severus and I are taking care of you now. Promise you won't scare us like that again."

Harry kept his head down.

"A verbal answer, Potter," Severus intervened, letting his presence be known.

Harry gulped when he heard his voice. "I promise."

Skyrah threw her arms around the teenager and hugged him tight.

"Don't you dare break that promise. You don't know the panic I felt."

Despite the scolding, Harry felt a warm feeling in his stomach. This woman had just nagged him, yet she had made clear that she was only doing that because she had been frightened. She was afraid that something might have happened to him. And the way she was hugging him, like Mrs. Weasley did her children, was a new experience to Harry. It felt like she cared for him.

"Why, pray tell, did you have the sudden urge to go out, Potter?" Severus asked sternly.

Skyrah broke the embrace so that he could answer.

"Er-well. I-I…"

"I don't have all day," Severus growled.

Harry snorted. "Right. I wanted to cook breakfast but the fridge was practically empty, so I thought I'd go and buy some food for you. I got some money I have saved, left and asked a villager where the nearest grocery was…"

Severus didn't know what to think, what to do... Yesterday, he found out Harry had been abused. Now, he found out Harry was not as ungrateful as he had thought, even if the boy kept making mistakes and running into trouble. Shocked as Severus was, his face betrayed nothing. Skyrah, on the contrary, was looking at Harry with compassion.

"Have you had a shower yet?" asked Severus, wishing to be alone with his thoughts... and with his wife.

"No."

"What are you waiting for, then?"

Harry rushed out of the room before Severus changed his mind and decided to punish him with cauldrons to scrub.

When everyone had had breakfast (a breakfast which Severus and Skyrah had prepared), somebody arrived at Spinner's End via floo network. That someone shook the dust off her shoulders and cleared her throat.

"Severus, I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I wanted to ask you for-" she trailed off when she saw that her colleague wasn't alone at home. He wasn't accompanied by only one person. Oh, no. Next to him, a gorgeous woman she had never seen stood, a gorgeous woman and…

"Mr. Potter?"

"Good morning, Professor McGonagall."

Skyrah remembered her husband telling her that she was the Transfiguration teacher and one of the teaching staff members he talked the most to.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Potter?"

"Er- you see… I... Ugh..." the boy started, trying to think of something.

Eloquent as ever, thought Severus.

"He's staying with my wife and me to learn Occlumency and advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Your wife?" Minerva choked, glancing at Skyrah. A little offended, she asked, "Why didn't I know you were married, Severus?" 

He was taken aback by the question.

"Well?" she pressed.

"My husband and I decided to keep our relationship a secret. We've been married for about a week. Not even Albus knew about us until after the wedding," Skyrah came to the rescue.

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. By the way the Snapes behaved; it didn't look like they had been married for about a week.

Since Minerva still looked hurt, Severus added, "I was going to tell you soon. I just needed some time to arrange everything."

Minerva snorted. "May I know the name of your wife or do I have to wait so that you have time to arrange everything?"

Severus rolled his eyes at Minerva's theatrics while Skyrah introduced herself.

"A pleasure to meet you, Skyrah." Minerva gazed at the boy. "Why do you need advanced classes?"

"Er- Professor Dumbledore said so."

Minerva took it well. She was used to Albus and his secretiveness, after all.

"How long have these lessons been going on?"

"Yesterday evening. I guess you came for the potion," said Severus. "Potter, go to the lab, next to the bedroom. Get a flask with a lime green liquid from the cupboard. Now."

Harry did as told, leaving behind the three adults. He didn't hesitate as he didn't want to be scolded once again.

"Where did Mr. Potter sleep? I know you have no guest room, Severus."

"Well… The sofa did the trick," Skyrah babbled, pointing at the unmade bed placed on the spot the sofa used to be. "Severus and I were about to make a little room in the library and transfigure him a bedroom, since he will be staying with us until school starts."

Minerva frowned. "Did you really agree to rearrange the library? But you love it!"

Severus rolled his eyes.

"I'm a Potions Master. I cannot do anything else."

"You may be a Potions Master, Severus. But Transfiguration is my area of expertise," she replied with a sly smirk.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"May we enter, Severus?" Lucius wondered with an arched eyebrow, still diverted by the surreal situation.

Chapter Text

Severus avoided her eyes and kept silent, but Skyrah wasn't having any of it.

"I need to know why you act like that, Severus. Are you afraid of me? I'm Voldemort's daughter, after all. It's understandable."

She was the one showing vulnerability now. Severus couldn't stand to see her like that.

"I'm not afraid of you," he confessed. "I'm afraid of my feelings. I'm... I'm terrified of what you make me feel."

Her expression softened. So that was why every time he thought he was feeling too much, he assumed control. That was why he got awkward when she touched him or hugged him. Everybody is afraid of the unknown, and the thought that nobody had ever made him feel wanted and loved made her feel angry with the unfair world.

"You don't have to be afraid of feelings, Severus. You can't ignore them. You have to accept them. It took me a long time to learn that," she said with a reassuring voice as she took hold of his hand and drew patterns on his palm with her thumb. "It isn't my intention to make you feel uncomfortable."

Severus shook his head. "You don't get it… The lightest touch makes my skin burn in desire."

Something about the way he had uttered those words overwhelmed Skyrah to the point she felt a knot in her stomach. She tried to brighten up the mood by exclaiming theatrically, "Good to know I'm not the only one! I was beginning to think I was going insane!"

She expected him to give her one of his rare, tiny smiles, but he looked lost. He stared at her, looking for a trace of dishonesty.

He found none.

"I don't understand it."

"Understand what?"

He hesitated. A squeeze on his hand encouraged him to voice what had been bothering him since the moment she had confessed her feelings for him.

"I'm a broken man, Skyrah. Not only that, I have a bad temper, a dark past and a tendency to push away everything and everyone I care about. I'm not precisely good-looking either. Why do you feel attracted to me?"

"Is it so hard to believe that I could feel something for you?"

He avoided her gaze. "You deserve someone better than me."

A smack resonated across the room. Severus put his hand on his cheek and stared at his wife wide-eyed. She had just slapped him, strong enough to sting but soft enough not to leave any marks. She appeared angrier than earlier that day, with the arrival of the Malfoys. Apparently, her hormones were still affecting her moodiness.

"Severus Snape, don't you dare imply you don't deserve me. You've respected me. You've shown you care for our unborn child. You've comforted me. You've strived to do the right thing with Harry despite your past. What is there not to like?"

"I have a repulsive personality. You can't like me."

"You can't tell me what to dislike. I like you, and I'll repeat it until it gets through your thick skull. You think your bad temper will scare me? Have you not seen my temper, Severus?"

Yes, yes he had. His cheek still stung.

"And let's not get started on who has a darkest past. I assure you, I've done nasty things, too, things I'll always regret, but what matters is that I am working to be better. You are, too. Our experiences build us, good and bad ones, both. Without the bad ones you wouldn't be the Severus Snape that I fell in love with."

His stomach flipped, like every time she said what she felt for him.

"You claim that you have a tendency to push people away. For the record, I'm quite stubborn and it takes a lot of effort to truly push me away. And do you know what? I happen to like you a lot, so I'm not planning on leaving you."

He shook his head, feeling like hugging her and shoving her at the same time. Dammit. Why did she make him feel like this? Why were her words so curative?

"Stop! You don't know what you're saying!"

"No, Severus. You need to listen to me. My feelings for you are real. I like the way you crack a grin and chuckle at my stupid jokes. I like your endless sarcasm. I like the way you hold me awkwardly whenever I hug you. I like the way your breath hitches when I touch you. I like the way you look at me when you think I'm not aware of it. I like the subtle touches we have when we brew potions. I like the patience you have with my cooking skills… I like you." She paused for breath. Seeing he wouldn't speak up, she said, "You believe you are not good-looking. Why?"

Why? Was this woman asking him why he thought he was ugly? Apparently. He couldn't believe it. Was she joking? No, by the look in her eyes, she wasn't, but it was hard to believe it when he had been harassed all his life for his looks.

"One doesn't have to be very observant to see that I am tall and dark, but with the handsome part missing. My nose is hooked and too big, my lips are too thin, my skin is too pale, my hair gets greasy immediately, I'm so thin one can notice my ribs…"

"Beauty is relative. You are my perfect definition of tall, dark and handsome."

He snorted, clearly not believing a word. She hadn't lied when she said she was stubborn, though. Sooner or later, she would convince him. 

"I like your nose; it suits you. Your lips are thin, but I cannot imagine you with bigger ones, and I love kissing them."

She touched his hair, and he flinched away from her, embarrassed.

"Have I ever avoided touching your hair?" He shook his head. "I don't mind it that your hair gets greasy. I think it's the fumes spewed by the potions you brew that mess with it. I know you wash it frequently. It's not... It doesn't repulse me. You don't repulse me. I like you just the way you are, and your thin body and pale skin are no exception."

He was looking at her like she was speaking in another language. His body, after all, had been mocked all his life. 

"Do you believe me? Or do you want me to take veritaserum? I totally will if you ask me to, but we'll be wasting the potion and-"

"I'm hideous, Skyrah," he cut her off. "You haven't seen me. You wouldn't be telling me that if you had."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"You haven't seen me. I've hidden something from you."

Instead of getting even angrier, she sighed and with soft eyes, wondered, "What is it?"

He shook his head. "If I showed it to you, you'd realize what a truly ugly and unfortunate man I am."

"I think I already stated my point, Severus. I like everything about you, the good and the bad. Please show me."

He turned his head and looked at anything but his wife. Skyrah cupped his chin and leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek. He blushed, but didn't flinch away. He liked her kisses too much to pull away, even if he still couldn't believe anybody could ever find his body appealing.

"I'm not going away, Severus. But I don't want any secrets between us."

"You'll stop caring about me if you see the real me."

His voice was so broken and his eyes so tearful that Skyrah got a little frightened. She had never seen him like that. What broke her heart was that he really believed she'd leave.

"It's too late for that, Severus. I'm already in love with you."

He shut his eyes, holding back tears like the master of Occlumency he was.

"We'll see about that." He gulped, took his wand and muttered, "Finite incantatem."

The appearance of his half-naked body changed. His skin was now mutilated by nasty scars: his chest, his arms, his shoulders, his stomach… She let out a gasp not even her hand on her mouth muffled, her pupils dilated. 

He scoffed, "Do you still find me attractive?"

"You are the same man, Severus. You won't convince me otherwise," she whispered, blinking back tears.

"You haven't really answered my question. These scars show my darkness, the loser in me… The monster in me."

"Who did this to you?" she asked horrified.

"Many people…"

"Then all those people are the monsters, not you, Severus. Not you."

Severus was breathing hard. He had never exposed himself like that, not even to Albus, the only one who knew his deepest secrets. He was expecting Skyrah to realize how ugly he was, to tell him that the only reason she stayed was that she had no choice. He couldn't bear the thought, let alone the real thing, so he hung his head and waited for the inevitable. Then he felt something warm and slightly ticklish on his stomach, and when she looked at her, there was compassion in her eyes. He wasn't used to be regarded like that.

"How did you get this one?"

"You don't really want to know. Don't ask."

"Don't tell me what I want or don't want to know, Severus. Just answer my question, please."

He knew she wouldn't give up (stubborn witch indeed), so he gulped and replied, "A werewolf."

She held his hand and squeezed it in encouragement.

"These ones on your back."

"Are you going to ask about them all?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I care."

She had said it with so much conviction in her voice that Severus was taken aback. Merlin. She did. She cared for him. She hadn't run away from him, not even after seeing his scars.

They stared at each other for a while.

"A belt. Tobias."

"Tobias?"

"My father."

Skyrah felt impotent when she realized just how abused Severus must have been as a child. Gathering strength, she pointed to another scar on his chest.

"This one."

They did this for all the scars. When they finished, Skyrah had tearful eyes although she hadn't let the tears fall. She was trying to be strong for him. She put her hands on his cheeks, making sure he was looking at her. And, Merlin, he leaned into her touch, her warmth. He had been so thirsty for affection, and it felt so good to finally take a sip of it.

"A monster isn't capable of love. You are not a monster. The only monster in my life is my father, and you aren't like him. These scars show the hell you had to go through to become the great man you are today; and yes, I still find you attractive. Even more now. I won't stop telling you this until you believe me. You may be stubborn, but I'm even more stubborn than you."

He kept shaking his head, lips quivering. It was too much. She was making her feel too much, and he didn't know if he could keep it all bottled anymore. His emotions were suffocating him.

"You are afraid of your feelings, but these feelings can heal you. Welcome them. Let me in your heart."

A tear escaped his eye. It was the first time he cried since Lily died.

"That's it, Severus. Cry. Let your feelings out."

He shook his head once again and said in a feeble voice as if he were an innocent child, "Tobias said crying was a sign of weakness. Snivellus... They called me that. Everybody did."

"Oh, Severus, don't you see?" she asked, kissing away the only tear he'd shed. "Those people wanted you to believe that! Will you let them win?"

Maybe it was because he had held his tears back since he was a kid. Maybe it was because he felt safe with her, or because he was tired of it all. Maybe it was because he knew she wouldn't judge him. Whatever the reason was, he started to cry silently. Skyrah held him with a hand on his head and another one on his back and rocked him back and forth while his head rested on the crook of her neck. Severus began to sob uncontrollably. He cried because of his tough childhood, because of all the shit he had to take from the marauders. He cried for the dreadful things he had witnessed and the foul things he had done to survive.

"Like this, perfect… Cry. Don't repress your feelings or they will eat you alive… Very good, Severus. Everything will be fine. I'm with you. You're not alone. I'm here."

He tightened his grip, afraid she was an illusion. He was holding her like his life depended on it and it broke her heart even more. They stayed in that position until his sobs subsided. He pulled away, averting her gaze. 

Noticing his cheeks were red in embarrassment, she kissed his forehead and said, "There is nothing to be ashamed of, Severus. You have showed me that you are strong. I am proud of you."

Severus held back a sob. Only Skyrah had ever told him that she was proud of him when he was the first person who despised the man he was. Only Skyrah would have comforted him like that. Only Skyrah would still look him in the eye after he showed his weaknesses and insecurities. Only Skyrah would be persistent and compassionate enough to keep him company after he had lied to her about his real appearance.

"I really don't deserve you."

She didn't slap him, this time, but she did hiss, "I thought I made it clear that I don't want to hear you say that ever again." More softly, she continued, "You make me happy, Severus. Are you saying I don't deserve happiness?"

"N-no. But you already had someone. You could find someone better. Even if we're married, I wouldn't stop you."

"But I don't want anybody else."

He stifled a sob. He wanted to believe her. His heart would break if those words were all part of a game.

"You are my second chance at happiness, and I want to be yours. Don't be afraid of your pleasant feelings. You are worthy of them. Are you going to let the opportunity pass up?" She took his hand. He didn't know that holding hands could feel so good. He was mesmerised by the sight, by everything something so simple and common awoke in him. She squeezed his hand, bringing him back to reality, before asking him, "Please do what brings you joy for once in your life. You've suffered enough."

Severus understood everything in that moment. He had never thought he'd get his second chance, let alone merit it. And then Skyrah came to his life. She wasn't afraid to touch him, to talk to him, to laugh with him… She wasn't afraid to show her emotions, and he admired her for that. Severus had always craved for touch; he had only got pain from the people who were supposed to love him. Nevertheless, this witch was giving him what he had longed for every pathetic year of his life. He had been a fool. He wasn't going to spend another second without this woman; the same woman, who could make him feel like a teenager in front of his crush, who genuinely believed he was a good man and who was proud of him. He felt a little selfish by doing so, but this time he wasn't going to lose his first real chance to be with someone who cared for him. He had been starved of touch and of affection for too long.

With a sudden determination, he bonded their lips, hoping the kiss would express all the emotions he was unable to convey. His mouth was insistent and demanding, but Skyrah was satisfied with that. It meant he was finally pursuing happiness. She kissed him back with the same fervor, hands sliding up and encircling his neck to bring him closer. By the time the kiss was over, both were breathing hard, resting their foreheads together.

"I want to show you how much I care for you," she panted. "I want to prove that I'm in love with you and that your past, present and future won't change this fact. I want to express with my body what words aren't able to. We've had sex before, but I don't want sex anymore. I want to make love to you, Severus."

He heard a shaky gasp - his gasp - and her lips pressed against his. He kissed her back, slowly, gently, in contrast to their previous kiss. Her hands were playing with his hair, that greasy hair she didn't mind. Severus slid a hand under the side of her jawbone, cupping her face as he drew her to him smoothly. His other hand was running his fingers up her back following her spine until they rested behind her head. She broke the kiss but didn't pull away. Her lips curved up into a warm grin that made Severus smile back. Grinning still felt a bit foreign, but with her he was getting used to the feeling and he loved it, especially because it made her smile even more.

"Does this mean you want to make love to me, too?"

He arched an eyebrow, still smiling, and mocked her by quoting her, "For being so intelligent you sure have your dense moments, Skyrah. I think it's obvious."

At first she hit his shoulder playfully, but then she giggled and kissed him again. She pushed him down until he was lying down on the bed and she was on top of him. He moaned deeply into the kiss and groaned when she smirked, breaking it. The moment that she began to kiss the scar of his abdomen, courtesy of the werewolf, he forgot how to breathe.

"Are you okay?" she asked, gazing up at him. Though she was no longer kissing him, her fingers kept tickling his marred skin.

"You don't have to do that."

"Perhaps, but I want to. I meant what I said. I want to make love to you, to all of you."

She went back to kissing all the scar tissue from his torso, following the light trace of hair which grew from where his skin disappeared into his trousers to his chest. She also kissed the visible ribs, to make sure that he knew she liked every part of him. Every little kiss and playful bite on Severus's damaged skin felt like she was healing him. He recalled the words she had uttered a long ago. Maybe we can heal each other. He was starting to believe it was possible.

Her hands caressed him everywhere while his hips bucked against her. She kissed and licked his shoulder and descended to his Dark Mark. She dropped a kiss there, eliciting a surprised gasp from him. It was then that he knew that she had meant every word. She'd have avoided grazing the mark associated with the person she had described as a monster, otherwise. It wasn't a game for her. She wanted him - his soul and body - and she didn't only say it, she showed it. Before he knew it, she was taking off his trousers so that he was only in his underwear, while she was still fully dressed. She rubbed him through the fabric of his pants.

"S-Skyrah…" 

"Yes?" she asked innocently.

"Pl-please, stop, ah... Stop teasing," he barely managed to let out.

She smirked at the reactions she got out of him and went up once again, until she found a perfect spot under his chin. She started to kiss, suck and playfully nip him there as she caressed his torso and instinctively ground the junction of her covered thighs against his bulge, making him moan and close his eyes in ecstasy. It went on for a while, until he felt he would come before even touching her. That, however, would be embarrassing to admit, so he put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her.

"It's my turn to pleasure you." He arched an eyebrow and added as an afterthought, "Or tease you."

"You think you can?" she challenged, giggling softly.

"Watch me. "

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them so that he was on top. He was kissing her again, like he'd done earlier, with all the passion he could muster. Her deep moan got Severus grinning in victory.

"You're wearing way too many clothes," he said with a frown.

She laughed in response. Severus felt a foreign yet pleasant sensation when he heard her laughing so carefree. He wanted to hear that sound forever. Skyrah started to strip, but Severus caught her wrists.

"What's the matter? I thought I was wearing way too many clothes," she asked in a mischievous tone, lifting an eyebrow.

"I want to be the one to undress you."

He wanted to discover every bit of her, to worship the woman who had brought so much joy to his life. Skyrah's breath became shallow when his long fingers unbuttoned her shirt and softly skimmed her skin. Every time he unfastened a button and revealed a bit of her pale skin, he kissed the new spot. He kissed all of her body until she was left breathless in her grey underwear. He tried to take off her bra, but he still wasn't able to unclasp it, and found himself groaning in frustration. When Skyrah was about to intervene, he took out his wand and the bra fell free without anyone touching it. She couldn't help but let out a needy moan when his hands caressed her tits. Meanwhile, he took the skin on the crook of her neck into his mouth, that one sensitive spot of hers which Severus had discovered the last time they had had sex.

"Severusss."

He smirked at her and pecked her lips, before focusing on her chest once again. He massaged her breast with his right hand as he kissed and sucked her other breast, playing with her nipple until it was hard and sensitive. He did the same with her other tit and then went down, leaving butterfly kisses down her belly. He decided to touch her through the fabric of her panties, as she had done to him, only to find the material was already wet. He got even harder.

"Remove it," she said huskily.

He did as told and caressed her folds in a painfully slow way, making Skyrah raise up her hips in hopes he would touch her in the right place. When he found her clit, she her nails dug into his shoulders.

"Se- Severus, oh, don't... don't stop."

Hearing her calling his name and begging like that sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine. He kept rubbing her clit like she had done to herself when they had sex for the first time, slowly increasing the rhythm until she pleaded, "Now."

"Are you sure? I want this to be perfect and I-"

She put a finger on his lips to silence him and demanded, "I need you now."

She bit her lip and blushed deeply as she took out his pants and uncovered his erection. She licked her lips in anticipation before taking his hand and squeezing it to encourage him. He positioned himself in front of her spread legs, allowing the tip of his penis to graze her moist entrance. That alone got him shuddering in pleasure.

"Please, Severus..."

He plunged into her smoothly, savoring the moment. Every cell of his body was vibrating with the thrill. Their fingers entwined as they gasped and writhed with the pleasure of their union. He started to move inside her. She was agape and Severus took advantage of it, bending his head down and poking his tongue into her mouth. They kissed while he kept pounding into her slowly, taking his time. She met every thrust eagerly, clenching around him. He only broke the kiss to bite on her collarbone. He was getting lost in the sensations when she husked between irregular breaths and sounds of pleasure, "Severus, I love you." 

He froze and stared at her sincere eyes, having trouble breathing properly.

"I love you," she repeated, sensing he needed to hear it again.

Granted, she had told him she was in love with him before, but being in love and loving someone were different things. Being in love was a simple infatuation, something temporary. Loving someone, truly loving someone, was timeless. Now it was the first time somebody told him they loved him and meant it. Skyrah was not cruel. She wouldn't lie about something so serious. She wouldn't lie while she was so exposed to him, naked in his arms, showing how much she cared for him with all her being. His heart was thumping so fast Poppy would be worried, but he couldn't care less. He put a hand on her cheek, much like she had done to him when they lost their virginities, and landed a chaste kiss on her sweaty forehead. His tenderness left her breathless, dewy-eyed. He wanted to pleasure her, to make her feel like she was making him feel: blissful; and so he let his body show her by slamming his hips faster. Her fingers curled into the bedsheets at the change of pace.

"Severus!"

"Too much?"

"N-no... Keep... Keep going."

She wrapped her legs around his waist to bring him closer, deeper. Her knees were weak, trembling, and he was completely nude, scarred in front of her, but Severus had never felt so safe, so protected, so loved. And sweet Salazar. He'd be lying if he said he felt nothing for her.

He felt everything for her.

The realization was both scary and relieving. Although he wanted to say he loved her too out loud, waves of infinite pleasure broke through him, and the only thing that came from his mouth was a loud groan. The sound alone was Skyrah's undoing.

Spent, Severus pulled out of her and lay down beside her. Skyrah rested her head on his shoulder and put a hand on his chest, drawing circles with her fingers while Severus put an arm around her and played with her wavy black hair. She kissed his neck and snuggled even closer to him. Severus sighed contently. It was the first time in his life he felt complete, satisfied. It turned out his chance at having sex hadn't vanished. No. Not sex. Making love. That's what they had just done.

"I'm sorry about the slap."

It was her turn to avoid his eyes.

"Everybody who's ever hit me intended to harm me... except you. You were only trying to make me understand that I deserve you, that I deserve happiness."

"It was still wrong. I shouldn't have slapped you," she whispered as she caressed his cheek, where she had hit him. "Only my father's ever hit me, and I hate it. And now that I know your past..." She gulped. "Maybe you are the one who deserves better than me."

"Don't say that. Please, don't," he begged, kissing the hand that was stroking his face. She had been the only person who seemed to want his happiness above all.

"I wasn't even angry at you. I was angry at myself for not having done enough to make you see that you deserve happiness. I hurt you when I was hurting myself."

To that, he could relate. Ever since he was a child, he seemed to hurt others with venomous words and insults whenever the pain in his soul was too big to bear. He kept that to himself, though, and told her, "I wouldn't have seen the truth if you had not lost your temper."

"The truth?"

"That you weren't lying when you said you were in love with me. I thought nobody ever would feel attracted to me, learn to love me."

"You aren't unloveable, Severus," she whispered, intertwining their ankles as if making sure he wouldn't leave the bed, leave her.

She needn't worry.

Chapter Text

Severus woke up with a still asleep Skyrah in his arms. Her mouth was slightly open and he could feel her hot breath against his neck and her naked skin against his, sending shivers down his spine. He wanted to wake up like this forever. He couldn't help but remember last night's events with a small grin on his face, kept hearing her voice say Severus, I love you, over and over again, like a chant. He tightened his grip on her, pulling her out of her sleep without even realizing it or intending to. He felt her snuggling her nose in the crook of his neck, her eyelashes tickling his skin.

"G'morning," she purred.

He raised his hand and sweetly caressed her cheek before muttering a good morning. Surprised as she was for the display of affection, she sure did not complain. 

"Last night was… absolutely perfect. It was one of the best nights of my life."

Severus felt his heart beating so strongly he was sure it would jump out of his chest.

"It was the best night of my life," he confessed in his silky voice.

Skyrah's breath fastened. Her eyes clouded. She took his other hand and kissed his palm without breaking eye contact when she realized that it had meant a lot to him too.

"I don't want to get up," she whispered, kissing his scarred shoulder and nuzzling into him.

"Neither do I."

So they stayed in bed, cuddling, talking about nothing. He had never felt so at peace and content. Only when Skyrah said she was hungry, did the Snapes rise up. That was when Severus spotted two love bites he had left on her. One, on the crook of her neck. The other, on her breast. He hadn't meant to mark her like that.

"Was I too rough?"

He touched his neck and chest, mirroring the location of her love bites. She looked down on herself, then looked at him and grinned impishly.

"Not rougher than I was with you," she joked, touching one point under his chin. "I enjoyed every minute of it... Didn't you?"

"I... I did. I do not like the appearance, though. They... My mother... Tobias... They look too much like..."

He cursed himself for stuttering like a fool, and looked away. Skyrah looked at him sadly. She knew Tobias used to beat little Severus. She guessed his mother was also abused, and love bites looked like bruises.

"You did not hurt me. These are not signs of violence. These only mean we got a bit carried away while we were making love. Making love, Severus, not fighting. I did not intend for you to have a love bite, and I did not know I would wake up with these," she said, pointing at her neck and breast. "These things happen. It's okay. They have a solution." She took her wand out and concealed their love bites with a charm. "I will be more careful and stop before either of us gets love bites, if they make you feel uncomfortable."

"I'd rather you didn't. I meant it when I said I enjoyed it... You will have to teach me that charm. I expect to have many reasons to use it from now on."

That got Skyrah laughing. "Oh, you will!"

Severus smiled a genuine smile. 

Severus was engaged in conversation with Harry while Skyrah took a shower.

"Why are you making pancakes?" 

"Because Skyrah loves them," Severus replied, a bit annoyed by his nosy behavior.

The smell made Harry's mouth water and he couldn't wait to taste them. Living with the Snapes had its perks. He got to eat delicious meals. Severus was a git, a git who could cook.

"Can I have some?"

"May I. Watch your language."

Harry was about to retort that Skyrah used the word bloody quite a lot (which, in his opinion, was way worse than using can instead of may) and that he didn't seem to mind about her language usage, but Harry wisely kept his thought to himself.

"May I have some?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I only have ingredients for one person," he responded as an ultimatum while he put the now ready-to-eat pancakes on a plate.

Harry pouted. Before he could offer to go and buy some more, footsteps were heard. Severus turned around, expecting to see Skyrah bouncing, excited for the pancakes. Instead, she wrinkled her nose, covered her mouth and rushed upstairs. Harry and Severus exchanged a confused look.

"Wait here. Do not touch the pancakes!" Harry heard Severus shout as he disappeared after his wife.

Severus found her in the bathroom. Vomiting. Alarmed, he kneeled down beside her and patted her back a little awkwardly.

"Bloody pancakes!" she spat once she was done.

Her husband frowned.

"My pancakes made you vomit?! I thought you loved them!"

"I did! But the smell is just…"

She made signs with her hands because she couldn't find a better word to describe the odor than yuck.

"Are you okay?"

The voice belonged to Harry.

"Potter, I told you to wait downstairs. Are you incapable of obeying such a simple instruction?"

The boy wanted to reply with a sassy comment but he bit his tongue. He could see that Skyrah was sweating. She looked slightly paler than normal and by the position she was in, he would have guessed that she had just been sick. Worry rose through his veins.

Severus sighed and ordered him to bring a glass of water. When they were left alone, Severus put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I was the one who made you feel sick. If I had known I-"

Skyrah put her fingers on his lips to silence him. "Not your fault. You only wanted to make me happy by preparing my now former favorite breakfast. It's actually a very sweet gesture." He was about to protest about her insistence on calling him sweet, but she didn't let him. "I guess it's my pregnancy. Smell and taste change."

"I'm still sorry."

Skyrah sighed. "I'm exhausted. I don't want to argue, so I'll tell you only once more: it was not your bloody fault. And you better make sure that I don't hear you apologizing for trying to be the best husband I could have ever asked for ever again."

Even though she had intended to use a stern tone, her voice had sounded frail. She hadn't been exaggerating when she claimed she was exhausted. Severus took her hand, trying to pass on his strength to her. Skyrah smiled weakly at him.

By the time Harry came back, Severus was hugging Skyrah from behind. Severus almost looked human embracing his wife like that. It was not the first time Harry had seen them being affectionate with each other. In fact, he still recalled that one passionate kiss on the couch. That had been an accident. This was different. They knew he would be back and they still hugged. Had something changed? He cleared his throat. Severus set Skyrah free. Harry offered Skyrah the glass. She rinsed and spit the water in the sink and started to brush her teeth.

"Go away, Potter."

"But-"

"I told you to go away!"

Unwillingly, he did as told. Skyrah had already finished and Severus put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you feeling better?"

She shrugged. "The nauseas have passed, if that's what you mean…"

"But?"

"But I have a horrible headache and I am still exhausted."

"Do you think you can stomach some food?"

She bit her lip and shook her head.

"You have to eat something," he murmured, looking pointedly at her belly.

"I will probably throw it up."

Severus gave it some thought and finally conceded, "Rest now. I'll take care of the house and Harry. Just promise me you'll eat something for lunch."

Skyrah nodded and went to lie down. Severus tucked her into bed as if she was a child and kissed her forehead with a new found tenderness in him.

"I'll give you a potion against headaches. Whenever you feel you can stomach it, drink it. I must advise you, though; it smells awful, even to not-pregnant people," he whispered as he pulled a rebel lock of black hair behind her ear.

Severus left his wife alone and came back with the potion. He left it on the nightstand.

"Thank you for looking after me," she mumbled as she grabbed his hand before he could go.

Severus squeezed her hand in response.

"How is she?" asked Harry the moment he spotted his Professor.

Severus was taken aback by the feelings he could see in those familiar green eyes. The boy genuinely cared for Skyrah.

"She is in bed. Don't bother her. I know you had an Occlumency class with her after breakfast, but she is not feeling well. I will take her place."

Harry wanted to complain, but he had no choice. Severus would teach him, today.

"Will she recover quickly?"

"I think so." Severus paused. "Have the pancakes, Potter. She will not be eating them."

That was enough to cheer Harry up. His good mood did not last long. Occlumency lessons with Severus produced that effect on him.

"I'll never learn! I'm tired of this!"

"You surely will not learn with that attitude, Potter! You-know-who must not enter your mind. Stop whining. Concentrate. Conceal your emotions. 1, 2, 3. Legilimens!"

Severus was inside Harry's mind. He viewed scenes of the abuse: Petunia starving a six-year-old Harry and locking him in the cupboard, Dudley beating him up and Vernon yelling at him for being a freak. Harry had had enough. He didn't want his Professor to be a spectator of the mistreatment he had received. He cast protego without realizing it.

The images changed.

They weren't about Harry but about a greasy-haired boy with a hooked nose. Harry immediately recognized him as young Severus. He appeared to be at Hogwarts. Someone who looked a lot like Harry cast a spell he had never heard of. Severus was hoisted in the air by his ankle. Harry saw how that boy who resembled him was encouraged by his friends and other people. He witnessed as they sexually harassed the person who had saved him from the Dursleys.

He felt himself being pushed out of the memories.

"Get. Out." Even though Severus hid his face behind a curtain of black hair, his voice expressed all his feelings. "Now!"

Harry left, panting. Deep down, he knew that the bully was his father and that those guys cheering him were the marauders. He felt sick on his way upstairs. If Severus found out, he'd curse him. But in that moment his heart told him to talk to Skyrah. The door was open. She had her eyes shut, but when he took a step forward to see if she was asleep, she opened them.

"Harry, sweetheart, is everything okay? You look agitated."

Harry fidgeted and ran a hand through his messy hair, turning it messier. She sat down slowly and motioned for him to sit next to her, which he did. At first, he didn't speak. Skyrah didn't pressure him. She only took his hand.

"Are you feeling better?" he wondered.

"I appreciate that you care for me, but don't change the subject. You should be learning Occlumency, now. Something wrong happened."

There was a short pause. Harry both loved and hated that Skyrah was so perspicacious.

"Everybody's always told me how great my father was… The only one who was brave enough to tell me the truth was Snape: my father was a bully."

His whole world was falling down. Everything he had believed had turned out to be a lie. He could feel his eyes getting tearful.

Skyrah still felt a little tired, and truth be told, she hadn't dared to drink the potion against headaches, so she wasn't feeling that well yet. Nevertheless, she tried to comfort the boy to the best of her abilities.

"What makes you say so, Harry?"

"I've seen it."

"How?"

"I entered Snape's mind... But it was an accident! I swear! It wasn't my intention!"

Skyrah sighed and cupped his face.

"I never met your parents, so I know close to nothing about them. What I do know is that, if other people say that your father was great, there must be some truth in that."

"Yeah, harassing people is so admirable," he said sarcastically as a tear slid down his cheek.

Skyrah smiled sadly.

"You are right. There is nothing to admire in harassment. However, it doesn't mean that everything your father was can be restricted to the word bully. All of us have good and bad within us. We make mistakes. Your father wasn't any different. The fact that you have discovered what kind of bad things he did does not erase his good qualities. He fought to save you because he loved you. That's good, isn't it?"

He sniffled. "So I should forget what I've seen and only remember that he loved me?"

"No. It's not that simple."

"Then what do you expect me to do?"

"I expect you to remember the good and the bad and understand that nobody is perfect. Do not judge your father. Do not judge Severus."

Harry gulped and nodded. Her words made sense, after all. They made him feel better.

"Oi, come here," she said, holding out her arms.

Harry threw himself at her, letting her hold him.

"You should apologize to my husband and talk to him about it."

He shook his head. "He'll kill me if I bring it up. He'll kill me if he finds out I've come to you when he made it clear this morning that I shouldn't bother you."

"You don't bother me," she said, breaking the embrace.

He snorted. "Tell him that because I'm sure he won't believe me if I do."

"You don't know that."

He still didn't look convinced. "C-can you talk to him before I bring up the t-topic?"

"If that calms you down, then I will."

Harry thanked her with a small smile.

Severus was awfully quiet during lunch time. He only asked about his wife's well-being. Even though the nauseas had passed, she ate lightly. Harry averted their gazes. It had been even more awkward than the first time they had had dinner. Severus washed the dishes once they were done. Skyrah winked at the boy and approached her husband.

"Severus?" He hummed, washing the last dish. "Can we talk?"

"Not in the mood."

"I know what's happened," she replied bluntly.

They stared at each other for the longest time until he made to leave. Skyrah quickly grabbed his wrist and spun him around.

"It was an accident. He didn't mean to enter your mind. You know that, right?"

He snorted. "So you're defending him now? I was the one whose privacy wasn't respected!"

"We've been witnessing Harry's abuse for weeks! His privacy wasn't respected either."

He looked hurt. Skyrah felt a lump forming in her throat. She didn't want to hurt him.

"You really are defending Potter. What a kind gesture coming from my wife!"

Skyrah swallowed the hurt his last ironic sentence had evoked.

"I'm trying to help you! You're not seeing things with clarity. I cannot imagine how you must be feeling right now, but the boy was crying! He thought everybody had lied to him except you! He thought his father was a bully!"

"That's because his father was a bully! And I ordered him not to bother you. The brat can't leave you alone even when you're sick in bed!"

Although he was hurt, he still cared about her well-being. The fact moved Skyrah to the point she almost kissed his cheek.

"Severus, I appreciate that you care for me, so much."

"But?"

"His whole world fell apart. Can't you see? He saw his father, his hero, bullying the Professor he has hated all these years… It was shocking. He needed help. You need help. That's why I am here, okay?"

She squeezed his hand by the end of her discourse. Her touch calmed him down.

"What did you do when he came to you?"

"I told him that his father was human, like all of us, and that he made some mistakes; but those bad things do not erase the good ones. I asked him not to judge and to apologize and talk to you."

He lowered his head as if he wanted this conversation to end, yet kept holding her hand as if he wanted her to stay and needed somebody to listen to him. She cupped his chin with her free hand, locking their gazes.

"Are you all right?"

"I..." He took a big breath. "It was my worst memory… Of all the things he could have witnessed, he had to see that."

"May I know what the memory is about?" she wondered, tangling their fingers.

He pondered not telling her, still embarrassed, but she already knew he had called Lily a mudblood, and she hadn't judged him. Heck, she had seen him at his worst, yesterday night, and still found him attractive enough to make love to him, to love him. 

"James Potter and his crew were humiliating me. I pulled Potter out before he could see Lily, before he could see me calling her that horrible word after she defended me."

Her expression softened. She understood why he had reacted that way. No words would console him, so she hugged him. He froze for a second, but then he hid his hair and put his arms around her, bringing her closer.

"You two need to talk about it, for your sake. I know you can do it. You are strong, Severus."

Severus tightened his grip on her, eliciting a soft smile from her.

"Do you want me to be by your side when you discuss it?"

"No. I must do this alone."

"Good. I'll go drink that bloody potion."

"You haven't yet?" he asked worriedly, breaking the embrace.

"I didn't trust my stomach," she replied with a shrug.

How could one be relieved yet nervous at the same time? Harry did not know, but he felt like that while sitting on the couch, close to Severus. The chat that was about to take place was necessary, but it could leave their relationship even more complicated than it already was. After knowing Severus had been bullied by his father and his friends, he did not wish that.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to intrude your memories."

Nobody would be able to tell Severus was surprised by the boy's honesty. His face betrayed nothing. A pause followed. The longer it became, the more uneasy Harry grew. And then, he heard it, that silky, monotone voice.

"Apology accepted."

"But I'm really sor- Wait, what?"

"Are you deaf now?"

Harry gulped. The total git had accepted his apology. Well, maybe he was just a git, without the total.

"Why hasn't anyone told me that my father was a bully?" Harry asked, voice small.

If Severus hadn't looked him in the eye, he would have left and finished this uncomfortable conversation.

But he did look at his eyes, her eyes, and the vulnerability they held got him saying, "When people are no longer in this world, we tend to remember the best, not the worst. Your father was a bully, but I had my share, too."

Harry snorted. "Yes, four against one. How brave. Not even Malfoy does that." He rubbed his nape. "Am I really so much like my father?"

If Harry had asked him that last year, he wouldn't have doubted it: Harry was a mini-James. However, now that he knew about his past and that he had been living with him, that answer felt wrong. Harry was just a boy, a sometimes insolent one at that, but a boy nonetheless.

"You are your own person, Harry. Not your father, not your mother. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to see it."

Severus was even more surprised at his answer than Harry himself, who was agape and with wide eyes. He always used his surname, never his first name. Harry shook his head, as if trying to move past it and wondered, "So you knew my mother... Was she a bully as well?"

Severus's eyes widened and he felt his hands sweating. Lily was the last topic he wanted to discuss with the boy. Nevertheless, he couldn't let Harry think his mother was like James.

"No. She was far from a bully."

"Can you tell me about her?"

"Could."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Could you tell me about her?"

It seemed like forever until Severus murmured, "Someday."

Harry beamed. "Do you promise?"

"I promise."

Harry would have preferred to know about her right then. Severus was no liar, though. Harry had learned that today. Severus would tell him when the time is right, and that was everything that mattered to the boy.

A hoot.

Harry blanched. Just when everything was going fine, Hedwig had to arrive with a letter and ruin it. Now Severus would uncover his secret and kill him.

With squinting eyes, Severus growled, "Whom have you been owling, Potter? Who knows you're living here?"

Harry cringed. Back to surnames again. He had spoiled any chance to have a decent relationship with his Professor.

Chapter Text

Harry gulped. He was in a trap. If he didn't confess, Severus would open the letter and see the remittent anyway. That would be even more humiliating, not to mention, Severus would get even madder for the fact he was incapable of answering his questions.

"My friends. I've been owling Ron and Hermione, but I haven't told them anything, I swear! They just know I'm receiving classes! They don't know why! They don't even know you are married!"

Harry had always thought Severus's eyes were the darkest he had ever seen. Somehow, they looked even blacker now. Anger must have tinted them like that. 

Harry swallowed hard.

Shouts reached the Snapes' bedroom. Worried, Skyrah went downstairs, only to find Severus and Harry glaring at each other.

"Severus? What's happening?" she asked softly, not wishing to aggravate the situation.

Without breaking eye contact with the boy, Severus sneered, "The brat thought it was a bright idea to owl his friends."

"I needed to talk to them! This hasn't been easy for me!" 

"You, insolent, ungratef-"

"STOP IT!"

Surprisingly, they obeyed Skyrah. She sighed and turned to her husband.

