When the Stars Fall

Nineteen: McGonagall Gets Testy

Snape's return left him at the mercy of his double Potions class with the seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors. Facing Longbottom so soon would not have any positive effects on his temperament. He considered taking ten points from Gryffindor simply because Longbottom would walk into the room. At least his classroom had been cleaned, and the broken chairs repaired.

He had been glad when late on Sunday evening Poppy had released him from the hospital wing. Of course having Lupin for a neighbor was certainly wearing thin on his nerves. If the man "dropped by" one more time Severus would transfigure him into a squashed toadstool and leave him like that for a few hours. Now, after Lupin's aggravation, Snape was back to teaching and dreading one dunderhead, Neville Longbottom.

He was in his office bracing himself to face his first class, and the two Gryffindors responsible for saving his life. Snape sighed, lifted up the sleeve of his left arm, and looked disdainfully at the Dark Mark. It was the mark of his damnation, yet two young fools in love had insisted on saving his life.

The dark haired man closed his eyes, his mind wandering back in time to the Winter Solstice nearly eighteen years ago. Lucius had gone to the dark revel that night, but Snape refused to go because he wasn't going to leave Narcissa alone while she was going into labor.

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Screams filled the room as another contraction tore through the woman who was on the floor of her husband's study. There was a man with her, a man with black hair and black eyes, but he wasn't her husband. No, her husband had left to serve his master. And for that the woman was happy. The man she was with had propped pillows up behind her, conjured washcloths and a basin of water to wipe the sweat from her face, and allowed the woman to clutch at his hand.

His dark eyes focused on the mother to be, she was so beautiful to him, struggling to breathe while about to bring new life into the world. He used his free hand to push sweaty wayward strands of her platinum hair out of her face, as he wondered what was taking the midwife so long.

After another high-pitched scream he heard her hoarse voice. "Severus, the baby is coming, whether or not the midwife arrives. Please, help me."

His eyes widened in shock. "You want me to deliver your baby? But I've never... I don't know what to do."

"It's going to be all right," she spoke softly, and then groaned in pain. "I trust you."

It was those words, "I trust you," that did him in. He conjured another basin, this time with warm water, blankets, and towels, and then proceeded to do what few men would have done. He helped the woman he loved bring her child into the world.

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Severus smiled at the memory of holding Narcissa's son, his son, after he was born. He was the first to see or hold that boy, and he'd had hell to pay for that privilege. A couple of days after the birth of Draco Severus Marvolo Malfoy, Snape had been summoned by Lord Voldemort to explain his absence at the revel. After explaining his part in the birthing of Lucius' heir he'd been subjected to the Cruciatus Curse several times. It had been worth it, especially now that he realized he'd helped bring his own son into the world.

He was brought back to the present by the sounds of students entering his classroom. He shook his head and sighed, wondering how many cauldrons Longbottom would destroy before the end of the period. He opened his desk, but the photo he'd kept there was gone. He hoped Draco and Hermione liked it, because it had been one of his most precious possessions. He steeled himself once more, hoping that he was prepared for anything, including the blunderings of one Neville Longbottom. He looked fearsome in his long billowing black robes, his scowl firmly in place. He noticed the fear on the faces, all save two. Draco and Hermione's faces were filled with worry and concern. This irritated Severus Snape, but it also made him feel as though he was cared about. How very Gryffindor, he thought and noticed not only did Draco and Hermione look up, so did Potter and Weasley.

Snape narrowed his eyes at Potter and Weasley. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and you too, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, I'll see you four after class. Now everyone, books out. And will someone enlighten me on the magical and practical uses of the polyjuice potion? Stop that foolish hand waving Mrs. Malfoy, I would rather hear from someone well read on the subject rather than from someone who has had a bad experience with the potion from failure to notice the fine print."

Ron leaned over to Harry and muttered, "Looks like the greasy git is really back."

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, and would you care to share that with the class?" Snape's voice was icy.

Ron shook his head. Harry looked in sympathy at Ron and sighed. The greasy git was indeed back in action.

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"Albus!" Minerva snapped as she entered the headmaster's office.

"Yes, Minerva?" he asked from his seat behind the desk.

The deputy headmistress' sharp eyes locked on the headmaster. He was sitting in his chair, sipping tea, and eating those infernal lemon drops. His eyes as twinkly as ever. He noticed her current huffiness and didn't bother to hide his smile.

"Would you like tea? Biscuits?" the headmaster offered.

This seemed to revive the deputy headmistress' scolding skills. "Did Severus really drink hemlock? What is wrong with him? Doesn't he know that he is needed now more than ever? And just what are you doing about this?"

"I doubt we will have to worry about Severus. It seems that his ill temper and will to live have been revived. We should thank our young Malfoys. I've no doubt he intends to have a discussion with them tonight. My dear Minerva, sometimes you worry too much, and he's not even one of your Gryffindors," Albus continued to twinkle much to the woman's annoyance and displeasure.

She glared at him. "My concern is for every student here, as you well know, and Severus was once a student of mine, and you know about his school years. He has never been the same since..."

