Our Little One

Draconn Malfoy

Story Summary:
Remus and Lucius have adopted a 15-year-old girl, Olivia, who can't do magic. Not everyone likes the fact that the Malfoys are having a happy family - and somebody decides to change it. However, the extended Malfoy clan isn't about to give up easily, and Severus' hidden talent becomes very useful...

Chapter 18 - The First Trial

Chapter Summary:
The first trial is making everyone nervous, well, everyone except for Severus. A nice trick up his sleeve gives the Malfoys victory -- this time. Later, Sirius, Remus, Severus, and Draco try to disgust a Jarvey that's got to know the worst parts of fanfiction. Their attempts are in vain, until Lucius comes to aid.
Posted:
11/12/2004
Hits:
1,094
Author's Note:
I thank you all for your extreme patience. I also thank


.~*~.Our little one. ~*~.

Chapter Eighteen

The First Trial

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This part of the chapter is not from any particular first-person POV.

This chapter is partly flashbacks.

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On the morning of the trial, Remus woke up very early. He felt more nervous than he had for a long time. Unable to get anymore sleep, he chose to get up.

His choice of clothes was obvious. Getting dressed in his official robe, he desperately tried to remember where he'd left the Wolf's Staff the last time he'd used it. At last, he spotted it in the back corner of his wardrobe, half-hidden behind a robe he almost never used.

Chuckling dryly at this, Remus reached out to get the Staff. What would have the other werewolves have said if they'd known how much their leader respected the signs of his position? Of course, they couldn't have done anything even if they'd known and disapproved. The Ministry may have thought they'd set him into his position, but it was not so. No werewolf would have listened to him if he had simply been named to be their leader. No, it was all about alphas. And nobody could challenge him, not now and not for a long time to come, that he knew for sure.

"Remus?" asked a quiet voice. "Care to help?"

As he spun around, he saw Lucius sitting on the edge of the bed, like he did every morning. Lucius was very well capable of getting to his feet by himself - if he only had his cane for support. As it was on the other side of the room, however, that was now impossible. It was like this almost every morning - either Remus helped him to the bed at night or he just limped across the room, either way, the cane was not with him when he woke.

Not even thinking twice, Remus walked to his beloved. Offering his hands in an all too familiar manner, he waited until Lucius had grasped on them, then pulled the other man up. After that, he helped Lucius to walk to his cane, oblivious to his husband's usual protests. Even though Lucius could limp around some short distances, Remus knew that it hurt him to do that without support. And he'd do anything to prevent Lucius experiencing more pain than he'd already had.

Nodding his silent thanks to the werewolf, Lucius now went to the wardrobe, taking support from his cane. It used to be just a usual cane, once, but after the accident and the discovery that he'd never walk properly again Lucius had got his wand attached to it, as he never went anywhere without it. Usually, however, Lucius used it as a mere cane, like now. Leaning lightly against his trusted support, he began looking through his clothes.

After a moment, Lucius got his clothes on. As this was an official occasion, in a way, at least, he was wearing his white Potions Master's robe. He'd also decided on a dark grey belt with a snake-shaped silver buckle. Ten years before, it'd been pure silver - now, it was only silver-coloured. Olivia's jewellery was the only exception in the Manor from Lucius's rule "not taking risks with silver." Having almost lost his husband to the cruel metal, Lucius had no desire to raise the chances of anything like that happening ever again.

At last, however, they got themselves ready. "Ready to go?" asked Lucius quietly, extending a hand to his husband.

Remus nodded silently, not saying a word. Then he grasped the offered hand. "Let's go," he said just as quietly.

*

"I see you have taken my advice from word to word," Severus said dryly, eyeing the girl. "That's good. Appearances are really important."

Olivia nodded. Severus had advised her to look as much like a Malfoy as possible, and she'd done her best. Not only she was wearing a green dress robe with silver snakes on her necklace and earrings, as well as her seal ring, she'd also picked the colour of the robe very carefully. Her hair could never be the same platinum blonde as Lucius's, but now it seemed to be almost exactly the same colour as Remus's -- minus the greying, of course -- and the robe also brought out her grey eyes. There was no chance that anybody might miss the point. She was a Malfoy, and wished to remain as such.