"Severus, the fact that a fifteen-year-old boy writes to his friends is understandable!"

Severus gaped. He had expected her to take his side, not the boy's. Harry, on the other hand, was grinning in victory.

"Don't you understand the implications of-"

"I'm not stupid, Severus. Of course I do!"

To prove her point, she turned her attention to Harry.

"As I said, I understand the need to write to your friends. What I do not get is why you had the nerve to hide it from us! Can't you see? Someone could find out you are living here! Questions you wouldn't like to answer would arise!" Harry's cheek faded. More softly, she ended, "For your sake, stop sending them letters."

"But I…"

"No buts," she said sternly. "I'm disappointed that you didn't let us know. We could have helped you to contact them safely."

"I thought you wouldn't let me."

Severus was about to snarl that he had thought right for once in his life, but Skyrah had already opened her mouth.

"We could have tried. I don't know if you deserve it now, though."

Harry said bitterly, "So I am going to spend the rest of the summer break enclosed in this house with no communication with my friends. Fantastic!"

"You had it coming, Potter," growled Severus.

"I don't see why owling my friends is a crime!" Harry lowered his voice. "I was going to ask you to give me permission to go to the Burrow to celebrate my birthday with Ron and Ginny. They invited me. Hermione will also be there, but I guess that asking for a decent birthday for once in my life is too much."

With that said, Harry stormed out and banged his bedroom door. Skyrah cringed. She made to go after him, but Severus's hand on her shoulder halted her.

"Severus, let me go."

"No."

"But-"

"I said no. So what if he gets angry? What he did was reckless. He should have told us what was going on. If it wasn't for his bird, we would still be clueless."

"He doesn't know the truth, Severus. He isn't aware of the danger he can be in if the bad people find out he's living with us. I'm fond of the boy and I don't mind him staying here, but I can't help but think he's at risk. Remember the Malfoys? It could have turned out to be a nightmare. What if they had realized he was with us? I don't even want to imagine what my father…" she trailed off.

He scoffed, "So what should we do? Have a tête-à-tête with him and tell him he's living with a Death Eater and You-know-who's daughter?"

She shook her head. "We should talk to him and make him understand that he cannot hide anything from us, without revealing our… secrets. He's just a boy. He needs to feel cared for and safe and we must provide him that, especially knowing how those brutes treated him." Severus stared at the floor. He didn't like to remember Lily's son had been abused. "We should let him go to his friend's house."

Severus snorted. "So he puts himself at risk and we reward him?"

"We're not rewarding him. He deserves to spend a happy birthday, even if he made a mistake. The Durlseys never gave him one. We'll make it clear that he won't be leaving our house without us again and that it is only an exception."

There was a long pause. Skyrah thought Snape wouldn't agree with her until she heard him murmur, "I don't think I should be there when the talk takes place. I am not good at showing support. He would not want to see me, anyhow."

Skyrah put a hand on his cheek, grinning ruefully.

"You have always supported me, Severus, even when you didn't know my story. You aren't bad at it, only a little awkward," she ended in a teasing tone. Her voice grew serious when she added, "Be there for him. That will be enough."

He really didn't feel like going, but his wife had him wrapped around her finger. He'd do anything for her.

He shut his eyes in frustration and groaned, "I didn't sign up for this…"

Skyrah gave a short laugh and hugged him. The gesture had been both unexpected and brief. Severus didn't process that she had embraced him until her arms were no longer around his neck.

She was smiling when she said, "You are a good man."

He was about to reply that there was a big difference between being a good man and a whipped man. He didn't have the chance to do it though, as Skyrah was asking a question.

"Do you think we should talk to him now or give him some space?" 

"Don't ask me. You are the specialist in emotional tantrums."

"You certainly are no help," she pouted, giggling softly.

Her dark brown eyes were shining with warmth while she leaned in, shyly, as if she wasn't quite sure this was the right moment to get a kiss. Realizing what she was pursuing, he bowed his head. Their lips were barely brushing each other. She took one final breath and closed the gap. The kiss was sweet, innocent. Her hands slid past his chest and reached his neck. Timidly, his hands found her waist and brought her closer to him. Their bodies were pressed together now and it made Skyrah smile into the kiss, ending it.

Her soft smile changed into a sly smirk as she teased, still embraced, "Do you think this kiss has given you the strength you need to confront Harry?"

Arching an eyebrow, he replied, "Was that the only reason you kissed me?"

"Perhaps," she said staring at his lips.

He decided to play along and whispered breathlessly, "I think I need another one, then, to gain the necessary strength, that is."

She kissed him again. This time, it was passionate, tongues involved, hands exploring. After a while, Skyrah rested her head on his shoulder, catching her breath. Severus had some trouble breathing as well.

"Was I your first kiss?"

He blushed and thanked the stars she wasn't looking up at him.

"Why?"

"You are a great kisser. If I was your first kiss, it means you are a natural." He smiled smugly. "So, was I?"

"My first kiss was a prank." She tensed. "You were my first real kiss, a kiss I wanted."

She knew he was not talking about their wedding kiss. That had been forced. Rather, he was referring to that kiss that tasted of pancakes and orange juice, after cuddling in the bed.

"That's everything that matters, Severus," she whispered, kissing him almost chastely. "Was our first kiss satisfactory? Did I live up to your expectations?"

"You surpassed them."

She grinned cheekily and headed to Harry's bedroom, followed closely by her husband.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Harry?" called Skyrah.

"Go away!" 

"We just want to talk. Please."

There was no response. Skyrah was about to open the door anyway when Harry did it for her. He wasn't meeting her eyes. He sat down on his bed. Skyrah motioned for Severus to sit on the chair while she sat next to Harry, on the bed, much like they had done in Privet Drive. He was hiding his head behind his flexed knees. However much he tried to keep still, his shoulders shook, indicating he was crying. Severus stayed, even if he would rather be anywhere else. Skyrah had wanted him there and he didn't want to disappoint her now that their relationship was building up. Luckily, the boy didn't flinch when Skyrah put a hand on his shoulder.

Interpreting it as a positive sign, she said, "We are not here to judge, remember what I told you? Severus and I just want to talk."

The boy didn't speak, but he didn't kick them out either, so Skyrah continued, "We are not going to lie to you. If somebody found out you're living here, you would be in danger. They would question why exactly you are spending the summer with us… Not everybody believes Voldemort's back, but we know better. What if he found out?"

He raised his head. His nose was puffy and red and some tears could still be seen. Hints of fear and guilt tinted his eyes. He had understood her point.

Encouraged by this, she added, "When we discovered you had been owling someone, we got scared. Can't you see? We are worried about you. We care for you. If you wanted to talk to your friends, you should have told us. Keeping it secret was wrong."

Harry knew he should apologize, but something in her discourse had caught his attention and he found himself questioning with a quiet voice, "Do you mean it? Do you care for me?"

His insecurity broke Skyrah's heart. She took his hand.

"I do."

Harry looked at Severus, in search of reassurance. Deep down, Severus cared for the boy. He was Lily's son, after all. Saying it out loud though, was something he wasn't ready for.

As if reading his mind, Skyrah cupped Harry's chin and said, "My husband cares for you, too, even if he doesn't voice it. Don't hold it against him; he's still learning to show emotion. Do you see his blush? It means that he knows I'm telling the truth."

"Skyrah!" he choked, feeling more embarrassed by the moment.

She giggled and, to their surprise, so did Harry. After all, an ashamed bat wasn't something one witnessed every day. The atmosphere had lightened. Skyrah stood up and whispered something Harry didn't catch in Severus's ear. Whatever it was, it got Severus scowling.

"Absolutely not!"

"Severus!"

"I'm not doing it!"

"Yes, you are! You agreed!" Skyrah looked at Harry with a mischievous smile. "Severus has something to tell you."

Severus couldn't escape it now. He muttered under his breath something along the lines of insufferable witch, to which she replied with a roll of her eyes, a sly grin and two words.

"Tolerable witch."

She was bantering, and he loved it. He lowered his head to hide his smile. She wasn't having any of it.

"Oh, no, you don't, Severus! Show that smile to the world!"

"I don't smile!"

Harry believed him. Skyrah didn't.

"Oh, come on! You look so handsome when you smile!" That got Harry grimacing and Severus snorting. He still had to assimilate she found him attractive. "In fact, you should smile more often. It is easier to smile than to frown. Did you know that, even when you are down, if you simulate a smile, you can trick your body into thinking you are happier? Smiling also boosts your immune system and relieves stress. It helps you live longer and-"

"How do you know all this?" interrupted Harry, thinking she sounded like an encyclopedia.

"Reading," she said with a shrug.

Severus shook his head, biting his bottom lip to repress a smile. "Know-it-all."

She frowned. "I think you mean Horned-Serpent."

"No. I mean know-it-all."

She pretended to be offended and poked her tongue out at him. Goofy sense of humour. It wouldn't amuse Severus if it didn't come from his wife. His bat of the dungeon facade cracked when his face broke into a sheepish grin. Skyrah hadn't lied about finding him good-looking when he smiled. She was staring at his mouth as if mesmerized.

Harry would have missed the grin if he had blinked. He felt like he had just witnessed the impossible. Snape smiled.

Fearing he would witness the couple snogging again, Harry asked, "What did you have to tell me, sir?"

Severus's gaze slowly shifted from Skyrah's eyes to Harry's. "You may go to the Burrow for your birthday."

Harry blinked in disbelief. He thought he had heard wrong, but the proud smile Skyrah wore told him otherwise.

Clearing his throat to sound more stern, Severus added, "Nevertheless, you will obey us and not hide anything else from us. What's more, you won't be writing to them anymore, so make the most of it."

Harry jumped out of bed and enfolded Skyrah in his arms. 

"Thanks."

She hugged him back and kissed the top of his head in response. Harry felt his heart fluttering. He turned to Severus. Harry vacillated a bit but ended up extending his hand to him. Skyrah jerked her head to indicate that Severus should shake his hand, so he did. It only lasted for a second, but Harry couldn't stifle the grin upon his face.

"Thank you, sir."

Harry's birthday arrived. He had to leave at nine o'clock and return to Spinner's End at eight, using the floo network. When the Snapes got to the living room, the boy was already there, grinning from ear to ear. Skyrah smiled back at him and hugged him, congratulating him for his birthday. When they broke the embrace, Skyrah and Harry waited for Severus to say something. Severus stared at the boy, but said nothing until Skyrah subtly trampled his foot, snapping him out of his awkwardness.

Holding back a hiss and keeping a straight face, he said, "Happy birthday, Potter."

He hadn't shown much enthusiasm, in fact, he had used a neutral tone, but it was okay. Taking into account it hadn't come out as a snarl, Harry knew his Professor had made an effort, and for that he was grateful. He didn't even stay for breakfast. He went directly to the Burrow. Alone at home, Skyrah licked her lips. With a naughty grin, she approached Severus until they stood millimeters apart.

"We have the house to ourselves…" Lips nearly brushing, she added, "I wonder what we could do…"

Her right hand started to play with his hair while her left hand roamed up his torso.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," he said breathlessly as her fingers began to unbutton his robes.

Next thing they knew, they were caught in a frenzy of kisses and touches which drove them to a world where only pleasure existed. They made love, then cuddled. Then made love again, then cuddled again. They only stopped the trend when they became hungry. Too late to cook, they decided to eat out in Diagon Alley (where Skyrah insisted on buying something for Harry).

They got home. Severus would have loved to teach her a new potion, but she said they should bake a cake first. Most smells of potions got her stomach lurching lately, anyway. Severus had been reluctant to let Harry spend so much time at the Burrow. Now he wished Harry would spend longer there, if only to enjoy quality time with Skyrah.

When Harry flooed back home, he found nobody was in the living room or the library. Confused, he scanned the house until he heard voices.

"I'm only doing this for you," a silky voice groaned.

"Keep telling yourself that," a smoky feminine voice replied in a teasing tone.

Sighing in relief, Harry made it to the garden. There they were, kissing close to the lilies. The sight didn't take Harry aback. Granted, he still felt awkward seeing them so affectionate, but he had started to see Severus as a human being. That was what happened when you discovered your father used to bully your teacher. He cleared his throat and Severus broke the kiss with a gasp.

He covered his blush up by snarling, "Can't you see we're busy, Potter?"

The boy's cheeks turned bright pink. He was about to leave when Skyrah, who also appeared flustered, ignored the growl from her husband and wondered, as if nothing had happened, "How has your day been?"

Less exciting than yours, he thought amused, but said, "Brilliant. Thanks for letting me go."

"I'm glad. And I'm sorry you had to see us… er-well, you know what I'm trying to say," she stammered.

They really hadn't heard him coming home, they wouldn't have kissed otherwise.

Harry was feeling more awkward by the moment. It was then that he spotted what looked like a chocolate cake on the garden table. On the chair, there was a present and a little box. Harry's eyes widened.

"You… You've prepared this? For me?

"It's certainly neither Skyrah's birthday nor mine, Potter."

The snarls did not affect Harry. He was beaming. Skyrah gave him a piece of cake.

"I'm sure you've already eaten cake today, but you only turn fifteen once, right?"

Indeed, thought Harry, who couldn't wait to taste the cake. It looked home-made, which meant Severus had baked it for him. Harry couldn't believe it. He tasted it. Mrs. Weasley has a worthy cook rival.

"Here," said Skyrah once they were full, handing over the gift that had been on the chair. "Happy birthday, Harry."

He remained still, shocked. Snape's wife is giving me a gift.

"We don't have all day, Potter." 

"Be nice! It's his birthday!" she muttered under her breath so that only Severus heard her.

Harry managed to unwrap it, revealing the book Quidditch through the ages. He had received some gifts from his friends, but getting one from the Snapes was something unexpected. Moved, he felt like hugging Skyrah and thanking Severus. He settled for whispering a soft thank you to both of them with tearful eyes.

"So you like it?" wondered an insecure Skyrah. "We saw many memories of you playing Quidditch, and I thought you would like it. Severus said reading wasn't something you usually do, but..."

"I love it. I will start reading it tonight."

Skyrah smiled at the boy and exchanged a knowing look with Severus. She winked at Harry and left, leaving him confused.

"I've got something for you."

Harry noticed he was trying to mask his nervousness, but his hands were slightly sweating. Severus grabbed the little box and gave it to him. Harry opened it and gasped. It was a muggle photograph, but not any photograph. It showed his mother and Snape. They appeared to be around ten years old. Lily was laughing and there was a shy smile painted on Severus's face, so similar to the one he gave Skyrah the other day. They seemed to be playing next to an old tree. He recognized the place. It was from a park next to the grocery store of the town.

"Your grandparents took the photo. That's why it's muggle. Your mother gave it to me on my eleventh birthday. I want you to keep it."

Tears blurred Harry's vision. Out of all the presents he had received, Severus's had been the most simple yet significant of all. It was kind of ironic that the person he thought despised him the most gave him the best gift he could have ever asked for. Without giving it much of a thought, the boy threw his arms around the wizard. Severus froze.

"Thank you. I'll treasure it, sir," he whispered, drawing back. "You knew my mother long before you attended Hogwarts..."

"Obviously."

"You were friends."

The lines that usually hardened his face softened. "Yes, we were."

"Can you tell me about her?"

"It may be your birthday, Potter, but don't push it."

"You promised."

"I did. If I recall correctly, I said I would tell you about her someday. Today is not that day."

Twenty days had passed since Harry's birthday. Everything went smoothly at the Snapes. Severus wasn't acting as grumpy as usual towards the boy. It might have had to do with the fact Harry did not come up with cheeky comebacks every two seconds. He kept remembering his mother had been friends with Severus, and Severus had helped him when he was most vulnerable. Skyrah and Severus still acted awkward every time Harry caught them kissing; but luckily for them, it had only happened two times more, and not snogging.

Skyrah was giving Harry an Occlumency lesson. She had seen the same images of Cedric Diggory's Death for half an hour and Harry hadn't been able to occlude yet. He was close to tears.

"It's useless! I want to stop!" 

"Occlumency takes patience and practice. You have to do this. I believe in you. Come on, sweetheart, let's try again. 1, 2, 3. Legilimens!"

Skyrah saw Cedric's dead body for a second before Harry pulled her out of his mind. Her eyes were wide and Harry was confused. He had expected her to congratulate him, but she looked to be reflecting on something.

"Did I occlude?"

"You pushed me out, but you didn't occlude," she spoke slowly, assimilating her own words. "Stay here. I need to talk to Severus."

"But-"

"Harry Potter, you better do as I say," she warned him before leaving the room.

Chapter Text

Severus was watering the lilies when his wife called him. He arched an eyebrow.

"It's not that your presence isn't welcome, trust me, but shouldn't you be teaching Occlumency to Potter?" 

"The boy managed to pull me out of his mind."

He felt something strange in his stomach. It was a mix of pride and satisfaction, and he didn't even know why he was feeling like that. Well, maybe he knew - he was feeling this way because they had been working hard for the boy to succeed and now, the effort had paid off - he just refused to admit it. What took him by surprise was the severe tone his wife had used.

"Is something wrong?" he asked with a furrowed brow.

"Occluding implies shutting one's emotions and thoughts. He didn't do that. In fact, he did quite the contrary. Yet, the result was the same: I couldn't use legilimency against him."

"What do you mean he did the contrary?"

"I felt grief. His grief suffocated me. It prevented me from wandering through his memories."

"I've never heard of such a thing."

"Neither have I, but it makes sense… My father cannot feel any kind of emotion. Harry can. Maybe, that is his best defense mechanism against him: his feelings. You and I haven't succeeded in teaching him Occlumency… We have asked him to stop feeling, but he just can't; it goes against his nature. If his grief can prevent my father from manipulating him, I suggest that, in the following lessons, we focus on this emotion so that he learns to expel legilimens from his mind."

Severus tilted his head. "Albus didn't want this. We are supposed to teach him Occlumency."

"I don't see why we should teach him Occlumency if the boy can accomplish the same goal through another method which seems to come easier to him… I'll convince Albus if he doesn't agree."

He stared at her.

"All right," he finally said.

Three more days passed. Albus agreed (Skyrah was as persuasive as Tom Riddle had been). Harry kept practicing with the Snapes, and in this short period of time, he had managed to stop them from entering his memories. He had seen the corners of Severus's mouth quirking up slightly when he pushed his Professor out for the first time. It was odd, but he would have sworn that his black eyes held pride and Harry couldn't help but feel fuzzy and warm every time he recalled it. His technique still needed polishing. Thankfully, Skyrah encouraged him. Defense lessons ran smoothly, too. He had learnt a lot, not only with Skyrah, but with Severus. Their relationship developed slowly but positively.

Harry woke up with a start. Panic rose through his veins. His breathing was erratic and his heart was pounded strongly. He closed his eyes and focused on his grief, as he had practiced during these past few days. Once he was sure nobody would enter his mind, he rushed to the Snapes' bedroom. The door was open. Despite the lack of light, he could distinguish Skyrah sleeping in Severus's arms. Even asleep, Severus seemed to hold a firm grip on her, as if he was afraid she would disappear. The sight made Harry feel bad. He had been terrified to find out Severus was married, but now he couldn't picture him without Skyrah. She wouldn't leave him. Odd as it seemed, she looked happy with his grumpy teacher.

Although he didn't want to wake them up, he remembered how Skyrah had insisted he talk to them if anything happened. He didn't want them to find out another day and get scolded for not letting them know sooner, so before he realized what he was doing, he was shaking Skyrah's shoulder lightly, resulting in both adults drifting away from their dreams. Severus was the first to open his eyes.

"Potter?" he grumbled with his sleepy voice, "What do you want now?"

"I've seen through Voldemort's eyes."

This was enough to get Severus and Skyrah out of their sleepy state. They exchanged an alarmed look and sat up.

"Have you used your grief method?" 

"Yes, sir."

The Snapes sighed, relieved. Skyrah motioned for Harry to sit next to them. The boy hesitated a few seconds before granting her wishes.

"What did you see?" asked Severus, urgently.

"It appeared to be a meeting of some sort. There were some Death Eaters. I couldn't see their faces. They had a woman and a teenage girl who seemed to be slaves. They were taking them away, I think… It looked a lot like the day Voldemort came back when Cedric…" he trailed off, eyes watering.

Skyrah's pupils dilated. She tried to keep a calm attitude, but deep down, she knew those people were her family, so even though her face remained neutral, her body was slightly shaking. Severus noted it, so he held her hand. Skyrah stopped trembling at once.

"What were they talking about?" Severus asked, ignoring the tears that were starting to fall down Harry's cheeks.

"I don't know, sir. I could see what was happening, but for some reason, I couldn't hear anything."

Severus groaned in frustration, although Harry interpreted it as an annoyed sign.

"I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have woken you up."

Skyrah was about to assure him that he had done nothing wrong, when her husband beat her to it, "Quite the contrary, Potter. You did the right thing. If you have a similar nightmare again, you should do precisely what you've done now: use your grief method and come to us."

Harry couldn't believe Severus was supporting him and even complimenting him, instead of Skyrah, who seemed to be taken aback by the gesture as well, although there was a proud smile on her face.

"Stay here. I'll bring a dreamless sleep potion. This way he won't get to you through your dreams. Regardless, before falling asleep, you should build your grieving wall again, understood?"

Harry nodded and watched Severus leave.

"Are you okay?" wondered Skyrah.

He shook his head as some more tears were released.

"I keep thinking about Ce-Cedric and I just… It was my fault. He shouldn't have d-died."

Skyrah cupped his chin with one hand and dried his tears with the other.

"Sweetheart, you didn't kill him. I'm sure that if Cedric could talk to you, he'd tell you that it wasn't your fault. He'd want you to keep fighting."

"You think so?"

"I know so. You didn't cast the curse, Harry. Don't put even more weight on your shoulders…"

She wrapped him in her arms and rocked him as she whispered sweet words. Harry's clutch on her had never been so strong. That's how Severus found them. Skyrah saw him entering and gently pushed the boy away.

"Drink it."

Severus's voice was stern, as always, but there was a softer tone under it which Harry perceived. The boy obeyed and didn't even complain about the horrible taste.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," said Syrah.

She got up and dragged Harry along with her, followed closely by her husband. She put a hand on Harry's shoulder on the way. In his bedroom, she tucked him into bed, kissed his forehead and wished him good night.

"Remember to build your wall of grief, Harry. The potion will prevent you from having more dreams tonight, but it's better to be cautious…"

They boy nodded. He noticed that Severus had called him by his first name again and it made him feel warm inside, protected. The Snapes were about to leave when Harry's insecure voice stopped them.

"Is this what it feels like?"

The Snapes exchanged a confused look and turned their attention to Harry.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?"

"Is this how having parents feels like?" he clarified, voice small.

Skyrah let out a surprised gasp. Severus froze. Neither of them had expected this question.

"I don't know… How do you feel?" asked Skyrah.

"Cared for. Like nothing or nobody can hurt me." 

"I feel cared for and like nothing or nobody can hurt me when I am with my mother," she rasped.

She didn't know if her response would suffice, but it didn't matter. The boy had fallen asleep. With a hand on her back, Severus guided her out of the teenager's room and towards their bed. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears in the darkness of their bedroom.

"He didn't know what he was saying, Skyrah. The potion was taking effect."

She snorted. "Do you honestly believe that a boy who's never had a family couldn't begin to see us as one after living with us for longer than a month, after we give him a potion to help him sleep and tuck him into bed?"

Her dark brown eyes were piercing his soul and he found himself murmuring, "I don't."

"What will we do?" she asked, still holding back tears. "I still don't know if he's safe with us. If he got hurt because of me..." She gulped. "My father already murdered his parents. I don't want to cause more harm."

"That was not your fault."

"His family is dead because of my family. He had to live with those despicable muggles because-"

"Because I told your father the prophecy. It was my fault."

Air caught in her throat. The self-loathing in his voice penetrated her bones.

"No... No, Severus. My father is a sociopath. He cast the curse... He cast the curse, not you, and if he found out about Harry living with us... If he knew how attached he is getting to us..."

She trailed off. She didn't need to finish the sentence, anyway. Severus understood what she meant.

"You are starting to see him as more than your student, aren't you? You're getting attached to him, too."

"Aren't you?" she countered back.

Severus gulped. He didn't dare to reply to her. He wasn't sure of the answer, and the single fact that he was doubtful scared him to death.

"School will begin shortly and everything will go back to normal. Don't give it much of a thought… We are tired. Let's go back to sleep."

Skyrah bit her lip and nodded. Soon he was cuddling her the same way he had got used to every night since they made love.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"The woman and the teenager were my family. He must have been moving them."

"We can do nothing for them right now, Skyrah," he told her as softly as he could, noticing her palms were sweating and her voice quivering.

She snuggled closer to him, seeking comfort. Severus sighed and embraced her tightly against him. The last thing he was aware of before falling asleep was Skyrah tenderly kissing his cheek.

Severus woke up only to find that Skyrah wasn't with him. It had become a routine these past weeks. Morning sickness struck every day, but somehow, they had managed to hide it from Harry. Severus got up and headed to the bathroom, summoning a glass. He used the aguamenti spell and kneeled next to her, rubbing her back in circles in a poor attempt to comfort her. She coughed and took the glass. Once she had rinsed, spit the water in the sink and brushed her teeth, she went back to their bedroom. She sat on the bed and rubbed her temples.

"Headache?" guessed Severus.

"I can't stomach your bloody potion now, Severus! Let me be!"

His pupils dilated, shock and hurt evident on his features. He had only meant to help her; he hadn't even suggested the potion in the first place, since he remembered that Skyrah didn't drink it until after lunch. Skyrah put a hand on her forehead, realizing she had been rude.

"Dammit! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I can't control my emotions, the nausea does not seem to leave me alone and my head feels like it's going to explode! I didn't mean to shout, I-"

Understanding that she had only responded like that due to her hormones and pregnancy symptoms, he relaxed and put a hand on her shoulder, silencing her.

"Forget it."

She shook her head and insisted, "I'm still sorry, I-"

"You are pregnant." She looked down at the floor, still feeling guilty. "These symptoms indicate that the pregnancy is going fine. Do not feel sorry for it. I feel blessed."

Her eyes got tearful. Unconsciously, she covered her belly with her hand. For once, Severus followed his heart and sat next to her, covering her hand with his own. 

"It feels unreal, doesn't it? A life is growing inside me, a life you and I created together. It's scary and incredible at the same time."

Severus stared at her eyes. He didn't know how to answer to her verbally, so he hoped his wife would read all his emotions in his eyes. Skyrah identified a mix of fear and hope, and that's when she knew he felt the same.

"She'll have your eyes, your striking and mysterious black eyes," she murmured with a dreamy look.

He snorted. "As long as she inherits your nose..."

Giggling, she said, "But I love your nose!"

"Yes, well, you seem to be the only one."

Skyrah smiled softly and put the arm which wasn't touching her womb around his waist, cuddling him closer.

"I'm nearly two months pregnant now. Luckily, one more month and we'll bid morning sickness adieu," she said light-heartedly.

Severus gave her one of his rare smiles which didn't really show his teeth. Skyrah smiled back and retired her hand from her womb, swapping the positions so that Severus's hand was touching her belly directly now.

"She's tiny, but I like to think she feels the warmth of my hand, of your hand…"

In that moment, it was more real than ever for Severus that he had got a woman pregnant. His wife was with child. He was going to be a father. A child. A family. He would have that for the first time in his life. Skyrah and the unborn child were his second chance. Gratitude, bliss, fear, astonishment… All these feelings brought tears he refused to cry in his eyes.

"I will do whatever I can to make sure she grows up in a safe world, I swear," he croaked.

She knew the implications of his promise: he would do anything to make sure Voldemort wouldn't hurt their baby. Skyrah was crying silently now, moved by his oath. Severus dried her tears with his thumb, cursing himself for making her cry. Skyrah grabbed his wrist and kissed the back of his hand. Once she had his attention - he was staring deeply at her eyes, breathing slowly - she spoke.

"Severus, I love you."

His heart skipped a beat.

The Snapes went downstairs. Severus looked relaxed while Skyrah tried to mask her dizziness. Harry had just woken up. He was about to tell them that he was going to have a shower when he heard a hiss of pain. Severus was now grabbing Skyrah's arm. They looked at each other. They seemed to communicate a thousand words without actually pronouncing them. She kept shaking her head. Panic and anxiety were plastered on their faces.

"Not now!" Harry heard Skyrah pleading. "Please!"

"Don't come with me. I'll manage," ordered Severus.

His weak voice evidenced that he was in pain, and Harry didn't really know why.

"Are you mad? I have to go as well!"

"What's wrong?" inquired Harry, worried.

"Er- An urgency. We need to leave. Stay here," said Skyrah, dragging her husband upstairs once again before Harry could question them any further.

They'd invent an excuse later. There was no time now. Soon, Severus wore his Death Eater robes and mask. Skyrah took his arm. Together, they apparated to the familiar wood Voldemort liked to meet them in. As expected, they were alone, and Voldemort was waiting for them with Nagini winding its way around him. By the time Voldemort asked Severus to remove his mask, both Snapes had their occlumency walls up.

"Severus. It's come to my attention that you two have been trying to accomplish my will. I'm pleased." The Snapes didn't exchange looks, but they both knew that Voldemort was alluding to the Malfoys. "Nonetheless, it's been nearly two months now. I'd like to know if my daughter is already with child."

Severus lied, "We've been trying, my Lord, but she isn't pregnant yet, sir. Forgive us, mere servants."

"You knew this could take a while, Father," added Skyrah with a stony face.

"True. However, you've gained some weight…"

Panic seized Skyrah. Yet, she held her cold gaze and stared at her father's eyes. She had noticed that her clothes felt slightly tighter. One had to look pretty hard to see it though. She wouldn't have expected anyone to notice. She wasn't really showing.

"I can spot other pregnancy symptoms," Voldemort said, eyeing her chest.

Skyrah was starting to feel dizzy. It didn't help that her nauseas hadn't completely disappeared. 

"You are pregnant," claimed Voldemort.

"I am not."

Voldemort smirked. "I see that you have a thing for fighting over lost causes, just like your mother… It must be genetic."

"I said I am not pregnant," she said as calmly as she could, but also with conviction.

"And I say that you are a liar. Which makes me wonder: why wouldn't my dear daughter tell me she's with child? You must be expecting a girl… You've failed my orders, that's why you hide and that's why you lie."

"I wouldn't dare lie to you, Father. I wish I was pregnant, but I'm not."

Her voice and her expression didn't betray her. 

"Then you will not mind if I prove it, will you?" He took his wand and pointed it at his daughter. "Cruc-"

Unconsciously, Skyrah covered her womb and curled, trying to protect the unborn child. The curse never got out of the wand. Severus's pupils dilated in terror. The Snapes were doomed. Voldemort knew she was expecting now, otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to protect her baby.

"My dear daughter, don't you know better than to lie to your own father?" he whispered as he caressed her cheek with his palm.

Skyrah didn't even cringe.

Severus did his best to remain passive, but he was trembling inside. It felt like a nightmare. He wanted to leave this horrible scenario. Death Eaters couldn't apparate during meetings, though, and even if they came across a way to get out, Lord Voldemort would still find them and kill Severus, for his cover would be blown. Suddenly, Voldemort spoke in Parseltongue, preventing him from catching any word. He really wasn't surprised that Skyrah had inherited the rare skill.

"I'm disappointed, Skyrah. I thought my own daughter was far more intelligent. Need I remind you of the current state in which the blood traitors of your mother and half-sister are? It could worsen."

"Leave my family out of it, you, monster!" 

Voldemort grimaced. "You are weak, just like your mother. You let feelings get in the way. My descendant will not act like that."

Her occlumency walls hadn't cracked, yet helpless tears were starting to form in her dark brown eyes.

"I have to punish you," he continued, now in English. "You haven't delivered me an heir. Time isn't on our side, Skyrah. Your spawn must die so that you can beget a boy. But first, I need to discipline your husband." He glared at Severus. "I expected more from you. You were supposed to be my most loyal servant. Yet, you didn't tell me she was expecting. Instead, you concealed the pregnancy."

Before Severus could speak up, Skyrah cried out, "He didn't know it! I hid it from him!"

It took all of Severus's willpower not to show any sign of shock.

"He didn't know it!" she repeated, now weeping.

The image of Daniel's corpse was stuck in her mind. She wouldn't let history repeat itself.

"You're lying," said Voldemort.

"I am not! Why would I? I knew he was your most loyal servant. He would have told you! I couldn't let that happen!" She paused, holding back a sob. "You say I'm like mother, but I am a lot like you too, Father. I knew I had the necessary wiliness to hide it from him, so I did. I'm the one who's failed you!"

Severus had the impulse to intervene. Nevertheless, confessing he was aware of the pregnancy would be a unwise for two main reasons. First, the punishment would be worse for both, Skyrah and himself - Skyrah for lying to her father again and Severus for keeping the secret. Second, he knew other Death Eaters had been killed for far less. If he died, Albus would lose his spy, he wouldn't be able to protect Harry (like he had promised, for Lily) and Skyrah would have to witness another death of a dear one at the hands of his father. Voldemort would compel her to marry another Death Eater and Skyrah would still be trapped, trapped and lonely. Taking everything into account, he chose to keep quiet.

Voldemort smiled wickedly at his daughter. "You are right, Skyrah. Your family always comes first to you; you wouldn't risk them for anything in the world… Severus won't be punished: you will. You will be taught a lesson. Imperio!"

Severus's whole composure relaxed. Black eyes became empty.

"No," Skyrah whispered, realizing what Voldemort had in mind. "No! Please!" she cried out. "She can still be your heiress! You don't have to do this! She's your blood!"

Voldemort ignored her and ordered Severus with an inexpressive voice, "Crucio her."

"No! Dad! Daddy, please! Don't do this to me!" she begged, now sobbing. "Not my daughter! Don't hurt her!"

Severus had been imperiused before and he had been able to resist it. This time, however, his control over his actions was practically inexistent. He knew that if Voldemort found out he was resisting his orders, he would realize he had also been lying and this time, he wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Nevertheless, he would do his best to crucio her feebly. It wasn't like he could fully disobey him, even if there wasn't any danger of blowing his spy cover. Unlike the wizard who had previously attempted to use the imperius curse on Severus, Voldemort had mastered the three unforgivable curses. The hold was too strong for Severus. He wanted to cry. To scream. But his body wouldn't obey his orders. Instead, he found himself taking his wand out and pointing it at Skyrah. Next thing he knew, she was writhing on the mud, crying out in pain with her hands on her womb.

"Harder, Severus," commanded Voldemort, without taking his eyes off of his daughter.

Voldemort was smiling, enjoying the show, relishing in the screams of pain as if they were music to his ears.

Severus was his marionette. The more he tried to resist it, the stronger the unforgivable curse became. The intensity of the curse increased. His heart was shattering into pieces. He wished this was a nightmare, a horrible nightmare, but he couldn't lie to himself: he was killing his own flesh, his only chance at having a family.

"Stop!" The shout echoed across the woods. "I hope you learned the lesson, Skyrah. As soon as your body is ready, you will give me an heir."

Voldemort disapparated, freeing Severus.

Skyrah's eyes were on him, but Severus had a feeling she was not truly looking at him, let alone recognizing him.

"Skyrah," he breathed right before she blacked out.

Blood flowed from her body. 

Chapter Text

As Harry took a shower, he kept formulating theories of places and reasons why the Snapes would have gone away so precipitously. They had looked afraid before departing, and it had left Harry with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. What if they were in danger? They would have warned him, wouldn't they? Severus had tried to mask it, but Harry could have sworn he was in pain. Why would he? Besides, Skyrah seemed to know what was going on the moment they exchanged looks. Whatever the matter was, it definitely wasn't the first time they faced it.

The moment he got out of the shower and climbed down the stairs, the Snapes apparated back home. What the boy witnessed didn't seem real at all. He could only stare at them agape and with wide eyes. Skyrah looked half-dead and her clothes were tainted with blood, stained with mud, unconscious in her husband's arms. Severus was sweating, breathing hard. His expression was of utter panic and regret. Harry's eyes narrowed in fury the moment he noted his Professor was wearing Death Eater robes and sustaining his mask with some difficulty, trying to hold his wife bridal style safely at the same time.

"You! You are one of them, a Death Eater! What have you done to her?!" the boy screamed from the top of his lungs, pointing his wand at Severus.

"Dammit, Potter! There is no time to explain now! Floo call Madam Pomfrey! We'll be waiting upstairs! Hurry up!"

Severus didn't wait for a response. All he cared about was Skyrah and their baby girl. He rushed to their bedroom and laid his wife in bed with exceptional care, sitting next to her. Despite his trembling pulse, he managed to put a rebel lock of hair behind her ear, uncovering her extremely pale face. He leaned in and kissed her forehead with a gentleness he thought he possessed not. Then, he unfastened a few buttons so that her belly was visible and, slowly, he bowed his head until his lips kissed her skin there.

He brushed her womb with a shaky hand and whispered, praying that his child was still alive and could somehow hear him, "Please, be strong for your mother. Be strong for me. I don't care if you hate me the rest of your life, just," he gulped, and tried to hold back the tears which were threatening to fall down his cheeks, "just live."

His voice had cracked. He could feel a lump forming in his throat as he turned his attention back to his wife, caressing her cheek like she had always done to him. Her skin was cold. Her touch had never been cold, not even the day they got married, when they were total strangers. When the realization came to his mind, he broke down. He took Skyrah in his arms, sobbing irrepressibly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"

Meanwhile, Harry hurried to floo call the medi-witch, as instructed.

"Mr. Potter? Why are you calling me from Professor Snape's home?" came the familiar voice.

"It's a long story. You have to come here. Skyrah's bleeding!"

"Who's Skyrah?"

Harry groaned when he realized that just like Minerva, Poppy did not know about the marital arrangement. Why were the Snapes so bloody secretive?

"Snape's wife."

The moment he said it, the witch apparated in the living room.

"Come on! They're upstairs!" said Harry.

While they were climbing the stairs, she breathed out, "I can't believe he didn't tell me he was married."

"Not many people know about it."

They reached the end of the stairs only to hear wrenching sobs. Poppy and Harry looked at each other worriedly before getting in the bedroom. Harry hadn't been prepared for the sight. He had never imagined that his Professor had the capacity of crying or of showing so much emotion. But he wasn't only crying, he was sobbing, slowly rocking Skyrah in his arms, desperately holding onto her as if his sanity depended on it while the hopeless tears fell off of his black eyes. He was still wearing the Death Eaters robes, but, in that moment, Harry saw nothing but a wrecked, helpless man. Severus kissed her forehead once more before gazing at Poppy, who was already running to them.

"P-please… Do something," he begged without loosening the grasp on his wife.

"What happened?" she demanded, noticing the blood flowing from the woman's body.

"Cr-cruciatus curse… She..." He gulped. "She was pregnant. Please, please tell me our baby s-survived. Tell me my daughter will live. Tell me my wife will be all right."

Harry gaped. Skyrah was pregnant? Since when? Why hadn't they told him? He felt his heart breaking for the Snapes. He had never thought Snape would like to have a child, and the thought of baby Snapes had managed to make him shudder more than once. For Merlin's sake! He even had nightmares about it! Nevertheless, seeing the usually stern man pleading like mad for his unborn daughter to be alive and showing so much vulnerability made Harry's stomach lurch. He didn't want to imagine what Skyrah's reaction would be if the baby didn't make it.

Claiming that Poppy was utterly shaken was a big understatement.

However, being the professional she was, she forgot about the shockwave and commanded, "Get out of the room and wait. You know I work better alone." Severus shook his head and tightened his grip on his wife. "If I need anything I'll call you, I promise. But you need to let me work, for your child and wife's sake. Please. We have no time to waste."

Severus held back a sob and slowly stood up, hesitant to go. He kissed Skyrah's cold lips and glanced at Poppy, who seemed to read his mind, for she guaranteed, "I'll do everything in my power to save the baby and to make sure your wife's fine, I swear. Now go."

Harry and Severus walked out of the room unwillingly but remained upstairs anyway. Severus was showing his back to Harry. No matter how hard Severus tried, he couldn't stop hearing Skyrah's screams. He couldn't erase the sight of her curling in pain on the mud, desperately covering her womb, trying to protect their unborn child. The tears, even though he had managed to reduce them to silent ones, wouldn't stop coming to his eyes. His hands were shaking violently.

"Sir?"

"Go away, Potter."

His voice came weaker than intended.

"But-"

Turning around so that they were face to face, Severus hissed, "Get. Out. Of. My. Sight."

Harry had never seen so much agony in someone's eyes. Understanding it was a delicate moment for Severus, he went downstairs and gave him space.

More than two awfully stressful hours passed before Harry heard the medi-witch climbing down the stairs. He turned around to face her, only to find a desolate expression on her face and a downcast composure. She didn't speak, but Harry knew that the Snapes, the same people who had welcomed him home, bought him clothes, cooked for him, taught him and looked after him, the same people who he had grown to care about so much, had just lost their baby girl. Harry couldn't think of anything worse to happen to a just married couple.

He made to go upstairs with the intention to provide some comfort, as little as it might be, but Poppy grabbed his arm.

"Do not disturb their privacy, Mr. Potter. Losing a child is never easy; especially if it was a wanted child. Give Severus some time."

By the tone of her voice and the expression on her face, Harry got the impression that she was talking from experience.

"How's Skyrah?"

"She's as physically fine as she can be, considering what she's been through. I don't expect her to wake up today, though."

Harry gulped and nodded.

Madam Pomfrey was about to leave, when she said, "Mr. Potter? I don't know what you are doing here, but maybe it is a good thing that they aren't on their own. Make sure Severus eats; I have never seen him so..." she trailed off, searching for the correct term, "broken. I'm afraid he will forget to take care of himself. Look after them for me, will you? If something else happens or if tomorrow she doesn't wake up, do not hesitate to call me."

With that said, Poppy took her leave, leaving the boy wondering why the hell she hadn't freaked out or commented on the Death Eater robes.