"Narcissa Black married Lucius Malfoy. I know Min. He thinks she chose her family over him, but that is not true. After Andromeda married that muggle, Ted Tonks, Bellatrix, the oldest and bossiest of those three, took control in her own hands and cast the Imperius on Narcissa, because it was Voldemort's will that Narcissa marry Lucius. You know that she only stays with him to protect her son. She's lived a hard life as well, but she's always know Severus' love, while he's had doubts about her throughout the years," Albus sighed. "Voldemort has been the destructive force behind many ruined lives."

"I still have my doubts for Severus! He was almost successful this time! Why would he do it? That all I want to know," McGonagall hissed.

Albus sighed sounding tired for the first time since Minerva McGonagall had entered his office. "There are many dark places in a man, more so in a man wracked with guilt, a man like Severus. He is afraid, although he doesn't show it. How can he make up nearly eighteen years to a son he left at the mercy of a man like Lucius Malfoy?"

"Oh, Albus, they have so far to go. How can Draco ever forgive Severus, if Severus can't forgive himself? There is so much to face between those two, Minerva said.

"More than has yet come to light. And, Min, please remove Mrs. Malfoy from the apparating roster for next semester, and she is not to test any more potions on herself," the headmaster said.

"You mean..." McGonagall paused in shock as the headmaster nodded. "But they are so young. What will they do?"

"This is a gift, and all will present itself in good time. I'm sure they will adjust given time."

McGonagall shook her head. "I hope you're right, Albus. This could disrupt the new beginnings that Hermione and Draco have embarked upon."

"Now, now, Min, no worrying," the headmaster said, the twinkle returning full force. "Things always work out for the best."

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Severus' first class was over, and to his immense relief he had survived without Longbottom blowing up a single cauldron. Everyone was leaving the room with the exception of Potter, Weasley, and the young Malfoys. The few remaining students still packing their things snickered (in the case of the Slytherins) or looked sympathetic (the Gryffindors) before quickly exiting the class after a glare from Snape.

Snape then turned his glare to the Gryffindors he'd retained after class. "You four, my office, now!"

"You don't think this is about me calling him a greasy git, do you?" Ron whispered as he leaned in close to Harry, so that only Harry could hear him.

Harry shook his head. "I think it's more serious than that."

"Indeed it is," Snape spoke from behind them as he closed and warded the door. "I know about Hermione and Draco's new abilities, but you two have been hiding your abilities rather well. Is there need for a second formal ceremony?"

Ron's eyes bulged and Harry looked at Snape wide eyed and said, "What?! Me and Ron?! Are you mad?!"

Snape's black eyes blazed fire, "Hold out your hands. Now Potter! Weasley, you as well!"

"Professor! This is quite unnecessary!" Hermione snapped.

"Did you know about this? Did you know that Potter and Weasley were thought readers?" he asked in a ton of ice as he examined Harry and Ron's palms, finding nothing. He looked bewildered as he continued, "How? When and how did this happen?"

"Maybe the question is how did you become a thought reader?" Draco asked.

At this, all eyes turned to Snape, awaiting his answer.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but I was an empathy. When I took the Dark Mark it corrupted my empathic abilities and I became a thought reader. There are only two people whose thoughts I cannot read. There is my confession, now Potter! Weasley! Explain yourselves!"

"We fell out of my attic and hit our heads," Ron answered.

"Who are the people you can't read?" Harry asked.

"One is Voldemort," Snape said and then snarled, "The other is not your concern."

A small groan caught everyone's attention. It came from one of the chairs set before the desk. Hermione jumped up from the chair, hand over her mouth, and hurried to the door. Unfortunately it was locked and warded. Hermione sent a pleading look to Snape and realizing that there wasn't enough time, located a metal wastebasket, and bowed before it, immediately losing the contents of her stomach.

Someone had pulled her hair back, holding it away from her face, and was kneeling beside her. She leaned into the body, knowing it was Draco without having to look at him. Someone held out a handkerchief, she took it gratefully, wiped her mouth, and looked up at a rather green Professor Snape. Realization seemed to dawn on him and he said, "You need to see Madam Pomfrey immediately. I will escort you there myself. Mr. Malfoy, Potter, Weasley, you are dismissed, now go to your next class. I'll provide your excuses later. Go on! I'm quite capable of seeing Mrs. Malfoy to the hospital wing safely. Do you three want detention?"

With that threat hanging in the air, the boys left the office, Draco worriedly looking over Hermione before following Harry and Ron. The door had been unlocked and the wards had been removed shortly after Snape had taken note of Hermione's distress.

"Can you manage the walk to the hospital wing?" Snape asked, his voice almost gentle.

Hermione nodded shakily, and Snape noticed how pale she looked. "Something must not have agreed with me at breakfast."

Snape raised an eyebrow in her direction as they walked out of his office and classroom and began the lengthy walk to the hospital wing. He kept stealing glances in her direction as they walked to the hospital wing. He kept stealing glances at the pale and shaky girl. Finally he broke the silence with a question.

"Have you noticed a change in your appetite?"