"Now, before the trial begins, you'll have about five minutes in the courtroom to be with Lucius and Remus," explained Severus to the girl. "I don't have to tell you to use it to your advantage the best you can, do I?"

"No, you don't," Olivia replied softly. "I really want to be with them. I know it hasn't been a long time, but it still feels bad."

"Well, don't worry," the Potions Master said reassuringly. "I've been researching all possible laws considering this kind of thing, and I think I've already found something to make sure we win this trial."

"Good," sighed the girl in relief. "I mean, she is my mother and all, but still..." Shaking her head slowly, she said, "I'd much rather stay with Dad and Father than go with her and some strange man."

"Then let's go and make sure that you will, shall we?" said Severus, trying to sound cheerful. He seemed to managed well enough, as Olivia also flashed a smile to him.

"That's right," the girl said, looking only a bit pale. "Let's go."

And so, they did.

*

Draco hurried towards the courtroom. Just when he was stepping in, however, he noticed somebody standing right behind him. Turning around with his usual Malfoy grace, he came face to face with Ginny Weasley.

"Weasley," Draco spat, and his expression was one of pure disgust. He surveyed the young witch from head to toe with a disapproving gaze. "I see you haven't changed your hairstyle," he said at last.

"And what's wrong with my hair, may I ask... Malfoy?" the woman asked, the equal disgust evident in her greyish-blue eyes.

"Malfoy only until June," the wizard said cheerfully. "And about your hair, well, you know what they say... 'Redheads don't get to the Heaven,' wasn't it?"

"Maybe redheads don't get to the Heaven," Miss Weasley repeated, imitating mockingly his intonations, "but blondes can't find their way there!"

"Well, that's interesting," Draco said to response, raising an elegant eyebrow in the ever-cool Malfoy way. "Were you just insulting me, my father, or my sister?"

"What's the difference?" she snorted. "You're all the same. Mindless, heartless, soulless blonde bastards."

"Well, the difference is quite big," Draco said, taking a step forward. His hands were clenched to fists. "If you were insulting me, then Harry will sort you out. If you were insulting my father, then Remus will. But if you were talking about my sister... Then, we'll all gladly take care of you, so to speak."

"Are you threatening me, Malfoy?" Weasley asked, raising her nose in disapprovance.

"Glad you caught on so soon," he replied with a dry laugh. "One might think that with that bush you call your hair and that hole that is obviously your mouth, there wasn't any room for brains in your head..."

"Now, now, Draco, that is quite enough," Lucius said calmly behind him. "Miss Weasley," he added, giving the witch a curt, but by no means friendly, nod.

"Mister Malfoy," the witch replied just as coolly. "Well, I'm so sorry I have to leave your company, but I really have to go." And with that, she spun around and walked away.

"Well, well, wasn't that a warm welcome," said Lucius dryly. "So tell me, son, where's your husband-to-be?"

Draco sighed. "Harry wanted to come, but he had practices, and their coach would not take 'no' for an answer," he told his father. "Not that he even needed practice, anyway."

"Hm. The downside of being engaged to the best Seeker this country has ever seen, I'm sure," Lucius said calmly. "Now, shall we go in?"

"Sure, Father," replied Draco. "Where's steppy?"

"Right at your neck, if you say that again," replied Lucius calmly. They both knew that Remus disliked a very few things as much as being called "steppy" by Draco.

Draco grinned at him. "Just trying to light up the athmosphere," he said. Then he fell serious again. "Well, we'd better get into the courtroom, don't you think?"

"Exactly." And so they did.

*

Remus stood in the courtroom, glancing nervously around himself. Soon the trial start would that'd either take Olivia away from them or give her to them for a short time before the next trial. Even though Severus had firecalled them just the previous night, assuring them that he'd win the trial, the werewolf couldn't help but be doubtful. They'd already lost too many children. He didn't want to lose Olivia, too.

"Dad!" said a quiet voice behind him. As he spun around, he was immediately met with Olivia's shining eyes. Without even thinking, he stepped forward and closed her in a warm embrace, one which she returned.