When Severus didn't make an appearance in the kitchen at half past twelve, Harry knew he wouldn't be making lunch. Biting his lip, he looked for something to cook in the fridge and got to work. Half an hour later, he placed the dishes he had just prepared on a tray and climbed up the stairs.

The bedroom's door was half-open, so he had to softly kick it to enter. There was no trace of blood which had tainted the bedsheets before. Severus was lying down on the bed, hiding his head on Skyrah's shoulder, a protective arm draped over her waist. Her face hadn't completely recovered the color, but at least, she didn't look half-dead anymore. He cleared his throat to alert Severus that he wasn't alone with his wife any longer. Severus, now in his usual robes, didn't acknowledge his presence. It was either that, or he was completely, willingly ignoring him.

"Sir?"

Silence.

"I made lunch."

Still no response.

"I promised Madam Pomfrey you would eat something."

This seemed to get a reaction out of the broken man, even if he didn't move one inch.

Snorting, he said in a half-suffocated voice, "Funny. I don't recall needing a baby-sitter. I always managed to survive alone."

Harry would have never thought he'd be so happy to hear his Potions Professor making a snarky comment. There was hope.

"Well, that was before you decided to stick your body to the bed and accidentally forget that human bodies need nutrients and water to keep going, sir," the boy replied with sass.

"I don't recall asking for your opinion either, Potter."

"Well, that's too bad. You will hear it anyway. Skyrah wouldn't want you to starve to death."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"She loves you. When one loves somebody else, they want the best for them. So eat."

Severus doubted Skyrah would feel anything similar to love for him the moment she woke up, but he shooed the thought away and gave Harry the silent treatment, hoping he'd leave him alone. To his dismay, after two full minutes, the boy was still standing on the doorway, holding the plate with the dishes.

"I'm not going away until you eat, sir. Like it or not."

Exploding, Severus rose abruptly and walked towards the boy. Harry had no idea how he had managed to get up so fast. He got so close their noses bumped.

"Dammit, Potter! Can't you take a hint! I have just lost my daughter. My wife, the only person who genuinely cares for me, will hate me for the rest of her days! I don't need nor fancy your company! I just need to hold her in my arms before she wakes up and realizes that I disgust her so much she cannot even look at me. So yes, getting nutrients and water to my human body, as you put it, is not in my top to-do-list. Leave me the hell alone!"

The boy gulped. He had never seen Severus so mad, and that was saying a lot, considering he had taught him for four years and got more than a few detentions with him.

"I'm not going away until you eat something."

They stared at each other with defiance for a long time.

"I am a Death Eater, Potter," he said, rolling his sleeve to prove it to him. "Why do you care whether I eat?"

Harry cringed at the sight of his Dark Mark. He had seen it once, by the end of fourth year. After living under the same roof though, he had grown to believe Severus had been a Death Eater once, but not anymore. Why would he welcome him home, otherwise? Why would he act as if he cared for him? A real Death Eater would have killed him or brought him to Voldemort a long time ago. It made no sense.

"I-I… Madam Pomfrey has seen them, too. Your Death Eater robes, I mean. She hasn't run away. And Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have let me stay over with someone loyal to Voldemort. I've given it some thought. If you had wanted to kill me, I would already be dead. You wouldn't even have saved me during my first year, in the Quidditch match. I think I deserve an explanation, but right now it is not important. Only Skyrah matters."

They stared at each other for a few moments before Harry continued, "Death Eater or not, she loves you. She wouldn't want you and me to argue over something which is necessary for your well-being, sir. Besides," he trailed off, vacillating a little before confessing, "Skyrah isn't the only one who cares for you. I do, too, despite our past. So please accept the food. I promise I will leave you alone and come back thirty minutes later to collect the dirty dishes."

When Severus heard the boy telling him that he cared for him, he felt a strange feeling in his stomach. He felt sick. How could Lily's son care for a monster like him? And at the same time, he wished Harry would say the words again. Reluctantly, Severus took the tray, sat on the bed and started to eat.

"Is it so fascinating to observe the way I eat? Get. Out."

Herry left with a victorious grin on his face.

As promised, he came back half an hour later to pick up the dishes. He noticed Severus was still holding his spouse in his arms. This time, however, he could see his eyes looking at nothing in concrete. Some tears fell down his cheeks as he played with her black wavy hair. While Harry washed the dishes, he couldn't help but think that he would have never thought he'd ever pity the bitter man, and even less care for him. However, once he was done, he went upstairs once again; he couldn't leave Severus alone, no matter what he said, no matter where his true loyalties lay. Predictively, the Snapes were in the same position.

"Sir?"

"I thought you knew better than coming back, Potter. You said you'd leave me alone. I see you are not a man of your word." Like your father, he was tempted to add.

"I-I just thought that you'd appreciate having someone by your side. I-"

"You thought wrong. Leave."

Harry sighed. Stubborn as a mule, he thought.

He was already in the doorway when he said, "I don't know why you believe she'll hate you, but I think that you are wrong. She will need your comfort just as much as you need hers."

Severus pretended Harry hadn't spoken at all.

When dinner time came, Harry and Severus imitated the mechanics from earlier. Harry went to sleep, praying that Skyrah woke up the next day, for everybody's sake. He still wanted an explanation from Severus regarding the Death Eater thing, but he was willing to wait for it, for Skyrah's sake.

Severus woke up only to find his wife asleep in his arms, lying still. Her cheeks were slightly rosy, as usual, and her skin was warm, making Severus sigh in relief and tighten his clutch on her. She would be all right, at least, physically. Against his better judgement, he kissed her forehead and left her alone to have a shower. Back in the bedroom, he saw her giving her back to him, sitting on the bed as if she had been expecting him.

Severus wanted to hold her and whisper sweet words, tell her how afraid he had been of losing her, how sorry he felt for doing this to her, how lost he felt without her, how much he cherished her… He wanted to kiss her senseless, to stay by her side forever. He wanted to cry of happiness upon seeing her awake. Yet, he reprimanded himself, choosing to proceed cautiously. With trembling, insecure footsteps, he made his way until he was face to face with her. The first thing he noticed was her hand covering her womb, as she had done so many times since finding out she was pregnant. The sight broke his heart a little more. Then he gazed at her warm dark brown eyes. But they were not warm. They were empty.

"Skyrah?"

"She's gone, isn't she?"

Her voice had been neutral, and it scared Severus to death. She had her stony mask on, the same mask she wore when she was with her father. It had been a long time since she had looked at Severus without any emotion, and it made him feel a knot in his stomach. Ignoring the lump in his throat, he whispered a yes.

Her fingers grabbed the edge of the bed. She bowed her head so that he couldn't see her face.

"No… Please! My baby…"

He had never heard her speak in such a frail, heart-broken tone. On instinct, he touched her shoulder. The gesture always provided her with comfort.

Not now.

She cringed. As if his touch had burnt her, she pushed herself as far away from him as she could until she reached the other edge of the bed. She was nearly hyperventilating. Her eyes were wide, staring at him with so much fear it made Severus take a step back. He was used to people getting away from him or looking at him afraid. He had always been thankful that others never got too close to him. However, coming from Skyrah, being feared was something his heart couldn't take.

"Skyrah, please…"

"Leave," she said in a dangerously low voice, eyes shut.

"But-"

"I said leave!" she screamed, opening her ferocious eyes. A tear streamed down her face. "Please," she begged in a shattered tone, covering her mouth and averting his black eyes.

Everything he had told Harry, everything the boy had tried to deny, had come true. It felt like a prophecy he had thought had been dodged only to strike again with more force than ever. A little voice in his head had always known that what they had wasn't real, that someone like her would never feel something for him, something different than revulsion or loathing, that is. It had been a voice he hadn't listened to since the day she made love to him and told him she loved him. Now that voice shouted in his head.  With a heavy heart, he made his way out, but not before hearing her disconsolate sobs.

Chapter Text

On his way downstairs, Severus came across Harry, who was holding a plate with some breakfast.

Chapter Text

Skyrah woke up with a fright. She sat and hugged her legs, hiding her head in her knees. Severus drifted away from his sleep at the brusque movement. It only took him a few seconds to notice her body was trembling and sweating and that her breaths were erratic. Now on full alert, he sat up and slowly put a hand on her shaking shoulder so as not to startle her. She froze for a second and then, she threw herself at him, sobbing. Severus wrapped her in his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, which was leaning on his chest. Her arms were binding his waist vigorously.

"Nightmare?"

She nodded.

"My father." She held back sobs. "He had imperiused you and you were crucioing me and then Dione and Mum appeared and-" she trailed off, but Severus waited patiently for her to continue, trying to shoo the vision of himself doing exactly that to her. "Then Daddy killed Mummy and my lil' sis… He killed you, like he did Daniel."

Chapter Text

"Mum," started Dione, shaking Andraste gently.

The girl felt bad for waking her up, but Dione was hungry, and the fruit and rice were almost screaming she should eat them now.

"Mmm?" asked Andraste, sleepily.

Chapter Text

An hour later, Severus had the tips of his forefinger on his brow, massaging the area. Skyrah fidgeted, eyes fixed on Albus's black fingers.

"You should have told us before, Albus. I can only slow down the curse, but I cannot stop it… It is too late." 

In his usual calm composure, Albus said, "I first called Poppy. She wasn't able to do anything. When I mentioned I'd get your help, she told me not to disturb you."

Severus and Skyrah lost the poor color from their already paled cheeks. Both felt guilty. Had nothing happened, Albus would have had a chance to survive. Instead, the baby was gone and the old man had his days counted because of that bloody ring. He had two years at most. The only good news was that Gaunt's Ring wasn't a horcrux anymore.

Chapter Text

Skyrah had taken a seat between her husband and Minerva. She hadn't questioned him about Madam Pince. There really hadn't been time. Students flooded the Great Hall. She tried to spot a messy black hair amongst the hustle and bustle, but her attempts were worthless. Some students were eyeing her in wonder, speculating about her position and whispering to their friends their theories while Albus gave a little speech before the Sorting Ceremony began. Most schoolboys and some schoolgirls were gawking at her and practically drooling as if she were some kind of Greek goddess. Skyrah was indifferent. She was used to having this effect on youngsters. It didn't mean that Severus was happy about it though.

"I swear, if they keep looking at you like that, I will do something I will regret later."

Skyrah didn't even look at him, but she somehow knew his brow was furrowed.

She couldn't suppress a mischievous smirk as she teased, "Are you jealous of a bunch of dunderheads?"

He snorted.

"Oh, come on, Severus! Crushing on teachers is normal. It is not something we can control. I'm sure you have your own fan club."

"Nobody's ever had a crush on me," he declared with a scowl on his face.

"Seriously? Are you telling me this?" She had told him a thousand times she was in love with him, which was more serious than a simple crush. He was tall, dark and lean and his deep silky voice was enough to drive any woman mad with desire. She was sure that more than one student had fantasized about him, even if he didn't acknowledge it. She shook her head. "I swear, you can be so blind sometimes…"

"Stop making this about me, Skyrah. I'm not the one who has a full army drooling over me!"

She finally turned her face to him and smiled slyly. "You know, I never thought I'd admit this, but your jealousy is endearing and sexy at the same time."

Even though she had said it as if she was speaking of casual matters, her eyes were darker. Severus found himself gulping and wishing that the heat he was feeling didn't reach his cheeks, flushing them endlessly.

Minerva had risen and taken the sorting hat. The first student was called. Soon enough they heard the hat screaming, "Hufflepuff!" The yellow table clapped and cheered as the first year girl sat with them. Skyrah smiled softly at the house pride. Another boy was called upon. After some deliberation, the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Skyrah's eyes were fixed on the child, who sat next to somebody she already knew. Her dark brown eyes met his green ones. The corner of Skyrah's lips moved upwards, drawing on her face a bright and pure smile. Harry grinned back. He was sitting in front of the bushy haired girl and ginger boy she had got to know through the occlumency lessons. The magical moment was broken by Severus's grunt.

"What's wrong?"

"Even Weasley is drooling over you! Sweet Salazar, I will not survive this!"

"Well, I'm sure they will stop this nonsense once they find out that I am your wife."

"They better."

Neither of them noticed that a certain blond boy was eyeing them, looking distressed.

Meanwhile, Ron, Hermione and Potter were engaged in conversation.

"Blimey! Harry, she smiled at you! I repeat; she smiled at you! I can't believe she'll be teaching us! I don't know if I'll learn something, but I'll sure have a good time!" he said, giving Harry's back a pat.

Hermione glared at Ron, who swallowed hard. He sought succor in Harry, but he looked at him with a wrinkled mouth.

"Did I miss something?"

"She is a teacher, Ron, treat her with respect!" said Harry.

"I'm just pointing out the obvious, mate. No need to get mad! She's hot. So what? Is it so bad that I noticed it?"

Harry wasn't comfortable labeling Skyrah as hot. Granted, he had noticed she was gorgeous the first time he met her, but over time, he had grown to care for her as a motherly figure, and it just didn't feel right for Ron to look at her like that. Harry averted his gaze and clapped dejectedly as more first years were sorted. An awkward silence swept over the teenagers. Hermione broke it.

"Harry, you haven't told us how living with Professor Snape was..."

"Yes, mate, it must have been awful living with the greasy git."

Ron's pity boiled Harry's blood. That was exactly why he had been avoiding the topic since King Cross Station.

"Snape is not a git."

Ron raised his eyebrows. Even Hermione was stunned by his attitude.

"Has he brainwashed you, mate?"

"No. But he isn't like I thought."

"What do you mean?" wondered the girl.

"I mean that he has treated me way better than I imagined."

For better or for worse, their conversation was cut short when Albus spoke again. Nobody was really paying attention to his rambling; that was until the words 'I am pleased to welcome to our community Professor Skyrah Snape, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and Professor Snape's wife' resonated across the Great Hall. Some of the students who had been drooling over her considerably paled at the introduction. Severus smirked in satisfaction. The Hall lapsed into a deathly silence. The students' eyes were fixed on both Snapes, trying to figure out when and how the bat of the dungeons might have wedded the witch. The quietness didn't last long, for endless whispers and gossip filled the room.

"Skyrah Snape? Wait, Snape got married? Bloody hell!" cried out Ron. "How did the ugly bat get that woman?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the immature comments and surmised, "If they are married, then that means that-"

"Yes, I lived with both of them," finished Harry for her.

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Hermione.

She seemed to be offended by it, not angry. Ron's eyes couldn't have been wider.

"I was afraid of your reactions…"

That was a half-truth. The main reason was that he had promised not to tell anything he had found out about the Snapes. He could still remember a particular heated discussion they had had regarding the matter just two days ago. They had concluded that it was for the best that his friends knew as little as possible. He owed them that much. After all, they hadn't spread the secret of his abuse, not even to Albus.

The Feast had left the Snapes exhausted. Severus, as Head of Slytherin, had made his way towards the Slytherin Common Room in order to give his welcoming yet warning speech to first year students.

Skyrah was in their chambers. She put on a silky dark grey nightgown and lay in bed, thinking of the events of the day: Albus revealing he was dying, her sorting, the sex, Madam Pince acting as if she knew Severus rather well and he eyeing her with spite, and lastly, the feast. Yes. It had been a particularly intense day. Those thoughts weren't everything on her mind though.

Tomorrow would be her first day of teaching at Hogwarts. She had never been scared of teaching before, but the fifth year class she had prepared involved learning the patronus charm. Invoking a patronus; easier said than done. Skyrah hadn't used that spell in a long time. After everything she had been through, she doubted she'd be able to conjure it. Where did one find happiness after losing a fiancé, being separated from the family and having a miscarriage in a matter of months? She honestly had no idea, but she disregarded the negative thoughts and focused on succeeding on the complicated spell.

Skyrah sat on the bed, grabbed her wand and let the happy memory she had always used float through her mind and plague her senses.

Skyrah and Daniel, who were playing hide and seek with Skyrah's sister, were twenty-one and had just started dating after years of denial. Dione was looking for them and both youngsters were holding their breaths. Unexpectedly, Daniel began to peck her neck and before they knew it, they were kissing passionately. They only stopped when they saw that a six-year-old Dione was getting close to them. Skyrah tried to hide even more behind the tree of the park, but Daniel kept distracting her with more butterfly kisses. Annoyed, she smacked him playfully in the arm, but it only made him chuckle, revealing their hideout.

"I got ya!" cried out Dione with a smile, showing a missing tooth.

"Oh, really?" teased Daniel, and before they knew it, he had little Dione trapped in a tickling torture.

Skyrah began to laugh and joined her boyfriend, making her sister cry of the laughter.

Yes, the memory had always brought a smile to her face. She forgot about anything but the feelings it carried with it and muttered the incantation. She lifted her eyelids. Nothing had come out of the wand. She gulped. That memory had never failed her. Shutting her eyes and inhaling deeply, she tried once again. Nothing. Not even a spark. Skyrah rubbed her temples, reflecting on what could have gone wrong.

After a few minutes of internal debate, she heard the chambers' doors opening, meaning that Severus had just entered. In that moment, something seemed to click in her mind. She closed her eyes and let herself drown in her memories of Severus: their subtle touches while brewing potions, their playful teasing, that one time they had a food fight, his rich laugh at her silly jokes while cooking, his silky voice when he read to her as he played with her hair, his arms enfolding her and making her feel at home, his deep look that told her he only had eyes for her, his sudden loss of breath when he noticed she had been staring at him, his blush when she kissed his hooked nose, that smile he reserved only for her, his care and devotion when they made love…

Heart fluttering wildly, she muttered, "Expecto Patronum!"

Out of the tip of her wand, a silvery fume began to take form. She couldn't quite make out what it was at first, but it sure wasn't a dolphin, like usual. It was smaller. She narrowed her eyes as she saw a crow flying excitingly across the room. She let out a disbelieving giggle: not only had she managed to conjure a corporal patronus, oh no, her patronus's shape had changed.

A surprised puff startled her and her new guardian faded away. Skyrah turned her head to the direction she had heard the gasp. Severus was staring slightly agape and with wide eyes at where the crow had been hovering. It took him a few seconds to close his mouth. He gazed at Skyrah. His eyes were windows to his soul and his wife detected fear, disbelief and insecurity in them. Severus scurried away from their bedroom before she could articulate a word. She hurried after him. He was in the lab, grabbing the edge of the table they had made love on not so long ago, showing his back to her.

"Severus," she began softly. "What's wrong?"

He remained immobile. Skyrah put a hand on his shoulder. He flinched. It had been a long time since he last reacted like that. She was beginning to worry.

"Has it been always a crow?" he asked in a dangerously low voice.

"What does this have to do with-"

"Has it?!"

Skyrah retired her hand from his shoulder. "No. My patronus used to be a dolphin. It changed just now."

He turned around inchmeal. Now that they were face to face, Skyrah saw his unshed tears. She didn't comprehend what the deal was, yet her expression softened and she put a hand on his cheek, stroking it fondly. She was waiting for him to relax and tell her whatever it was that was bothering him. And he did relax. In fact, his eyes shut for a second and he leaned into her touch unconsciously.

"What's wrong, Severus? Why did you react like that? It's just a spell… Did something happ-"

Her questioning was cut short by his thin lips capturing hers. She wanted to smack him for his lack of answers and cooperation, but this kiss had been unlike any they had shared, almost aggressive. She could feel his sudden need to be close to her, so she kissed him back and curled her fingers in his hair. His hands travelled down her spine delicately, in contrast to their ferocious snog. He broke the kiss and rested their foreheads together while they caught their breaths.

"Severus, you are confusing me… Why does it matter to you that my patronus is now a crow?"

He pulled her away gently, eyes locked with hers. "It matters because my patronus was a crow."

She was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Of course, she knew what that signified. By the way he talked, she gathered he also knew it.

"I am a lucky bastard," he continued. "Nobody has ever loved me, except Lily perhaps. I'm not used to it and I didn't believe I deserved it anyway, not until you walked into my life… You make me feel-" he trailed off, unsure of how to put all his emotions into words.

He ended up kissing her again, this time more gently but just as passionately.

"Thank you," he panted, his breath caressing her lips.

"Whatever for?"

"For entering my life, for loving me."

She grinned brightly at him in response. He didn't return the gesture though. His expression sobered.

"There's something you must know though." He appeared jumpy, so Skyrah grabbed his hand, encouraging him. "My patronus changed when Lily died. It became a doe, just like hers."

She let go of his hand at his words. So Severus loved Lily as much as Skyrah loved him. It hurt. She knew that he'd always love Lily, just like she would always love Daniel. But somehow, she felt her heart ripping apart at the thought that he'd never love her as much as she did him. Though her eyes misted, she refused cry.

"Oh… I-I understand. I'm tired… I'll g-go to sleep now," she stammered, giving him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Good night."

She left before Severus could object.

Lily.

Why did he have to bring her into the equation? He didn't want to lie to Skyrah. But that wasn't the only reason. Deep down, he knew the main answer: he had a tendency to push everybody he cared for away. It had become a nasty habit. Push away people before they disappoint you or worse, break your heart. But she loved him. There was no denial now. The question was why her patronus matched his original one, instead of his current one.

Driven by impulse, Severus summoned his spirit guardian. He thought of his childhood friend, but nothing came out of his wand. Severus tried it three more times until he realized that thinking of Lily wouldn't make it. He closed his eyes and let himself wander through his happy memories.They weren't only about Lily, now. Skyrah also appeared in them. He remembered the peace he had felt after making love to his wife for the first time, after she confessed that she loved him. He recalled how wildly his heart had beaten back then while she was curled up in his arms, and the thought of it, got his heart pounding strongly now. He whispered the incantation and felt magic run from his heart to his arm and tip of his fingers, passing through his wand. He sensed that something had come out of it and he was afraid to find out what exactly, yet he opened his eyes.

A crow.

He uttered a loud laugh. The patronus flew around him before going straight to their bedroom. The shimmering crow contrasted against the darkness of the room. It fluttered over Skyrah. She opened her eyes and let out a gasp at the sight. In the doorway, Severus was smiling like he had never done before, showing all his teeth.

"I thought your patronus was still a doe, like Lily's," she voiced flabbergasted.

"So did I."

"You know what this means, right?"

He gave her a nod. Her eyes were glistening when she took out her wand and let her own crow roam with his. Both crows played affectionately with each other, rubbing their beaks together as if kissing, chasing each other. It was a spectacle to behold, yet Skyrah and Severus were staring at each other. They weren't talking, but somehow, one look transmitted more than words could at that moment. Severus lay next to her while their guardians melted away.

"I love you, Severus."

"I know just how much now."

Skyrah cuddled him in response.

"Are you nervous about the first class?"

"Not really. I have fifth years first, with Harry, and it's about the patronus charm. I was afraid I couldn't produce one after everything I went through. That's why I was practicing… I am glad it matches yours."

Both knew what that meant. It wasn't only a symbol of love. The fact that she matched her patronus indicated that she felt safe with him, that he made her happy despite how lonely and afraid she had been since Voldemort came back. Just as the fact that Severus's patronus returning to his original form meant that she had made him believe in himself again. She had taught him that a good man lay in him and that he should love himself, something he had stopped doing since Lily died. It was easier to love himself when another person already did.

First class. Fifth years. Skyrah was excited. She'd be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts at last. She crept into classroom. Everybody fell silent. She had always carried an air of authority with her, but she assumed some scared faces she spotted were due to the fact she was Mrs. Snape. She cleared her throat.

"Good morning. As you know, I am Professor Skyrah Snape and I'll be teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts. You may call me professor or Skyrah. If you don't mind it, I'll be calling you by your first name as well. I find that it enhances a comfortable environment. You will be more relaxed and learn better. That being said, I expect you to participate in class and give your best. Respect not only me, but also your own classmates. It is something crucial, since you'll be working a lot in group, and not only with your friends." Some disappointing sighs were heard. She paid them no mind. "I don't know what your other Defense teachers were like, but my lessons will be very practical. There is no use in knowing the theory but having no idea of how to apply it. This subject should give you the tools to protect yourself, and that is why I need your collaboration. We must all work hard to achieve this goal. Any doubts up to here?"

Most students shook their heads, but a certain bushy haired girl raised her hand. Skyrah gave her a nod.

"Professor, won't we use books in your lessons then?"

Skyrah smirked. "Hermione, right?" she waited for the girl to nod. "Okay, Hermione. You may be under the impression that books won't be needed because of the practical character my lessons will take. However, one cannot start practicing without knowing what has to be applied. Knowledge is the base. Every time we start a new topic, I'll ask you to read the theory and sometimes research on it. Thus, everybody will begin the lesson with some previous knowledge. We may solve doubts and actually learn how to use it."

Hermione couldn't understand how a lesson without books would work out, but now that she knew that the textbooks weren't forgotten, she felt relieved.

"Are there any more questions?"

Everybody shook their head this time.

"We shall begin then. Today's lesson will be a little different, since you haven't read the theory first... Does anybody know what a patronus is?"

Some students exchanged looks, others seemed to be at loss and a few of them smiled knowingly, including the golden trio. Hermione put her hand up instantaneously. Harry didn't hesitate either and, after some vacillation from his part, Ron raised his as well.

Skyrah eyed the ginger boy, urging him to talk. He put his index finger in his sternum, as if asking, "Me?" without voicing it.

"You're Ronald, aren't you?"

He goggled. Although he had raised his hand, he had expected Skyrah to choose Hermione or Harry, not him. Nobody ever noticed him much, after all. He always blended into the background, having so many brothers and being friends with Harry Potter and the brightest witch of her age. Skyrah arched an eyebrow when he didn't speak, and he realized that he should provide an answer.

"Yes, professor. My name is Ro-Ronald Weasley."

"Well, Ronald, might you enlighten us?" she said, extending her arms.

"Er- A patronus is a magical guardian against dementors."

She smiled. Ron felt like he could swoon.

"Correct. Five points to Gryffindor."

Now. No one had seen that one coming. A Snape smiling and giving points to a Gryffindor, a Weasley, at that. Everybody began to tattle, stunned by what they had just witnessed, especially the Slytherins. Instead, Harry was eyeing Skyrah with a soft smile. The moment she opened her mouth everybody quietened down.

"Do all of you remember what a dementor is?"

Everybody nodded in affirmation, so she asked, "Would anybody add anything else about the patronus charm?"

Harry and Hermione raised their hands again.

"Hermione."

"One must think of a happy memory in order to produce a patronus. It may take the form of an animal."

"Exactly. Five more points to Gryffindor."

Hermione beamed, elated to find that Skyrah wasn't calling her a know-it-all.

First Weasley, now Granger. If Draco hadn't known any better, he'd highly doubt that this woman had married Severus.

"As Ronald and Hermione have said, a patronus is a charm which conjures a magical guardian, sometimes taking form of an animal, as a projection of our most positive feelings. It is one of the most powerful defensive charms and the primary protection against dementors, but also against lethifolds, dark creatures. You may find more information on them and on patronus's functions in Standard Books of Spells, pages 103 to 110. You should read them and make a list of possible situations in which one may need to conjure a patronus for next day. We'll dedicate some lessons to the patronus charm, but please, do not feel discouraged if you are not able to produce a corporal one. Many wizards and witches struggle with it. It is incredibly advanced magic, but the fact that I decided to teach you this now, must give you enough information to gather that I believe you can succeed."

There was a short pause.

"Now, I want you to write down people, things or places that make you happy. After that, try to remember any memory that includes some of those things. It is very personal, so please; don't pry into others' list. What makes your friend happy may be very different from what makes you happy. Don't worry, I will not pick up your parchments; it is just an exercise to begin thinking about happy memories."

Everybody concentrated on the task at hand and began to write something, everybody save for Draco. Frowning, Skyrah approached the boy.

"Hey, do you need some help?"

Draco looked at her askance, but when he saw that she was being sincere, his expression softened.

"I don't know what to write. Nobody in my family has ever produced a patronus. This lesson is useless."

Skyrah grinned ruefully. "Draco, just because your family isn't able to conjure the charm, it doesn't mean that you won't either. Have faith in yourself. Now, you said you don't know what to write. Don't panic. Everybody has had a blank mind sometime. Let's see… What are the simple things that you enjoy in life?"

"Simple things?"

"Yes. Do you have some hobbies? Something that always lights you up?"

"I like quidditch," he replied after some moments of hesitation.

"That's great! Write that down. Maybe it will end up being a memory which involves quidditch, the one that will produce your future patronus."

He snorted but Skyrah paid it no mind.

"Tell me. What is it you like about quidditch?"

That was easy. He loved the air hitting his skin as he flew; the way his father smiled proudly at him when he caught the snitch; the free feeling he experienced while flying, like nothing else mattered. Was he ready to admit that to Voldemort's daughter? Absolutely not. He blushed and Skyrah suppressed a giggle.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me, but you should write it down. Remember, you can note down people or places too. If you need anything, call me."

"Why are you helping me?" he spat.

"Because I am your professor."

He was left speechless.

She helped a few students.

When she noticed that everybody had finished the task, she explained, "Pay attention please. Now that you have some idea of what memories to use, you must learn the incantation. It is 'Expecto Patronum'. Please, repeat it with me." The words resonated like a chant across the room. "Again." The students repeated it. "Perfect. This is the hand movement."

She moved her hand slowly for everybody to see. They all copied her. Most did a decent job for being the first try. A boy looked quite lost, though. He was looking at Hermione to see if he could catch the movement. Skyrah raised an eyebrow and stared at him. The whole class followed her gaze. The boy felt like leaving the classroom. All those stares were making him nervous. The students were silent, wondering whether Skyrah would snap at him like Severus would.

"What is your name?"

"Ne-Neville Longbottom, professor."

Pansy sniggered, waiting for Skyrah to ridicule the boy.

Much to her surprise, Skyrah inquired, "Neville, do you need me to repeat the movement?"

His ears had turned red. He wiped the sweat from his brow. 

"Ugh... Won't you deduct Gryffindor points for... being distracted?"

"I will deduct Gryffindor points if a Gryffindor student like you isn't brave enough to ask the teacher to repeat an explanation when they need it."

Some students gasped at her strictness.

"Er... Could you please repeat the ha-hand movement, professor?" Neville asked, averting her gaze.

Skyrah gave him a satisfied smile.

"I could. In fact, you aren't the only one who didn't quite catch it," she said, looking meaningfully at Crabbe and Goyle.

She drew circles with her wand. This time, Neville, Crabbe and Goyle got the movement.

"Now, what I am about to say will sound sappy, but it is something essential: you must cast the spell with your heart, not with your mind. You need to feel. If you think too much, you will not produce a patronus. If it helps you, you can close your eyes and let the feelings of that happy memory invade you. I will do it one time. Focus on the way I utter the words and the hand movement."

Skyrah took a deep breath and thought of Severus.

As a smile threatened to appear on her face, she shouted, "Expecto patronum!"

Like last night, a crow soared across the room. There were surprised gasps. Everybody got excited to discover what their patronus would be like, chattering away not so lowly about it with their friends. The classroom had the tables of the students making up a circle and leaving a wide space in the middle, so she instructed the students to stand up and go there in order to practice. The moment she saw a silver stag running freely coming from Harry's wand, she let out a disbelieving giggle and smiled fondly at him, eyes glowing with pride.

"I'll have to give you many points for that… If you continue at this pace, the Slytherin House won't stand a chance. Please, have pity," she joked.

Harry chuckled. Ron had wide incredulous eyes. Hermione looked at the pair with a soft smile.

"I kinda tricked you. I already knew how to produce a patronus… I learnt it during my third year."

Skyrah arched an eyebrow, impressed. That was a very advanced spell, after all.

Her grin enlarged as she told him, "Would you mind lending me a hand then? See if you can help anybody out… I would appreciate it a lot and teaching one learns even more. What do you say? Do you want to become my teaching assistant during my patronus charm lessons?"

There was no way the boy could refuse to that.

The lesson finished with Skyrah's voice echoing across the classroom and reminding the teenagers to do the homework. Draco looked at her one last time before leaving with Goyle and Crabbe.

"Neville, a word."

Neville stood in front of her, fidgeting, sweating. Everybody had left.

"Did I hurt you?"

He shook his head.

"Did I insult you?"

He hesitated and shook his head.

"Then why did you look afraid of me?"

He babbled something quietly, averting her gaze. Skyrah only caught the word Snape.

"You are scared of my husband."

Neville wanted to crawl under a rock. Skyrah sighed.

"Following instructions is difficult for you as well, isn't it?"

"Y-yes, professor."

"Do you tend to forget things?"

He rubbed his nape. "My grandmother sometimes gives me a remembrall. The problem is I don't usually remember what I was supposed to remember."

Skyrah grinned ruefully. She studied him, his wringing hands, the sweat on his brow... Considering everything she had seen in some memories during Occlumency lessons with Harry and his current behavior, Skyrah made a mental note to talk to Albus about Neville.

"Professor, may I leave? Professor Snape detests lateness."

Skyrah sat on her chair and grabbed a piece of parchment. She took the quill and scribbled something before handing it to him with a wink.

"If you get late, show him this. He won't punish you if he knows you were with me. Now go."

He stayed though, staring at her.

"Thank you."

He had spoken so quietly she had barely heard him. 

Chapter Text

Three days passed. Skyrah had a free period. She was heading to her office to correct some fourth-year essays when a sound stopped her dead in her tracks.

A crying baby.

She turned around and looked straight at a painting that showed a woman trying to hush her baby, rocking him. Skyrah's eyes lost their lively spark. A knot formed in her stomach, the desire to correct the papers lost. She only felt like crying in Severus's arms, as she usually did when the memory of what happened occasionally struck her. But her husband wasn't there. He was teaching fourth-years. She didn't realize her legs had begun to march until she found herself in the Hospital Wing.

"Poppy?"

Her voice had come out feebler than intended. Skyrah hoped there were no ill students yet. Luckily, her wish was granted, for only Poppy was there. The medi-witch stopped squirreling away some healing potions and bandages and went into full protective mode when she spotted Skyrah. Poppy put a hand on her back and guided her until they sat comfortably in a hospital bed.

"Are you hurt?"

"Not physically." Poppy knew what she meant. "I-I remember you told me that you had a mis-miscarriage too… How did you do it? How did you cope with it?"

"I learnt not to blame myself for what happened, although it took me years. It was a hard, frustrating lesson. I am a matron, my job consists in nursing, yet I wasn't able to mend my own soul. My husband made it all better though. I didn't have to mourn alone. Eventually, I understood that the best medicine is love. It heals it all. Love and time will heal your wound."

During her discourse, Poppy had dried some tears that had escaped Skyrah's eyes. It was then when Skyrah realized why her husband was close to the old woman. She was that kind of person that, just by standing next to you, made everything you were surrounded in shine a lighter shade. The world needed more people like her.

A guilty feeling developed in her stomach and that was when the apology slipped off her lips, "I am sorry Poppy. I wasn't very friendly when you came over to make sure I was okay. My cold attitude was uncalled for."

"I know what it feels like. It was still very recent, I understand. I've known Severus long enough to gather that he wouldn't marry a woman he didn't love. Your wound will scar over, believe me."

"We are trying to cope, but it hasn't even been two full weeks since we lost her. Sometimes, I have flashes of that day, and the thought that I'll never be a mother makes me sick. Nightmares have become my nightly routine. I miss my daughter and she wasn't even born."

"I know. It is only natural that you feel like this. You can be a mother, Skyrah. Everything is fine with your body. It'll heal. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Skyrah was moved by the nurturing nature this woman seemed to spread across the room. As new tears formed in her dark brown eyes, Poppy clasped her hand between hers. Her touch was firm yet caring, and Skyrah felt like she could finally let go. Poppy had gone through something similar and had survived. It wasn't impossible for her either.

"Thank you for everything, Poppy."

Poppy gave her a small smile.

The Snapes were on the bed. Skyrah's head was on Severus's lap. He was reading to her, his fingers stroking her hair as his baritone voice caressed the rest of her body. He reached the last sentence and left the book on the nightstand. He didn't stop toying with her tresses. Skyrah curled into him and nearly purred like a cat would, making him chuckle lowly.

"I love your voice and hands…" 

He raised an eyebrow, amused. 

"Indeed? So if I were to touch you like this." His spidery fingers grazed her side as his other hand traced her lips. "And tell you that everything I can think of at the moment is how much I yearn to kiss you, what would you do?"

She shivered under his voice and hands, eyes tinted of desire. It made him feel butterflies in his stomach, like any dunderhead he had to teach felt in front of their crush. What surprised him was that he didn't care one bit, he quite liked it.

"I'd probably tease you before granting your wish," she said with a sly grin.

Severus smiled, something he reserved only for her, and bent his head down. Their lips were about to meet when Skyrah turned slightly so that his mouth landed on her cheek. He pulled away. She giggled at his pout.

"Now, now, Severus. I told you I'd tease you at first… You didn't truly consider it would be so easy to-"

His bow-shaped lips interrupted her, turning her voice into a dimly strangled whimper. Since the angle was uncomfortable for them, Severus carefully retrieved his legs from under her head, turned over and got on top of her, all of this without breaking the contact. His tongue poked and glided along her lips until Skyrah opened her mouth, inviting him in. Her hands snaked around until they settled on the back of his head, bringing him closer. Severus pulled back, eyeing her smugly with a special flicker in his eyes.

He couldn't resist giving her a playful peck and joshing, "I'd say that it isn't that difficult to get a kiss of yours, not even when you play hard to get."

"Arrogant prick!"

She smacked him playfully before her joyful guffaw echoed across the bedroom. Severus lived for these moments. They were his fuel. He wondered how he had survived so long without her company. He didn't even want to contemplate it. The only thing that mattered was that he was with this enthralling witch who made him feel alive. Her laughter melted away as she raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawn.

"Do you want to go to sleep already?"

"No... I'm a little tired, but I don't want this perfect moment to end."

His heart skipped a beat at the realization that she felt exactly as he did at the time. He had to force himself to breathe properly. He was about to kiss her forehead when she yawned again, proving that she was more than a little tired, as she had put it.

"The moment doesn't have to end. We can cuddle until we fall asleep."

"Oh, so you are a fan of cuddles now?"

"Only with you."

Skyrah chuckled. "I'm certainly not going complain…"

The couple moved so that Severus could spoon her tenderly in his arms.

"May I ask you something?"

Her tone had come out as shy, something unusual in her. Severus masked his nerves behind a confident nod.

"On my first day at Hogwarts, I met the librarian." Severus's throat went dry, although his expression remained the same. "I noticed she was cutting, but was there a reason for you to send her a deathly glare?"

Severus hadn't expected that question. If he lied, she would see right through him. Subtleness was the key.

"I look daggers at basically everybody in this castle except you, Poppy, Minerva and Albus. I don't know why it surprised you." He paused. "I don't like her, not many people in Hogwarts do."

Skyrah got the impression he was hiding something, but she blamed it on her sleepy mind and dropped the subject. She nodded to let him know she wouldn't be questioning any further, something for which he thanked Merlin.

"Good night," she babbled as her eyelids shut.

He kissed her temple affectionately. "Good night, Skyrah."

Any thought Severus had of Irma Pince or, more accurately, Eileen Prince, flew away thanks to Skyrah's steady heartbeat, a sweet melody that lulled him to sleep.

Severus was patrolling the corridors at night. Two weeks had passed since the course began. Skyrah was alone in her chambers when she spotted a note under the bottom rail of the door. She frowned and inspected it. Her face paled when she read the content.

I can help you. Meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight. If you cherish your family half as they do you, you will not tell your husband about this.

She didn't identify the handwriting. It wasn't signed. Anxiety arose. The only ones who knew about her family in this school were Severus, Albus and Harry. Then again, she wasn't sure whether her father would reveal to every Death Eater about her and her family. What if some Death Eaters knew? What if she was teaching some daughters or sons of these people? She peeked at the clock. Ten to twelve. It wasn't like she could waste time looking for Severus to let him know what was happening. He wouldn't get to their chambers until a quarter past twelve at least. Skyrah accioed a quill and some ink and wrote something below the note.

"Severus,

I have less than ten minutes left to go to the Astronomy Tower. If I am not back by twelve thirty, tell Albus and look for me. Don't come earlier. I don't want to risk it.

Skyrah."

She left the note on their bed and made her way out of the dungeons and towards the cited spot of the castle. She arrived there a few minutes earlier. Somebody else was in there.

"Five points from Slytherin, Draco. You know that you should be in the dungeo-"

She trailed off when she had a crazy idea come to her mind. Draco was a Death Eater's son. What if Lucius had told him something? As far as she knew, Lucius only knew about the arranged marriage and their mission. Nothing else. But then again, there was the possibility that the pure-blood family had been commanded to watch over Dione and Andraste. If that was the case, why would Draco want to help her?

"You were the one who sent me the anonymous note."

It wasn't a question. Draco could do nothing but gulp. An irrational fire clouded her mind as she took her wand and pointed it at him.

"What do you know?"

Her voice had seldom sounded so intimidating. Draco flinched. 

"Has your husband followed you?"

"You are in no position to ask me anything. What do you know about me, about my family?"

Draco began to sweat. "I will tell you nothing until you lower your wand and answer my question. You are supposed to be my teacher. You cannot threaten me."

Skyrah did as told reluctantly. "My husband hasn't followed me, but I guess it doesn't come as surprising, does it? You knew that I was alone and that Severus was patrolling. You made sure I could come behind his back. You had it all planned. Very Slytherin."

By her tone, Draco couldn't tell whether she was complimenting him or not.

"He cannot know what I am about to tell you. If he found out, it would end badly for both of us. He is his most loyal Death Eater. He wouldn't hesitate to fill in the details to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This must stay between you and I, got it?" A stony expression plastered on her face, revealing none of her feelings or thoughts. She simply looked at him, daring him to continue. "What if I told you I know a way you can communicate with your family? You could write letters to Dione and Mrs. Fawley. You should give them to me so as to be discreet and avoid Professor Snape. I will send them as if they were addressed to my mother. She will give them to your family. They might reply. In that case, I would give them to you during Professor Snape's patrols."

So my family is most likely in Malfoy Manor, she easily deduced.

"Why do you trust me? What makes you think that I won't go to my father after our little meeting and let him know that you and your mother are untrustworthy?"