She stopped suddenly, her mouth falling open. He stopped and turned to look at her. She began to shake and the odd sounds, sobs, tore from her throat. She sounded like a wounded animal, and tears filled her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. He took a slow step toward her, not really sure of what to do. She flung herself at him, her arms wrapped around his waist as she buried her face in his chest. He looked skyward and awkwardly patted the young girl's back. Why had he gone and opened his mouth?

To make matters worse, Snape heard a familiar huffy voice behind him. "Severus! What is going on? Is that Hermione Gra... Malfoy?"

Snape tried to extricate himself from Hermione, but found that it was an impossible task and sighed. "Minerva, I was escorting Mrs. Malfoy to the hospital wing. She was sick in my office. I simply asked her if she had any changes in appetite when she burst into tears and in her emotional state decided to cling to me and thoroughly soak my robes with her tears."

McGonagall's sharp eyes flared in anger. "Do you have a subtle bone in your body? You could have at least waited until you got to the hospital wing before questioning the girl! Was this your idea of small talk? Most people begin with the weather! What were you thinking? Let's get her to Poppy before anyone else happens upon this scene. And Severus, I'm highly disappointed in your use of tact!"

"My use of tact? Honestly, I didn't think that one simple question would result in a complete emotional breakdown!" Severus snapped, and somehow managed to gather a very distressed Hermione in his arms, as he stomped off after McGonagall to the hospital wing.

"Have you no shame?" McGonagall snapped as she sent a glare over her shoulder in his direction. "Do you even realize what you were implying? You're lucky she didn't faint or go into shock! Did you lose what little heart you had on Narcissa's wedding day?"

"That was a low blow coming from you, Minerva," Snape snarled.

"And maybe you should think before you speak..." Minerva said coldly as she opened the door of the hospital wing, "Or act!"

"What are you implying?" Snape growled as he gently put Hermione on one of the empty beds. He removed the girl's hand and put them down by her sides.

"Why did you drink hemlock after knowing what you know?" McGonagall hissed.

The fight quickly died in Snape as he sank into a chair that was by the bed he'd put Hermione in. He didn't know how to respond to that. He put his head in his hands and sighed. He jumped when he felt a small warm hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the pale face of Hermione and noticed her lip tremble. She took a deep breath and spoke, "He won't reject you when you tell him. He's not the way he used to be."

Snape took in a shaky breath. "You know? Oh, gods, does he?"

"Does it make a difference Severus? The boy will need to know soon, and you have to be the one to tell him. And if you try any more stupid stunts like the hemlock, you won't have to worry about Remus Lupin under foot. You'll be dealing directly with me!" McGonagall said in a testy voice that promised unpleasant repercussions, and then her gaze turned to the pale girl sitting on the hospital bed, whose hand was on Severus Snape's shoulder, providing comfort. "Come Severus, Madam Pomfrey will be seeing to Mrs. Malfoy in a few moments."

"No, Professor Snape, Severus, you have a right to be here. If our suspicions are correct then you're going to be a grandfather. Oh, Circe, how do I tell him if it's true? We're so young..." the pale girl asked wide-eyed.

McGonagall watched the scene unfold as Severus' head snapped up and looked the girl straight in the eye.

"You want me to stay?"

"I want someone here with me. I can't face this alone, and since you're already here and know what's going on, and you are kind of involved... I want you here. Just bite down on the sarcasm and help me come up with a way to tell Draco," Hermione spoke softly, fear threaded in her words, and then something occurred to her. "When is Draco's birthday?"

Severus' head snapped up again, surprised at the question, but he quickly recovered. "He was born on the Winter Solstice. I was the first person to ever hold him. He'll be eighteen."

"You delivered him?" Hermione's mouth fell open.

Severus smirked. "You sound surprised.

That was the last thing McGonagall heard as she slipped out of the hospital wing. She hurried to her class to relieve the substitute and immediately noticed the three concerned Gryffindors sitting in the back. The fourth seat was obviously empty. She almost smiled at how the three boys were united in their worry. Was it only last year that these three boys were bitter rivals?

"Now everyone, get out your books and turn to section five, where we will go more in depth on the transfiguration of living creatures into another type of living creature," McGonagall said and sighed wearily when she saw Harry's hand in the air. "Mr. Potter, save your questions on animagi and human transfiguration until chapter seventeen. There is a great deal of theory to learn before meddling in such advanced magic."

Ron leaned over toward Harry and whispered, "What's with her? She's especially testy today. Think she had a run in with Snape?"

"Who knows? All I'm worried about is Hermione. Wonder what's wrong with her. She's been acting odd, then getting sick like that. And we left her in the care of Snape. I'm sure she'll be better once she sees Madam Pomfrey," Harry whispered back, and then glanced at Ron and noticed that the redhead had gone very pale. "Ron, what is it?"

Ron gulped. "I think I know what's wrong with Hermione. Charlie used to tell me how mum was right before I was born. The mood swings, getting sick, and have you noticed the things she's been eating lately?"

"You mean she's... With Malfoy's..." Harry couldn't finish.

Harry and Ron turned wide-eyed and staring to an oblivious Draco Malfoy.

Ron shook his head, sighed, and said, "Bloody hell."

He immediately regretted it when McGonagall's voice cracked like a whip throughout the room, "Detention, Mr. Weasley!"