Olivia took full advantage of her change to examine Remus closely. The werewolf was wearing something that looked like an official suit - or if it wasn't one, she couldn't imagine why he'd ever wear anything like it.

Unlike his usual dark blue or green robes, or the black and brown ones he occasionally wore, Remus was now wearing a golden velvet robe with a slightly darker belt -- she saw a golden buckle on it, shaped like a wolf's head. The robe brought out the golden freckles in his otherwise amber eyes, but flattened the effect his silver-gold hair.

Not only the robe was new to her, but also the long cane Remus was holding. The long, golden staff ended in a metal head. It was shaped like a leaping wolf that carried a large, round full moon on his back. All this was made of pure gold, except a silvery shade on the underside of the figure of the moon.

Remus noticed her astonishment, and chuckled slightly. "These are the official robes of the Keeper of the Wolf's Staff, and the staff itself," he explained. "As this is, in a way, an official occasion, I'm required to wear these."

"Just like I'm required to wear my Potions Master's badge," said Lucius with a slight smirk, "and Severus has to wear his own." His smirk got even broader as he continued, "You should have seen the Ministry's Potion Master's face as he saw us. Well, he wasn't even a Potions Master -- he's qualified enough to brew Veritaserum if needed, but never passed his final test. And now he saw the Lead Potions Master as a mere lawyer!"

"There's never anything 'mere' about Severus," snorted Remus. "Just wait and see. As soon as he steps in, the courtroom will be his." Turning towards Olivia, he then asked, "Where is he, by the way? Didn't you come here with him?"

"Yes, I did," admitted Olivia, "but he said he had to check something, so Sirius brought me the rest of the way here." She gestured at the younger -- even though only by a month -- Black, who was standing some way from them.

"Hi," Sirius said as he walked a bit nearer. "Don't worry. Severus said he might know a trick that can get you off the hook easily."

"I hope so," said Lucius with a bit doubtful frown. "I do fear, however, that it will be by no means easy. If we truly could win easily, Weasley would not have contacted Maria Smithson and had this trial, but instead concentrated all his energy on the big trial."

"Well, I don't know what it is he's going to do," Sirius said, shrugging. "But he said it should work."

Olivia then noticed something on the man's black robes that she hadn't before: a strange, flame-shaped badge. "What's that?" she asked curiously, pointing at it.

"This? Oh, it's my Ministry official's badge," replied the man with a grin. "Severus hates his own, so he rarely even wears it at work, even though he should, really. For some reason, he's never been reluctant to wear his Potions Master's badge all the time."

"And yet it was him who opposed loudest when the Seer's Guild tried to make wearing their badge in official situations compulsory to all members of the guild," said Lucius with a smirk. "If I recall right, he said that he'd part from the Guild if that was to happen. As he was the only first-level Seer they had at the time, they had little choice but obey him."

"Nowadays, there are at least nine first-level Seers," said Remus, "and most of them wear their badges all the time. So, let's just hope for Severus's sake that they don't bring the compulsory badge-wearing up again," he added with a mischievous grin.

"Now, where would they ever get that idea?" asked Sirius with a mock-innocent expression. "Hey, I know. I'll tell Severus that if he doesn't manage to win this trial today, I'll send owls to all the other first-level members of the Seer's Guild and remind them about the issue."

"That might even work," said Lucius dryly, although a slight smile did touch his lips. "For some reason, Severus has never been as fond of his Seer's talents as he is of his Potions Master's ones."

"Probably because I didn't want the kinds of that old hag Trelawney hanging all over me," the man in question said right from behind him. "And if you dare to even consider contacting other Seers about the badge issue, Sirius, prepare for a year of celibacy. I will not wear that thing in public!" This made Olivia blush slightly and giggle, Sirius and Draco smirk, and Lucius and Remus exchange desperate glances.

Severus did not look "mere" anything, on that Remus had been right. He was wearing his official robe also. Even though his highest rank was that of a Potions Master, he was now in the position of a Ministry official, and thus had the same simple black robe as his husband. His chest was adorned by three golden badges: the flame of a Ministry official, the diamond-and-ruby-adorned potions phial of the Lead Potions Master, and the simple cauldron of a member of the Alchemist's Guild. The last one was similar to the badge Lucius had on the front of his white robes, although the eldest Malfoy's Potions Master's badge lacked the rubies that surrounded the diamond on Severus's.