Her tone was icy, aloof. She didn't let any emotion betray her and Draco was beginning to panic. He didn't want to anger her more.

"I know your sister, er, half-sister. I… You aren't what your father makes his followers believe. You aren't like him. That's why he blackmails you with your family."

Skyrah was beginning to have trouble keeping her emotionless façade.

She tried to dissimulate it by snapping, "Why do you care? Why did you risk your safety for me and my family?"

"It doesn't matter why. I just did. Isn't it enough for you?"

A hopeful tear slid past her cheek, finally breaking through her mask. Draco was astonished yet relieved by her reaction. He could finally see the teacher that had helped him in class, not Voldemort's daughter.

"How long will they stay in the Malfoy Manor?"

He sighed. "I don't know. This deal will break when they are moved, of course. This is already too risky for my taste. Just don't do anything stupid. Don't try to get them out.My family would pay, and so would you if You-Know-Who found out."

"Why are you doing this? I really don't see the benefit for you."

"Dione told me everything and I…" He gulped. "Most people believe I am a heartless bully, but the truth is that it was hard for me to see somebody of my age being treated like that. I wouldn't survive being separated from my family in such conditions." He paused. "You are the only teacher that has really helped me, save for Professor Snape on some occasion. You are the first person to say they believe in me. Not even my parents have ever told me that. I'm in debt to you."

Skyrah got the impression that there was another reason. Draco was a Slytherin, after all. He wouldn't do something so suicidal if he didn't have a great motive. Plus, she felt mixed emotions at his confession. On the one hand, she felt sorry for him. Parents should be the first ones to believe in their children. On the other hand, she was moved. She had only had a few classes with him, yet here he was, confessing all of this.

"I am your Professor. You owe me nothing. It was my duty." He looked unconvinced, so she kept speaking, "Don't you ever stop believing in yourself, Draco. Slytherins are meant for greatness, aren't they? The Sorting Hat is never wrong. You can do fantastic things if you set your mind to it."

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, bringing a tiny smile on his face. It was the first time Skyrah saw him grin. In these two weeks, she had seen him sneering and smirking, but never really smiling. She smiled back.

"You said you talked to my sister… How is she? And my mother?"

"Ugh- they are as fine as they can be, I guess."

"Did you and Dione talk a lot?"

"Not really."

"Yet she trusted you enough to tell you about our situation. Why?"

He thanked Merlin that the room was quite dark; otherwise, Skyrah would have caught sight of his pink cheeks. "I offered her some food in exchange for that information."

She snorted. "Blackmail. How very like Father."

He avoided her piercing gaze and cleared his throat. "Are you going to accept the deal? Dione misses you. She'd like to hear about you. Your mother, as well."

Her expression softened. "I'll ponder it. I'll let you know when I make up my mind."

Satisfied with her answer, he nodded and made to leave.

"Wait! Thank you, for everything."

His pupils dilated when he noticed that her cold mask had been teared off. He could read her like an open book now, and her honesty and gratefulness took him aback, especially the happy tears gathering in her eyes. He felt lighter at the sight. Although Draco had never been as afraid and doubtful as when he left that note under the door, he didn't regret it now.

"And Draco! Five points to Slytherin. Snakes help their kind, don't they?"

She winked at him, making him grin softly for the second time in one night.

Severus was pacing across their living room, the note she had left crumpled in his hand. Skyrah didn't have time to open her mouth and provide an explanation: Severus had already swathed her in his arms. The note landed on the cold floor as his hands clasped her firmly in place, nearly suffocating her. It wasn't like she cared about that. The hug and the feelings it carried attracted her full attention. It was so different to any one they had experienced. He was holding her like he wanted her to stay in his arms forever. She wasn't surprised to find that she wouldn't mind it.

"Stupid woman!" The insult erased her previous thoughts. Skyrah felt the urge to shove him, but his next words stopped her. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! What were you thinking? This could have been a trap! Draco is the son of a Death Eater!" She wanted to ask him how he knew it was Draco when she remembered that he had been correcting his homework for years. He'd recognize the handwriting, unlike her. "What if some of the Death Eaters, his father even, ordered the boy to make you come alone and something bad happened to you?! I have spent five full minutes that felt like a lifetime reflecting on whether I should disobey you and make sure you were fine, or whether I should go to Albus directly."

"If you had come, you would have spoiled everything. The boy believes you are his most loyal Death Eater. He must keep thinking so. And before you ask: no, there wasn't anybody else with us."

He drew back, the unasked question of what had happened lingered in the air.

"My mother and sister are being kept in Malfoy Manor. Draco is willing to pretend and send letters to his mother, when in reality, the letters would be written by me and directed to my family."

His eyes narrowed. "Why would he offer to do such a thing?"

"He didn't really tell me. He said that he felt like he owed me because I helped him in class and told him I believed in him. He also said that he didn't like seeing somebody of his age in such conditions, referring to my sister."

"That's bullshit. There must be something else."

"I agree, but right now I don't care. I just want to save my family, and now I have a chance. Tomorrow morning I am telling Albus. By the way," she added as an afterthought. "I am far from stupid. I can take care of myself and I was sensible enough to leave you a note."

He rolled his eyes. "Leaving at midnight to see a stranger, because let's face it, there was no plausible way for you to recognize his handwriting yet, was certainly not your sharpest move, Skyrah. Especially when said stranger threatened you in the note they asked you to meet."

She pouted. "If you put it like that… Still, shall I remind you I was a Horned Serpent? I hate it when people call me a moron. I can make stupid mistakes, but I always think before acting. Fools don't do that."

He snickered lowly at her indignant face and tugged her back into his embrace, nuzzling her hair. "I do not cuddle inane people, Skyrah. And I get it, you represent the mind of the wizards in your school, but you forget that you are my heart and that, for a moment, I thought you were in real danger. I apologize for calling you stupid. I speak nonsense when I am agitated." That's how I lost Lily, he said inwardly.

Her heartbeat rate sped up.

"Your heart?" she rasped, voice thick with emotion.

Severus froze when he realized what he had said. If his emotions hadn't been so raw, he wouldn't have confessed that. Tersely, he put some distance between them, his hands still clutching her shoulders. They stared spellbound at each other's eyes. Hers were getting teary, but the gentle smile on her face told him that she wasn't feeling down. On the other hand, Skyrah perceived a thousand emotions in his black tunnels. Haltingly, she got closer to him without breaking eye contact. Their breaths mingled. Their lips barely brushed. The gap between them extinguished. They had no idea who had initiated the kiss, but they cared not. They only cared about the warmth that spread throughout their bodies. The kiss was unhurried, comforting. The world blurred gradually until only the other person existed. His hands reached up tentatively from her shoulders until below her ears, rubbing her cheeks with his thumbs. Meanwhile, Skyrah rested her hands on his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat under her palms. The kiss ended. Her smile lit the room. Severus couldn't help but caress her cheek.

"Don't scare me like that again. I can't lose you." His voice cracked when he added, "Not now that I have just found you."

She turned her head and kissed the palm that was stroking her cheek in response. She felt his heart leapting under her palms at the gesture. 

"You won't lose me." To emphasize her point, she kissed his chest, where the fabric covered his skin, and his heart. "Are you sleepy?"

"After the start I had upon reading the note, I'll find it particularly challenging to rest tonight."

"Good," she purred. "I propose we celebrate that we will be able to help my family. I wonder what we could do…"

There was a naughty tone in her voice. She batted her eyelashes flirtatiously and stared him straight in the eye.

He knew where this was leading, so he played along and teased, "If my memory serves me well, we are in the habit of celebrating by making love, although I don't know if my wife is too tired for such a strenuous activity."

His breath hitched when he saw her moistening her lips in anticipation.

"Severus."

"Mm?"

"This time I'll be on top."

He had never been so happy to comply orders.

First thing in the morning, the Snapes entered the headmaster's office. Albus, who had been petting Fawkes, didn't have to turn around to know who had come in. 

"Severus, Skyrah, what do I owe this pleasure to?"

"I know my family is in Malfoy Manor," came Skyrah's direct response.

He narrowed his eyes and turned his head to look her over his shoulder.

"And how did you obtain this piece of information?" 

"Draco Malfoy. He offered to help me. Not to save them, but to communicate with them. He and his mother are willing to pretend they are sending each other letters when in truth it would be me and my family."

"Have you sent them anything?"

"Not yet. I told him I'd ponder it."

Now Albus was completely facing her, rubbing his beard. 

"How do you know it isn't a trap?"

"We wouldn't have come had we had the tiniest qualm that Draco Malfoy had lied," answered Severus for his wife.

Albus nodded. "Young Malfoy has given us what we need to actually save your family. The Order may intervene today, if you want."

Although Skyrah wanted to authorize him to implement the plan, she shook her head in denial. She shocked not only Albus but also Severus.

"Not so fast. We need to find a way for Draco and Mrs. Malfoy to get away with it without looking suspicious. I don't want Father to torture them."

Severus's expression softened. Here she stood, Voldemort's daughter, showing mercy towards a family that followed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If Severus hadn't known any better, he would have doubted that she was the Dark Lord's offspring. He admired her even more for her compassion. Severus put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, grabbing her attention.

"Skyrah, the Dark Lord will castigate them, no matter if they look suspicious or not. He won't care about that. He will only see that his followers have failed him. That's how your father reasons. You know it. It's not in our hands… If the Order goes today and catches them by surprise, it will look like an ambuscade. Your family will have more chances to escape."

Albus was watching their interaction with genuine interest. He noticed how Severus wasn't afraid to touch her in front of him, how his voice had come out as the softest he had ever heard come from his mouth. Albus would have never guessed when Severus had come in to inform about Voldemort's plan regarding an heir that the relationship between Voldemort's daughter and his spy would turn out to be like this, but he was glad. 

Skyrah's usually warm eyes lost their luminosity at her husband's words. "Draco and his mother-"

"Draco will not suffer directly, he will stay at Hogwarts. Narcissa may receive some kind of punishment, but believe me, she's been through worse. Lucius is the one who will really regret it. He is the Death Eater of the family. Keeping your mother and sister captive is his task. He will be the one to pay for it when he doesn't fulfill it."

"But the boy will know about the punishment! It will affect him! We must find a way to-"

The lines of his face hardened. So did his voice when Severus interrupted her.

"Skyrah, forget it! It's the Dark Lord we are talking about! We cannot spare them."

"They only wanted to help me! Is this how I am going to thank them? By letting my father torment them?"

"It won't be your bloody fault! Lucius did this to himself when he accepted to be marked!" Realizing he was shouting, Severus compelled himself to calm down. "It's your choice: your family or the Malfoys. Just remember that your mother and sister will be moved soon. We will be unable to do anything for them."

She averted his intense gaze and gulped, initiating a silence that lasted in the room for a minute.

Voice small, she said, "I choose my family."

"It's settled then," said Albus. "Tonight, your family will be free again."

Severus hated seeing Skyrah looking so troubled. Without minding that Albus was witnessing it (it wasn't like he hadn't caught them kissing or seen his neck with love bites already), he took her hand.

"Whatever happens, it won't be your fault. Especially, whatever happens to the Malfoys," he said, giving her hand a squeeze.

"I know, but it's unfair. Draco told me that most people see him as a heartless bully. What will he think when he does something with good intentions only to end up with his father being crucioed?"

Everybody in the room had the answer. None voiced it.

Chapter Text

Albus had just floo called the Snapes to let them know they should come over. Skyrah had been fidgeting and pacing acrooss the chambers for hours. She walked even faster than Severus along the corridors, despite wearing heels and having shorter legs. She muttered the password and entered the headmaster's office, ignoring a nasty feeling that had settled in her stomach. She just hoped that the best possible outcome had come true. They were confused when nobody was there to greet them, only Fawkes.

She was hugged from behind. She'd recognize that tight grip anywhere, even if the arms were skinnier than she remembered. She turned around and hugged her properly, letting out a cheerful squeal, curling her fingers in red curls.

"Dione," she whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"Sis."

Severus kept some distance, happy for his wife yet slightly awkward. Albus appeared out of the blue. His eyes twinkled as he witnessed the scene. Skyrah extracted herself from the embrace, keeping her hands on her shoulders. She took a moment to inspect her little sister. Dione had some bags under her eyes. Her freckles contrasted against the sickly pallid skin. She was so gaunt Skyrah hardly controlled her emotions. The only reason she didn't show anger signs was Dione was beaming. Dione is safe. She is at Hogwarts. Everything would be fine, Skyrah repeated inwardly like a mantra. Her gaze descended to her sister's tie.

"I see you wasted no time and followed your father's steps," she said, amused. "A Hufflepuff."

"All Fawleys have been in Hufflepuff. I wasn't about to break the tradition."

"Did the Sorting Hat give you another option?"

"It saw some Slytherin traits in me, but Hufflepuff won."

"Figures."

The sisters laughed then. It felt tremendously good to know that, despite the hell they had gone through, some things never changed. When their laughter subsided, Skyrah asked where their mother was. Dione's eyes clouded with unshed tears.

"A Death Eater caught her and disapparated."

"Malfoy…"

"Yes. Those other people who came to help us could only save me."

Skyrah felt a pang of pain in her chest, her whole composure tensing up. She could already picture the scene in her mind; the fear in Dione's eyes and the desperation in her mother's. Forcing herself to be tough in front of her sister, Skyrah hugged her again, sighing sweet comforting words in her ear. Skyrah wasn't sure whether the reassuring lines were to console her half-sister or herself, but she didn't mull over it.

"Are you tired?" Skyrah asked her sister.

"Exhausted."

Skyrah stared at the floor, thinking. Then she looked at Albus.

"Can she stay the night with me? Just for tonight, please. I don't want a bunch of students making a scene and wondering why a girl is coming to their Common Room in the middle of the night. Besides, I… I want to be with her."

"I don't see why she can't," approved Albus.

Skyrah smiled at him gratefully and eyed Severus, knowing that it may be awkward for him. "Are you okay with it?"

No matter how inappropriate Severus found having a student in their chambers, he couldn't deny her that, especially when she looked at him so hopeful. He gave her a swift nod.

"Thank you," she said with thick emotion in her voice.

"You should go to our chambers already, Skyrah."

"Our chambers?" "Why aren't you coming with us?" wondered the sisters at the same time.

Ignoring Dione's question, Severus said, "I assumed you'd like a private moment with her. I won't be long."

Skyrah could almost swear there was another reason he was purposefully forgetting to mention, but she was feeling so weary that she simply took her sister's hand and walked out of the office.

"What happened?" asked Severus, straight to the point.

"Miss Fawley already told you," said Albus. "Mister Malfoy disapparated with Skyrah's mother before the Order could help her."

"Why did you let that occur?"

Severus gnashed his teeth. Despite being taken aback by his attitude, Albus kept his usual calm pose.

"We tried to avoid it, my child."

Severus scoffed, "Tried. Do you think I settle for tried? You should have stopped Lucius!"

"We did everything we could."

"You clearly didn't! Do you know what Skyrah is going through? She has spent all day trying to hide her nerves, all night fretting! She's spent weeks having nightmares about her family being tortured, because that's what happened, you know it as well as I do. You gave her hope, hope to save her family, and now you tell me that a group of trained wizards and witches couldn't take Skyrah's mother away from Lucius's grasp?"

A brooding silence swept over them. Both wizards locked gazes, neither backing down.

"You're overreacting, Severus. Why do you care so much?"

"Why do I…" Severus huffed in disbelief. "She's my wife!"

"The members of the Order did their best, Severus. I am surprised you reckon otherwise. Had it happened to someone else, it wouldn't have affected you. Skyrah is different though, isn't she? You care deeply for her. It's been a long time since I've seen you being so concerned for somebody else."

"What's your point, Albus?" Severus asked, patience running thin.

"My point is that you didn't marry for love, but this fact hasn't prevented you from avoiding the strong emotion. You love Skyrah as much as you did Lily, even more, perhaps." Severus averted his gaze. "Nonetheless, I must warn you that love is obscuring your vision. You know as well as I do that the Order would have saved Skyrah's mother if they had had the chance. Our only purpose was to help her family."

Severus knew that he was right, but hell would freeze over before he acknowledged out loud that Albus was spot-on. Severus had just opened the door when Albus spoke again.

"I am glad you met Skyrah. You deserve some love and happiness."

Even though the words staggered Severus, he didn't turn around. He set off to his chambers, cursing Albus for having this effect on him. Inside, Skyrah had just finished transfiguring their sofa into a cozy bed. He was welcomed by a smile of hers and a mix of skeptical and awkward look from Dione.

"I'll sleep on the transfigured bed."

"Severus, I really appreciate the gesture, but I want to sleep next to you, as we have always done."

Shivers ran down his spine when she said always. "You said you wanted to be with her."

"I do. We'll catch up and go to sleep. She'll be the one to stay here. It's late. We won't be long. You can go to bed already if you wish."

Severus was stunned. He would have expected Skyrah to spend the night with her sister. He wouldn't have blamed her. His mouth went dry and he could do nothing but nod and head towards their bedroom. Her voice calling his name stopped him. He faced Skyrah and raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to proceed.

"Good night," was all she said, taking a step forward to get closer to him.

The glower on his face unstiffened as his mouth twitched into a tiny grin.

"Good night."

Skyrah smiled back at him and tiptoed to peck his cheek.

Before leaning back, she murmured playfully, "I'll be lying next to you before you know it, my snarky Potions Master. I hope I am right to assume you can accomplish the arduous task of spending a few minutes without me."

He didn't bother answering her with sarcasm; he simply smirked and kissed her forehead. He hesitated before wishing a good night to Dione and finally retiring. The sisters sat on the transfigured bed to get more comfy.

"You aren't only sleeping next to him, are you? You're sleeping with him," said Dione in a half-accusatory, half-worried tone. "When you visited Mum and me, you said you must provide your father with an heir. Somehow, you don't look repulsed by the idea."

Skyrah blushed lightly. "Severus is on our side. He's been a gentleman with me."

Dione sighed and took her sister's hand. "How can you do this? What about Daniel?"

"Daniel's gone," said Skyrah. Her eyes lost some of its vitality for a second. "I have been lucky. Of all the Death Eaters, my father chose the disloyal one. Severus is a good man."

The girl stared deeply at her sister's eyes. "I trust you. If you say he's a good man, then I believe you. But this doesn't justify why you kissed his cheek and looked at him like you..." She gulped, struggling to get the right words out. "Like you used to look at Daniel, like you are in love with him. I know Daniel is d-dead, but you two were about to get married. You loved him! Have you got over his death so easily?"

"Of course not! He was my first love! He will always have a place in my heart."

"Why do you act so affectionate with your 'arranged' husband then? I don't get it."

Tears were threatening to fall down Dione's eyes. Skyrah sighed and hugged her tight, rubbing her back in circles.

"I fell in love with Severus. It wasn't easy for me, especially because Daniel had recently passed away and I thought I was falling for a Death Eater at the time. I felt awful, but Daniel wanted me to be happy. Severus makes me happy. I will always be thankful that Father trapped me in this marriage. I got to know a noble man. I am sorry, Dione. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear..."

"I miss Daniel... I just... I always imagined you would get married and have kids."

Skyrah gasped. Dione thought she had done so out of sadness over losing Daniel. She didn't know Skyrah had just relived Severus crucioning her. Her womb hurt. 

"I... I miss him, too, so much." She paused, taking a big breath. "Looking back, I don't think I ever felt for Daniel what I feel for Severus though."

"What if you have fooled yourself into believing you love that man? What if he is only Daniel's substitute?"

She grinned ruefully, touched by the way Dione cared for her.

"My soul knows the love I feel for him is real."

She broke the embrace, took her wand out and drew circles with it. 

"Expecto patronum!"

Her crow appeared, fluttering its wings in front of Dione's astonished face. She had expected a dolphin.

"I didn't know patronus changed forms," Dione whispered, holding out her hand to pet the crow.

"Only when the love is pure and the caster goes through an emotional upheaval does the patronus form change to match that of their partner."

"Was Daniel's a dolphin like yours?"

"I don't know. He never conjured a corporal patronus."

"Didn't he have happy memories? He was always smiling."

Skyrah smiled sadly. "The patronus charm requires a level of concentration Daniel did not have."

The flapped its wings one last time and faded away. Dione stared at the spot it had disappeared.

"At least, something good got out of this ghastly situation," she said. "Are you sure this Death Eater is disloyal though?"

"Positive."

"Everything will be fine then… We'll save Mum, won't we?"

"We'll try. I'll do everything I can. We have help. Be patient. Right now, focus on your studies and make new friends. You're safe and sound here."

Dione yawned and laid down. Skyrah tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead.

"I missed you."

"Me too. Sleep, little one."

"I'm not little," the girl pouted before her eyelids closed.

The comment brought a smile to Skyrah's face. It made her feel like nothing had really changed, like they were still the same people beneath all these new scars, even if it wasn't true. Skyrah crawled into bed. She lay next to her husband and slithered a hand over his waist, seeking comfort and trying to bring him close without waking him up. Severus wasn't asleep though. He snuggled her.

"I am sorry the Order couldn't help your mother."

"Me too, but I'm thankful I got Dione back."

Noticing she still was disappointed her mother wasn't back by her tone, he decided to distract her with a little banter.

"I would have never bet your sister was a Hufflepuff."

Skyrah rolled her eyes, remembering that one time he teased her about being a Hufflepuff herself.

"Oh, shut it. The four Houses are great. The world needs more Hufflepuffs, in fact. And you heard her… She's grown up with me, so she picked up a few Slytherin traits, too. Don't underestimate her."

"I wasn't going to. There is no need to become defensive," he replied, amused by her answer.

"Ugh! Fall asleep already!"

"I'm trying."

"Liar."

Severus shrugged. "You caught me. I enjoy teasing you now and then. Can you blame me?"

Severus felt lighter at her giggles. She caressed his hooked nose with hers before kissing it and mumbling a good night.

Dione started the course. As she had only missed a few weeks, she wouldn't have problems catching up with her studies. Besides, her classmates seemed nice, especially Susan Bones. She had made her feel welcomed. She was chatting with her when she felt somebody staring at her intently. Dione recognized him. Harry Potter wasn't a celebrity solely in the United Kingdom, after all.

"Hi," he greeted when their eyes met.

"Hi."

"C-can I… Er- May I talk to you, alone?" he requested, eyeing Susan as if asking her to give them space. Susan smiled and let Dione know she'd be in the library.

"What did you want to talk about?" inquired Dione when Susan left.

"You are Skyrah's half-sister." 

With dilated pupils, she cast silencing spells around them.

"How do you know? I told nobody, and I really don't think Skyrah or anyone for the matter divulged the news at school." Draco wouldn't, would he? she added to herself.

"Oh! She told me before school started."

She huffed. "Excuse me?"

"I lived with the Snapes for the summer. Skyrah told me about you and your mother. Has she escaped, too?"

Dione stared at him, speechless.

It took her a full minute to babble, "I don't understand… Why would you live with them?"

Harry rubbed his nape. "They were helping me, but I can't really tell you why or with what."

"It's related to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named then, isn't it?" She waited for him to answer, even if it was with a gesture, but Harry remained still. Somehow, that was response enough for her. "I won't tell anybody. Just don't spread the word that Skyrah is my sister either."

Harry nodded. "Your mother..."

"I don't know where she is."

Harry lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."

Dione studied the boy. He looked sincere, and seemed to care for Skyrah.

"You've lived with Professor Snape. How is he? I mean, my sister is married to him now and she says he is a good man, but we had Potions earlier and he seemed quite strict and well, mean, even. I sat next to a boy named Neville and-"

"Severus can be mean, but he isn't evil," Harry cut her off. "He simply doesn't show that other side of his to anyone but Skyrah. That's why I saw it."

"Does he love her?"

He shrugged. "I think she is the only one he loves."

Dione smiled in relief. Harry smiled back. 

Before he left, he let her know, "I am glad you are safe now. Skyrah has really missed you."

It was a free period for Skyrah. Visiting the library sounded like a marvellous idea. It wouldn't be replete with students. Most would be in class. She took a moment to admire the library, mouth agape, eyes shimmering. She wished Ilvermorny's library had been as spacious as Hogwart's. She wandered all over the place, caressing the spines of hundreds of books, reading the titles of the leather covers. One about Irish mythology excited her attention. Her grandmother liked to tell her myths when Skyrah was just a child. Keeping those fond memories in mind, Skyrah grabbed the book and took a free seat close to a window. This way, she could take advantage of the natural light that came through it. 

Skyrah was engrossed in Irish mythology for half an hour when she felt somebody staring at her. Skyrah raised her eyes from the legend about the Irish goddess Brigid to see the one who had taken a sudden interest in her.

The librarian.

Irma averted her gaze and made as if she hadn't been studying her at all. Skyrah frowned. 

"Hi, I didn't see you before."

Irma tensed, surprised Skyrah wanted to engage in conversation with her.

"Hi," she replied curtly, hoping she'd get a hint and stop the chit-chat before it even began.

Skyrah got the vibe that Irma wanted to avoid her. Severus might be the reason. Skyrah remembered the way Severus glared at Irma. Even though he justified his actions, Skyrah could tell there was something off. If there was something Skyrah was, though, that was determined and cunning. She kept talking, hoping to get information to solve this puzzle, or at least, get actual proof that it was all in her head, her imagination playing tricks.

"This library is magnificent! I bet plenty of students come here after classes."

Irma eyed her askance. There was a sneer on her face that reminded Skyrah so much of her spouse, especially with her ebony hair and eyes and her hooked nose.

"Yes."

"You don't sound enthusiastic."

"Well, some students should take a dictionary and look for the definition of the term silence. They are not only loud but also show a lack of respect for the books."

Skyrah raised an eyebrow. Irma sure was grouchy, but Skyrah wasn't bothered by it. She found her grumpiness was adorable. Like Severus's.

"Not everybody values books the way you and I do, Irma, especially teenagers. They are growing up. One day, they may surprise you."

Irma snorted. "That is no excuse. I never treated books the way they do when I was a Hogwarts student."

"Oh, so you studied here?"

A pause.

"I did."

Her hesitancy intrigued Skyrah. Why wouldn't Irma want her to know something as trivial as that? Because it isn't trivial, thought Skyrah. 

"If you excuse me, I need to catalogue new books. Enjoy your reading."

Skyrah didn't even have time to say goodbye, Irma had already disappeared in between the shelves of the library. Skyrah didn't spend the rest of her free period immeresed in Irish mythology. Her mind was occupied theorizing why Irma reminded her so much of Severus and why he couldn't stand her.

Severus woke up. Burns. Burns. Burns, he kept thinking. He covered his Dark Mark with his hand, hissing in pain. The brisk movement woke Skyrah up.

"Severus? Are you all right?" she asked with a sleepy voice.

"The Dark Lord."

Skyrah lost all trace of somnolence in a matter of a second. Expecting the worst, the pair snuck out of the castle. Out of Hogwarts grounds, they occluded and apparated in the woods that Lord Voldemort fancied for meetings. It had just rained. The earthy smell would have calmed them down if it wasn't for the sight in front of them: Nagini coiling up next to her master.

"Severus."

"My Lord," he said, bowing his head in respect.

Voldemort tilted his head, indicating he should remove the Death Eater mask. Severus obeyed.

"Skyrah."

"Hello, Father."

"Could you tell me how your half-sister managed to escape?"

Keeping her stoic composure, she said, "Thanks to Malfoy's stupidity, that's how."

Voldemort smirked. "You may be right. Nevertheless, we all know that your half-sister received assistance, apart from Malfoy's lack of obedience; concretely, members of the Order of Phoenix came to the rescue, which makes me wonder why my spy did not tell me about it."

Voldemort's red eyes were piercing Severus now, intending on finding something in his mind that would provide him with an answer. He found nothing.

"Forgive me, my Lord. I would not have hesitated to let you know about the intervention had I been aware of it."

"You failed to report vital information. Perhaps I arranged the marriage of my daughter with the wrong acquaintance."

Neither of the Snapes liked where this was leading to, yet both remained emotionless.

"This will not happen again, my Lord. The Order's involvement must have been quite spontaneous. I apologize for my obliviousness."

"I do not doubt that you will be sorry, Severus. You have the task, not only to get my daughter pregnant, but to play your part as a spy."

They didn't have time to react. Voldemort had already cast the cruciatus curse. Skyrah turned her head and compelled herself to be impassive. Severus held back his cries of pain for five long minutes before he lost it and gave a shriek of pain. And another. And another. And another.

"Stop it!" screamed Skyrah. "You want me to get pregnant? Then stop it before you cause irreversible damage to his body!"

"Remember your place, Skyrah,"  hissed Voldemort in Parseltongue. "Your pathetic half-sister may be safe, but your mother is not. Keep that in mind."

The curse came to an end. Severus could finally breathe. He heard them speaking in Parseltongue before his world turned black.

"Severus! Wake up! Don't do this to me! Come on! Open your eyes!"

A faint voice. A blurry face. Pain. Extreme pain. That was everything Severus perceived. Slowly, his senses recognized the touch of his wife on his hand, the warmth of her body close to his.

"Skyrah…" he said, his voice groggy.

"Severus! Thank Merlin! I gave you a potion against the unforgivable curse aftereffects. I haven't called Poppy. I wasn't really sure if you would have approved. Should I call her now?"

He leaned into her. She alliviated the pain batter than any antidote. 

"No, she can't do anything else."

Skyrah gulped. "Do you need anything? Some water? I can-"

"I need rest."

She blushed, drawing up the bed sheet to keep him warm. "Right. Rest. It's obvious. I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone if you want. I didn't mean to bother y-"

Severus had known Skyrah long enough to know that she wasn't one to ramble. It was then that he took notice of her shaken pose.

"Lie down."

She complied. The last thing he was aware of before the soreness and the tiredness brought him to sleep was his wife pecking his cheek and tangling their fingers.

When Severus woke up, he missed the warmth on the other side of the bed. He frowned and called for Skyrah. A noise. A swearword. He smiled, imagining she had almost stumbled on her way to the bedroom. She arrived, limping slightly.

"Severus! How are you feeling? I made you these," she said, referring to the pancakes on the tray she was carrying. "Actually, I burned the pancakes at first, so I had to call for a house elf to assist me. I really tried, I swear, but you know that I am helpless in the kitchen without you and that-"

"You seem to have taken a liking to rambling non-stop," he teased, cutting her off.

Her cheeks flushed. "Right, sorry. You must have a headache and I am only making things worse."

"You aren't making things worse, quite the contrary, in fact."

She smiled at him and left the plate on the bed, the pancakes almost falling on the bedsheets. Severus had seldom seen her so jumpy, so clumsy. She was usually so collected. Nevertheless, he could read her well, she was scared. That was why she was acting like this.

"What's wrong? You are usually more composed."

"I don't know what you mean," she mumbled, playing dumb.

"I mean that you've been rambling and fretting a lot since yesterday."

"Is that care I hear in your voice?" she ribbed with a smirk, trying to ward off his question.

It didn't work, for Severus raised an eyebrow and grumbled, "Skyrah, come on."

She sighed, knowing she couldn't escape it, and sat cross-legged next to him. "You gave me quite the scare. I couldn't do anything while Father cursed you. When I brought you here and gave you the potion, you were convulsing and I couldn't stop it. I… I was so frightened."

"The convulsions are normal. You don't have to be afraid. You won't lose me. The Dark Lord wants me to father your son, remember?"

Skyrah grew bitter. "How could I forget?"

Realizing his mistake, he apologized, "I didn't mean it like that. I want to be the father of your children. The arrangement with your father is not the principal reason."

"I know," she said with a rueful grin, touching her womb.

It still hurts, he thought. His laid his hand on top of hers. She removed hers. Thinking he had made a mistake and inflicted even more pain, he withdrew his hand. Yet, she caught his wrist and put it directly on her stomach, keeping her own hand on top of his to make sure he did not move.

You're helping me cope, he remembered her say. We can heal each other.

"Are you really okay? The curse lasted so long…"

"I've been through worse."

"That doesn't answer my question. You can tell me, Severus. Today's Wednesday. We have to work. If you really don't feel good, we have to tell Albus so that we can cover your classes."

"That won't be necessary. Most of the pain is gone now… I only have a little headache, nothing I cannot take," he said, moved by the way she cared.

She kissed his forehead, as if that would take his headache away. Severus found the kiss did not take it away, but it helped. He guessed that was the effect his hand had on her womb.

"I am sorry about my father. What he did was horrible."

"I am not sorry. It could have gone worse. The Dark Lord doubted my capabilities as spy, not my loyalty. He needs me. I'll be fine. I only need to tell him something important regarding the Order or Potter in the next meeting and I'll be awarded or, at least, not crucioed."

Skyrah swallowed hard and nodded.

"What did you talk about in Parseltongue?" he inquired.

He wasn't a fool, if the Dark Lord spoke in said language it was because he didn't want to risk Severus listening to their conversation. Taken aback by the question, Skyrah needed a few seconds to reply. That only fuelled his curiosity.

"About Harry. I told him that the boy seemed to like me. He was content with my response. My father doesn't know that Harry's been living with us in the summer. He believes I have only known the boy for a month. He wants Harry to trust me and he is aware that trust is something that needs to be built. Time is required."

Severus nodded slowly and sat up to have breakfast.

Skyrah rose and shouted on her way out of the bedroom, "I'll get you an anti-headache potion! I'll be right back!"

Fifth-years were putting the cauldrons back in the shelves. The Potions lesson was over. Dione had just put her cauldron in its place when she felt somebody staring at her. She turned her head and smiled when she recognized the person who was watching her.

Draco.

He kept a cold expression and left the classroom, Crabbe and Goyle following him close. Dione frowned and hurried to keep up with Susan.

The Golden Trio was about to depart as well, when Severus said, "A word, Mister Potter."

Harry's eyes widened. "I have done nothing, Sna- er, I mean, sir."

"I will be the one to decide that."

"Harry has behav-"

Ron didn't dare to finish the sentence, for Severus sent him and Hermione a glare that told them they better leave their friend alone with him and not question anything or they'd suffer the consequences. Severus cast some silencing spells and shut the door after them. Now Harry was scared. What the hell had he done wrong? His mind kept revising everything that had occurred lately, but he couldn't come up with a possible explanation for Severus's attitude.

"Sir, whatever it is that has annoyed you, I am really sorry. I-"

"You didn't do anything wrong… yet."

Harry nearly let out a sarcastic comment regarding that yet, but thought better of it. "Why do you want to have a word with me then?"

Severus stared unblinkingly at the boy for what felt like an eternity.

"I need your help," Harry let out a laugh that was cut short when Severus raised an eyebrow and hissed, "I do not reckon it is funny, Mr. Potter."

"Sorry… I thought you were joking."

"I. don't. joke."

"Well, other students may believe that, sir, but I've seen you joking and laughing. You don't fool me. Why would you need my help for, anyway?"

A few seconds passed, their gazes locked.

"Sir?"

"Skyrah."

Harry's composure changed in a matter of a second, "What? What's happened? Is she okay?"

"My wife is fine, Potter. I merely requested your assistance for her birthday."

Harry didn't know if he should sigh in relief or burst out laughing. He did neither. "What about it?"

"I have no idea what to give to her as a birthday gift."

Severus Snape, ex-Death Eater, spy, bat of the dungeons, was asking Harry Potter, the celebrity, for help regarding the perfect gift to give to his spouse. The situation was surreal, even more since the boy could spot the lightly flushed cheeks of the man. Harry tried to suppress a laugh. He really did, but a half-suffocated snigger escaped his throat.

"Dammit, Potter! I swear, if you laugh again I will-"

"A history book," Harry cut him off before Severus could actually threaten him.

Severus resisted the urge to facepalm.

"A history book? Is that what your brilliant mind can come up with? I don't know why I bothered asking you."

"What's wrong with it?" Harry asked slightly offended. "That's what I'd give her. She likes history. She likes books. You mix them and, poof, a history book is the perfect option."

"Your creative skills astound me, Potter," he growled, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I do not think you have a better idea. You wouldn't have asked for help, even less for mine, otherwise," he said somehow defiantly. "At least, a history book is not as cliché as flowers and jewels."

"Flowers and jewels," murmured Severus more to himself than to Harry.

His exasperated expression had been replaced by a reflective one. A smirk played on his thin lips before Harry was dismissed.

Somebody knocked. Skyrah opened the door of her office only to find herself face to face with a student.

"Professor."

"Draco."

The air was polluted with tension. They both knew why he was there, but neither dared to open their mouths.

A long silence lasted until Draco said, "That wasn't the deal. Dione… She… My father… I told you not to save them!"

"You did."

"My father has been punished."

"I am sorry," she said in a frail voice, her stomach twisting as her mind pictured Lucius crying out in pain while being crucioed.

No matter what, nobody deserved to be under that unforgivable curse.

Draco snorted, clearly not believing a word. He shook his head and stared intently at her, searching for answers. Skyrah felt a pang of shame when she read the hurt in his stormy eyes.

"Why? Why did you betray my trust?"

"Because family comes first. I tried to avoid it, believe me, but there wasn't another alternative. I couldn't abandon my family when I knew their location. You have to understand, please. Wouldn't you have done the same if you had been in my place?" Draco averted her intense gaze, mouth shut. "You said you didn't like seeing Dione in those precarious conditions… Aren't you happy she is here?"

Skyrah could swear there was a tinge of red on his pale cheeks. He still kept quiet though.

"Please don't tell anybody we are family."

Skyrah didn't stop the boy when he made to leave.

Chapter Text

November thirteenth. Skyrah turned thirty-two today. Saying that Severus had been reduced to a ball of nerves was a massive understatement. Severus had been scheming the perfect birthday for weeks, but he was a novice at this kind of things. He was afraid he wouldn't live up to her expectations. He had woken up before her and had baked a chocolate cake, her favorite kind. When he returned to their bedroom, he found his wife fast asleep, curled up in a fetus position. He smiled fondly at the sight, not showing his teeth, and left the plate with two slices (she never took only one) on the nightstand. He lay beside her, studying the features he already knew by heart. A lock of black hair half-covered her face. Carefully, he removed it and tucked it behind her ear. The gesture pulled Skyrah out of her sleep.

"Severus?" she wondered, her mind still drowsy.

"Mm?" he asked lazily.

"What time is it?"

"It's the time I congratulate my wife for her birthday," he mumbled amused, still skimming her just below her ear.

Skyrah frowned and gasped when she realized that it was her birthday indeed. She had actually forgotten it. She smiled radiantly at him. He couldn't help but capture her inviting lips with his in a languorous kiss.

"Happy birthday," he murmured huskily, his nose touching hers.

She was about to thank him when a pleasant smell invaded her senses. She simpered, eyes beaming in glee

"You made me a chocolate cake?"

"Of course."

The pair ate their portions and began their respective lessons. Students deemed Severus looked as stern as ever, when in truth, he was a mass of nerves. He was outright scared Skyrah wouldn't approve of what he had arranged, yet there was a glimmer of hope in him that was really looking forward to surprising her and couldn't wait for the lessons to finish.

When his wish came true, he rushed to his chambers and pulled out a bouquet of red and white roses. Pomona had helped him pick the best, barely suppressing a smile at the thought her colleague was whipped. When Skyrah entered the chambers and found Severus hiding something behind his back, she squinted.

"What are you hidi-" She stopped mid question. A fragrant smell filled her nostrils. "Roses?"

He offered them to her as a response, feeling like a pathetic schoolboy giving flowers to his crush. Skyrah took them from him and brought the bouquet close to her nose. She closed her eyes and smelled. The soft grin on her face told him she was reviving memories. He wondered if she was thinking of Daniel. They had been engaged. He must have known she liked roses. She always smiled sadly when she talked about him, though. Now she didn't look sad. Rather, she was staring at Severus in wonder.

"You remembered that red and white roses are my favorite…"

His cheeks flushed as he recalled the moment he found her in the garden for the first time and told him just that. They didn't even know about their loyalties back then. Skyrah put the flowers in water and thanked Severus with a peck on his cheek.

Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she ribbed, "I never knew you were that romantic, Severus. I wonder what would happen if I went to the Great Hall now and shouted at the top of my voice that the bat of the dungeons has just given me flowers. Your reputation would never be the same, would it?"

"You wouldn't dare," he said, alarmed, not really surprised she knew his nickname.

Her guffaw resonated across the room and she hugged him tightly. Severus knew right then that she was joking.

"Do you fancy a walk around Hogsmeade?" he asked, hands clammy, distancing himself just enough to see her face. "You haven't been there yet and the first trip will take place in short. Perhaps it would benefit you to be shown around a bit."

Hands still circling his waist, she asked, amused, "Severus Snape, are you asking me out on a date?"

He rolled his eyes. "You are my wife, meaning that we are already married. Technically, this can't be a date."

"Whatever," she huffed, although she found his attempts to mask the fact that he was nervous endearing.

"Is that a positive response?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes."

"Good," he said somehow smugly.

The couple spent the afternoon exploring Hogsmeade. Skyrah absolutely adored Honeydukes, which didn't strike as shocking when Severus knew just how much of a sweet tooth Voldemort's daughter, of all people, proved to have. He suddenly wished he had known her as a teenager and taken her to Honeydukes on a real date, bought her every chocolate frog in the shop with the little money he had saved from tutoring some classmates and had some butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Her presence would have made Lily's argument and the marauders' harassment more endurable. His most rational part reminded him the age gap would have been a problem. He would have never asked a third-year to go out with a seventh-year like him, but he could fantasize, could he not?

In the evening, they returned to the dungeons. They spotted Harry and Dione waiting by their chambers' door. Severus slipped away with the excuse to grant them some space. He set the table so that they could have the dinner the house-elves had cooked. Flying candles and rose petals enveloped the round table for two.

A creak.

Little jumps.

Skyrah had just entered.

"Can you believe it?" she exclaimed, laughing. "Dione and Harry have just given me a History Book."

Severus took advantage that she couldn't see him and rolled his eyes at the thought that Harry had really chosen a History Book for her. He had time to summon two bottles of wine and turn around before Skyrah glided inside the kitchen. She gasped and scanned the place, astounded at the dreamy scene he had put up.