Almost as soon as Severus had come in, the judge came to the place and settled on her seat in front of the courtroom. Everybody took seats, the Malfoys, Blacks, and Severus's fellow official from his own Department to one side, the Magpies, Ronald Weasley, and another official to the other. The random audience settled on both sides behind the main characters of the trial.

As the judge tapped her desk, Severus, Weasley, and their fellow officials rose from their places and walked to the two large desks that were facing each other in the middle of the courtroom. Olivia rose also, like Severus had told her to do, and sat on another chair about halfway between the official's desks and where the other Malfoys sat. When everybody had again got seated properly, the judge nodded to Weasley. "Let the trial begin," she told him calmly. Weasley stood, a parchment in his hand, and started to speak.

"Olivia Malfoy, or, as she will be addressed in this trial, Olivia Darkholm, has been under the custody of Remus and Lucius Malfoy ever since the 12th of November last year. However, now her mother, Maria Smithson nee Magpie, has asked for custody over her daughter. This trial's purpose is to decide whether Olivia Darkholm will remain as Olivia Malfoy or become Olivia Smithson." The judge nodded again in approvance, and Weasley took another parchment from his pile.

"I'm here to defend Maria Smithson in this case," the redhead started his speech. "Mrs. Smithson lost her daughter when Olivia ran away from home because of her father's, Mrs. Smithson's previous husband Marcus Darkholm's continuous abuse. After this, Olivia was attacked by Death Eaters, and put into a wizarding orphanage, where the nurses tried in vain to restore her lost magical powers. Misters Malfoy and Malfoy gained the custody over Olivia in a primary adoption on the 12th of last November, at which point Mrs. Smithson had already divorced her abusive husband, but had no knowledge about her daughter's current whereabouts. Now that she's found out where her daughter is, she wants her back.

"I'm claiming that Olivia Darkholm should be returned to her mother. Mrs. Smithson is surely capable of offering her daughter a steady home, and she and her husband Johan Smithson are surely capable of giving her an example of a healthy marriage, which she surely needs to see after her broken childhood. Without a usual heterosexual couple somewhere around, she hardly can get any picture of what a normal relationship between a man and a woman should be. Also, having been abused by men, it cannot be healthy for the young girl to live without women, and instead be surrounded by men. As her magical powers haven't been restored, either, it would be better if she were kept away from the Wizarding World and instead in the Muggle World, where she can better learn how to live without magic."

"Very well," the judge said, nodding slowly. "And you, Mister Black?" she then said, glancing at Severus.

"I'm here to defend Remus and Lucius Malfoy in this case," Severus said calmly. "After losing their children in an unfortunate accident, they planned to adopt a child and give them a wealthy, loving home. They gained the custody over Olivia Darkholm in a primary adoption on the 12th of last November. After this, they have taken excellent care of her, until this trial came about. Now they want to have their adopted daughter back, as she's been forcefully taken from them.

"I'm claiming that Olivia Darkholm should stay with her current guardians. They have managed to gain her trust, something that the nurses in the orphanage didn't. Also, as she has been abused by straight men, itwould only be wise for her to see that not all men are evil, and see this in a calm, peaceful enviroment, where no other disturbances come about. She's gained a loving family beyond her and her parents -- something that Mr. and Mrs. Smithson don't have to offer to her -- which also includes heterosexual couples. Also, it surely would not be wise to place her in a home where there is a straight man whom she does not know, as she's afraid of them, especially with a reminder of her childhood years, such as her mother, being constantly around. It could not be healthy to put her in a home so much like the one where she was abused. Also, as she has not lost all her powers but instead still has some of them, and especially as she's talented in magic not involving wands, such as potions brewing, it would do no good for her to be separated from her inheritance completely, but instead, she should be raised like any witch her age, despite her inability to attend to any so-called 'proper' magical training."