"Do you prefer red or white wine?" he asked, showing her the bottles.

"You, you h-have…" she stammered. Locking eyes, she asked, "You did this for me?"

"Obviously."

She folded her arms across her chest, lifting an eyebrow. "And Harry and Dione were the prefect distraction while you prepared this…romantic dinner?"

"Perhaps," he replied, the corners of his mouth curling. "Red or white?"

She cracked a grin. "White."

Skyrah and Severus enjoyed the meal and the conversation profoundly.

By the second time Severus poured some wine in her cup, Skyrah asked, "Is there a reason you want to intoxicate me, Severus?"

"Should I have one? What is it, Skyrah? Are two glasses of wine too much for you?" he teased.

"I don't usually drink. I get drunk very quickly, if you must know."

"Indeed? When was the last time you were inebriated?"

"My twenty-first birthday."

Severus nearly choked on his food. It wasn't like he drank much either. It reminded him of his father, so he avoided it. However, on rare occasions and celebrations he had given in to the fuddle of alcohol.

"What? I did embarrassing things and I swore I'd never sink that low again," she defended herself, a soft shade of pink coloring her cheeks. "Hence, no drinking."

Severus raised an eyebrow and smirked. "What embarrassing things did you do, exactly?"

She quirked an eyebrow, clearly not planning on telling him. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"That bad, eh?"

"I obliviated the witnesses. That's all you need to know."

One second, his nose and eyes faintly crinkled. Next, a booming laugh echoed across the kitchen. He hadn't laughed so loudly since they engaged in a food fight months ago. The rich, deep sound made her feel like she was floating. He always acted composed and never exposed that side of him to anyone, so the fact he trusted enough to show this side of him to her meant the world to Skyrah. Perhaps Severus wasn't aware of it, but that was the greatest present he could have given her.

After dinner, Severus escorted his wife towards their bedroom. Skyrah shivered in anticipation, knowing that they'd probably make love then. After all, making love was how he fancied celebrations. So did she, honestly. Not to mention, he had 'accidentally' brushed her shoulder and her hip throughout the date. Plus, she had caught him staring at her eyes and her mouth so deeply Skyrah found it hard to breathe several times while enjoying the meal, feeling like he was making love to her with his eyes.

He had other plans in mind though. He retrieved a dark green velvet case and handed it to her, becoming shy all of a sudden. Interest filled her veins as she opened the case. She let out a gasp and froze, her eyes studying the gift.

A pendant.

The polished jewel consisted of two crows that had their beaks together, as if kissing, much like their spirit guardians had done. The crows surrounded a black pearl. Despite its dark color, it shimmered with an ethereal glisten that lit up the room. Skyrah's eyes shone just as much.

"Do you like it?" he asked, keeping his head down.

This way, his hair covered his face. He felt safer, not wishing to see disappointment in her eyes. She lifted his chin, softly pulling his hair out of his face.

"I have never seen anything so stunning, Severus," she croaked.

Severus relaxed at her approval and proceeded to put it on her. He first moved her dark tresses to one side, his long fingers unconsciously skimming her nape and making her shudder. Then he clasped it close and let his fingers linger on her back as his hot breath hit her skin. He bent his head and left a trail of feather light kisses until he reached her sensitive spot in the crook of her neck and softly bit it. Skyrah shut her eyes, a jolt of electricity sparking through her. It took all her might to pull away from his heady touch and face him.

"How do I look?" she wondered, touching the necklace unwittingly.

"Absolutely breathtaking."

It was true. Skyrah had always been a good-looking lady, but somehow, that black-pearled pendant contrasted greatly against her pale skin and highlighted the dark in her eyes, making her look even more dazzling.

"Severus," she said, voice thick with emotion.

She cast an anti-conception charm on herself. Severus took it as an invitation to make love. He idolized every single spot on her delicate skin. Wanting the experience to be unforgettable, he pleasured her in every single way he knew until she was exhausted. Skyrah lay against him, her hand playing with some of the hair on his chest until their breaths became even.

Her mouth tickled his skin as she murmured, "Thank you for making this day so beautifully delightful, Severus. I am not worthy of your unconditional devotion."

Severus couldn't object. She was already fast asleep in his arms. His mind envisioned the events of the day, her smiles and reactions. It had been worth it; even Harry's stupid book had made her happy. Her eyes had been flooded with a thousand emotions when he gave her the pendant she was still wearing, the pendant of the crows that represented their bond. The thought arose some feelings in his chest that made him feel somehow dizzy, but her mere presence served as a cradlesong. It didn't take Severus long to fall asleep, a tiny smile on his lips.

A week passed. Most people were asleep in the castle. The Snapes were in bed, but not sleeping. They were cuddling in the afterglow of sex.

"Good night," said Severus with a peaceful smile, kissing the top of her head.

She did not say it back.

"Are you all right? Did you not enjoy it this time? Did I do something you didn't like?" he asked, putting his fingertips on her chin and pulling it up to meet her eyes.

She grinned ruefully and tightened the grip she had on his waist.

"You were perfect, as always."

He smiled a self-satisfied smile. His smugness contrasted against his flushed cheeks.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you, though." He lifted an eyebrow in question, so she continued, "It's about Neville Longbottom."

He scowled. "What about him?"

"He's scared of you."

"Many students are."

"Unlike Neville, the fear the other students feel does not affect their grades. From the memories I saw in occlumency lessons, you seem to be tougher on him than onanyone else."

Severus rolled his eyes. "It is not my fault he is so bloody sensitive. What do you want me to do? Be kind? Speak softly? Not telling him he's about to explode the whole classroom because he can't follow instructions?"

"That's the key. Instructions. It's hard for him to follow them."

"Potions is based on instructions. Miss one step and your life is in danger."

"I know. That is why you should pair him up with someone. Don't let him brew alone until he is confident."

Severus grimaced. "That boy is useless, a menace in the lab. Pairing him up with someone will not change that."

"I disagree. Hannah Abbott can help him." He wouldn't have been surprised if she had suggested Hermione. Hannah Abbott, though? She was an average Potions student. "I've talked to Pomona. Hannah has some difficulties with her subject. Neville is good at Herbology. They can help each other out."

"Hannah is not the best Potions student I have."

"I know, but she is patient and follows instructions, does she not?"

He hummed, a grimace still on his face.

"Neville is not a bad student, Severus. Pomona is quite proud of him."

"Not me. He endangers the well-being of the whole class."

"Snapping at him doesn't help anyone."

"That boy needs to develop a backbone to fight. He won't survive the war if he cowards whenever someone insults him."

Skyrah snorted. "Now you think that scaring him will save his life? That will matter not when one day he makes a mistake, a lethal one, in Potions class because you make him nervous."

He stayed silent.

"I see you haven't thought about that. Well, I'm sure you will not have to sneer at him so frequently if he is with Hannah. Teaching one learns. Hannah will become better at both Potions and Herbology, and Neville's self-esteem will increase if he is a tutor and feels like he is not useless. His grades will reflect that."

"Miss Abbott will not be there for him always," he reminded her, still unconvinced. "OWLs are sat individually."

"If everything goes well, he'll be more confident by the time he has to sit an exam."

If he did as Skyrah said, he would have to group all the students in pairs. More work. Joy. He groaned and pinched his nose, wishing he enjoyed teaching half as much as Skyrah did. His life would be easier.

"I just don't understand why he is incapable of following instructions."

"Attention Deficit Disorder."

He met his eyes, lines appeared on his brow.

"Pardon?"

"His forgetfulness, his slow work pace, turning in incomplete work, not following instructions… Daniel was the same, even though he hid behind a mask of fake confidence." Severus was shocked and relieved at the same time. He had always thought Daniel was perfect, everything he was not. At the tinge of sadness in her voice, Severus tightened his grip on her. "He wasn't diagnosed until seventh year. Teachers were frustrated with him. They thought he didn't try. He did. So does Neville."

"Is there a diagnostic?"

His voice had been softer. He was not scowling or grimacing anymore.

"Yes. I talked to Albus as soon as I suspected. We weren't sure until today."

Severus knew there were no potions for that disorder, but muggle medication existed.

"Aren't ADD students medicated?"

"Some are. Let's see if being with Hannah spares him that. Daniel did improve when I studied with him."

"Is Daniel the reason Neville doesn't get on your nerves? Even Minerva complains about him on occasion."

"I suppose... Are you going to pair him up with Hannah?" She huffed at the lack of response. "I can see you don't enjoy teaching much, but I thought you cared for your students."

"Care and like are different terms."

She snorted. "So you don't like him because he is forgetful? It's not his fault that he has ADD."

He tensed, sensing her disappointment. Deep down, Severus knew that the real reason he disliked Neville was not his forgetfulness.

Skyrah sighed. "I'm sorry. We were having a perfect night. I don't want to ruin it because we disagree on a student. We are tired. We should call it a night." She took her wand from under the pillow. "Nox."

A bittersweet taste invaded Severus's mouth. He pressed her body tighter to his, to feel her reaction. She didn't push him away. She must not be that angry. Skyrah had a temper. If she wasn't putting some distance or flinching, it was because she would continue with the conversation in the morning. He didn't want to wait so long.

Timidly, he whispered, "His forgetfulness stresses me. I do not dislike him for that, though."

She tilted her head up even though the darkness didn't let her see his face. Although she didn't ask for the real reason out loud, the question hung in the air.

"The Prophecy..." He swallowed hard. "If the Dark Lord had targeted Longbottom instead of Harry, Lily would be alive. I remember that every time I look at him."

Her expression softened. "Neville is not to blame for my father's choice. Neither are you."

Severus sucked in air at the last sentence.

Feeling too tired to discuss his guilt, he said, "I still don't like him."

"You said care and like are different."

"So?"

"So? Will you pair him up with Hannah?"

"If that will avoid more explosions…"

She sniggered at his inability to say a smiple yes and kissed his cheek in thankfulness.

"I knew you'd give in, even if you'd grump about it. You are not as mean as the students say."

Severus huffed. "Those dunderheads should focus on studying instead of criticizing their teachers. They attend school to learn, not to waste their time."

Skyrah laughed out loud then and tightened her grip on him.

"I'm so proud of the wonderful man you are, Severus."

His heart beat faster. Her steady breathing relaxed him. So did playing with her hair.

"Skyrah?"

"Mm?" she asked, now drowsy.

"Whom would you pair up Mister Finnigan with?"

She smirked against his chest.

Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor Tower, a group of Gryffindors couldn't sleep.

"Come on, Ron! Wake him up already!" whined Seamus.

"He won't let us sleep!" added Dean.

No matter how violently Ron shook his friend, Harry kept moaning, tossing and tumbling in his sleep. Ron was beginning to worry when Harry fluttered his eyes open and gasped. Seamus and Dean sighed in relief and went back to sleep, relying on Ron to calm down Harry.

"Harry?" he called, noticing Harry was slightly trembling and sweating.

Ron watched as Harry shut his eyes and concentrated hard.

He didn't dare to move until Harry whispered, "I need Dad and Mum."

Harry had spoken so low Ron thought he had heard wrong.

At a loss of what to do, Ron said just as lowly, "Mate, it was just a nightmare. Your parents… er- it probably involved them, but they-"

Harry shook his head. If the room hadn't been so dark, Ron would have perceived the flush in his cheeks.

"I need to go to the dungeons."

"What? Why?"

"I just do."

"In the dungeons you will only find darkness, cold and..." Ron trailed off, a look of realization sweeping over his face. "The Snapes."

Never in all the years Ron had known Harry, had he seen his friend so vulnerable.

"I'll go with you."

"Ron, you don't have to do this."

"Of course I do! What are mates for?"

The way to the dungeons was quiet. Even though Argus Filch wasn't patrolling close to that zone (or so the Marauders Map indicated), they took the invisibility cloak. Ron suddenly felt afraid of what would happen if they interrupted the bat's sleep, but Harry had already knocked at the chambers' door. Their fate was sealed.

Ron stared at the floor while Harry kept his hands in his pockets and tapped his foot nervously. No matter how hard Ron prayed for Skyrah to open the door, Severus was the one to welcome them. Somehow, the scowl on his face was more prominent than usual. He opened his mouth to make a snarky remark, of that they were sure, but he had no time. Harry had already thrown himself at him, hugging him tight.

If Ron had suspected that his friend had called the Snapes Dad and Mum instead of appealing to the Potters before, now he had no doubts. Something big must have happened last summer for Harry to behave so oddly. What exactly had occurred, though, Ron did not know.

That snarky remark died in his mouth. His cheeks burned. Of course, Severus averted Ron's gaze at all costs. By the way Harry was clinging to him, Severus could tell whatever had happened was serious. He barked at Ron not to tell a soul about what he had seen and to return to his dorms unless he wished to spend the rest of the course in detention and to lose all Gryffindor points. Ron did as told reluctantly, sending Harry one last concerned look. 

Skyrah frowned when Severus didn't come back to bed after she heard the door banging closed. Worried, she got up and looked for him. The image she saw worried her even more: Harry hugging Severus. Her husband looked displaced and awkward, but also slightly preoccupied. She hurried to them and glanced at Severus with and inquiring look. Severus mouthing 'nightmare' was enough for Skyrah to understand what had happened. She put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Harry didn't hesitate to let go of Severus and let her hold him instead.

"Did you build the grief wall?" she wondered softly.

Harry nodded.

"What was the nightmare about?" asked Severus.

Harry let go of Skyrah and looked at both Snapes. 

"Everything was dark. I couldn't make out where I was. I just knew it was somewhere cold. I cast the wand-lightning charm and realized I was in a corridor. I heard some screams. I got the impression they were Death Eaters, so I ran towards a door. I entered a room filled with thousands of glass spheres and, when I touched one, everything turned black and Ron woke me up. My scar hurt… What was that place?"

Skyrah looked lost, but Severus had a reflective expression on his face that indicated he had an idea. He said that they had little information to confirm the place and didn't communicate his suspicions. In order to stave off an interrogation, Severus went to look for a dreamless sleep potion. When he joined them again, Harry looked more composed, but accepted the vial anyway.

"You did well by coming here and telling us, Potter. Regardless, refrain from coming accompanied next time"

"Ron insisted, sir."

"And you should have insisted on coming alone."

"Severus," started Skyrah, aiming to avoid a likely brawl between the wizards at these late hours. "He got the message. Ron will not spread the word, will he?" Harry shook his head. "And he doesn't really know what happened, does he?"

"I haven't told him," said Harry, shrugging.

"Good," said Skyrah. "Do you think you can return to your dorms alone, sweetheart? One of us can escort you until the Gryffindor Tower if you want… This way, if Argus catches you, you won't lose House points or get a detention."

Sweetheart.

It felt like ages since Skyrah had called him that. It made Harry's heart twitch in nostalgia.

"I can deal with Filch," assured Harry with a twinkle in his eyes, showing them the invisibility cloak Ron had left in the room.

Skyrah smirked. "You, clever boy! Come on, then! Off to sleep!"

Severus raised an eyebrow and was about to scold him for using the cloak, but Skyrah touching his arm stopped him.

Harry would have given anything to stay the night with the Snapes, but he didn't mention it. He complied after Severus reminded him to build the grief wall before falling asleep.

Ron acted weirdly the following days. He was more distant with Harry. It wasn't until Hermione talked to Ron that he decided to have an actual conversation with Harry. As the Common Room was empty except for the Golden Trio, Ron reckoned it was the ideal time to discuss what was happening.

"We need to talk."

"Later, Ron," said Harry. "I don't want to miss Malfoy's face when he loses the Slytherin versus Ravenclaw match."

"No, mate. We need to talk now," Ron said so serious Harry was taken aback.

Hermione was the first to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace. Ron and Harry followed her lead.

"You called the Snapes Dad and Mum."

Ron's voice was cutting, and his expression was that of a lost person, not really understanding how that could have occurred. Hermione didn't look surprised, so Harry guessed Ron had told her about everything. His neck turned red, and he was not really sure if it was out of embarrassment or of anger. Most likely, it was the outcome of those mixed emotions.

"You told her."

"She's our friend," countered back Ron. "She deserves to know. Besides, you and I both know that if she stays with us during the conversation, everything will run more smoothly."

Harry huffed, but commented on nothing since Ron was right. Hermione looked at him worriedly and took his hand.

"Harry, what happened at the Snapes'? You have always hated Professor Snape. Now you even call him Dad... How did this ensue?" she asked softly, not veiling her confusion and concern.

Harry's eyes shone strangely. He bent his head and averted his friends' gazes as he reflected on the answer. Why didn't he see Severus as the slimy git anymore? The answer was so simple yet so complicated. Severus, the teacher he had hated the most, had been there for him when he had most needed it. Severus, the sarcastic, mean Professor, had not laughed at his condition and actually showed he cared. Unlike popular belief, Harry and Severus shared a very relevant trait: they both were victims of abuse. Perhaps that is why Harry relied on Severus on a particular nasty evening, before Skyrah lost the baby.

It was one of the occlumency lessons Harry took with Severus. As always, Severus counted to three and legilimenced him. He visualized the memories as if it was a muggle film.

Aunt Petunia practically dragged Harry into the cupboard under the stairs and told him that that would be his room. The light went out. Only Harry's cries were heard. He was afraid of the dark, of being lonely, yet no matter how hard he cried and supplicated, nobody came to his rescue. Instead, Uncle Vernon beat him up to keep him quiet the rest of the night.

Severus came out of his mind and stared at the boy. Harry was averting his eyes, his chest moving up and down unevenly. Before Severus could react, Harry let himself fall on the floor, his hands covering his face, his sobs unconcealed. Severus made to leave the room to give him some space and call Skyrah, thinking Harry would prefer her, but the shock upon Harry's trembling and faint voice requesting for him to stay made him think better of it. Severus stood awkwardly until Harry dried his tears and met his eyes. Then, the unexpected happened: Harry rose to his feet and hugged the person who took him away from the abuse.

"Why did Professor Dumbledore bring me to the Dursleys? Anywhere else was better. I wouldn't have been their personal house-elf, I wouldn't have run from Dudley and his friends, I wouldn't have been hit by them… I didn't deserve to live like that."

Severus put aside his discomfort at the affectionate gesture. He understood then that Harry had just released all the tears he had not cried since he could remember, and he had done it in front of him, the Professor who used to loathe him. Severus sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Professor Dumbledore assumed it was the best for you since you were protected from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named thanks to the bond of blood charm."

"Who kept me safe from the Dursleys? Didn't he think of that? I begged him to let me stay at Hogwarts during the summer and he ignored me!"

"I cannot give you a proper answer to that. You will have to ask Professor Dumbledore himself. What I can tell you is that I wasn't aware of the situation. Had I known, I would have taken adequate measures." He trailed off then, debating if telling him something else was pertinent. A few seconds later, he murmured, "It's good that you realized you merited better, Harry. Nobody should go through abuse."

He had called him by his first name on purpose, and it made Harry faintly smile up at him. What the boy found in his black eyes was respect and satisfaction. He may not have explicitly pronounced the words, but Harry knew Severus was proud of him. He had let go of his emotions. That was everything the Snapes had asked of him when they invited him home.

"Thank you," breathed out the boy.

"Whatever for?"

"For letting me stay here with you, away from the Dursleys. For telling nobody."

The sincerity in his voice stunned Severus, who tightened his grip on him. Even though Harry could tell the gesture had been unconscious by his part, it meant the world to him. 

Harry's glassy eyes met his friends' concerned gazes. A lump formed in his throat. The only thing he managed to say before leaving the dumbstruck pair behind was that Snape had been there for him and that he had been wrong to judge him. Harry headed to the Quidditch pitch before his friends could question him.

Skyrah prowled the castle until she located the room where students' records were kept. Ever since Irma had told her she had studied at Hogwarts, Skyrah had felt like she needed to go there. She followed her hunch.

She scanned sundry records, but found no Irma Pince. Why would Irma lie about going to Hogwarts as a student? It made no sense. She was about to give up hope and call herself paranoid when something caught her eye. There was a photo of a girl that attended the school and looked an awful lot like a younger version of Irma Pince.

Eileen Prince.

When she read the surname, she felt shockwaves. Skyrah remembered the moment Voldemort told her about Severus  for the first time. Not only had he bragged about him being the most loyal Death Eater, but also about his blood. Severus was a Prince descendant, an important pure-blood line. The dates of the years she had attended Hogwarts led Skyrah to think Eileen Prince was Severus's mother. But then again, could the resemblance between Eileen Prince and Irma Pince be a mere coincidence? She stared at the photo for a long time until it clicked: Irma Pince is the anagram for I am Prince. The similar mannerisms, their scowls and sneers, their grumpiness, the hooked noses and black eyes and hair, the reason why Severus avoided talking about her and why Irma seemed to know him deeply... Irma Pince was in fact Eileen Prince, Severus's mother.

"Bloody hell!" squeaked Skyrah, putting the records in their place.

After an exhausting Potions class, seeing Skyrah was everything Severus needed. He smiled, knowing Skyrah had no more lessons that afternoon. They would both grade some papers, cook, make love, eat, read and go to sleep. It was the perfect routine. He went into their studio, expecting to find her correcting some essays, as usual. Instead, he got there just in time to watch her struggling to hide a paper. He raised an eyebrow.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nope."

She had blurted it out impressively quickly, as if he had caught her doing something she shouldn't do and wished for him to forget about it.

She was unlucky, for Severus replied, "I gather that you are grading some essays…"

"Yes," she said in the same tone.

"Then you won't mind me taking a look at them, will you?"

"Beware that first years make many mistakes and you may get a headache when you read them," she joked, trying to sound confident yet failing miserably when a nervous snigger escaped her throat.

"I'll take the risk."

Somehow, Severus could tell her laugh was fake, and he didn't miss the way she flinched when he thumbed through the papers of the novice students. In between them, he spotted a scroll with her handwriting. He analyzed the content superficially. Dark Magic. She was experimenting with it. He scowled.

Skyrah cursed and cried out, "I can explain it!"

His heart strangled. He had no idea how she intended to explain why she was playing with Dark Magic. What if she was more like Voldemort than he had believed? What if she had fooled him? What if it was all a game to blow up his secrets and Skyrah was only playing with him? Severus felt betrayed, enraged. His fists clenched and his eyes squinted.

"You can explain it?! You have been creating a dark spell behind my back! I trusted you and you lied to me!" 

It was the first time he barked at her like that, but Skyrah wasn't affected by it.

She snorted and said sarcastically, "Funny you accuse me of being a liar when you have done exactly the same with me. I guess we are made for each other."

His mouth went dry. He had told her everything; she had been the only one he had trusted with his darkest secrets, with his past. There had only been one aspect he had hidden from her, but there was no way she could have found out about that, right?

"What do you mean?" he asked, lowering his voice and piercing her with his black eyes.

"Don't play all innocent now! You've kept something important from me! Every time I asked, you wandered off the subject and invented pathetic excuses! Well, you know what? I did a little research... Imagine my surprise when I found out I had already met my mother-in-law. Care to explain to me why she changed her name and why you chose not to tell me your mother works at Hogwarts?"

Chapter Text

It started in his chest, flames flickering, growing. The fire was so fierce it burned his confusion about how she had uncovered his secret. Instead of answering her question, wrath controlled his body. He towered over her, invading her personal space. Anybody would have cowarded, anybody but Skyrah. She kept her head up, her jaw clenched.

"Don't change the subject, Skyrah. I thought you told me everything!"

"Right back at you!" she shouted, stepping even nearer him.

Their noses bumped. Severus distinguished the emotions in her eyes without legilimency. She was disappointed in him and just as angry as him... What struck him was that under the discontented surface he detected love. Skyrah loved him. Skyrah matched his patronus. She was still wearing the pendant of the crows. She must have had her reasons for hiding something like that, just like he had his reasons for keeping his mother's identity secret. Severus's initial thoughts of Skyrah telling his secrets to Voldemort appeared inane now.

They had quarreled before, but they had never been so irate. Sweat appeared on his forehead, suddenly afraid of losing her even though he still was mad at her. Severus took some steps back and made to leave. He would rather wait until the storm blew over than deal with the topic. After all, every time he got crossed, stupidities slipped out his mouth, stupidities that wounded the people he cared for. He did not wish to exacerbate the situation.

Chapter Text

Skyrah woke up to butterfly kisses that trailed down the curve of her neck onto her shoulder. She sighed contently. Severus looked up to her and pecked her lips, his hair tickling her chin.

"I could get used to waking up like this," she whispered, still in her half-drowsy state.

Chapter Text

"Are you okay?" Severus asked once they were back in their bedroom from Lord Voldemort's meeting.

"More or less," answered Skyrah, sitting on the slightly wrinkled, dark purple bed sheets.

Her husband joined her in bed, and she rested her head on his shoulder while her palms covered her womb. The familiar room and her enveloping warmth managed to calm his nerves down a bit, but he could still feel his heart pumping at the image of Skyrah confronting her father so bluntly.

"You can be very bold when you want to be. It is almost Gryffindor..."

"Says the bravest man I have ever known," she teased, gazing up at him.

"I am serious."

"Me too."

An uncomfortable silence followed. By the anguish in Severus's eyes, he needed the reassurance that Voldemort wouldn't touch her until she delivered the baby, so that is what she told him.

"I am still concerned about you. The worst tortures tend to be emotional and psychological, not physical. If the Dark Lord-"

"Don't worry," she cut him off. "I won't cross the line. He will do nothing to me."

Severus didn't know if she was trying to convince him or herself, but he let that be for the time being.

"You got mad when he told us that Lucius would be the godfather…"

"Well, you can't be happy about that, can you? He wants you to control Lucius." She snorted. "I bet he asked Lucius to control us as well." 

"Is that the only reason why you are displeased?"

"Certainly not. I meant it when I said we should be able to choose the godparents of the child."

"Did you already have an idea who could assume the role before the meeting?"

"Yes."

"Do you mind sharing it?"

"Albus. I wanted to make him happy before he slipped away. He would be keen on having a godson since he doesn't have a child of his own despite loving children. He helped us when we most needed it. I wanted to show him I appreciate him by making him the godfather... I guess we'll have to stick to Lucius though. We have no choice," she ended resigned, a wry grimace etched on her face.

He clasped her hand in his, warm skin against cool skin.

"Albus is the closest father figure I have ever had. He kept me from going to Azkaban and showed me a way to redeem myself. I would be lying if I told you I didn't think about him as a possible godfather too."

"So you have pondered more options?"

"Ever since you got pregnant the first time…"

Those words left in Skyrah a bittersweet taste in her mouth, like dark chocolate.

"Whom have you considered?"

"Do you really want to know?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not in the habit of asking questions I don't want to know the answers to."

He smirked at her cheeky response.

"The only godfather I have considered is Albus. I am still unsure about the godmother… Your sister is a good candidate. Although she is young, she values her family like nothing else in the world. She will love the baby. I gathered you'd like her to be the godmother."

Skyrah melted at his consideration, although she remained unconvinced. Despite loving her sister dearly, Skyrah didn't feel the girl was prepared for such an important role. Besides, she already had a clear idea who would make a wonderful godmother. She just hoped Severus mentioned her.

"Who else did you have in mind?"

"Minerva. She doesn't have children and she has been my friend for years. She would be an exceptional role model for our son."

Severus respected Minerva. Skyrah palpated it by the way his eyes shone hopefully when he mentioned her, seeking her approval. Sometimes, Skyrah had caught them teasing each other endlessly, amused twin smirks on their faces, and she was reminded of the relationship she had with her sister. She loved teasing Dione, but that didn't mean she didn't love her, quite the contrary. Skyrah bet Severus felt something similar when he was with Minerva. All in all, Skyrah agreed that she would be great, but she still hoped Severus had considered somebody else.

"Is your list any longer?"

"As a matter of a fact, yes, it is. I have considered someone else."

The name that slipped off his tongue was the name Skyrah had longed to hear.

The Snapes entered the headmaster's office. Albus was sitting on his chair, mumbling something unintelligible to Fawkes. The married couple greeted him and sat in front of him, as usual.

"Good morning," started Albus. "The note you sent me said you needed to tell me something important."

The Snapes exchanged looks. Skyrah nodded at Severus and gave him an encouraging smile to let him know he should be the one to break the news. Severus locked eyes with the old wizard and cleared his throat.

"We are expecting a baby boy."

It was obvious by his steady tone that Severus wanted to remain neutral about the news, at least in front of Albus. Nevertheless, the subtle way in which his thin lips curved up forming a hint of a smile and the singular light that invaded the blackness of his eyes told Albus that Severus was overjoyed.

Even though Albus was aware that delivering an heir was the task Lord Voldemort had assigned them, the news stunned him for a moment. He recalled the interactions he had witnessed between them. Severus was fond of Skyrah, and Skyrah seemed to adore him just as much, if the way they were holding hands was not proof enough. Albus realized that they really wanted that baby, not only for Voldemort to spare their lives but for themselves, to start a family. Thus, he congratulated them with a gentle yet truthful smile.

"We would like you to become his godfather," added Severus.

Albus had certainly not expected that. He always remained calmed, composed, and had a wise air around him. His sapphire eyes always twinkled. But not then.

"I don't think I am the most suitable man. I am dying."

"Precisely," said Skyrah, ignoring his grave tone. "You helped us both, Albus. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Dione wouldn't be safe and Severus would be in Azkaban. You gave us a chance. This child is your chance, our way to thank you. A child gives hope. You need that now more than ever. However…"

Albus distinguished a sudden anguish in her brown eyes. Even her tone had darkened.

"However?"

Skyrah took a big breath. "Lucius Malfoy will be the godfather, no matter how much we dislike the idea. My father leaves us no choice."

"He knows about the pregnancy… When did you tell him?"

"Last night."

"I surmise that you found out about it only a few days ago…"

The couple nodded.

"Did he say anything important?"

Skyrah shrugged. "He wants me to keep working as a teacher, and so do I. The baby is due in August, anyway, which means I will be home during my last pregnancy months. I can teach as I have been doing until now. Nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed!" Severus snapped. When Skyrah's eyes widened, he realized he had been too harsh and tried to remedy it by softening his voice. "A pregnancy changes everything."

"Most women work during their pregnancies. I will work and that's final, Severus." 

Unaffected by her ultimatum and steely gaze, he growled, "You will not."

If Skyrah hated something, that was feeling like somebody was cutting her wings, like she couldn't fly and decide for herself. Voldemort already kept her trapped. She had no desire for feeling like her freedom was curtailed by anyone else, husband or otherwise.

"I'm a pregnant witch, Severus, not an invalid. I'm healthy. Poppy said I could work. You cannot expect me to stay in bed all the time. I need to move. I need to teach."

"You are healthy... Now. Who says you can't have pregnancy complications later on? Poppy said you could work as long as you took it easy. You cannot overload yourself. I know you. You love teaching. You give your all for this profession. I cannot consent that, not now."

"You cannot decide this for me. I'm a grown woman and I make my own decisions. I will teach if I please."

"Stop being so bloody stubborn for once in your life!"

"Look who's talking!"

"You are with child, dammit! I can't lose him!" he bawled, gripping her by the shoulders.

Skyrah was breathing hard by then, staring at his eyes intently, seeing his tormented soul through them. He suddenly looked scared, almost as if he had seen the phantom of Tobias shaking Eileen, as if he was Tobias and Skyrah was Eileen.

No.

He wasn't Tobias.

He would never hurt Skyrah. She didn't even look frightened but empathetic. She knew him. She knew the analogy his mind had drawn, and he knew her well enough to grasp she didn't want him to even compare himself to his father, so he forced himself to bury the nasty thought. The pressure of his fingers on her shoulders faded away, but she could still feel a ghost of his touch there. Severus hung his head and stared at his trembling hands, now resting on his lap.

He inhaled sharply and repeated brokenly, "I can't."

Although the words not again were left unsaid, Skyrah was certain they had passed through his mind. She lifted his chin up with her fingertips.

"Do you honestly think I would put our son in peril?"

Like mirrors, her eyes reflected the moment they lost their girl. He could feel her pain and determination to avoid something like that again, no need of legilimency. 

"I know you wouldn't. I just… I can't risk it."

Skyrah sighed and brought his hand to her lips, planting a kiss.

"My father wants me to keep the job, Severus… I have to do this. I promise I will be extra-careful. You can tell me if you think I am indulging too much in teaching. I will listen to you. I will take it easy. The last thing I want is to lose our child. I love him."

Albus was observing the scene with keen interest. He reckoned it was incredible, almost surreal, the way the couple passed from sheer anger and disagreement to care and understanding in a matter of a second. Even though their gazes spoke louder than words, Albus didn't understand the language. He had the presentiment they were hiding something from him, something that disturbed them. Curious as he was, he didn't wish to make them uncomfortable. That is why he chose not to go into the matter and gave them a solution instead.

"I could hire another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. You would still teach Skyrah, only not to all the levels. Would that be acceptable for both?"

The Snapes exchanged looks and nodded.

"I will teach fifth year. My father wouldn't like it if he found out I wasn't close to Harry."

"You should also teach sixth and seventh year," proposed Severus, calmer after Albus's suggestion. "Students are older, more autonomous. They will not require your constant assistance in class."

Severus worried too much for her. If instructing the oldest students instead of the youngest helped him find a feeling of serenity, even if it was a minuscule ration of it, she would do it. She only wanted to teach, anyway. A brief nod and it was settled. The Snapes made to leave.

Right before they opened the door, Albus's voice struck them, "I am happy for both of you. Your child will know what love means."

Skyrah gave him a gentle grin.

"Would you have accepted to be the godfather if the Dark Lord hadn't forbidden us to choose?" wondered Severus.

There was a short pause.

"I would have refused at first. I am dying, after all. Nevertheless, I must say your wife is quite persuasive… I reckon that I wouldn't have turned down that chance in the end."

Nobody in the room knew if the response made them feel better or worse.

The Snapes went to the Hospital Wing and asked Poppy to go to their chambers when she finished working. That was how she found herself slumped in an armchair located diagonally from the couch where the Snapes were seated. Poppy had a hard time recalling the last time Severus had invited her over. What she didn't have trouble remembering was the faint potions' scent that impregnated the air and clogged her nostrils until her smelling sense grew accustomed to it.

"My wife and I wanted to ask you something…"

"Do you want to become the godmother of our son?"

Poppy lost her breath at the Skyrah's question. She stared at the pair wide-eyed.

"I don't know how to do this. I… I am not a mother. After I lost my baby, I couldn't have more children. I have zero experience."

"Poppy, you take care of all the school. Of course you have experience!" countered Skyrah, taking her hand. "You have more experience than anyone I know!"

"The fact that you cannot have children makes it even more meaningful," added Severus. "You must have recalled the moment you lost your child while trying to save ours. It must have been hell. We want to repay you. We feel blessed with this boy, and we want you to feel blessed as well. If anything happened to us, we would trust nobody but you with our son. Naturally, you are not obliged to accept. We are merely asking you to consider it."

Poppy was overcome with emotion to the point her eyes watered with happy tears.

"There is no need to think over it. I will be the godmother. Of course I will! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

She rose to hug the Snapes, but Skyrah raised her hand to stop her.

"Before you agree, you should know something about me."

Poppy returned to her seat at the fear of rejection in her eyes.

"You know I spy for Albus," started Severus. "What you don't know is that the Dark Lord set me a task last summer. I had to wed Skyrah and get her pregnant."

Poppy frowned. "Why would he command you to do such a thing?"

"Because I am his daughter."

The blunt answer stunned Poppy, who kept shaking her head.

"This better be a nasty joke."

"I am afraid it isn't. I am You-Know-Who's daughter."

Skyrah hadn't even blinked. She wasn't lying. And it made sense. It made all the sense of the world.

"That's why you didn't tell anybody you were married," Poppy breathed out, glancing at Severus, who nodded. She met Skyrah's gaze and raised her voice. "But you know he isn't loyal to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If your father knew, Severus would be dead. Why haven't you told him? And what about Mr. Potter? He was living with you two!"

"We would never hurt Harry," said Skyrah, putting her palms forward. "I don't share my father's beliefs, I never did. He kidnapped my mother and half-sister so that he could make them suffer if I didn't obey him… He wanted to manipulate me. Albus helped me and my sister is safe now. Does the name Dione Fawley ring a bell?"

"The red-haired girl who came after the school term began? She wasn't nourished enough when she got here, but she refused to tell me why, and so did Albus."

"Death Eaters held her captive in precarious conditions. That's why my sister was so gaunt."

"Albus knows about this, then."

"He does," confirmed Severus.

"An arranged marriage… You can't fake your emotions like that," she muttered to herself, recalling the way Severus sobbed and cradled the woman after the fatal event. "Your love is genuine."

Severus turned the faintest tinge of pink and shifted about discreetly on the seat. Since when were his emotions so obvious? He dared to glimpse at Skyrah, who was playing with the crows pendant, their love symbol. She met his eyes and gave him a soft grin that almost made him forget how to breathe. If Poppy hadn't been there, he wouldn't have hesitated to kiss her.

"We are overjoyed about becoming parents, not to comply orders but for us. We want to start a family," said Skyrah.

Recovered from his embarrassment, Severus cleared his throat and followed, "We lost the baby girl because the Dark Lord wants an heir, a boy. This baby will be in danger. Skyrah and I will do anything to protect him and keep him safe. We don't want you to become his godmother without understanding the implications."

"We are aware it sounds crazy, so you don't have to answer us now. We just thought you ought to know before making a decision."

Poppy remembered Skyrah crying when she revealed she was pregnant with a boy. Poppy had assumed they were happy tears back then. Now she knew they were relief tears. She stared at their tangled fingers, at the way Skyrah was covering her belly with her free hand while Severus free arm draped around her shoulders, trying to provide some solace to the rejection they were expecting.

"My decision remains the same. Nobody will hurt my godson if I can help it, not even You-Know-Who."

Skyrah and Severus let out a breath they didn't know they had been holding, relieved Poppy hadn't judged them and agreed to such a commitment. While Skyrah hugged the medi-witch fiercely, Poppy locked eyes with Severus.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"No, thank you for giving me this chance."

Dione and Harry settled down on the sofa, waiting for the Snapes to make a move. They had been the ones to call them, after all.

"We need to tell you something," said Skyrah, almost bouncing in excitement.

"Good news, I guess," Dione mumbled, letting out a titter upon her sister's behavior.

"Notoriously good news, in fact," said Severus, enjoying the youngsters' obliviousness.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well? What is it?"

"We are having a baby boy," announced Skyrah as a dazzling smile finally seized her face.

Harry didn't move. Dione made a choking sound.

"I'll be an aunt?"

Skyrah nodded.

"Wow."

Skyrah giggled at her sister's dumbstruck expression. Even Severus smirked. Dione rose from the sofa and hugged her sister. Dione looked at Severus with so much trust and contentment he was taken aback. Not many people looked at him like that. He remembered her initial concern and skeptical attitude towards him when she first came to Hogwarts. She was very fond of Daniel and couldn't fathom why her sister would fall in love with somebody else, even less with a reputed Death Eater, supposedly the most loyal. He also caught the scared face she tried to hide when he gave Neville detention on her first day. Now though, there wasn't even a glimmer of unacceptance and Severus found himself returning the pleased grin.

"Congratulations, sir."

"Thank you, Miss Fawley."

Skyrah smiled at the scene before her.

"The baby is the heir… What will happen to him?" asked Dione, suddenly realizing the critical implications of the news.

"I don't know. What I know is that Severus and I will keep him safe. I will not let Father turn him into a monster."

Skyrah glimpsed at Harry then, who had stayed mute all this time. His eyes were dwelling on her still not-showing belly as if hypnotized, an unreadable expression on his face. She had expected Harry to flash them a broad smile and jump in excitement at the news.

"Harry, are you all right?" wondered Skyrah. "You haven't said anything."

He pulled himself up from the sofa and walked towards the door. He didn't even look at her. If he had, Skyrah would have seen that his emotionless mask was cracking.

"Where are you going? Did you do badly in an exam? Did something happen at the Quidditch practice? You can tell us. Don't leave like that. Sweetheart, come on."

"Don't call me sweetheart!"

Skyrah gasped. She stood in shock as Harry went out through the door without looking back. Dione and Severus exchanged a look and instantly knew how to act: Severus chased the boy while Dione kept her sister company. It didn't take long for Severus to catch him. He took Harry by the chemise's collar and hauled him towards an empty classroom.

"Muffliato," he muttered to ensure nobody would overhear them, shutting the door. Severus turned around, keeping his back on the door, black eyes lancing through Harry. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you, Potter?"

"So we are back to Potter, eh? Not Harry. Never Harry," he said, clenching his jaw.

"Considering that you snapped at your Professor, who just happens to be my wife, for calling you sweetheart, I reckon it is safe to keep my distance and call you by your surname."

Harry sulked, his arms folded across his chest.

After a heavy silence, Severus sighed and asked, this time more calmly, "Why did you react like that, Harry?"

There was no response, not even when Severus stressed his first name.

"You shouldn't have snapped. Frankly, I don't understand why you didn't even smile. I thought you'd be happy for Skyrah, for me. You and Poppy are the only ones who know about the miscarriage." His voice trembled when he pronounced miscarriage and Harry had the urge to avert his gaze to avoid seeing his pain. "You know how much we have suffered. And now, when we finally have something to be happy about and share it with you, you storm off. Do you know how excited Skyrah was to tell you she is pregnant?"

He paused, giving Harry time to absorb the information and reflect.

"You told me you cared about me once. Not congratulating me and my wife for expecting is not the definition of caring. Why did it bother you so much that she called you sweetheart? Why does it bother you so much that Skyrah is with child?"

"It bothers me because you won't care about me anymore!" Harry exploded, making big gestures with his hands. Tears stung in the corners of his eyes, his breathing ragged. "You won't… You will have a son now, a real one, unlike me. You'll stop caring."

Severus drew in a short intake of breath at the outburst, eyes wide open.

"Harry…"

"Don't even try to deny it! I am James Potter's son. Why would you want me? Why would you want an insolent teenager like me?"

Severus cursed himself. He wished he knew what to say to calm Harry down. Skyrah would probably do it effortlessly. She had always been adept at dealing with moody teenagers; unlike him, who finished any impertinence with a detention and a considerable deduction of House points. These methods were inadequate for this case though.

He thought of what Skyrah would do, and whispered, "You aren't your father. I thought you knew this already. Skyrah and I cannot be your guardians, Harry. We discussed it before starting the school year."

A single, impotent tear fell down Harry's cheek, but that didn't stop Severus.

"Do you remember what Skyrah told you then? She said that even though we cannot be a family, the bond was already formed. That is why we wanted to share the news with you and that is why it hurt us when you didn't even look at us while we did so. Skyrah sees you like a son, and I... I care for you, too. This will not change when the baby comes."

Skyrah had told him once she saw him like a son. That didn't surprise Harry. What struck him was that Severus had confessed he cared for him. Granted, he had always been there when he had needed him and he had assured him he cared for all his students, something that included him, but he had never been straightforward with him until now. 

"Do you mean it?" Harry asked hopefully, feeling warm and fuzzy.

"I have never lied to you."

Harry gave him a broad smile.

Surprisingly, the corridors were empty and quiet on their way back, in contrast to the chambers, filled with the voices of the sisters. Dione understood as soon as Severus nodded at her that they needed space, so she mumbled a quick goodbye. Harry didn't talk until Dione's footsteps resonated no longer.

"I'm sorry. I acted like a selfish idiot. I thought you wouldn't care about me now that you will have a child. That's nonsense. I see it now. I am happy for you, I really am. After everything you went through, you really deserve this. You will be brilliant parents."

Harry tapped his foot, holding his breath.

Skyrah grinned ruefully. Jealousy had caused his reaction? She couldn't blame him, not when she had been afraid her own mother wouldn't care so much for her after having Dione.

Hoping to save Harry from a deeper embarrassment, she asked, "Do you want to stay for dinner? We could cook together…" She glanced at her husband with an amused expression and added, "I am sure Severus won't mind the help."

Harry's face broke into a radiant, grateful smile the Snapes would treasure forever.

It took Skyrah one week to persuade Severus into telling his mother about the pregnancy before the substitute teacher arrived and the whole school found out. He had agreed to invite Eileen to drink tea as an excuse to bring her over and break the news, but not without a scowl on his face and a little insecurity in his chest.

The Snapes settled on the couch. Eileen sat on the same armchair Poppy had occupied not so long ago. Her gaze leapt from her son to her daughter-in-law various times, finally resting on Severus.

"I know drinking tea was a false context to get me here. Tell me what you want from me already."

Eileen had been cutting, as always, but Skyrah didn't mind it.

In fact, she was just as blunt when she replied, "As you wish. I know you are my mother-in-law. Should I call you Eileen or Irma?"

Eileen looked at Severus, eyes narrowed.

"Did you reveal my secret?"

"My wife is a sharp-witted woman. She figured it out on her own."

Eileen huffed. "So this is why you asked to meet me, to tell me my cover identity is blown."

"Not exactly. We thought you deserved to know something else," started Skyrah.

Even though Severus had to tell the news – Eileen was his mother, not Skyrah's – he vacillated. Skyrah clutched his hand in hers, assuring him he wasn't alone in this. Severus stared at their hands for some time, as well as Eileen. He cleared his throat, grabbing her attention.

"We are having a baby."

Eileen sucked in air. The regular sneer on her face dissipated until her lips were slightly curved up and her black eyes sparked the same way Severus's did when Skyrah told him she was pregnant.

"Do you know its sex?"

She expected the couple to kick her out right then, so she was greatly surprised when Skyrah revealed it was a boy with a thrilled smile on her face.

"A boy," repeated Eileen, looking at Severus.

He was running his thumb across Skyrah's wrist, most likely to avoid looking at his mother. Eileen swallowed the hurt the thought caused in her and congratulated the couple. Skyrah thanked her and Severus gave her a brief nod.

"W-will you let me be part of his life? Will you let me be his... his grandmother?" she stuttered, fearing rejection once again.

Severus's breath caught in his throat. He recalled the words Skyrah uttered some time ago. She deemed Eileen cared for him. Perhaps Skyrah was right, albeit he wasn't ready to forgive his mother yet.

"Do you want to act like a grandmother?" he requested.

Eileen gulped. "I don't want to bother you..."

"That is not a proper response."

"I know I lost my son. I don't wish to lose my grandson before he is even born, too. The answer to your question is yes. I want to act like a grandmother."

Severus stared straight at his mother then, searching for any sign of deception. He hit upon none. The environment was tense.

Eileen was about to surrender and back out of the room, when a velvety voice spoke, "Show me you have changed. Show me you can be a mother first, and I might consider it."

That was more than Eileen had ever hoped for. She gave him a smile that showed her teeth. Severus didn't recall his mother smiling so broadly, ever.

"I will. Skyrah, I know my son probably put up a fight and refused to announce this wonderful news to me, so thanks for convincing him. I… It means a lot. I want you to know that you can count on me if you need anything. And by the way, you may call me Eileen when there is nobody else around to hear us."

"I will, Eileen."

Eileen erased her gleeful grin when she stepped into the corridors, becoming the famous vulture of the library once again, Irma Pince.

Skyrah was eyeing Severus with gleaming eyes.

He quirked an eyebrow. "What?"

"You should be proud of yourself. Your mother hurt you badly throughout your life. Yet, you are willing to give her a chance. It takes a strong, nice man to do that."

He snorted. "Nice is the last adjective anybody would use to describe me."

She pouted. "I disagree. You were always nice to me, even when you knew nothing but my blood line about me. Although, I get it, you have a reputation to protect as the bat of the dungeons."

He shook his head, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You sometimes see things that aren't there…"

"Yes, well. I sometimes think you can be blind when you set your mind to it."

"Skyrah, I'm only nice, as you put it, to you. That doesn't make me a nice man."

"Your argument is invalid. You were nice to Harry on multiple occasions, starting by taking him home despite your past. "

Damn her and her logic, he thought. "You are insufferable."

"I am not. I recall you saying that you might do more than only tolerate me. At most, I exasperate you, but you are never as angry with me as you pretend to be. You are only adorably grouchy."

He cracked a grin because those words couldn't be truer. How well she knew him was scary yet pleasant.

"Let's just say you have the capacity of being nice to whom you want, when you want to," she concluded.

He was about to retort he had no interest in being nice to people, ever, and that he could count the individuals he had ever been nice to with the fingers of his hands and still have some to spare.

However, he teased her further, "Whatever makes you shut your mouth."

"Severus!"

He chuckled and drew her into his arms to kiss her. That silenced her, disregarding the soft whimpers that escaped her mouth, that is.

Skyrah groaned and sagged against the chamber's door, eyelids closed. She came from a first meeting with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and she couldn't be gladder she was back with Severus, in the chambers she was starting to see like home.

"Headache?" he asked, familiar with her pregnancy symptoms.

He had already summoned the anti-headache potion by the time she opened her mouth.

"Yes, but not due to the pregnancy. I have just realized that Albus should get some advice on how to hire personnel."

He couldn't agree more. An ex-Death Eater like himself, Voldemort's daughter, a werewolf, the pain in the arse also known as Lockhart and the stuttering fool that literally had Voldemort in his head, to name a few. Yes. Albus's decisions were questionable to say the least.

"Poor children! I don't want to imagine what a class with that pink toad must be like!"

He lifted an eyebrow at the insult.

"Pink toad? That's a new one," he mumbled, handing her the flask she gladly accepted.

"Yes, well. You'll understand everything later. Tonight Albus is introducing her to the students and the staff. She starts working tomorrow."

Chapter Text

The students created an annoying hubbub during dinner. It was more intense than usual, for teenagers kept sending a short squat woman dressed in pink glares, as well as speculating about the reason she was eating in the teaching staff table.

Albus stood up. The Great Hall hushed automatically.

"As you may have noticed, there is a new staff member with us tonight. We wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge."

Chapter Text

Skyrah couldn't think of an answer that wouldn't upset Dolores, known for her little patience, as she proved when she said, "Mister Potter has said something not only inappropriate but also untruthful; not to mention he has disrupted the rhythm of the class. Aren't you going to do anything about it, Professor Snape?"

Before Skyrah had a chance to open her mouth, Harry snorted, "What's untruthful, Professor? Voldemort's back. Are you trying to convince us that he and his Death Eaters are alone in his crusade and that he doesn't have the support of other creatures?"

Dolores's neck inflated in annoyance, something that accentuated her resemblance to a particular animal of amphibious class.

"You know those are lies, Professor Snape. Why aren't you taking measures to eradicate liars in your lessons?"

Harry would have hurled a retort if Skyrah hadn't sent him a glare that told him he had messed up enough and he better shut up.

"Well, Headmistress, I was merely trying to follow the curriculum, the norms and the textbook, as you have enjoined me to. Sadly, I don't recall any instructions that tackle this kind of situations in them. I reckon they aren't included. Hence, I'm not sure how to proceed when it comes to liars."

Her sassy tone irritated Dolores to no end. She had a feeling that Skyrah was playing a perilous game, outsmarting her, tracing the border line without crossing it, without actually breaking the rules.

"I'd be more careful if I were you, Professor Snape. I wouldn't like to fire a pregnant woman."

Skyrah folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. Menacing a pregnant woman? Dolores should know better.

"That would be ironic, considering you wouldn't have entered this school if I wasn't expecting in the first place. I give you a job and you threaten me with losing mine although I was conforming to the regulation. Rude."

The students hadn't expected such a cheeky reaction. They were both amused to the point they found it hard not to snicker and scared of the possibility of losing her as a teacher and having to endure Dolores as their Professor as well as their Headmistress.

"She's officially my favorite teacher," muttered Seamus under his breath.

"Yours and everybody's, mate, yours and everybody's," added Ron, who was sitting next to him. "I still wonder why she married the bat."

Seamus and Dean held back a laugh.

Dolores stared hard at Skyrah, unable to punish her for trying to follow the rules she had imposed.

"From now on, you will have to punish the liars. It is an order."

"Yes, madam."

"I trust you will not disappoint me and follow my instructions. I will not repeat them."

"Of course. I understand English. I heard you the first time around," she said, her words heavy with sarcasm.

"Watch your tongue, Professor Snape. Other staff members have been fired for minor aspects."

"Oh, I apologize. Perhaps my intentions were misunderstood. I didn't mean to be impolite. I merely wanted to reaffirm you may count on me," mumbled Skyrah, playing dumb and pushing the memory of Professor Trelawney's desperate eyes when she was fired out of her mind.

Skyrah had meant to taunt Dolores, indeed she had. Dolores could feel it but couldn't prove it, mainly when she saw Skyrah giving Harry detention for lying. Of course, she didn't know that Harry wouldn't really be punished. It was only a masquerade. He would spend time with the Snapes doing homework or chatting. Hardly a punishment for him. 

Dolores left the classroom, but not before warning she would keep an eye on her. Skyrah continued with the lecture for one minute until she was interrupted once again.

"Are you really going to teach us the way that bitch tells you to?"

"Pansy!"

"What?" she asked with a shrug. "She really is a bitch… a pink bitch."

The class exploded with laughter.

Their fun was cut short when Skyrah spoke up, "Do not insult the Headmistress, at least not in front of me."

"Sorry," Pansy said, rolling her eyes, not feeling remorseful at all.

"It will still cost you five points from Slytherin. Respect is important in my lessons, Pansy. This hasn't changed."

Some Slytherins huffed and grunted, but Skyrah disregarded them.

"And to answer your question, yes, I will do as she says. We had a deal. You had to carry the textbook with you. You couldn't tell Professor Umbridge about my classes; you couldn't even discuss them amongst yourselves. Somebody has failed to do that. She came to confirm her suspicions and this is the price."

"But you can't do this to us!" protested Dean. "You are the only decent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've had since Professor Lupin!"

Skyrah sighed. "I'm sorry. I am the last one who wants this to happen, but I have no choice. She is going to watch my every step. She is waiting for the slightest excuse to sack me. She would teach you then. For some reason, I don't think you fancy the idea."

All the teenagers had frustrated faces, all bar Draco. Dione didn't miss his regretful expression. As soon as the class finished, she tried to talk to him. Dolores was faster than her though, so Dione had to wait until after dinner to find him on his way to the Slytherin Common Room.

"We need to talk."

"Not interested," he spat.

"It was your fault. You warned Umbridge."

His eyes widened at the accusation. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her along the corridors until he found an empty classroom, out of prying eyes and ears.

"It's not what you think…"

"You wanted to make Skyrah pay for trying to save me and my mother."

"This isn't about vengeance. Believe it or not, I like your sister. She's the only teacher who's ever believed in me."

She frowned. "Then why would you do something like that? It makes no sense…"

Draco stared at the floor, averting her inquiring gaze at all costs. Dione bit her bottom lip.

"I know we really haven't talked much since… well, since we started school. It isn't like we talked much back in Malfoy Manor, but I liked our conversations. I felt comfortable. I am comfortable talking to you. If you feel the same, you can tell me anything. I'll try to understand you."

Even though she couldn't see his face quite well, she could tell his mask dropped. His face didn't appear so angular and the lines on his face softened. It only lasted for a second though.

"Why are you being so nice?" he snapped, meeting her gaze again, his eyes as cold as usual. "It is my fault that Skyrah can't teach as she has always done. I am your enemy."

"You aren't doing a very good job at that. Saving your enemy isn't something usual, you know?" she said sarcastically. He kept quiet and Dione sighed. "Look, I just want to understand why you would tell Umbridge."

Draco and Dione studied each other's features and reactions. He realized she was quite stubborn and, consequently, he wouldn't leave the room if he didn't provide an answer. He finally offered her an explanation.

Dolores had approached him and asked him what class with Professor Skyrah was like, curious to know since she didn't hear anybody commenting on the topic. Draco told her that she followed Slinkhard's book, but that had not been enough for her. She questioned him about vampire bats, and apparently, he provided information that wasn't included in the textbook – the reason she grew suspicious.

"She tested you..."

"Yes."

"Then Pansy was right when she called her a pink bitch."

He actually smirked at that and teased, "Don't let Skyrah hear you if you don't want Hufflepuff to lose five points."

"Oh, don't worry. I've heard her calling Umbridge a loathsome pink toad, but don't tell Pansy or anybody for the matter!" she exclaimed, putting her index finger over her lips as if shushing him.

He chuckled and she couldn't help but smile. It was strange to see him happy. He always jeered, sneered and smirked, but seldom smiled or laughed. Dione thought that he looked even more handsome when he did. Her cheeks flushed. Skyrah was right. She had a crush on Draco, and it was bloody scary.

"You are blushing, Fawley," he said, amused.

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy!" she snapped, although her cheeks turned even rosier. A smile played at the corners of her lips when she noticed he hadn't stopped grinning. "You are not half as bad as you pretend to be."

Draco knew that most people believed he was a bully, and the few who didn't, only respected him, or more accurately, feared him because of his father. Skyrah had proved him wrong, and her sister kept on flabbergasting him with genuine smiles. He backed away, trying to escape from her intense gaze and the warmth those words had awakened in him, but she grabbed his hand, impeding it. She had prepared herself for many reactions, but not for a hiss, not for a painful contortion.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he assured casually, withdrawing his hand.

Dione knew that was an utter lie, so she took his hand again and inspected it. Some letter-shaped wounds were starting to heal in the back of his hand. The red contrasted against the perfectly pale, cool skin.

"I will obey my superiors," she read out loud. "How did you get this?"

The worry etched on her face took Draco aback to the point he wasn't able to convey the right words for a while.

"Umbridge has a quill that scars your hand and writes with your own blood. She believes Skyrah followed her orders now that she's come to class, so she's deduced that I spend my free time researching and comparing other books. At least, that's how she thinks I knew the information that wasn't in the textbook she is so obsessed about… I didn't follow her book, I didn't obey my superiors. This was my punishment."

So that was why she had talked to Draco after class, to punish him. Her stomach lurched. She had thought she couldn't dislike Dolores more. How wrong she had been.

"This is heinous! We must tell Professor Snape! He's your Head of the House! He won't tolerate this."

"Fawley," he breathed in a warning tone.

"Perhaps my sister can do something too! Why don't we-"

"Bloody hufflepuff! Always trying to help! Always kind! This is humiliating enough! I don't want you to tell anybody about this!"

"But-"

"Promise me."

The intensity in his grey eyes made her nod.

"Professor Umbridge should feel ashamed about this, not you," she whispered, her fingers tangling with his, careful not to hurt him. "I really think you should tell Professor Snape."

Draco gulped and stared at their hands in awe. He felt a tingling sensation running through him, and he didn't know if he liked it or not.

"Do you think we can be friends?" Dione suddenly asked.

Draco sucked in an intake of breath. "Can enemies be friends?"

Dione shrugged. "I thought we weren't enemies, not really. Enemies don't look after each other and make sure they eat; enemies don't chat and laugh together."

"You have a point there. We are not conventional foes, are we?" he wondered, grinning ruefully. "But this," he tilted his head towards their intertwined fingers. "Is dangerous, Fawley. Avoiding each other is for the best."

"But I meant what I said! Perhaps we could keep it secret! Wouldn't you agree to that? I like talking to you, and I have a feeling you don't hate me as much as you pretend."

Draco bent forward as if he wanted to stay, yet his head was hung as if he wanted to leave. He dared to look her in the eye, and Dione saw a real fight of emotions stretching his face. She knew the battle was over when he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Dione."

He walked out of the classroom, but not before she detected remorse and longing in his grey eyes, not before she realized he had called her by her first name.

An almost perfect silence only disturbed by the scribbling of quills and the sounds of leafing through essays reigned in the Snapes' chambers.

A puff.

A disbelieving giggle.

"Do you mind sharing what the dunderheads have written to make you laugh?" asked Severus, quirking an eyebrow.

Skyrah rolled her eyes.

"I don't laugh and sneer at their essays! That's your specialt-ah!" she gasped again before she could phrase the sentence, placing both hands on her womb.

"Skyrah?"

By then, he wasn't curious or amused. A thousand what-ifs scenarios came to mind. All of them scared him. He left the quill and parchment aside and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Skyrah bit her bottom lip and placed his hands on her belly, her eyes twinkling with something he couldn't quite tell. Nothing happened. And then he felt it: a little yet powerful jab against his palm. A small pucker appeared below his eyes and his lips curved up enough to show his teeth. Bliss. That was what Skyrah could read in his half squinting eyes that shone so bright despite their obscure color. Warmth jolted through her at the sight. A smile of her own grew across her face, eyes misty.

"Is this the first time you feel him kick?"

Skyrah nodded elatedly, making him chuckle.

"This is the most graceful thing I have ever felt," he murmured swept away with emotion as he caressed the visible baby bump in adoration.

The unborn baby moved again. His grin widened.

"Hello there, lad. I am your," he trailed off, still assimilating he had just felt his son. He gulped and managed to utter, "your dad. Your mother calls me her snarky Potions Master, and just so you know, she is convinced that you are a little snarky Potions Master in process. She even bought us a kit so that we can practice together, father and son." The lines on his face hardened ever so slightly. "I never had that… My father wasn't by my side. He wasn't a good man, but I promise you I will fight for you, I will give my all to you. Even if I make mistakes, know that I don't want to hurt you, ever. I want to make you proud, Son, and I will protect you, always. Although I won't lie to you, your grandfather will complicate matters. He's a sick bastard."

"Severus, language!" scolded Skyrah, although she ended up laughing fondly and shaking her head.

He sent her an amused look and returned his attention to the baby.

"To put it mildly, your grandfather isn't particularly nice. He'll try to make your life hard, but you don't have to worry. Your mother's a fighter, you know? The most compassionate, determined, strong person in the world. She and I will make sure you grow up safe and loved." He kissed the baby bump. "You don't know how happy you have made me, how happy you have made your mother… You have blessed us, Son." Severus glanced up at his wife and noted she was overcome with emotion. Truth be told, so was he. In an attempt to discharge the dazing feelings that were flying in the air, he ribbed, "You know, Son? I envy you. You get to be inside your mother all day long. I bet it feels good..."

"You're an arse!"

"Who should watch their language now?" he teased.

"Ugh! Shut up and kiss me, you, idiot!"

Severus smirked in victory and obliged. Their kisses were starting to heat up when knocks interrupted them.

"Bloody hell!" she cursed, freeing herself from his embrace.

Severus took her by the wrist and pulled her into his chest, hugging her from behind.

"Don't open the door. If it isn't important, they will leave," he husked, the tip of his nose tickling her neck while he pressed his erection onto her butt.

Skyrah gasped and tilted her head to give him a better access when he began to kiss her neck. The bangs became insistent.

"Severus..."

"Mm?" he asked, skimming her arm with his fingertips, moving his fingers like spider legs.

"We must stop."

"Neither of us wants to stop," he whispered hotly in her ear, now palming her breast with one hand.

She moaned, arching her back towards his palm unwittingly.

"But we have to. I promise we will continue this later."

Severus let go of his wife reluctantly and opened the door with his famous sneer on so that whoever was there would get the hint and leave them alone, thankful his robes hid his bulge. He nearly cursed out loud when he saw that Dione, Harry, Hermione and Ron were there. They wouldn't leave them alone. His arousal vanished right then.

"Good evening, sir. I hope we didn't interrupt anything. May we come in?" wondered Harry, choosing to play it safe and polite when he noted the big frown on Severus's face and Skyrah's rosy cheeks. "We may come later if not."

Severus stepped aside and let them in. He was about to summon a few chairs, but Harry stopped him and told him they would stand.

"As you wish," he mumbled, sitting next to his wife on the sofa.

The couple was slightly nervous. They couldn't imagine why they had come. Dione and Harry sometimes came on their own, but their chambers had never been so full of the rebellious creatures humanity defined as teenagers.

"Do you want to teach us again? Like, really teach us," started Harry.

Severus groaned. Skyrah had told him about Dolores's unexpected visit. Of all the things, they had to halt their passionate session to discuss that topic.

"Not again, Harry," said Skyrah with a sigh, tired of hearing her students' whines. "What either of us wants doesn't matter. We have no choice."

"But what if we had a choice?" asked Hermione.

The Snapes stayed silent, skeptical.

Harry took that as a good sign and said, looking at Skyrah, "We decided to create a secret organization to rebel against Professor Umbridge and practice Defense Against the Dark Arts behind her back. We would like you to lead us."

Skyrah felt that Severus was about to snap, so she trampled on his foot subtly and spoke up before he could open his mouth, "I'm flattered that you asked for my assistance, but I need more information before agreeing. Who would be part of that secret organization? When and where would we meet?"

"Everybody who feels like it, I suppose," Harry said with a shrug. "We could make three shifts by levels and arrange a schedule. One hour a week would be enough. The Room of Requirement is the perfect location. I just… Voldemort's back and I hate it that you cannot teach us, you know, like you want. What Dean said the other day was true. You're the only decent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've had since Remus."

"Don't forget he is a werewolf, Harry," intervened Severus.

Harry rolled his eyes. Ron and Hermione gaped when Severus called their friend by his first name but chose to make no comment. Not even Dione had that privilege. He addressed her as Miss Fawley in spite of being family.

Skyrah was about to remark it was sad that the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers they had ever had happened to be a werewolf and Voldemort's daughter, but kept quiet when she remembered that Hermione and Ron didn't know the truth about her.

"What's your answer?" asked Ron.

Skyrah beamed. "I'd love to lead you."

"You can nowise accept, Skyrah," warned Severus.

Her brown eyes bored into him. "Why the hell not?"

"Because you are pregnant and accepted to reduce your shift, that's why! Not to mention it's unlawful!"

"Having an annoying pink toad as the Headmistress should be unlawful, not this!" she muttered to herself like a pouting child, but everybody heard her.

The teenagers tried not to snicker, although Ron didn't succeed and ended up making a weird noise. Severus groaned.

"For Merlin's sake, Skyrah! Practical lessons are prone to end in accidents. This is a fact. I trust the oldest students, but not the youngest." He swallowed hard then, struggling to say the sentence in front of an audience. Finally, he conveyed, "What if you got hurt? What if the baby got hurt?"

Her expression softened. Everything he did, he did it because he cared. She knew it. She sighed and took his hand in between hers.

"Severus, I really appreciate your concern, but the baby and I will be fine. I really want to give it a shot. I cannot sit around and do nothing when I know that my students are organizing themselves to learn. I'm not only a Slytherin but a Horned Serpent, a scholar. It goes against my nature."

Severus kept staring at their hands but didn't open his mouth.

Harry knew him well enough to grasp he still worried, so he tugged his ear and proposed, "Sir, would you feel better if I taught the youngest? I mean, I did advanced magic with you and I sometimes help my classmates… I'm willing to be in charge of the youngest and I promise I will watch out for Skyrah and the baby."

"I will watch out for them too," swore Dione.

"And Ron and I, sir," Hermione pledged while Ron nodded.

Skyrah smiled broadly at them, touched by the gesture, and jerked her head towards her husband.

"See? I'll have assistance. You don't need to worry about us. I can do this, Severus. I will do this."

Severus stared at her while the students held their breaths in expectation. He could see she would end up doing this with or without his blessing. Stubborn witch.

"If you really want to be part of this crazy and illegal organization, I will not let you do this alone, no matter they promised to keep an eye on you." Skyrah was about to protest but was silenced when he added, "Harry will be in charge of first and second years. I will supervise third and fourth years and you will take care of the fifth, sixth and seventh year students, as you have done of late. This way you will only work one or two extra hours. In addition, I would like you to allow me and Harry to assist you in your turn. The baby will keep growing and you will become more tired… Please don't try to do this on your own."

Ron thanked Merlin he wasn't in Ginny's place, a fourth-year. He was surprised at the way Severus cared for Skyrah and the unborn baby. They actually looked… human, like a normal married couple who fought over little things but still loved each other. He was beginning to see why Harry told them Professor Snape wasn't the git they had originally thought.

Skyrah smirked. "Severus Snape, have you just not only approved of me taking part in this crazy and illegal organization but also agreed to teach in it?"

"It isn't nice to rub it in my face, even less in front of our students," he whispered so low that only Skyrah heard him.

She giggled and pecked his cheek. Severus nearly cursed her and her habit of kissing his cheek out of gratefulness. He was flustered, mainly because he noticed the faces of the adolescents. Dione and Harry were used to catching them kissing, but Ron definitively wasn't, if his wide eyes were of any indication. Hermione was smiling softly at the couple though, as if she was watching a romantic muggle film. Severus didn't know which reaction he despised the most.

"Do we have a name, or should I stick to crazy and illegal organization?" asked Severus, diverting the attention elsewhere.

"Dumbledore's Army," revealed Harry with a sly grin.

Fitting, Severus thought, but he wasn't about to voice it. He had risked his reputation too much that day. Thankfully, they all left then, all bar Dione.

"I'd like to talk to you from sister to sister."

Severus raised his hands and announced he'd go and correct essays to give them some space.

"It's about Draco... I have feelings for him."

"What else is new?" Skyrah quipped with a lopsided grin. "You don't stop making goo-goo eyes at him in my class!"

Dione wanted to disappear right then. Her cheeks turned as red as her hair.

"Skyrah!"

"Okay, okay... Keep talking," she urged, biting her lip to keep from giggling.

Dione sighed. "I know I told you I would keep my distance from him, but I talked to him after Professor Umbridge's incident. He looked remorseful and I knew that he was the reason why she interrupted the class."

Skyrah's expression darkened. "Was he trying to get back at me for telling the Order about your location?"

"I thought so, but I was wrong. You see, Professor Umbridge asked him about vampire bats and he provided more information than the textbook exposes. That's why she suspected you weren't following it."

Skyrah felt like slapping Dolores, her fists clenched. "Bloody foul bitchy evil pink toad! Who the hell does she think she is?"

"I will deduct points from Slytherin, Skyrah," teased Dione, mimicking the way she had acted with Pansy.

Indignant as she still felt, Skyrah nudged Dione playfully and ended up chuckling alongside her.

"I just wanted you to know that Draco had no choice," said Dione, growing serious. "He actually told me he liked you as a teacher."

"He did?" she asked, the lines of her face softening.

"Yes. I also wanted you to know that you don't have to worry about us." Bitterly, Dione added, "He wants nothing to do with me." 

"That's not my perception. He stares at you so much in class that I don't even know how he manages to get the spells right. He's into you."

Dione blushed. "Don't play with me, okay? It isn't nice to lie about that."

Skyrah rolled her eyes. "I've taught teenagers for nearly a decade. I know when a guy is whipped! Draco has a crush on you. It makes sense now. I didn't understand why he wished to help you, why he was willing to risk his safety and his family for you… Now I see it. Draco's had a crush on you since he first laid eyes on you!"

Dione fell silent, musing on it. It certainly made sense, but she wasn't sure how to take that in. "I'm scared. Why do I have to have feelings for him?"

"Sentiments aren't something we can control, little one."

Skyrah put her arms around her sister and kissed the top of her head. Dione hugged her back, relishing in the comfort and safety she felt.

"Feelings don't matter. We cannot even be friends."

Skyrah kept playing with her auburn curls. For once, she found no consolation words. She'd rather have it this way, anyway. The distance between Dione and Draco meant one less problem.

"Doesn't Professor Snape's attitude bother you?"

"What do you mean?" Skyrah asked almost defensively, breaking the embrace.

"He's too overprotective. He almost got hysterical when you agreed to join Dumbledore's Army."

Skyrah sighed. "Severus isn't perfect, but neither am I. He can be overprotective, and that sometimes makes me angry, but I understand him. He has a good reason to act like this."

"What is the reason?"

Skyrah paled. They had lost a daughter not so long ago. That plus the fact he had never had a family explained his overprotectiveness, his willingness to do anything to ensure he finally had what he had always craved. She couldn't voice that though, not without his consent.

"It's too personal. Don't worry about me, okay? I'm fine and I love Severus with all my heart. Being overprotective is his way of showing he cares for me."

Dione grinned ruefully. "He doesn't say he loves you much, does he?"

He has never said it, she thought, but she said, "He shows it everyday."

Dione nodded in understanding and kissed Skyrah on the cheek before leaving.

Severus shot his head up from Blaise Zabini's essay as soon as he heard Skyrah's footsteps.

"Is your sister fine?"

"As fine as she can be. Teenage drama."

Severus nodded, glad that life stage was over for him, and scribbled down some aspects Blaise had to improve.

"Aren't you going to say anything about Dumbledore's Army? You were opposed to the idea at first."

Severus quirked an eyebrow. "I was opposed to the idea of you taking part in it, not to the organization itself. Granted, it is crazy and illegal, but I approve of it as long as you don't overload yourself and welcome my and Harry's assistance." He grinned slyly. "Deceiving the pink toad is a plus."

He expected her to laugh or smirk at the last comment, but she was serious, staring at his eyes deeply.

"You trust him a lot," she said softly. "You don't call him Potter anymore."

Vulnerability physically shrank Severus. His gaze fell on the half-corrected essay.

Aware that talking about emotions wasn't something he was good at or felt comfortable with, Skyrah smiled gently and said, "Harry cares for you a lot too, you know? He looks up to you."

Skyrah sat on his desk, right in front of him. She put the pile of essays aside. He was now looking at his hands on his lap.

"Are you proud of him? I don't mean proud as in seeing your students succeed, I mean proud in..." he trailed off, his hair covering his face, too ashamed to actually phrase the question.

"A deeper sense? Parental sense, even?" she finished for him. "Yes, and I know you are, too." Skyrah cupped his chin and forced him to meet her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with having those feelings. They complicate matters, but they aren't wrong."

He sighed, still perturbed. "A year ago, I would have deducted all Gryffindor points, not joined Harry and the cause."

"A year ago, the pink toad wasn't here and you didn't have the bond you have with Harry now. Things change. I bet you never imagined you'd be married to Voldemort's daughter and get her pregnant."

"I thought I'd die a virgin, to be honest," he said with a chuckle.

Skyrah giggled and replied in a sultry voice, "Well, you certainly won't."

Harry and any feelings that weren't directed to Skyrah evaporated from his mind the moment she lifted him up from his seat and hugged his waist with her legs while she unfastened his buttons and nibbled his earlobe as an anticipation of what was about to come.

One month later, Severus could say that Dumbledore's Army proved to work efficiently. Harry was a good teacher and the Snapes felt proud of him. The members of the association were surprisingly grateful that Severus taught them. They would take his snarky remarks everyday rather than another lesson with Professor Umbridge. At least, they learnt how to defend themselves. Besides, his mood had improved lately; his comments weren't so mean. They bet the pregnancy played an important role in that.

One evening, Eileen saw a herd of third and fourth year students coming from the seventh floor. There was something odd about the situation; she could smell it. Her curiosity increased when she locked eyes with her son. He turned on his heels and headed towards the opposite direction, his black robes billowing. Eileen wasn't about to let him go though. She followed him and called him out.

"What do you want?" he spat, swinging about.

"I want to know what's going on."

"Nothing is going on."

"Then you won't mind explaining to me why such a big group of students came from the seventh floor? I know what is in there, Severus. I told you about the Room of Requirement when you were just a child. What were you doing there?"

Severus stayed silent, holding her gaze.

It didn't look like he was about to speak, so Eileen took the hint and made to leave, but not before she heard, "Don't tell anybody about it."

When she turned around to question him, he was already far off. Eileen sighed and returned to the library, trying to forget the incident and hoping to relax in her little heaven of books. Of course, her paradise was intruded by odious teenagers. The first thing she heard was the annoying laughter of some hufflepuff girls and one gryffindor boy. She ordered them to shut up, her prominent sneer planted on her features.

"Sorry," babbled Dione, blushing.

The girl pretended to read, but remained alert when Dolores came into the library. Dione had a bad feeling about it. After all, Dolores always found a way to aggravate the situation.

"Madam Pince! I wanted to talk to you. Do you come from the seventh floor?"

"Yes," replied Eileen curtly, looking at Dolores suspiciously.

"Did you see something out of the ordinary?"

"Like what?"

Dolores leaned towards Eileen.

"Between you and me, I've seen some odd things. Most students of the same age disappear at the same time every week, like a schedule. They come from the seventh floor, but there's nothing in there. They're hiding something..."

Eileen wasn't about to reveal the little she knew about the matter, not when her son had asked not to, not when she was trying to be a good mother, and certainly not when she wanted to prove she had changed. She wouldn't disappoint Severus again if she could help it. The fact Dolores wasn't familiar with the Room of Requirement was a fortunate coincidence.

"I am sorry, Professor Umbridge. I have seen nothing. I will inform you if I see anything odd."

"Thank you, Madam Pince."

Dione suppressed a surprised gasp. "Have you heard them?" 

Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, all members of Dumbledore's Army, nodded worriedly.

"Go and tell Harry. I'll warn the Snapes."

Chapter Text

Dione slipped through the chambers door, ragged breathing, tousled red curls. The Snapes deduced she had been running, and by the grave expression on her face, she needed to tell them something of utter importance. And it was: Dolores's suspicions regarding Dumbledore's Army.

"She's unaware of the Room of Requirement, but I'm still worried," she finished, holding her breath.

Severus frowned. "How do you know this?"

"I heard her talking with Madam Pince. Professor Umbridge asked her if she knew something, but Madam Pince said she couldn't help her."

Chapter Text

Severus offered to floo call Harry and Dione after the Malfoys' departure, but Skyrah caught his wrist.

"Narcissa's just given me something and told me not to tell you to stay safe."

Chapter Text

The wand-lightning charm disrupted the Snapes's sleep. Skyrah groaned. It had taken her hours to fall asleep, and now Harry had to come and wake her up. No. The boy wasn't to blame. He was shivering, a sign he had just had a nightmare. It was her father's fault. Severus removed his protective hand from her voluminous body and helped her sit up.

"N-Nagini. Another woman. The fourth mu-muggle this week… I hate these nightmares. They remind me of the time Mister Weasley almost died."

Chapter Text

Harry was staggered by the way the lines of Severus's face softened. With luck, there would be no punishment.

"You love me?"

The fact Severus had asked proved he was skeptical, yet his eyes glinted with hope. Hope was born of belief. He craved to believe Harry, he craved love.

"I don't expect you to say it back," Harry said with a shrug. "It's not your style, and you aren't ready yet. I get it."

That was the understatement of the century.

"I haven't been able to say those words back to Skyrah either. I sometimes wonder if she knows how much she means to me."

Harry didn't know if he should hug him or roll his eyes at the ridiculousness of his last statement.

He did neither and said, "I knew you were in love with her after living with you for three days. Skyrah knows you love her."

"That doesn't make it better. I can lie to the Dark Lord but putting three words together is beyond my abilities. It's preposterous and frustrating."

"Words aren't everything."

"They still hold a lot of power."

Harry proved that was true by using words to console him.

"You'll tell her when the time feels right, and it will mean the world to her."

Black eyes shone again. The corner of his lips curled ever so slightly. "I meant it when I said I care for you, Harry."

This was the closest Harry would get to hear the words I love you too coming from his lips, but it was enough to bring a smile to his face, a smile Harry kept in his sleep.

Severus went to his bedroom and climbed into bed, ready to sleep. Nevertheless, a hand searched for his arm and settled it around a voluminous belly.

"I thought you'd be asleep."

"I wish," whined Skyrah. "I'm constantly peeing and your son thinks it's funny to kick me at this late hour. He didn't listen to you when you asked him to let me sleep."

"So he's my son now?" he wondered amused, arching an eyebrow.

"Well, I told you I am pants at sports. He certainly didn't get that sharp jab from me."

Severus chuckled and kissed her shoulder, spooning her from behind.

"I can put you to sleep..."

"With a potion?"

"If you wish, although there is a far more satisfying way to attain the same goal," he purred in her ear as his hand made its way inside her knickers.

Skyrah gasped and caught his wrist, stopping his hand, but not his mouth, which was busy kissing the side of her neck.

"Severus, I love you, but I just want to sleep. This tremendously pleasurable method of yours takes a while to take effect."

A whispered summoning spell and the sleeping draught was clutched in his hand. He handed it to her, pushing his slight disappointment away.

"Were you truly willing to make love now?" she asked before the flask brushed her lips.

Severus smirked and teased as his hand caressed her thigh, "Why? Are you having second thoughts?"

Skyrah shut her eyes a few seconds, mouth ajar.

"It's not that," she said, fluttering her eyes open and making no move to stop his ministrations. "Why would you find me attractive enough to make love to me? I look like a whale."

He withdrew his hand and lifted both eyebrows. Did she truly believe she wasn't pretty? The thought was so ludicrous he concealed a snicker so as not to affront her.

"You're gorgeous," he whispered, putting her hair aside to uncover her nape and plant a kiss there.

"I'm fat."

He was glad she was giving her back to him and was unable to catch him rolling his eyes.

"You're pregnant."

"I'm fat. I'm a fat woman with intense mood swings, food cravings, sore breasts, a perpetual fatigue and a ceaseless need to pee. Why am I attractive to you?"

"You are my wife. You are pregnant with my child, and I would be a worse than a dunderhead if I deemed you were not attractive."

She shook her head in disbelief, yet the small grin on her face told she was pleased with his response.

"You're blind."

Apparently, everybody thought this was an apt descriptor for his persona today. First Harry. Now his own wife. But he wasn't blind. Not anymore. Harry had opened his eyes. Skyrah was the blind one if she thought he wouldn't find her attractive now that her belly swelled with their child and her smiles were brighter.

"Quite the contrary, I have never had such a sharp vision."

Inflated as Skyrah still felt, her weight didn't bother her when he cuddled her and nuzzled her hair like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

The flask was finally emptied.

Spinner's End received Albus. He was already seated in the armchair across from the sofa the Snapes settled on. The letter Albus had owled them emphasized the need to talk to them, yet the pronoun lacked the context to intuit to whom it referred, a palpable dilemma that left both Harry and Dione standing in awkwardness.

"The topic we will discuss affects you, Harry. You should stay," Albus said, gesturing with his hands for him to sit next to Skyrah.

Gathering her presence wasn't required, Dione made to leave or, more precisely, tried to as Albus stalled her.

"Are you aware of the existence of horcruxes, Miss Fawley?"

"Yes, sir. My mother told me about them."

"In that case, you are welcome to join us."

Content with his response, Dione took the last seat on the edge of the sofa. This would be much more entertaining than Charms homework.

"My dismissal as a headmaster gave me time to inquire into horcruxes. I–"

"Sorry to interrupt, but I feel like I am the only one who doesn't know what a horcrux is."

"My apologies, Harry. For a moment, I forgot," said Albus, and supplied him with a summary with concise information that didn't come as a surprise to the boy.

After all, immortality, power and fear were Voldemort's drugs, and horcruxes were the outcome.

"Which horcruxes did he create?" wondered Harry.

Skyrah listed the objects her mother had told her about.

Harry smiled more of a Slytherin smile than a Gryffindor smile, a mix of cunning and victory radiating from it, which reminded Skyrah of the smile Severus pulled after discovering the final piece to flying with Dark Magic. Their only physical resemblance was the hair color, but right then, Severus and Harry could pass off as father and son. The realization left a bittersweet taste in her mouth.

"Well, it's good that I already destroyed his Diary."

"Indeed," said Albus. "We can forget about Gaunt's Ring as well."

"You destroyed it?" asked Dione.

"I did," he said, unconsciously hiding his black hand from them, a subtle gesture that neither Skyrah nor Severus missed.

"Then there are only three horcruxes left," said Harry.

Albus shook his head. "I suspect Nagini is another horcrux. Being a Slytherin and a Parselmouth, having a snake as a horcrux would be symbolic for Tom. We cannot forget that you have seen through her eyes in recurring dreams the same way you see through his. There must be a connection."

A pause followed, pertinent to let Albus's words sink in.

"The Dark Lord certainly keeps Nagini close," said Severus.

"And he has a great amount of power over her, even for a Parselmouth," added Skyrah.

So the death of the snake he hated was compulsory to defeat Voldemort. Harry would volunteer to kill her himself.