This all went on for quite some time, as Weasley and Severus took turns trying to make their own reasons known and to shoot down the other's reasonings. It was impossible to tell which one presented his reasonings better, but the Malfoys felt hopeful as they listened to Severus's words. They both trusted their friend's cunningness and intelligence completely. If Severus couldn't win the trial, then no one could.

At last, neither had anything more to say. The judge now turned towards Olivia. "And what do you have to say about your mother's request for the custody over you, Miss Darkholm?" she asked kindly.

"I don't want to live with her," Olivia said, looking pale, but her voice clear and even. "She may be my mother, but I don't feel like that. She never lifted a finger to prevent my father beating me. She never even said that she was sorry for me, she never defended me or even dared to heal me, too afraid of getting beaten herself." The girl pressed her lips tightly together for a second before continuing.

"Parents are supposed to love their children," she said then, her voice very quiet. It was clearly heard, however, since everyone was silent. "If it is about love, the only parents I've ever had are Lucius and Remus. My father clearly denied his love by his actions, but she never showed it to me, either." She sat down, paler than even before, but didn't break down. Apparently, the Calming Potions were working with her.

"This does make a strong evidence in this case," the judge said quietly. "We are, however, here to decide wich option will be better for Miss Darkholm in a long-term basis. Wouldn't you eventually learn to love your mother, if you lived with her, Miss Darkholm? Doesn't her long search for you prove her love well enough?"

"Maybe I would," Olivia said, "and maybe I wouldn't. But what's the point of it, if I'm already loved, and loving, right where I am?" She gave a dry snort, copied right from Severus. "Besides, they say, 'a friend in need is a friend indeed.' I think that should go for mothers as well."

Remus leaned towards Lucius, small, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. His lips were silently moving, echoing soundlessly every word of trust and love leaving Olivia's mouth. Lucius didn't do anything else but hugged his husband a bit tighter, keeping his eyes fixed on Olivia. The Slytherin couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though. Remus did become overemotional around the full moon, yes, but that was still almost a full week away -- far too early for those kinds of effects to show. Well, the situation was rather moving, however.

Some time later, a young wizard with the badge of a Ministry official came in. He had some parchments in his hands, which he gave to Severus. Remus looked at his friend, curious to know what those papers meant.

The Potions Master began glancing through the papers frantically. The further he got, the more his face lit up. At last he broke in to a broad smile and started a furious whispering with the other official.

Remus watched them with curiousity. He figured it that Severus had come up with something - he at least desperately hoped so. But what it was and whether it could help them enough, he couldn't tell.

Suddenly, Severus stood up. "Your honour, may I speak?"

The judge nodded her head. "Go ahead, Mr. Black."

Severus gave the Malfoys a small, reassuring smile, then turned to face the judge and the jury. "I demand ending this trial," he said, loudly and clearly enough to be heard by everyone in the hall. "I claim simple and clear victory in the case to Mr. and Mr. Malfoy."

A huge wave of whispering and doubtful glances rose from the audience, until it was broken by the sharp bang created by the judge's wand.

"And upon what do you claim this victory?" the judge asked, sounding half curious, half disbelieving. It wouldn't have been the first time when somebody tried something like this to carry on the trial and distract their opponent, but it was certainly unique so early during the trial.

"I claim it upon a simple juridical case," Severus said calmly. "I just got the evidence of it. This certificate," he said, waving the parchment in the air, "clearly states that Miss Olivia Darkholm is a tested and verified Ciddle. Upon the Wizarding Laws of Magical Status, this makes her in all means equal to a Pureblood magical person. And, the Ministry Law of Family Cases states at one point clearly and nondisputtably that, 'Under no circumstances shall a single Muggle or a Squib, or a group of people with the majority of Muggles and/or Squibs, ever gain custody over a Pureblood magical child.' Therefore, the custody over Miss Darkholm can under no circumstances be given to Mrs. and Mr. Smithson."

At first, there was a silence.

Then, there were two single cries, one of sorrow and shock, one of joy. Maria Smithson hid her face in her hands, crying in disappointment, while Olivia let out a joyful cry, forgetting her overflowing shyness for once, rushing to her adopted fathers and hugging firmly Remus, who hugged her back with tears of joy and relief in his eyes. All the people in the courtroom were now either expressing their regret for the Smithsons or - mostly - congratulating the Malfoys for winning the case.