"How can we know there aren't more horcruxes?" Harry wondered.

"I presume that Horace knows the exact amount."

"Horace?" spluttered Severus. "As in Professor Slughorn?"

Dione and Harry looked at Skyrah, searching for answers, but she looked just as lost as them, for she asked, "Who is Professor Slughorn and how do we get that information from him without revealing too much?"

Albus's eyes twinkled in that mischievous way that made him look like an impish infant.

"Horace worked as a Potions Master before Severus. He's going to teach Potions this year, and Harry will get the snippet of information we require."

"Excuse me? Are you firing me now?" "How will I do that if I don't even know him?" asked Severus and Harry simultaneously.

The situation amused Albus to the point he couldn't conceal a smirk, a smirk that raised Severus's level of irritation.

"Horace adored your mother, Harry. You will take advantage of that esteem to get the memory that will resolve our doubts. As for your job, Severus, fear not. I figured you and your wife would like to look after your son while still working at Hogwarts. I rearranged your schedules so that he is always with either of you," he explained, passing the Snapes some parchments with the new timetables.

Only five seconds later, Severus lifted an inquiring eyebrow and looked at Albus. He knew what had astonished Severus, what he wanted to ask, yet his tension and confusion were too amusing for Albus to provide an answer.

Tired of the sly grin on Albus's face, Severus cleared his throat and drawled, "This says I am supposed to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts as well as Potions."

Technically, it wasn't a question. He wouldn't give Albus the satisfaction to confirm he was getting on his nerves with his silent teasing, but it sure sounded like one. Blue eyes twinkled again, and that annoying smirk was back on his face. Not rolling his eyes at his theatrics was proving to be taxing for Severus.

"Indeed. Skyrah will teach students from first to fourth year. You will be in charge of the rest plus seventh-year Potions. It is crucial that Horace teaches Harry, and that bans you from teaching him the subject. Naturally, this schedule won't be definitive until you grant your approval."

"The Dark Lord would rather have Skyrah teaching Harry. She should teach the older students."

"You tolerate older students better than the younger, Severus. I reckoned you'd appreciate this schedule. Skyrah can reach Harry even if she doesn't teach him."

Since when did Albus care about what he tolerated? He was all about the greater good. The voice in Severus's head told him to be alert. Albus wouldn't have offered such a schedule if he didn't want to compensate him for something. But compensate him for what? For their past? For their present? For their future, even, something Albus hadn't asked him to do yet? But then Severus looked at his eyes, those sapphires that usually twinkled naughtily but that were serious now, serious yet caring.

The gaze of a father.

And Severus understood. Maybe there was a twisted reason that justified the change of agenda, but the primary one was that Albus cared for him, and that made Severus feel fuzzy and warm.

"That was… thoughtful of you, yet vastly impractical. I'll teach the young students."

A nod from Skyrah and Albus found himself mumbling, "Very well."

Harry wouldn't be taught by Severus. Years ago, that would have been marvelous news. Not now. Not when he had grown fond of Severus, even in his stern teacher mode. In the classroom, Severus treated him as he had always done to keep up appearances, Harry knew it. Sometimes he had actually managed to brew an acceptable Potion on his own. Severus didn't award him points, but the corners of his lips quirked. It was so quick that if you blinked, you missed it. But Harry never missed it, and those proud smiles meant more to him than a few Gryffindor points ever would. He'd miss that. Terribly.

"Did you find out something else while Umbridge substituted you?" asked Severus, going back to the central matter.

"Tom liked to go to a certain cave as a child. I have a feeling one horcrux is hidden there. So far, the locations of the other horcruxes remain unknown. I was hoping Miss Fawley could enlighten us regarding this matter."

All eyes fell on her, a quite intimidating sight she avoided by looking up and stroking her chin, trying to remember something, anything that could be useful.

Eventually, she whispered, "When I was in Malfoy Manor, Draco and I used to talk."

"You what?" choked Harry.

Severus was as surprised as the boy, even more when her cheeks matched the color of her hair. Why would she blush? Why would she call him Draco, to begin with? Hufflepuff as she was, some unfriendliness from her part would be more than justified considering she had been held captive in Malfoy Manor. But then again, he had caught Dione staring at Draco once or twice in class, almost spoiling her potion because of that. He had assumed that she was recalling nasty memories, so he hadn't confronted her about it. What if he had interpreted it wrongly though? Could it be that she had a thing for the son of a Death Eater?

Dione glanced at him for a second, enough for his instincts to kick in and make sure he was paranoid, imagining things. Only he wasn't. Legilimency confirmed it. Grim news that complicated everything.

Severus glimpsed at Skyrah. Why didn't she look surprised? It made no sense unless she knew it. Bloody hell. She did. She knew her sister was falling for Draco, and she hadn't told him.

Dione's voice snapped him out of his worried thoughts.

"One night he looked a little shaken after meeting with his aunt."

"Bellatrix Lestrange..." whispered Severus.

Whenever that witch got involved, the situation deteriorated. That was enough to bring a scowl to his face.

"That bitch!"

"Harry, language!" scolded Skyrah.

"She's a psychopath! She killed Sirius!"

Misty-eyed, Harry kept seeing his godfather falling through the veil, over and over again. A nightmare. His breath came in short pants as if he had been running even though he hadn't moved from the couch.

Skyrah cupped his chin with one hand, the other holding his shaky hand.

"Sweetheart," she started, a ten-lettered word that appeased him like a calming draught. "It is okay to be angry and sad. If you feel like you need a moment, you may go to your bedroom or to the garden. We'll inform you later, okay?"

Harry shut his eyes, seeing Bellatrix and Sirius in his mind one last time before opening them again and murmuring in a hoarse voice that he would stay.

Skyrah smiled proudly and squeezed his now steady hand.

"That's my brave boy."

She considers me her boy, as in her child, Harry thought with a silly grin. Ignoring the curious look Albus was casting them, Skyrah kissed his lightning scar, the scar that had cursed an innocent child with a fate he hadn't asked and had linked him with her father.

That was it.

That was the moment Albus fathomed why Harry had begged him to spend all summer on Spinner's End instead of on Privet Drive and why he had been so upset when he found out about the blood wards. Harry and the Snapes were linked with a bond. Harry and Miss Fawley too, he thought when he saw them interacting next.

"I'm sorry. You can go on."

"You sure? We can take a break or–"

"I'm sure. Stop worrying about everybody like the Hufflepuff you are," Harry joked, nudging her.

She poked her tongue out, making him chuckle. Her face grew serious and the explanation continued.

"Draco said that his aunt was particularly paranoid that day. It turns out she didn't know where to hide something. He didn't tell me what or where. What if she was wondering where to hide a horcrux?"

The Snapes exchanged worried looks. Dione could very well be on the right track. Voldemort confided the Diary to Lucius back when he was his most trusted Death Eater. Now he wasn't. His favorite Death Eaters were Bellatrix and Severus, and he already entrusted the latter with a task: marrying his daughter and giving him an heir. It was conceivable that he entrusted Bellatrix with another one, with a horcrux.

Harry went to the garden to breathe some fresh air, after all.

Albus didn't stay for lunch. Dione joined Harry in the garden to do some homework and distract him from Bellatrix while the Snapes cooked.

"You knew Dione and Draco had talked before school," started Severus, switching on the oven to preheat it. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Skyrah put aside the knife, leaving a carrot half-chopped.

"I didn't think it was important," she said, her voice as rigid as her stance, spinning around to face him.

"It is when your sister has a crush on the son of a Death Eater." Skyrah froze. "Why did you hide that from me? I thought there were no secrets between us."

He was more affected by the fact that she hadn't entirely kept their promise than by the discovery of Dione's feelings. A burden of guilt hunched her shoulders. He had the right to be angry. Merlin knew she would be if the roles were reversed. Yet, he sounded… disappointed? Offended? That was even harder for her to take than ire.

"Dione has only confessed her feelings for him to me. I respected her desire to keep it secret. She knows he's dangerous, and he avoids her, anyway. There's nothing to fear. I would have told you if I thought she was in peril. I never meant to hurt you by hiding this from you. I just... I was trying to protect my sister." She paused. "How did you find out anyway?"

Waves of shame heated up his cheeks as he murmured, "Legilimency."

The lines of her face hardened. "It would have been nice of you if you had asked her first. You didn't even try."

She was the disappointed one now, and Severus couldn't stand it. The word sorry didn't roll off his tongue, yet his head lowered and his shoulders slumped, and when she whisked his hair out of his face and uncovered his remorseful eyes, words became redundant. Her expression softened.

"Legilimency wasn't an ideal solution, but your intentions were good. I know you. I know you did it because you care for my sister, for all of us."

He thanked Merlin she had taken it rather well. Still, if working with teenagers for more than a decade had taught him something, that was how unpredictable and impulsive they were, mostly when feelings were involved.

"Are you sure there is nothing to be worried about?"

"Yes. She'll be fine, and if I see anything suspicious, I'll let Dione and Draco know just how dark the path they are taking is." She lowered her hands to his shoulders and teased, "Maybe you should do it if it comes to that. Many students are particularly afraid of the bat of the dungeons. Scaring two adolescents should be a cinch for him."

Her lips were curled in a playful smile, that smile she wore whenever a banter session was about to ensue. And just like that, his fears abated.

"What's the matter? Is the wife of the bat of the dungeons afraid of frightening two teenagers by herself?" he replied in the same tone, expecting a smirk, a nudge or a ribbing reply.

None occurred.

The chopping sound returned to the kitchen, only it was rougher than advisable for someone as clumsy as Skyrah when it came to cooking. Afraid she'd cut herself, he craned forward from behind her and caught her wrist. She remained stiff under him, but let him guide her movements, now much more graceful, precise and slow.

"I was teasing you. I didn't mean to offend you," he said after the carrot was fully chopped, leaving the knife on the cutting board.

"I know. I just hate instilling fear. Every time I see somebody afraid of me, it reminds me of the person I used to be and could become."

"What do you mean?" he asked, turning her around to face him.

"I wasn't always the Skyrah you met. My soul used to be black." Before Daniel, she added to herself.

Aloof voice.

Empty eyes.

Only when the Dark Lord was involved, did her eyes show no emotions. Whatever she meant, it had to do with her father. The darkness in her life had to do with him.

"When I told you I did ghastly things, you said that that was the past and that making mistakes was part of being human. You were right. There is light in your soul now, a light that's conquered darkness, the most beautiful kind."

He finished the discourse with a lingering forehead kiss that returned the warmth to her eyes, the same eyes that allowed him to see her soul turn a little whiter.

A few days passed.

Air filled with the smell of chocolate cake and orange juice hadn't brought Skyrah comfort during breakfast, if the fact she shifted in her seat repeatedly was of any indication.

"Yes. Corbin is training," she joked when someone asked her if she was fine.

An excuse, to Severus's mind. She had never looked so uncomfortable due to Corbin's kicks.

"Are you sure you are okay?" he asked.

Harry peeked out from behind him. Technically, he had a lesson now, but he doubted Severus would be focused on defensive spells if he worried so much for Skyrah.

"Positive. Just tired. I'll rest and read on the couch," she assured, kissing his cheek.

Normally, her cheek kisses relaxed Severus, but not then. She usually lingered. She hadn't. Plus, she was making an effort to breathe deeply. Something was off. Even Harry was looking at Skyrah worried by then.

"You aren't just tired," pressed Severus. "You can't even breathe properly."

"I told you. He's kicking stronger than ever. It's perfectly normal."

"But–"

"But nothing. I can take it, and you should already be in the garden," she cut Harry off, her teacher mode on.

Harry marched out with slumped shoulders. The worried black eyes fixed on Skyrah didn't move.

"If you are trying to spare me the concern by pushing me away, you aren't succeeding. I worry even more when I don't know what is going on. You are my wife. If you aren't feeling okay, I expect you to tell me."

Her jaw clenched. "I don't need you to control me, Severus. My father does an excellent job at it already."

He sucked in a short intake of breath, his pupils dilated.

Dione looked away, torn between staying and making sure a war didn't escalate on Spinner's End and giving them space.

"I didn't mean it like that. If I ask you about your well-being, I expect an honest answer. No lies, remember?" A lump formed in his throat. "You always take care of me. You are always there for me. I want to do the same for you. I need to. I can't go to the garden with Harry when I know there's something wrong with you."

Her expression softened. He was there for her too. Always.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to compare you and my father. You know I'm cranky when I don't sleep, and Corbin's kicks are driving me crazy. As much as I appreciate your concern, there's nothing to worry about. Poppy said I should expect his strong kicks at this late stage. I'd tell you if there was something wrong with me, but there isn't."

Severus gulped and lowered his gaze. Her voice and expression had been frank. There was no reason to mistrust her, yet a strange feeling settled in his stomach.

"I don't want to make you feel like I control you. I'm sorry. It was not my intention. I... It's just that..."

He cursed himself for sounding like a stuttering dunderhead.

"That you care for me," she finished for him. "I know."

They locked eyes. Now he was the one who needed some air. If only she knew he didn't only care for her.

"Now go with Harry, worryguts," she urged with a pat on his back.

Though she hid behind a crooked smile, that feeling in his stomach hadn't disappeared, so he cast Dione a glance that told her to keep an eye on your sister before leaving.

Skyrah accioed a special History book, the one her grandmother gave her for her seventh birthday. By reading the familiar words, she felt like a child again, safe from the vile world. No stress. What she required.

One page. A peep at the title of the first chapter and her face broke into a nostalgic grin. If she closed her eyes, she could hear her grandmother's voice reading it with her.

Two pages. She was as engrossed in the book as her seven-year-old self had been, falling in love with History all over again.

Three pages. She could scarcely breathe but forced herself to read.

She didn't get to the fourth page.

A harsh gasp.

The book fell open on the floor. Skyrah writhed in agony, eyes shut, one hand on her belly, the other clutching her sister's wrist.

"Bloody hell! Skyrah, talk to me!"

The only sounds that escaped her mouth were whimpers and groans. Her curled body didn't make it easier for her lungs to absorb the whit of oxygen in the air. Eventually, the grip on Dione's wrist slackened.

"You're having contractions. That's what you were hiding from Severus."

Skyrah shook her head, willing her breathing to go back to normal. "I just felt a little pain earlier, and Corbin did kick. He's been kicking all night."

"That wasn't a little pain! We need to tell Severus and Harry!"

"No! It could be a false alarm. I won't alert them without a good reason."

Five contractions later, Skyrah could no longer deny that she was going into labor. Dione came back with Severus and Harry.

A slightly flushed and sweaty Skyrah was waiting for them. Severus caught a glimpse of the History book on the floor. She read it when Harry went to the Ministry and when the cruciatus curse gave him convulsions. It was more of a therapeutic book than anything, and the fact she had chosen to read it wasn't a calming thought.

Skyrah grinned enigmatically and pecked his lips.

"I have to tell you something, but you have to promise me you won't freak out."

Although the petition freaked him out already, he nodded. What she said next made his heart thud faster.

"The baby's coming."

Granted, Severus appeared physically calm on the outside, as promised, yet he was a wreck of nerves inside.

Sheer torture.

That was how he described the experience of watching his wife writhing in agony during her contractions. Like a chant, sweet words of praise tripped off his tongue to compensate her and distract her from the pain that not even the potions she had drunk were able to reduce.

After an eternity, Poppy directed her to push.

Skyrah took a big breath and obeyed. Her strength and determination didn't prevent her from crying out loud. Severus didn't care that she was gripping his hand so tight it was a wonder his bones hadn't broken yet. That wasn't even half of the pain she was going through. He had heard that childbirth was even more painful than the cruciatus curse, and her shrill screams confirmed it. He had thought it was impossible for him to admire her more, but seeing all the pain she was going through to meet their son proved him wrong. It was possible.

"I can't do it. I can't. Make it stop! Make the pain stop!"

"The pain will end in short. Keep pushing, dear. You're almost there," encouraged Poppy.

Skyrah shut her eyes. The pain intensified every passing second, like a knife going through her cervix.

"H-hurts," she croaked, on the verge of tears.

"I know. There's no denying the pain is unbearable, but that isn't a strong enough reason to stop you. I married the most stubborn witch I've ever known, after all," finished Severus in a teasing tone, hoping it would ease her ache, even if it was for a second.

It worked, for Skyrah let out a giggle that turned into a loud groan when the next contraction hit her. She pushed with all her might and was delighted to hear Poppy could see the head.

Three pushes later, a baby wail erupted in the bedroom. Skyrah flopped back against a pile of pillows, still holding Severus's hand, although loosely.

A flick of Poppy's wand and the baby was all cleaned up, the umbilical cord got cut and the placenta was removed. Another wave of wand and diagnosis was run on mother and son to ensure there were no complications. Both were healthy. Corbin was clutched on Skyrah's tired yet secure arms shortly after, enveloped in a fresh linen blanket.

"Congratulations. You are parents."

Severus gave Poppy a grateful smile, the kind that very few people had been gifted with. Skyrah didn't even hear her. She was enthralled by the little person in her arms.

"I'll give you some space. I'll come tomorrow to officially meet my godson. I'll tell Miss Fawley and Mister Potter the news and warn them not to come until you allow it. Does that sound good?"

Severus nodded and Poppy finally departed.

A single tear of joy streamed down Skyrah's cheek. Her sweat and weariness mattered not when a dazzling smile illuminated her face. She was stunning, so stunning that Severus couldn't help but press their lips in a languid kiss.

"You did it," he breathed, resting their foreheads together.

"We did it, Severus. It takes two to get pregnant, you know?"

"I wasn't the one pushing."

She gave him a tired, lopsided grin. "No, you were the one enduring my tight grip and cries. I don't think I would have been able to bear it without your voice."

Her eyes fell on their now hushed son. Merlin. She was in awe, glowing. Finding he couldn't wait any longer to meet him, his gaze fell on the baby.

Corbin had inherited his slightly round chin from his mother. Everything else was Severus's. Wrinkly pinkish skin contrasted against a wisp of black hair. Thin bow-shaped lips curled in the corners, giving the impression he was half-smirking. And the nose. Merlin help him. It threatened to be just as hooked as his. He almost apologized for passing on such unfortunate genes, but then Skyrah tapped the tip of the baby's nose in adoration, and Corbin opened his eyes, his mother's eyes, as warm as hers, tainted with the color of the fertile earth after being trickled by the rain, eyes that knocked the wind out of Severus. Suddenly, apologizing didn't make sense. He had always thought perfection didn't exist... until then. Corbin was perfect, even with the nose, mainly with the nose.

His nose.

His child.

On instinct, he brought his pinky close to the baby's tiny hand. Corbin wrapped it, and a heaven-like feeling invaded Severus. The weight of his past mistakes was bearable. The moonlight that filtered through the window turned brighter. The darkness in his soul Skyrah had begun to whiten wasn't so visible. And it was all because of his son, the definition of hope.

Skyrah smiled at the scene and made to place the child carefully in his arms. The urge to put his hands behind and recoil from them was hard to control. Was he worthy of his son? What if he hurt him? Would he be like Tobias?

"You are blind," Harry had said.

And he had been right.

Severus was letting fear blind him again. He wouldn't allow it. Not again. Not ever, he pledged as Skyrah placed the baby in his arms.

The room got blurry. Nothing else existed but him and his son. A cozy feeling embraced him, and it didn't take long for him to decipher it: love. He already loved his child so much that it seemed inconceivable. Corbin looked so tiny in his hands that a sudden need to protect him arose. Such a pure creature, so innocent, so vulnerable had come into such a hateful, vile, cruel world. Words did no justice to everything he was feeling, and in the end, Severus kissed his forehead so tenderly his lips barely brushed the skin.

The baby's lips curved ever so slightly, and his initial half-smirk became a half-smile. Severus smiled a broad smile that showed all his teeth and that only Skyrah had seen on rare occasions. Nothing could wipe it away, nothing but the sudden piercing wail that filled the room.

"Am I holding him wrong?"

Bloody hell. One minute with his son and he already made him cry. But then Skyrah gave him a soothing smile and exposed her breast. Severus twigged. Hunger. Corbin was hungry. Relieved it had nothing to do with him, he watched as she breastfed the baby for the first time. And how divine the scene was.

"You're so beautiful."

Skyrah laughed groggily. "I've spent seventeen hours screaming, sweating and bleeding. I must look like an ogre."

"You're beautiful," he repeated obstinately, putting a rebel lock behind her ear. "You and Corbin, both."

Skyrah grinned and watched as he picked him in his arms and put on a nappy with extreme care. A bluish pastel sleeper Poppy had knitted followed next. Corbin had his own room, but they had decided to keep him close for the time being and had moved his crib in front of their bed, where Severus put him to sleep.

He made sure his wife was comfortable next, tucking her into bed.

"What?" he asked with an arched eyebrow when he noticed she was dewy-eyed.

For the longest time, she kept mute, tracing his features.

"He looks so much like you already."

"Save for your chin and striking eyes."

"I wanted him to have your eyes."

"I wanted him to have your nose. I am not disappointed though. I never imagined I would be able to create something so perfect."

"He's ours. He's perfect indeed," she half-joked half-meant, bringing a smile to his face.

His facial muscles ached from grinning so much in such a short period of time. He didn't even care. He wanted to have this blissful feeling forever, and with a family in his life, he just might.

"Could you tell Dione and Harry to come in, please?"

Severus nodded, ready to go downstairs, where Harry and Dione had supposedly waited, supposedly being the keyword. The door opened, and the teenagers burst into the room. Any other day, Severus would have been mad they had disobeyed and eavesdropped.

Today wasn't any other day.

Chapter Text

Harry loomed over the crib and frowned.

"He's very pink and wrinkly."

Chapter Text

The tinkling laughter of a child travelled through the air, filled with the fresh smell the grassland emanated. This could be a dream, the pleasant kind, the kind Severus didn't dream often. But it wasn't. It was a memory. Skyrah's.

"Mummy! Stop, please!"

The child wriggled under a woman who could pass for Dione's sister. Fingers wiggled on her small belly; kisses landed on her forehead.

"Ugh-ugh, you aren't escaping this!"

"Andraste Acantha Carrow, let the child breathe," an elderly woman with an Irish accent said.

The tickling game finished.

Skyrah hadn't told Severus her mother's name, but given that her own name was Skyrah Andraste, he assumed the woman who reminded him of Dione was none other than his mother-in-law. The fact she happened to be a Carrow before becoming a Fawley did not stagger him. After all, the Carrows were highly loyal to the Dark Lord.

He was more interested in the Irish woman and whatever she was hiding behind her back. Mischievous blue eyes, the same Andraste and Dione shared, combined with each facial wrinkle that spoke of her wisdom led Severus to think he might be in front of a distant relative of Albus.

"Granny!" the child shrieked, breaking free from her mother and hugging her. "You came over!"

"Indeed! I wanted to see my favorite grandchild!"

Severus could see the child perfectly now. Her face was plumper and her cheerful smile exposed a missing tooth, but there was no doubt in his mind: she was Skyrah. One glimpse at her warm eyes and he wished he had a daughter who looked just like her, like an impish angel.

The girl pressed her lips thin the same way adult Skyrah did when she thought.

"But I'm your only grandchild!" she exclaimed, pouting. "Of course I'm your favorite!"

Both grown-ups sniggered. Even Severus smiled crookedly.

The grandmother put out her hand from behind her back, uncovering a white rose. Skyrah beamed, snatching it from her and putting it into her hair...

Or trying to.

The flower fell onto the grass attempt after attempt. In the end, she huffed and glanced up at her mother in a silent plea to assist her. Andraste suppressed a chuckle and took the rose from her. The stem was transfigured into a ribbon which served to tie her hair into a ponytail.

"The loveliest girl on Earth."

While Skyrah twirled in delight, showing off her new hairstyle, her knee-length lavender-colored dress billowing out around her, Severus could only think Andraste had taken the words out of his mouth. Skyrah only stopped to give cheek kisses to both women. It didn't surprise him to find out she had been kissing cheeks in gratitude since she was a little kid, just like it didn't surprise him she was fond of white and red roses. They rekindled good memories, like lilies did to him. He had assumed the reason she was keen on roses was that Daniel used to give them to her. That still might be true, but somehow, knowing she liked roses way before Daniel made him feel better.

"Granny!" exclaimed Skyrah, tugging at her skirt. "Tell me about the Giant Wars again!"

"Again?! Mum, I told you a thousand times not to tell her about wars. She's only five, for Rowena's sake!"

"Nonsense! Skyrah's clever enough to understand History! Aren't you?" asked the grandmother, tapping the tip of her small nose.

Skyrah bounced and Severus couldn't help but titter. She hadn't changed. She glowed whenever she learned or talked about History.

Her grandmother had just begun to tell her about the giants when a faint pop of apparition got Skyrah sprinting towards a wizard.

"Daddy!" she chirped, aiming to hug his legs.

Severus took a moment to scrutinize the Dark Lord. Only the sclera was red, not his irises, which were brown-tainted like Skyrah's but lacked the compassion hers held. Jet black hair contrasted against his unhealthy pale skin, the same tint Skyrah's skin turned when she was sick. That was how Voldemort looked, like an ill man, yet more human than Severus had ever seen. The physical resemblance between father and daughter was remarkable. Only her face shape and lips were like Andraste's, rounding her features to match her warm personality.

A resounding slap reminded Severus the real Voldemort lay under the shell of human appearance. Skyrah brought her hand to her stinging cheek, biting her lip to keep from crying. He was making Skyrah feel like hugging him was wrong, whereas Severus would give anything to have Corbin greet him so enthusiastically in the near future. If Severus hadn't been so focused on little Skyrah, he would have noticed her grandmother was mirroring his reaction: clenched fists, white knuckles.

"Tom!" Voldemort fixed Andraste with his icy glare, so she rectified, "Lord Voldemort, Skyrah's just happy about your visit. She didn't mean to bother you. She loves you."

"The quicker she learns love is weakness, the better. She needs to learn her place or suffer the consequences."

Those consequences would be in the shape of a punishment. Severus could only guess the Dark Lord's methods.

"I'm sorry for being a bad daughter," Skyrah croaked, silent tears sliding down her puffy cheek.

Severus didn't know what incensed him more: her hunched shoulders, her words or the fact Voldemort hadn't even looked at her. The first denoted she had been punished before. The second showed that her self-image had been tarnished by her father from a very young age. The third reaffirmed what he had always known: the Dark Lord never cared for his daughter. He only used her. She was a mere possession.

"Why are you here?" Andraste asked, shielding Skyrah by stepping in front of her, something Severus appreciated immensely.

"We need to talk."

Severus breathed the tense air, and so did Skyrah's grandmother, for she urged, "Sweetheart, come here. I'll tell you about the Giant Wars."

Sweetheart.

How many times had Severus heard Skyrah call Harry that?

She didn't mention her grandmother much. Actually, he only recalled one allusion: she had sung an Irish lullaby to him to help him sleep after a nightmare about Lily. Yet, he didn't need to witness more memories to grasp that the old woman had influenced her considerably. Her passion for History, the sweetheart nickname, the lullaby... They all came from her.

The child dried her face with her sleeve and ran towards her grandmother. Her bones ached. Severus knew because, even though no whines escaped her and her face didn't crease, it took her a while to actually sit on the grass.

"Will you promise me something?"

Still shaken from her interlude with Voldemort, Skyrah didn't speak. She barely nodded and leaned against her side.

"Promise me that your father will not make you think differently." Skyrah didn't ask any question but showed her confusion by frowning heavily. The grandmother caressed her cheek fondly, the one that wasn't bruising, while she explained, "He isn't a good man. He'll hurt your feelings like he has just done. He'll make you do things you won't like."

"I don't get it."

But Severus did, and he was glad Skyrah had such a role model in her life.

"Your father can break your heart, control your body and taint your soul, but there is one thing he won't be able to touch: your mind." The grandmother touched Skyrah's forehead. "Don't let him change your opinions. Don't let him know what you really think. Fool him into thinking you are who he wants you to be and he won't punish you. You'll be free."

"So I have to hide my thoughts?"

"Exactly. I've seen you telling your mother something you didn't really feel to escape from a little scolding. Do the same with him. Tell him what he wants to hear."

"But Mummy says lying is bad."

"Just promise me, Skyrah. Your mind won't be touched if you know how to guard it and keep up appearances. Do that for me."

She nodded, eliciting a proud smile from her grandmother.

The sky turned duskier. Now Skyrah was sleeping in her mother's arms. Impossible. She wouldn't have the memory...

Unless she was pretending to be asleep.

As if on cue, Skyrah opened her eyes and quickly closed them so as not to alert her family. Always the Slytherin, thought Severus amused yet prideful. An impish angel indeed.

"Mother, forget it."

"He's bad for you and Skyrah!"

Long gone was the sweet grandmother Severus had met. He had assumed that Skyrah could look as scary as her father when she set her mind to it. A major misconception. That temper was all her grandmother's.

"Lower your voice! You're going to wake her up."

She did drop her voice, but it still carried all her indignation.

"Distinguishing evil from benignity isn't an easy task, for everybody is in the middle of the spectrum, neither totally bad nor good. That's what I always thought until I met him. He's pure evil. You deserve someone better."

"I know he isn't perfect, but nobody is! He wasn't so cruel when I met him. I... I never thought he would be so dangerous."

"He is. That much is pretty clear. He's extremely smart, talented and crazy, the worst mix."

"I'm in love with him."

Andraste wasn't lying. Her voice held the same conviction Skyrah's did when she whispered the words to Severus.

"That love is toxic. One day you will have to choose between your own daughter and the wizard who believes love is a weakness!"

"My daughter inspires me," Andraste mumbled, holding Skyrah tighter. "Love is inspiring. My love for him will open his eyes. I will fight for Skyrah to have the father she deserves, for me to have a man who loves me back."

"That's the problem. He's no longer a man. He's a monster. He's recruiting an army of supremacists, for Merlin's sake!"

"He's the father of my child! How can pure evil, a monster, create the sweetest child? There must be good in him."

Severus didn't know if Andraste was trying to convince her mother or herself. They say love is blind, and seeing Andraste, he had to agree up to some point.

The scenario blurred. A familiar green lightning hindered Severus's sight.

The killing curse.

"Stop!" begged a high-pitched voice.

He didn't realize it belonged to Skyrah until the green faded away and gave rise to a dark forest and a corpse lying on the mud. Next thing Severus knew, the eight-year-old was screaming in agony. He had witnessed horrors during his Death Eater's escapades – heck, he had participated in many of them – yet, watching the witch he had married under the cruciatus curse when she was a mere child was insupportable.

The unforgivable curse came to an end. The torture didn't. Voldemort took her by the hair, raising her body while he hissed something unintelligible in Parseltongue, a moment Severus took to notice his nose had disfigured a bit since the last time he had seen him. He let his daughter go, throwing her as if she was a sack. Any other child would be running away by then. Severus knew better. If she hadn't run, it was because that would worsen the situation. Voldemort would find her and punish her more severely. Tobias always found him too.

"You better not disappoint me again, Daughter," he warned, switching to English.

The aftereffects of the curse were still visible in her trembling body, albeit that didn't stop her from plucking up enough courage to meet his eyes.

"I won't, but why did you hurt me so much?"

Her voice had been frail, nothing like that cheerful sound that had welcomed Severus at the beginning of her memories.

"Showing pity for a mudblood is unacceptable. You needed to be taught a lesson."

She frowned. "What's a mudblood?"

"People who shouldn't exist. They aren't pure. They don't merit the gift of magic. They merit death."

In a blink of an eye, Severus was in a train compartment which, in spite of being more spacious, harkened him back to Hogwarts Express. Skyrah lounged on the seat and pulled out two books from her suitcase: a mythology book and a familiar History book. She looked at them both and put the first book back into the suitcase. Severus worried. Why would she would she pick the same book she had read before going into labor? She only read it when she was anxious.

A few hesitating knocks and the door creaked open, revealing an Afro-American girl with an honest smile.

"Hello! Can I stay here? Are you a first year, too?"

Right then, Severus understood why she was reading that particular book. After all, the first day of school is equally thrilling and frightening.

Skyrah kept her nose stuck in the book but nodded.

"What are you reading? I love reading too!"

"It's a History of Magic book, my favorite."

"History of Magic? Cool! Can we read it together? Ilvermorny's one hour away..."

Suspicious brown eyes swept her. After a few seconds of meditation, Skyrah nodded. The girl shrieked in excitement and sat next to Skyrah.

"Faith Young."

"Skyrah Riddle," she replied with a sheepish grin Severus had seldom seen on her, shaking the hand Faith had just extended.

"The Giant Wars," read Faith out loud. Her jaw dropped. "Giants exist?"

"Of course! Haven't you ever heard about the Giant Wars at all? They were very important!" she exclaimed, offended.

Severus almost chuckled. He sometimes teased his wife by telling her something historically incorrect on purpose. No matter how many years had gone by, she reacted the same way.

"Er, you see," Faith babbled, rubbing her nape. "My parents are no-maj. I've just found out I'm a witch, so I don't know much about magic."

"No-maj?"

"Yeah, they can't do magic. Nobody in my family can, not even my older brother."

"Oh, they're muggles! You are a mud- er, muggle-born. That's how my grandmother calls your kind."

"Is that bad?"

Lily had asked Severus the same question once. While Skyrah shifted in her seat, battling against herself, he saw her as the reflection of his younger self.

"Merlin didn't believe so. I don't think the greatest wizard in History was wrong about that," she concluded with a lovely grin of hers.

"Wait... Isn't Merlin a legend?"

Skyrah lifted an eyebrow. "You know what? I'll tell you the basics about the wizarding world... You can't go to Ilvermorny without knowing Merlin existed."

Skyrah glowed while she explained everything to her new curious friend. Severus smiled. He had seen her teaching History to Harry a few times. That spark in her eyes was the same. He couldn't thank her grandmother more for introducing her to the subject. It wasn't only a passion. It gave reasons to question her father's views. History was her shelter.

The train transfigured into the same forest she had witnessed Voldemort killing, except that this Skyrah looked even more afraid. Her pupils were so dilated Severus could barely perceive the brown in her irises.

"Daddy! Please! Faith's my best friend! My only friend! You can't make me do this! You just can't!"

Black eyes widened.

Faith. A muggle-born witch. There was nothing Skyrah could do to hide her friend from the greatest legilimens. Not only had she killed at the age of twelve. She had killed her best friend too.

"You promised you wouldn't disappoint me again. You did. Only the weak beseech. You are weak."

Skyrah took one step forward. Her rebellious nature, that nature that worried Severus so much, took over. The rebellion was her way to break free, to remind herself she could fly with broken wings even if her flight would be graceless and conditioned by the wind of his father, the one who had broken her wings in the first place. It would be painful and she wouldn't travel long distances but she would move. She wouldn't remain stuck.

"If asking you to spare my friend's life makes me weak, so be it! I always thought I wasn't being a good daughter, but it's you! You aren't being a good father!"

A slap, stronger than the one she received years ago, resonated. She didn't bring her hand to her cheek, but Severus knew it was because of her pride, not because it wasn't sore. The red mark on her face was the evidence.

"What is a father, Skyrah? Someone who disciplines, guides and teaches you, who shows you what life is. That is what I do."

Severus realized that, according to his twisted mind, the Dark Lord considered he was a good father. That was the biggest tragedy, the price Skyrah paid.

"And if I refuse to do as you say? If I refuse to kill Faith?"

"I will torture her parents and kill them in front of her. She will go next." Skyrah blanched. "You knew you could not associate with mudbloods. You disobeyed. Now you must accept the consequences."

"Then punish me! Crucio me! Hurt me! I won't talk to her! I won't be her friend! But don't hurt her and her family! Give me another chance! Give me a chance to show you I'm the daughter you want me to be, the daughter who appreciates your guidance!"

Severus's heart was aching for her. She put the blame on herself when the Dark Lord almost punished him for not informing about the first pregnancy, sacrificing herself like she was doing then. Her last sentence was a ray of hope though. Her cunning mind had operated, trying to fulfill the promise to her grandmother: show her father what he wants to see in her, that girl who appreciates that he shows her how life works.

"You will be crucioed and the mudblood will die. The question is who will murder her."

There wasn't a fair choice for her, but then again, Voldemort never cared for justice.

Severus found himself in a dormitory with blue walls. A fidgeting Skyrah was sitting on cranberry bedsheets, patterned with the Horned Serpent House crest.

"Are you all right? You've been distracted lately, and you keep having nightmares at night," said Faith, who was standing in front of her. Skyrah stopped fretting but kept mute. "We're best friends. You can tell me anything."

"I... I'd rather not talk about it. I'll go to the kitchens and ask the house-elves to make me some tea. That will relax me."

Faith furrowed her brow in preoccupation, but then she smiled and teased, wrinkling her nose on purpose, "Tea? Figures, always the British. How can you drink that? It must taste foul."

Skyrah laughed. Her laughter sounded more like sobs than anything else.

"You know what? I'll bring you some for you so that you can taste it and value for yourself."

Faith hummed in approval and made to go with her.

"No!" yelped Skyrah, taking her friend by the shoulders. "Stay here. I... I need a moment alone. I promise I'll come back as soon as possible."

Faith frowned but acceded.

Severus followed Skyrah across Ilvermorny. He would have paid attention to the school infrastructures, so similar to Hogwarts yet unique in its own way if it wasn't for his concern for her.

Finally, with the teas and a few cookies on a plate, she deviated into an empty lavatory. She took out a necklace with a flask labelled as Tolipan Blemish Blitzer from under her chemise.

Three drops fell into one tea. The sparing substance was dumped into the toilet.

Many students in Hogwarts had that potion against acne. It wasn't shocking to see Skyrah with it. What caught Severus off guard was that the liquid wasn't pinkish and soupy but blood-colored and syrupy. That wasn't Tolipan Blemish Blitzer. That was a lethal poison he had brewed for the Dark Lord more times he was willing to admit. It killed instantly, painlessly. Plus, it was impossible to see in autopsies, nay the victim seemed to die of choking.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice trembling as much as her hands. "I'm sorry I befriended you. I never meant to hurt you. I'm trying to save your family."

In an unconscious attempt to comfort Skyrah, Severus reached for her. His hand halted midair when she put her unemotional mask on, the same she wore in front of her father. One thing was seeing an adult Skyrah keeping her emotions at bay. Seeing a child doing the same, though? That was unnatural.

Faith beamed the instant Skyrah came back.

"Cookies! American cookies! Just what I needed!"

Skyrah's smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Cookies and pancakes are the only American food I like."

An understatement. Skyrah had a sweet-tooth. Her mouth watered whenever she smelled the just-made pancakes Severus sometimes cooked for breakfast.

A sip. Faith's fate was sealed.

"It tastes funny. Coke is much better. Anyway, is it supposed to make you sleepy?" she asked with a yawn.

Skyrah swallowed hard. "Just lie down. Maybe you should take a nap."

"But I don't want to sleep!"

"I'll sleep next to you, only for a while. Tea truly makes you drowsy," she lied, lying down next to her friend and taking her hand.

"I meant it, you know? You really are my bestie, Sky," mumbled Faith.

Skyrah shut her eyes in pain.

Ten seconds later, the grip on her hand slackened.

The palm on her mouth was the only thing that kept Skyrah from screaming.

She got rid of the poisoned tea and settled the scene so that it looked like Faith had choked on a cookie, a mere accident, all while sobs racked her body, begging for forgiveness.

Granted, Severus had loathed the Dark Lord for years, but after witnessing how he had coerced his own daughter into killing her friend, the sentiment of loathing fell short.

The dorm changed into another bedroom. The classical yet sophisticated decoration somehow reminded him of Malfoy's Manor. He knew the Carrows well enough to gather those light neutral colors weren't to their liking. The Manor had to be the property of Skyrah's grandmother.

Andraste was standing, warding her cloudy eyes off Skyrah by looking through the window. She couldn't avert them from Severus though. He saw her perfectly, and her gaze was that of a woman who felt like she had failed her daughter, heavily defeated. On the bed, Skyrah snuggled against her grandmother. No matter how much the grandmother patted her back and called her sweetheart, soft cries and phrases of regret about killing Faith kept echoing across the room.

"He makes me hate myself. He makes me feel like I'll always lose," Skyrah murmured.

Words like daggers. Andraste finally looked at her, determined to console her. Her mother beat her to it though.

"When you were younger, I told you something you should always bear in mind. Your father can break your heart, control your body and taint your soul, but there is something he won't be able to touch."

"My mind," Skyrah finished for her, wiping her last tears. "I remember it. I think that's why I'm a Horned Serpent."

Grandmother and granddaughter smiled at each other. Even Severus's lips curved up ever so slightly. Andraste furrowed her brow in worry though.

"That isn't true, Mother. He can touch her mind. He's a skilled legilimens. The greatest."

"Then you know what you must teach her. I told you one day you'd have to choose. That day has come."

Severus had expected Andraste to hesitate, to give it some thought. To his relief, she didn't. She chose Skyrah. If some remnants of her love for Voldemort survived, they weren't blinding her anymore.

Extracting herself from her grandmother's embrace, Skyrah inquired, "What will you teach me?"

"Occlumency," muttered Andraste and Severus at the same time.

The interior warped until shelves filled with old books were seen and whispers and buzzes were heard.

Ilvermorny's library. Not as huge as Hogwarts's, but with quieter students. Eileen would gladly work here.

A third-year Skyrah was immersed in a book.

"Riddle, we need to talk about the Charms homework," started a girl of her age, her voice slightly quavering.

She was keeping a considerable distance from Skyrah, scared, something that Severus didn't comprehend until Skyrah snarled, "There's nothing to talk about, Perkins. I've already done it. Get lost."

She hadn't even moved her eyes from the book.

"But it was supposed to be done in pairs!"

"Do I look like I care? I told you to get lost."

"Why are you so mean?"

"Why are you so bloody stupid?!" growled Skyrah, slamming the book on the table and making Perkins shrank back, finally meeting her eyes. Some students around them frowned in worry, others pretended not to notice. "Can't you take the hint?! Leave me the hell alone!"

"You'll never make friends if you keep up like this!"

Barely holding back her tears, Perkins turned on her heels and ran out of the library. A few students hurried after her to comfort her. None came to Skyrah, not even to ask her why she had lashed out or to reproach her behavior. Severus had never imagined she could be so… cold, aggressive. She actually reminded him of his younger self, although with one radical difference: as a third-year, Lily had been his best friend. Which made him wonder, where was Daniel?

"That's my aim, Perkins. No friends mean no more heart-breaks, no more deaths."

Her confession never reached Perkin's ears, but Severus got the message loud and clear. She was pushing everyone away because she thought it was the safe path for everybody, the same philosophy he had espoused more times than he should have throughout his life. It had been relatively easy for him, being used to solitude. Skyrah had always had the support of her family though. Choosing isolation must have been Hades for her. She had once told him she hated instilling fear. Now he fathomed why: it didn't evoke good memories.

He was transported back to the Manor. A few pimples covered her usually smooth face. Severus guessed the reason: she associated the death of her friend with the potion against acne, hence, no Tolipan Blemish Blitzer for her. Her skin did not matter to him as much as the state she was in: shaking her head and looking at her mother horrified.

"You can't be pregnant, Mum. It isn't safe."

The image of red curls framing sparkling blue eyes and freckles came to mind.

Dione.

She would not wound her like Voldemort did. She would make Skyrah happy.

"I'm keeping the baby," claimed Andraste. "Connor and I will protect her."

"Connor? Connor Fawley, the dragonologist?! He's her father? I thought you were only friends!"

"Not anymore. We're engaged."

She sought the engagement ring, but Andraste's fingers were bare. As if reading her mind, Andraste took out a silver chain hidden under her robes, the sparkling jewel hanging from it. Skyrah swallowed hard.

"What about my father?"

Andraste raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"

"He'll find out and disapprove! Don't you see?! Could you be more irresponsible?!" Exasperated, she gripped her mother's shoulders. "You taught me Occlumency to protect myself! I made him believe I hold his views! I pushed everybody away to keep them safe, and now you're going to ruin it all!"

Andraste broke free from her, her voice adopting an Irish accent when she spoke, "Apologize for your impertinence. Now."

Skyrah hung her head, keeping her expression hidden, most likely to hide her embarrassment. Only when she shot her head up did Severus realize that she wasn't shameful. She was unapologetic, as brazen as Harry used to act in front of him.

"No!" Blue eyes widened. Clearly, Skyrah hadn't confronted Andraste so brashly before. "No, I won't! Keeping the baby is a mistake! He won't allow it! Not to mention Connor will end up dead if–"

"Aborting the baby would be the mistake," Andraste cut her off. "Letting Tom rule my life would. I won't renounce my happiness for him. I want to have a family. Am I asking for too much?"

"Am I not enough for you?" Skyrah shot back.

At the minimum touch of Andraste's hand on her cheek, she jerked her head away. Andraste gulped.

"I love you. Don't doubt that." Skyrah didn't look her in the eye yet. "Connor and I weren't looking for a child, but now that I'm pregnant, we can't help but love her unconditionally. I'm growing old. I won't have another chance to have another baby."

Her knees buckled, and Skyrah had no other choice but to sit down on the edge of the bed. Considering how much his wife loved Dione, Severus felt uncomfortable witnessing her reluctance to become a sister.

"Connor wants to meet you. He wants to be your father, a good one, unlike Tom."

Skyrah snorted. "He'll forget about that when he sees his own child. Nobody wants a broken teenager, even less You-Know-Who's daughter."

"Why would you want an insolent teenager like me?" Harry asked once after finding out Skyrah was pregnant with Corbin and storming out. Severus had not comprehended why she had forgiven the boy so fast. Now he did. She knew what it felt like. She had related to Harry.

"Connor's a good man. He knows my story with Tom, and he still loves me. He still wants to meet you. He believes there is more of me than of Tom in you."

"I bet Faith doesn't think the same, wherever she is," Skyrah muttered darkly, hanging her head.

Andraste kneeled in front of her and lifted her chin.

"My child, your regrets don't define you. You are much more than that. You are much more than your blood."

If only someone had told Severus that when he had been in the darkest point of his life, his life would have been a little lighter.

"You used to ask for a sibling when you were a child. Why aren't you happy?"

"Why?!" Skyrah removed her mother's hand. "I'm not naïve anymore! I know what Father is capable of! He'll kill us all when he finds out! I don't want to lose my family! I can't lose you! I can't lose a sister!"

She hugged the pillow of the bed, burying her face in it. Even though silence reigned in the bedroom, her shoulders shook. She was weeping. Andraste took the soaked pillow away. Skyrah didn't offer resistance. Neither then nor when her mother lay next to her and held her, toying with her black tresses the same way Severus would have done.

Soothing words echoed as the scenario got blurry and devolved into a hospital room. Skyrah and her grandmother were surrounding the hospital bed Andraste was resting on. A freckled man who was holding a newborn was with them. Connor Fawley, easily deduced Severus. Skyrah refrained from getting close to the baby. Whether it was out of fear or resentment, Severus did not know. After a squeeze of hand from her mother and an encouraging smile from Connor, Skyrah picked the newborn up. Her face lit up instantaneously. Gods. Severus lived for her smiles. They were his fuel, yet he had seen more tears and anguish than felicity so far.

"We want you to name her," said Connor with a kind smile.

The smile struck Skyrah as much as his words. Her own father had never smiled kindly at her. Andraste was holding his hand in encouragement. It had been Connor's idea. Her face was blank, but Severus knew Skyrah well enough to grasp she was wondering why Connor would make such a considerate offer. She must have reached the conclusion he was truly willing to be her father, for she ended up kissing his cheek.

"I like Dione," she mumbled after studying the baby.

"For her eyes?" asked her grandmother with a knowing grin.

She nodded. At Connor's frown, Skyrah explained that Dione was a sea-nymph, and seeing the color of the baby's eyes, the name was quite fitting. Severus remembered she almost picked a mythology book to read on her way to Ilvermorny during her first year. It wasn't strange Skyrah knew about the subject then, even less considering who her grandmother was. It was easy for him to picture her telling Skyrah about the Greek gods when she was a small child, the same way she told her about History.

"Dione was a Greek goddess famed for curing wounds too. Perhaps she may heal us. She may heal me." That last part was spoken in a low voice, but by the saddened faces in the room, they all had heard Skyrah. She looked at her grandmother and added in a lighter tone, "I also want her to carry the name of a wise, kind woman who has always been there to sing me lullabies and tell me stories, so Dione Brighid Fawley, it is."

Her grandmother didn't say anything but one tear fell from the corner of her eye; a grateful smile crossed her face. She squeezed Skyrah's shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

The Fawleys exchanged looks and smiled.

"Dione Brighid Fawley is perfect," said Connor.

Skyrah beamed and clutched the baby closer to her chest. She whispered something in her ear Severus was only able to hear because he was right next to her.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a good sister when Mum said she was pregnant. From now on, I'll be the best sister you could ask for. I promise I'll always protect you, little one."

The hospital room dissolved, and with it, the joy painted in Skyrah's face. Now Severus was in the living room of the Manor. The first thing that caught his attention was a newspaper on the floor. One peek at the date was enough to make him shudder.

First of November 1981.

One day after Halloween.

One day after Lily's death.

Trying to keep the image of her corpse out of his mind, he listened to Andraste.

"Tom will be back. He made horcruxes."

While she introduced the topic, Severus couldn't help but notice Skyrah resembled a statue. She didn't frown, gasp nor move her hands. She didn't even take a sip from the cup of tea she was holding. Nothing.

And then, a smash. A yelp. Pieces of the porcelain cup spread on the floor, mixing with the tea and drops of blood that fell from the cuts on her hand.

As the Head of the Slytherin House, Severus had witnessed countless accidental wandless magic episodes, none of them in students older than third-year. He would have never guessed Skyrah of all people had experienced one a few days before turning seventeen.

"Bloody hell! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to–"

"Sh... You can't control this," soothed Andraste, cleaning the place with a flick of the wand and muttering healing spells to heal her wounds.

"Sixteen-year-olds should be able to keep their magic under control."

"Sixteen-year-olds shouldn't be under stress like you are. Don't blame yourself for this."

Her lips trembled, and all Severus wanted to do was to hold her. Thankfully, her mother took his place and whispered honeyed words. Granted, Andraste had made mistakes, but what mattered the most was that she had always been there for Skyrah. Severus would have given anything to have Eileen hug him like that when he broke down, when he was hidden in the corner of his room, pleading his drunken father wouldn't hurt him. Andraste had been courageous and smart enough to chase her happiness, to scurry away from Voldemort like Eileen should have from Tobias, and for that, she earned his respect. After all, amending mistakes was one of the greatest challenges in life. He knew that only too well.

"I'm tired of having no freedom and losing. I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Brown eyes might have been dry, yet her voice... Her voice showed all the frustration she had buried inside, the frustration that had shattered the porcelain and maybe, her hopes as well.

"Remember what your grandmother told you. As long as you keep your opinions to yourself, you will be free. You will beat him."

Skyrah's face contorted in unbearable pain at the mention of Brighid.

Her grandmother was gone.

"I don't want him to come back. I just want to live my life, for once."

"Then live, Skyrah. You're the only one stopping yourself from being happy right now. Your grandmother wouldn't like to see you so tormented. I don't like it."

"I'm happy when I'm with you, with Dione and Connor. It isn't so easy when I'm at school. I'm lonely there."

"Loneliness isn't always bad, but when that is the only thing you know..." Andraste trailed off and shook her head. "You can't keep on living like that. You should make friends."

"My classmates are scared of me." Skyrah snorted. "Funny, trying to keep everybody safe, I became my father. Everybody fears us both."

Andraste pulled away, keeping both hands on her shoulders and looking her straight in the eye.

"You aren't Tom. They aren't scared of you. They're scared of the fake you who acts mean and cold. You aren't like that. Someone must have seen it."

Skyrah bit her bottom lip.

"There's this boy... Daniel Keen." She had spoken so low Severus almost missed the name. Almost. "He's clingy, too reckless, always runs into trouble. He doesn't care I snarl. He smiles at me... That means he doesn't fear me, right?"

Andraste smiled and squeezed her shoulders.

"Right... Is he cute?"

"Mum!" she spluttered as her cheeks turned cherry pink.

Andraste giggled, and Skyrah shook her head in disbelief.

"Since you didn't answer my question, I'm going to assume that he is not only cute but handsome. Why don't you hang out with him?"

One would think Andraste was merely teasing her daughter to light up the mood. Nonetheless, those were not her only intentions. Her attempts to play matchmaker were as clear to Severus as they were to Skyrah.

"Thank Circe you don't work at school and, therefore, can't play Cupid." Andraste puffed as if disappointed Skyrah had caught her, but there was a proud smile curling her lips. She was actually glad Skyrah was so sharp-witted. "I'm not like my classmates, gossiping all day and talking about who's lost their virginity with whom. I'm not interested in a relationship. I'm interested in books and in getting the highest marks."

"Give it time."

Skyrah grimaced. Andraste chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"I don't know the boy, but if he is the one who sprang to mind, he must mean something to you, whether it is a possible friendship or something else. Promise me you'll be brave and give him a chance. Promise me you'll give yourself a chance."

Severus didn't hear her response as the Manor swapped to Ilvermorny's library. The chaotic notes on a desk made him smirk. He knew they were Skyrah's before peeking at the handwriting or even recognizing her. She was good at many things. Order wasn't one of them. She only found the essays of her students because she summoned them, and her side of the wardrobe was worthy of a nightmare. He even found a History book in the kitchen once... close to the cookers. He demanded neatness to his students. However, he didn't mind Skyrah's disarray. It wasn't like he could complain to her, not when he kept everything well-organized except his Potions desk. That was a clutter only he understood and a snippet of information about him his students should never obtain.

A frustrated groan escaped her throat, bringing Severus back to her memory. Skyrah kept on mind mapping, carefully linking various concepts for a better understanding of what looked like Divination. Good luck with that, Severus almost said out loud. Divination had never been his favorite subject, even less after the Prophecy that had cost Lily's life.

"Why are you always studying?" asked a boy, sitting on the desk to capture her attention and block the view to her notes.

Skyrah cursed under her breath. Severus didn't blame her. What a brat.

"Keen," she grunted.

Keen? As in Daniel Keen? Severus sneered. Just what he had needed to discover: Daniel was James Potter 2.0. Daniel wasn't accompanied by cronies though, and the rascally touch in his eyes was innocent. It held no malice, much like Harry's eyes did. Much like James's hadn't done.

Considering they had almost got married, Severus had presumed he'd share some traits with Daniel. Much to his surprise, nothing about Daniel was similar to Severus: not his refined nose, silky light brown curly hair and even pearl-white teeth, and certainly not the way he carried himself or the fortune he had, if the wristwatch he wore didn't hint at that. Daniel had the looks and the wealth. He was everything Severus hadn't been at school. Why would Skyrah fall in love with a bitter Potions Master when she knew what it was like to be with someone like Daniel? The same way I fell in love with her, he realized. After all, Skyrah and Lily weren't alike either.

"Why don't you study more? Our teachers would appreciate it."

Skyrah had growled out of habit since she shifted uncomfortably in her seat immediately after, when Daniel lowered his gaze. Severus knew why the boy was uncomfortable. Like Neville, Daniel had Attention Deficit Disorder. He must not have been diagnosed with it yet. Skyrah had mentioned he started to improve after he started studying with her. By the way she talked in the memory, that hadn't happened yet. Much like Skyrah had told Severus, Daniel hid behind a mask of confidence and grinned.

"So you know my surname? What a relief!" he exclaimed, putting his palm on his chest.

She snickered at his theatrics. The boy was as enthralled as Severus by the sound.

"It's the first time I hear you laugh."

"A miracle," she said ironically.

"A beautiful miracle like you."

Severus wrinkled his nose. The line was cheesy, to say the least. He expected Skyrah to roll her eyes or make a snarky remark about that. Instead, red tinted her cheeks. Her chest visibly moved up and down, accelerating her breathing. The confident girl that had mocked Daniel a few seconds earlier had disappeared. Why the sudden change of attitude?

"Only my mother and my grandmother have ever called me beautiful," she breathed.

"Well, now you can add my name to the list."

The corners of her mouth twitched, but only for a second. "I don't like my looks. I wish I looked like my mother."

Severus understood everything then. She had been flustered because he had called her beautiful when she only saw the Dark Lord in her. No wonder, considering she remembered his appearance when he looked quite human. Severus had the same problem every time he looked at himself in the mirror. If he wasn't careful, Tobias stared straight back at him.

Now that he thought about it, every time he had complimented her looks, she had diverted the attention elsewhere by starting another conversation or saying she thought the same about him. Sometimes she had been moved to the point she had kissed him or insisted she couldn't look pretty when she was so inflated by the pregnancy. Always so modest. Although she was used to her looks catching people's attention, the most important value she could have, her own, was difficult to gain. Therefore, Severus made a mental note to ensure she felt beautiful with him, as beautiful as he saw her.

"I guarantee you I'm not the only one who thinks you're good-looking. I'm the only one daring enough to tell you though."

Daniel hadn't really convinced her, for, unconsciously or not, she kept rolling a lock of wavy hair around her finger to turn it as curly as Andraste's. Her eyes softened, though.

"Do you want to study with me? Perhaps you'll actually get good grades."

Severus loved it when she teased him. He didn't like it so much when she teased somebody else. That lopsided grin with a spark of mischief had been directed to him. Only to him. She was flirting with Daniel and she didn't even know it.

"You want to spend time with me?"

Skyrah rolled her eyes.

"Yes or no, Keen?"

"No."

Her face remained impassive, albeit Severus knew her well enough to recognize the emotionless mask she put on when she felt attacked. Right then, her pride had been the victim, her pride and hope to find a friend.

"I didn't say I wouldn't study with you later, now, did I?" The light returned to her eyes despite the smug grin on his face that should have alerted her he was scheming something. "First, I'd like to do something else with you... Flying!"

"Not a chance in hell!"

"Come on! You don't need to study anymore! Do something fun for once!"

She folded her arms across her chest, unamused. "I'm a Horned Serpent, a scholar. I like studying."

"And I'm a Pukwudgie, a healer. I like healing, so let me heal you."

"Who says I need healing?" scoffed Skyrah, although Severus read her like an open book: she was actually terrified of Daniel's perspicacity.

"Your eyes."

She stared at the boy for a few moments, breathless.

"Come on, you want to be my friend. You wouldn't have asked me to study with you otherwise. You wouldn't have confessed something as personal as not liking your looks either."

"And I thought you weren't clever."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Skyrah had intended to snort, but the snorting sound turned into chortles not even her hands could completely muffle.

"There, that's a record. You laughed twice in less than an hour. See? I can be a good friend."

When she smiled at Daniel, her eyes held the warmth Severus had fallen in love with. At last. She was beginning to look happier, more like the witch he had married. He hadn't seen so much light on her face since Dione's arrival. Perhaps, the brat was not that bad.

"Flying frightens me. Why don't we take a walk instead?" she negotiated.

"Don't you trust me? I'm the best flyer of our age."

"No, you're the most presumptuous, imprudent boy of our age!"

He gave a boyish grin. "You say presumptuous and imprudent, I say spontaneous. I've never fallen off my broomstick, not once. You have nothing to fear."

Fear.

As soon as Daniel uttered that word, her expression grew conflicted. By the hold she took on his inviting hand, Severus knew that she was finally opening up, honoring the promise of being brave.

Another memory began with the tinkling laughter of a child that resonated across a garden. A five-year-old Skyrah image came to his mind, a déjà vu. Black eyes darted to the window of the house in front of him, following the source of the sound. It wasn't Skyrah. A mess of red curls covered half of her features, yet, he identified little Dione laughing with her parents, playing with a dragon stuffed animal. What a chubby face she had, a rare sight that made him grin feebly.

The joyful family moment contrasted against the tense environment in the garden. Neither Daniel nor Skyrah wore their uniform anymore. They looked about twenty or twenty-one, the age he made the biggest mistake of his life: telling about the prophecy.

The only reason he didn't fall into a never-ending spiral of self-pity was that Skyrah gawped and asked, red-cheeked and out of breath, "Why have you kissed me?"

Severus would have preferred to dive into that familiar spiral than hear that question. That was easier to handle than the turmoil in the pit of his chest that strangled his heart, that feeling that had first come over him when he saw Lily and James snogging in the Great Hall.

"And you are supposed to be the Horned Serpent? The mind? Why do you think people kiss?"

"Bloody hell, Daniel! Don't do this again! You are my best friend. Being something more would complicate things. I don't even know if we are safe being only friends."

"Safe? Safe from what? From whom?"

Sheer terror shone in her dark brown eyes, making him shrink back unwittingly. "My father."

Daniel puckered his brow. "Mister Fawley likes m–"

"I know Connor approves of you," she cut him off. "I meant my real father."

His expression softened. "All fathers-in-law are difficult to please, but I'll show him how much I adore you and he'll have no objections. Why are you so scared of him, anyway?"

She laughed bitterly.

"Whoever isn't afraid of him is a downright fool." At his frown, she gulped and cast spells to prevent eavesdropping from neighbors. "Does You-Know-Who ring a bell?"

His face darkened. Daniel looked much mature than that boy Severus had seen earlier.

"Your father was one of his followers and you're afraid he won't accept a no-maj boyfriend for you."

If only Daniel was right. Skyrah would have given anything for her father to be a mere Death Eater.

"My father's You-Know-Who himself."

Daniel froze.

"You must be joking."

"Do you think I'd joke about that?"

"N-no... But even if it's tr-true, he's gone. He's been gone for years! Why are you afraid?"

"Because he'll be back. We can't be together, or you'll end up dead."

Skyrah made to enter inside, probably to be infected with the positivity of her family, but Daniel shouted he loved her, and she turned around to find his palm stroking her cheek. Her face contorted in pain as if his fingers had spikes.

"Please, stop. You can't love me. We can't do this."

But she didn't draw away. She was desperate for him, the same way Severus had been desperate for Lily. Even though he understood her, he wondered why his wife would show him such memories of Daniel. Didn't she know watching her with another man hurt him?

"Yes, we can. You just won't give us a chance, no matter how much that hurts you."

She shoved his hand away. 

"I love you too, dammit! And that's precisely why we can't be together! I'm trying to protect you, to protect myself! Don't you see? I'm hurting now, but I'll suffer even more if you end up dead like Faith!"

"Faith? He killed her? I always thought it was an accident."

She gulped. "It wasn't."

Severus didn't miss the fact she had led him to believe Voldemort himself had killed Faith. Not like he blamed her. He only hated how much Faith's death had scarred her, mainly at the time of making friends or beginning a relationship. Daniel pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Her hesitating arms finally hugged him back.

"You aren't scared of me, after knowing I'm You-Know-Who's daughter?"

"I've never been afraid of you. I'm not going to start now."

"You're brainless."

"I've been called worse… by you."

Skyrah let out a half-sob half-chuckle.

"Your father isn't here now," Daniel said, rubbing circles on her back. "Why would you let him control you?"

"I don't want to have a broken heart."

"You are deliberately breaking your heart by trying to push me away. You can't always follow your mind. Your heart would always ache. That isn't wise. If we love each other, we'll find a way."

And that was when Severus realized why she had shown him her memories of Daniel. She had meant to open his eyes. Before Daniel, her self-esteem had been too low; her fear, too great. He had taught her how to accept love. Without him, she would have been too similar to Severus, too afraid to love, too dark, and that would have ruined their relationship. He literally owed that Pukwudgie boy his happiness.

At any rate, he was thankful the memory ended right before Skyrah leaned in to kiss Daniel. He might have gone green with envy otherwise. Pitiful, being envious of a dead man. It didn't make his feelings less real.

Chapter Text

Skyrah kept rocking Corbin, unaware of Severus's presence. Unlike him, her skin showed no scars to testify her abuse. Her insecurities did.

"I would never look at you differently," he had promised; but he did look at her with different eyes now, for he fell deeper in love.

In love with her half-broken heart which still loved and healed.

In love with her body that, despite being under Voldemort's control, had remained warm and welcomed Severus.

In love with her tainted soul which was becoming lighter.

And without fail, in love with her mind. That logical mind she had shielded at all costs. That nonjudgmental mind that had accepted him. That sharp mind that had granted her liberty.

Skyrah placed Corbin in the crib, adjusting the blanket so that he wouldn't get cold. She let out a sigh of relief when a pair of arms hugged her from behind. Severus had seen her at her worst. Yet, here he was, holding her unafraid.

He escorted her to their bedroom and planted a protective kiss on her forehead so gently she feared her legs would buckle. She was standing in his arms, though. He would catch her if she fell.

"I hate him. He made you do horrible things, witness things a child should never see."

"Severus, you were brought up in an abusive home too. Don't pity me. I wasn't alone. I had a family. You didn't."

"Until now, and I have nothing more precious in this world," he whispered in her ear, his voice radiating with sincerity.

She smiled against his chest and traced his lips, those thin lips that always kissed her pain away.

"I love you," she murmured, leaning in to kiss him.

He didn't let her.

"You loved Daniel too."

His voice had sounded flat as if that didn't bother him, but his difficulty to maintain eye contact suggested the contrary.

"I did."

His hands, which had been on her waist, withdrew.

His mind replayed nonstop the memory in which Skyrah leaned in to kiss Daniel. His face contorted in pain. It was ludicrous, really, but he couldn't help it. He had to remind himself Daniel wasn't here. It was him, Severus, who had married Skyrah and fathered her child. It was him who she woke up next to every morning. Him, not Daniel.

"I needed you to understand I wouldn't be the person I am today without Daniel. I'm sorry my memories of him hurt you."

By the way her voice quavered, she meant it. He sighed.

"Do you miss him?"

"Do you miss Lily? I think you know the answer."

He did. He missed Lily. Occasionally, Skyrah sang muggle songs, impossible for her to know unless Daniel showed them to her. Severus guessed she sang when she missed him the same way he took care of the garden of lilies when he missed Lily. He couldn't blame Skyrah for missing Daniel when he missed his childhood friend too. That didn't mean he would stop comparing himself to him.

"I'm nothing like Daniel. He was a Pukwudgie, a healer, while I... I only cause pain."

"Don't lie. You make me happy."

"Daniel–"

"–did what he could. I was angry, scared and bitter, all the time. He brought the spark I needed but he didn't heal me completely. He couldn't. He didn't understand me fully like you. You know how it feels to be tormented and believe there is darkness inside. That's why I said we could heal each other." He remembered. She had told him that after talking about Daniel and Lily for the very first time. "I still have trouble reminding myself I'm not my father, and you still have trouble reminding yourself you aren't a bad man, but we have each other to remind us how wrong we are and close each other's wounds."

She finished the discourse with a small grin. Severus didn't return it. He couldn't.

"I know Daniel taught you how to love, and I am thankful you met him, but my mind comes up with what-if scenarios in which he lives and you are his wife. It's... It's dolorous."

Her expression softened. "I know what it feels like. You haven't had a nightmare about Lily in months, but I sometimes wonder whether you'd have chosen me if you had had the chance to be with her."

He hadn't pondered it. He even doubted whether Lily would have made him happy. After all, she never forgave him. Skyrah had been mad at him on innumerable occasions and had never abandoned him. Heck, she made love to him even being livid.

"Daniel and I would have divorced if we had got married," she admitted, bringing him back to reality. "He made me feel so happy, like I had never been... But I felt selfish for loving him. I felt like I was dragging him down a dangerous path, so in my reluctance to let him go yet trying to keep him safe, I always postponed everything."

"What do you mean?"

"We dated for eight years before becoming engaged, flirted for four years before that. He proposed to me three times. How many years do you think it would have taken me to say I wanted to have his baby?"

He raised his eyebrows and ignored the last question. Skyrah having someone else's child was not something he wished to consider.

"You turned down his marriage proposal twice?"

"Three times. I feared he'd break up with me."

That made no sense. He had seen them. They had been in love.

"Why?"

She shrugged.

"I loved him but I wasn't prepared to get married. He knew I only thought that because I was afraid of my father's return. Daniel was very patient with me, but he couldn't mask his pain. And his suffering hurt me, too, so in the end, I asked him to marry me, and when he smiled, I felt the happiest woman alive." Severus almost hid behind his hair to cover the little jealousy that was still visible in his eyes. "He was my first love. You are more than that, Severus. I love you like I have never loved anybody. I don't feel selfish for that."

Her blood and his spy role ensured the imminence of peril with or without love. Why should she feel selfish if the danger would be there anyway? She could love freely. So could Severus. It was then he realized why he hadn't thought about choosing between Lily and Skyrah before she asked: it wasn't a problem to solve. He'd marry Skyrah again.

He wanted to tell her that, but the exact words he uttered were, "A hypothetical relationship with Lily wouldn't have worked either. She saw the world in black and white, always did what was morally right. I didn't. I still don't. I do what is necessary, and that usually lies in the grey zone."

Suddenly, he was grateful they had dealt with the topic of Lily and Daniel. Now he had no reason to feel jealous. Skyrah wouldn't be kissing the fabric that covered his Dark Mark if she didn't love him. Merlin knew Lily would have never kissed the symbol of his sins.

Much at ease, he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. The tender gesture reminded him of Andraste tying her hair with the rose Brighid had handed her.

"Your grandmother was a remarkable, wise witch."

"She was."

By her nostalgic grin, he grasped she still missed her, so he took her hand in support.

"Did you find a father figure in Connor?"

"I did for a few years... Dragons were his passion and his demise. Dione was eight when he passed away."

"I'm sorry."

She smiled sadly. "It's okay. I retain a good memory of him even if I wasn't excited about the news of the wedding and the pregnancy."

Not being excited wasn't an adequate descriptor. She had been terrified, almost hysterical, and for a damn good reason.

"How did your mother hide the pregnancy from the Dark Lord?"

"Charms until the fourth month. We were lucky he didn't visit us much. Dione wouldn't exist."

Charms.

Why hadn't Skyrah used them in her first pregnancy during that fatal meeting? But then he remembered they had been caught off guard. One had to look very carefully to even suggest she might be pregnant with her first child. Had they thought about those charms, would their baby girl have survived? Not in the long term.

"Connor looked after Dione when she was born," she continued. "We didn't live in the same place until my father disappeared. I think my mother never told Connor about Faith. I certainly didn't. I didn't want to disappoint him by telling him I was a murderer. I never told Daniel either."

But she had told Severus. She had shown him, and it meant the world to him.

"You aren't a murderer."

She snorted. "Last time I checked, murderer was a term applied to people who kill."

"You saved two lives. The Dark Lord would have tortured and murdered Faith and her parents. You had no choice. You were just a child."

"Don't excuse me, Severus. I committed a crime. That's a burden of guilt I'll always carry with me."

Those words were cutting. Truthful words tended to be. Her shoulders sagged as if the burden rested literally there. In an attempt to release some of her culpability, he kissed them, and her lips curled ever so slightly.

That was it.

Joy would not remove her burden but it would reduce it, so he blurted the first thing that came to his mind he deemed would cheer her up.

"Lying to your mother to escape a bit of scolding, pretending to be asleep while listening closely to adults' conversations... You were adorably naughty and clever as a child."

Her shoulders lifted. A snigger escaped her. There. Mission accomplished. The burden had been eased.

"Adorably? I never thought that word was part of your vocabulary."

"If you say I pronounced it outside these walls, I will obliviate the witnesses with no remorse."

That was a risk she was willing to take. Telling Minerva was tempting, so very tempting. An impish expression flitted across her face.

She looked like an infant, and that was when Severus blurted, "I want to have a daughter who will look exactly like you."

She had shown him her darkest side, expecting things to change between them, only to be met with his desire to have another child with her. It took her a few seconds to recognize the warmth that was born in her heart and extended through her body as love, and when she did, she raised a puckish eyebrow.

"I wanted Corbin to have your eyes and you wanted him to inherit my nose. Mother Nature didn't listen to us then. What makes you think she will do it now? What makes you think she'll look exactly like me?"

After knowing she had postponed everything with Daniel, he hadn't expected that kind of response. The face he pulled, between a frown and a smile, proved it.

"Y-you... You truly want to give Corbin a sister?"

She nodded and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"When would you like to try?"

Right now, he almost answered, wanting nothing more than to make love to her and show her just how much he cherished her. That, however, would not be sensible.

"We should wait until the war is over to conceive another child. Until then, we shall polish the art of making baby girls. You know I'm a stickler for perfection."

Her crooked smile tickled his neck.

"You realize there is a fifty percent chance it will be a boy again, don't you?"

"We'll keep trying until we have a girl."

"Like the Weasleys?" she teased.

He grimaced. Right. He wasn't planning on forming a full Quidditch team of black-haired, pale-skinned children. Neither was she. Still, his face was so hilarious that she dissolved into laughter.

Seeing her so carefree was like breathing fresh air. He couldn't resist it. He snogged her, dropping his hands to her lower back, making her moan. Oh, yes. He had missed that alluring sound and lightheadedness that erased all his worries, feeling like there wasn't oxygen in his lungs yet being unable to withdraw, being pressed chest to chest. She pulled back too soon to his liking, lips plump and red from the kiss.

"You look striking," he said, as he had promised himself he would.

"I know many people think I'm good-looking, but I don't like my looks. I resemble Father."

"Then why do I never see him when I look at you?"

She swallowed hard. "And who do you see?"

He fixed her with his eyes – suddenly darker, impossible as that appeared – and she felt he was seeing her all, not only her body but her heart, soul and mind.

"I see a talented witch with a fondness for History of Magic and a rebellious side which scares me more often than not but which I admire nonetheless. A passionate Professor who effortlessly gains the affection of her students. A mother, sister, daughter and wife who constantly protects her family. A woman who sees the best in me but doesn't see the best in her. I see you, and you're beautiful inside and out."

Fuck.

She loved him.

She loved him so much that words were a mockery, so she circled his neck with her arms, hugged his waist with her legs and crushed their lips so abruptly he tripped on the leg of the bed and fell. He curled them up on instinct, which resulted in rolling a few meters away from the bed. Skyrah ended on top.

"Merlin's pants! Are you injured?"

He shook his head even though his elbow hurt. His buttocks did, too, but he was more worried about her. He needn't. He had been the softest cushion. They stared at each other flushed.

A half-snort, half-cackle escaped her, and then, a booming laugh filled the bedroom. Never would Severus have defined a fall as a victory, not until falling equaled guffaws. And Merlin help him, hers were so contagious his chest rumbled and a coarse sound came from him, creating a rare harmony.

"Sorry. I was too enthusiastic," she said, still chortling.

"I like your enthusiasm," he hummed, placing his hands on her hips. "Although I wouldn't be against going somewhere more comfortable like... our bed?"

"What is it? Isn't the floor warm enough for you? Weren't you supposed to be the bat of the dungeons, immune to the cold?"

"I do not mind the cold, but a pillow against my back would be much appreciated."

Suppressing a giggle, she rose up and extended a hand to help him stand up. He accepted it and took her in his arms bridal style even though the bed was only two meters away.

"You are so melodramatic," she joshed, enjoying every bit of his histrionics.

"Shut up." He lowered her in bed. "I'm trying to seduce you."

She erupted into laughter again, throwing her head back. It gave him a full view of her enticing neck and cleavage on which feather-light kisses poured like raindrops. Granted, barking orders wasn't romantic, but Skyrah fell deeper in love with him, and deeper and deeper as his spidery fingers unfastened her robes. Her giggles were replaced by sighs. He brushed the exposed skin of her chest with his nose, leaving sloppy kisses, while his hand travelled down to her sensitive thigh.

"We must wait six weeks after the pregnancy before indulging in... sexual intercourse. I could get an infection."

"Penetration isn't indispensable for pleasure. That's the purpose of oral sex."

"Severus!"

"You enjoyed it the last time. You got particularly vocal. Don't you even try to deny it."

Sweet Salazar. He was giving her that smug grin that made her want to kiss him and nudge him at the same time. She was too worried to do neither. She didn't miss the fact he hadn't mentioned anything about Albus and his upcoming death. How unmerited the situation was. How fucked up they were.

"You are exquisite," he husked, positioning his head between her legs, and her preoccupations were obscured.

For the first time in her life, she felt gorgeous.

"I swear, Albus. The predictions about the upcoming demises of the dunderheads I have to teach made by that scatty seer with bulging eyes will come true if I have to endure a mass of students and Professors gushing over Corbin ever again."

Skyrah would have cast Severus a look that told him he had been too cutting if it weren't for the fact she agreed. She didn't fancy another dinner like the Sorting Ceremony's, full of teenagers peeking at Corbin. A particular comment about how the hell Corbin looked so cute when Severus looked the way he did perturbed Skyrah to the point she glared at the gryffindor who had dared say that out loud. He apologized, intuiting his House would start the course with minus zero points otherwise.

As calm as ever, Albus replied, "The rules stipulate the staff must eat together in the Great Hall to create a sense of community."

"Screw the bloody rules! They are a thousand years old!" This time, a pissed off Skyrah had spoken up. "My son is not an exhibition! We'll take him to watch Quidditch games to create that so-called sense of community if we must, but not to the meals. We can't go through that three times a day. It's too much. Corbin deserves a tranquil environment, free of prying eyes."

Albus only needed to look at his grandson, asleep in Severus's arms, to grant their wishes. Only family and friends visited Corbin regularly ever since.

The Snapes had no more hassles during the first months of the school year if one discounted the little sleep they got. The night before Skyrah's birthday was particularly taxing. In fact, Severus only got up to bake a cake and set the table with red and white roses. After that, he went to see if his family was awake.

Skyrah was in the same fetus position he had left her. In contrast, Corbin was happily jerking his arms and legs. Curious brown eyes watched cloth-shaped crows, potions, cauldrons and mortars that dangled from the mobile above the crib – one of Poppy's many gifts.

"Good morning, Corbin Alexander. I see you have slept well despite the trouble you caused," he said, picking him up. "Today I am going to ask your mother something of vital importance. The moment must be faultless."

Crying babies would ruin that moment. He had to find a way to make Corbin behave. But how? One peek at that half-smirk on his chubby face, and he found the solution: a negotiation, aka, the Slytherin language. Minerva could insist as much as she wanted. Corbin wouldn't defy his genes and become a gryffindor. At least, Severus told himself that.

"If you don't bawl today, I'll..." He'd what? What did his son like apart from milk and being held? As if on cue, Corbin wrapped his fingers around the leg of the stuffed crow that Eileen had given him. Severus smirked. "I'll buy you a new stuffed animal."

The baby cooed, and Severus raised an eyebrow.

"I gather we have a mutual agreement, then."

Severus shook his tiny hand. Although Corbin didn't understand the meaning of sealing a deal, he grinned and sought his hand to repeat the gesture. Severus was only too pleased to play along. Definitely, his son was keen on negotiations like an authentic slytherin. Take that, Aunt Minerva!

He got into bed and waited for Skyrah to wake up. Corbin was lying face down on Severus's chest. He would have snoozed if Corbin hadn't raised his head and stretched, reaching for his big hooked nose. He didn't succeed – his arms were too short and clumsy – but he did trigger a low chuckle from Severus. Corbin smiled a toothless smile in return. So pure. So genuine. Sheer love and bliss.

Severus tapped his son's nose like Corbin had tried to do to him before. The sweetest sound rang out then, airy high-pitched tinkles he wished he would hear for the rest of his life. He had feared he would be like Tobias, unable to bring happiness to his son, yet here he was, recording Corbin's first laughter in his memory, a laughter he had caused. Severus was so attentive he didn't even realize Skyrah had woken up, not until she asked why Corbin had laughed.

He showed her by tapping Corbin's nose again. The baby whooped with such an infectious laughter neither Severus nor Skyrah could suppress their own mirth.

By the time they caught their breaths, Severus had brought Corbin closer to his chest with an easy smile, eyes shut, the lines of stress that typically hardened his face nowhere to be seen. He looked so handsome he took her breath away.

"We were waiting for you to wake up to congratulate you on your birthday, right, Corbin?" he asked, caressing his hair gently.

The coo at the mention of his name made Skyrah giggle again. She gave Severus a thankful cheek kiss, gaining a soft smile that made her wish she had kissed his lips instead. She almost did, but Corbin sighed and extended his arms in her direction as if he wanted a kiss of hers too. She complied. After all, his first laughter had been the most valuable gift she would ever wake up to.

Suddenly, her nostrils flared and she leaped out of the bed, chasing the smell of chocolate cake towards the kitchen like an excited kid in a fair. Severus grinned in self-satisfaction and followed her, the baby clutched in his arms. He found her smelling the roses. This time she kissed him full on the lips.

"What are we doing today, Mr. Snape?" she asked a while later, wiping out of her mouth the last grains of the chocolate cake with a napkin. "My last birthday was perfect, and logic says you can't improve perfection."

"Just you wait, Mrs. Snape. I might surprise you."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm looking forward to it, but you still haven't answered my question."

"I thought you'd like to spend time with Corbin and me outside Hogwarts after class. We may go to Hogsmeade, to Diagon Alley, to muggle London... It's your call."

Skyrah made an approving sound. "What about dinner?"

She knew enough already, and she was sharp… too sharp. Giving a clue would spoil the fun. That evening had to be impeccable. When she gathered he wouldn't tell her, she pulled a face. Severus leaned down to brush her pouty lips against his, barely a kiss.

"I have to go. You may call Poppy or Albus to look after Corbin if you want to get some sleep."

"There's no need. Corbin and I will be fine. Now go and scare some second-years," she said, gesturing with her hands he should leave.

Severus smirked. One step out of the chambers and the masquerade as the bat of the dungeons was back on.

Throughout the day, Skyrah crossed paths with Albus, Minerva, Eileen and Poppy. They all congratulated her although the latter went beyond...

"Corbin won't let you sleep, let alone let you have some adult fun."

"Poppy!" spluttered Skyrah as a hot blush crept up her cheeks.

She hadn't discussed her sex life with her mother, but she was certain it would feel similar to this.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed! You're married and it's your birthday. Consider it my birthday gift for you: one free night. I love Corbin and I enjoy looking after him."

"I know, but he won't let you sleep either. He only hushes if I sing or if Severus reads to him."

Poppy smiled warmly. "That's sweet, but not enough to persuade me, dear. I'll pick my godson up at half past nine."

She left before Skyrah could object.

After Potions with seventh-years, Severus rushed to his chambers. Harry and Dione stood in front of Skyrah, who was in the doorway holding the baby with one arm and concealing a yawn behind her free hand. Corbin looked a bit drowsy too. The teenagers must have woken them up from a much-needed nap. Severus almost deducted Hufflepuff and Gryffindor points for that when he caught Harry hiding a gift behind his back. Suddenly, any punishment appeared preposterous, even more when Skyrah flashed them a smile.

Inside, Dione picked her nephew up.

"He doesn't look pink and wrinkly anymore," joked Harry.

Severus rolled his eyes while the sisters bit their lips to keep from snickering in the same manner.

"Happy birthday," said Harry, delivering the present at last.

Dione added, "It's from both."

Now fully awake, Skyrah unwrapped the present. By the shape, Severus guessed it was another History book. Harry had always been uncreative when it came to gifts for his wife. To his surprise, it was a vintage album titled The Snape Family. Brown eyes glittered even before looking at the photographs. Corbin appeared in nearly all of them, whether alone or with his parents. A few included Dione and Harry. One particular picture left Skyrah breathless. In it, Severus pecked her cheek and returned her smile.

"How did you get this one?" she asked, almost running her fingers over it yet not touching it for fear of damaging it.

"We had to do something in between Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons," mumbled Dione.

"Like spying on us?"

"Like taking photos for this album. Last year, I gave Severus a picture of my mother. I think he liked it," explained Harry, glancing at Severus, whose expression softened. "Dione and I thought that a photograph would be something you would also like, but we took so many we couldn't decide on which to give you."

"Hence, the album," concluded Dione.

"How did you get a wizarding camera in the first place? How did you hide it from us?"

Severus was as curious as Skyrah if not more.