"The custody over Olivia Malfoy will stay with Mr. Lucius Malfoy and Mr. Remus Malfoy upon a simple juridical case," the judge said, her voice strengthened by Sonorius. "This trial is over, this court will break, under the eye of Merlin has the decision been given in the case Malfoy and Malfoy versus Smithson and Smithson."

"Nice trick, darling," Sirius grinned, placing a kiss on Severus's cheek. "The trial lasted for the whole of two hours. That was simply brilliant!"

"I agree," the Slytherin replied with a smug grin. "I'm rather proud of myself, too."

"Thank you, Severus," Lucius said with relief in his voice. "We owe you more than we can ever repay."

"Make sure Olivia passes her tests, and you owe me nothing," Severus smiled. Then he turned serious. "Besides, don't thank me yet. We still have another trial to win," he reminded. "And that will be far more difficult-- this was just a little taste of what is coming. It was the only option to get this one over quickly, since the longer it'd got, the more troubles we'd get later even though we'd won this one. You can bet that after this, Weasley will do everything in his power to take Olivia from you. There's no law to prevent that, we can only try and prove that Olivia is happier with you than with anybody else - not just the Smithsons."

Lucius nodded, his face serious also. "We will fight," he said simply. "Even if I have to hex every person in the courtroom, I won't let go of Olivia without a good fight."

Severus smiled slightly. "Somehow, I don't doubt you'll need the hexes."

After a moment, Robert Madison came to them. "I spoke with the judge," he said. "The second trial will begin next Monday at nine o'clock in the morning."

"Good," Severus said. "And the other thing we spoke about?"

This time, the other official broke into a wide grin. "It went through also," he said. Then he turned towards the Malfoys and said, "Because of this victory, no matter how downright ridiculous it was, Olivia is allowed to stay with you during the next trial, unless very heavy reasons speak against it."

Remus, who'd just released Olivia from his embrace, smiled. "That's great," he said. Then he adopted a doubtful expression, and said, "This is all going too easily, though. I think we'll have pretty hard time of it next week."

"And the full moon will be on Sunday," Lucius added darkly. "I bet Weasley will do his best to turn that to his benefit."

"Well, we'll do our best to win, also," Severus said self-confidently. "First of all, I'd like to look through some older laws. Do you know where the records are being kept, Robert?"

"In the east wing of the Ministry," answered the younger official. "Not far from the Potions Master Ministry Headquarters, in fact, only a couple of corridors further."

"Well, I certainly should know the way there," chuckled Severus. "Merlin knows I've been to there often enough to find the way even in my sleep. More than to the actual Headquarters, even."

"What if we all came with you to see those laws?" suggested Lucius. "I'd like to see those officials about Olivia's first tests anyway, as our dear young gentlemen," he gave a sharp glance at Draco, who was grinning up at him, "have finally managed to come up with a wedding date. Will you come along, or will I just say I got a permission from you to alter the test dates?"

"Just go there, they know you well enough to obey you," said Severus carefreely. "You could also show Olivia the archives they have collected here in the Ministry. It's nowhere near what we have in the actual Headquarters, but it's enough."

Remus gave a long-suffering sigh. He seemed to have relaxed almost completely now that Olivia was, at least for some time, with them for sure. "You know they're not coming back for hours now," he said accusingly at Severus.

"True," said the younger of the two Potions Masters present. "That's why I'm not going along with them -- I really have to look at those laws."

So, the whole group minus Robert -- who claimed to have other work at the moment -- started to walk towards the East Wing of the Ministry building. All adults were pointing any remarkable places, such as the most interesting sections and departments, out ot Olivia, who watched everything in awe. She'd never really seen the places before -- Severus had got her signed for the Potions Mistress tests in the actual Headquarters of the Potions Master's Guild, and in the morning she'd been too nervous to notice anything. Now she did, however, and she was really impressed.

At last they came to a door that had no writing on it, just a big figure of a bubbling cauldron. "This is where we part from the others, Olivia," Lucius said with a slight smile. "The Ministry Headquarters of the Potions Master's Guild."

Olivia nodded a bit nervously, and then followed him inside through the doorway. The air coming to the corridor from the Headquarters smelled of potions ingredients. Three of those left in the corridor grimaced, especially Remus -- he did have an exceptional sense of smell, after all -- but Severus just sniffed at it affectionately.

"A bit more Venderroot than last time," he then said thoughtfully. "I'll have to tell Marius to use some dragon scales instead, the next time I see him."

"What do you mean?" asked Draco, genuinely confused. It did not surprise him that his Godfather could tell the potions ingredients and their amounts from the smell, but he really didn't know what Severus was talking about.

"Oh, it's just a little project we have, Marius and I," Severus said cheerfully as they continued on their way. "He's the one that runs the Guild Headquarters here in the Ministry. You didn't really think we actually brewed potions here, did you? No, Marius burns and boils various ingredients in there. We're trying to accomplish the exact smell of a usual wizarding laboratory, only several times stronger than usual."

"Again a new reason to keep away from laboratories," muttered Remus quietly, causing the others to chuckle. They chattered slightly the rest of their way to the arcive of old laws they were seeking, all relieved that the first trial had gone so easily, although they were still rather wary about the second one.

When they got to their destination, however, they were in for another surprise. There was a gateway with the sign, "Archive of Elder Lawz" on top of it. Instead of a usual door they saw an iron gate there, and on top of it lay a huge Jarvey. When Remus tried to approach the gate, it scratched him and glared at him threateningly. The gate showed no signs of opening.

"He's the guardian," said suddenly a voice from the shadows in the corners of the simple stone room. Startled, they all looked there, seeing an ancient-looking witch smirking at them. "The guardian of the gate."

"And what do we have to get past him?" asked Severus, trying to appear calm.

"Getting past him is not that simple," told the old witch, giving them a disturbingly amused glance. "You have to say something that disgusts him - and that's not easy, I may tell. Before, some people actually got past him, but ever since he discovered fanfiction in the Muggle Internet nobody has passed the gate."

"Fanfiction?" Remus asked, frowning. "What's that?"

Sirius gave him a careful glance. "Well... You know those books that the Muggle woman is writing, right? Rowling, or what was her name?"

"Of course," Remus said, nodding. "They were pretty accurate, at least the four first ones, but this fifth... Honestly, not only you were still on the run, but you died! And Lucius went into Azkaban..." His voice trailed off, and a distant look entered his eyes.

"Just that," Sirius said, and nodded. "I did some research, and it seems that there are some weird people out there - people who write about us. Us, and all the people in those books. That's called 'fanfiction.' Some of them were amusing, but honestly, some of those - can you really imagine you, James, and I getting married - all three together?"

Remus shuddered. "Okay," he said. "I know enough now."

"So that's fanfiction, eh?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds... Interesting. And fairly full of disgusting possibilities." He turned towards the Jarvey. "So we ought to disgust this thing, right?"

"That's it," the witch snickered. "As you just heard, it's anything but easy!"

"Well, we'll try," Severus said, shrugging. He faced the jarvey and said clearly, "A man raping his own son and impregnanting him."

"Squeee!" the Jarvey shrieked. "Non-con, incest, mpreg, squee!" He watched the wizards eagerly. "More, more, more, you dumbasses!" he said with something that couldn't be called quite a laugh, more like an amused snarl.

"What is it talking about? What do those words mean - non-con and mpreg?" Severus asked quietly from Sirius.

"Rape and male pregnancy," the Animagus replied to his husband, shrugging. "Both pretty usual in fanfiction, much more so than in real life."

"Um..." Draco thought rapidly, then said, "Halfgiant marrying a cat?"

"Hagrid/Norris! Yay! You sons of a bitch!" the little creature snickered, without a sign of letting them go through the gate. The four wizards exchanged determined gazes, then set to work to get past the weird gatekeeper.

After three hours of trying, they were no nearer getting through, but all fairly disgusted at each other's suggestions. As Lucius and Olivia finally came to the gate, they had used all their imagination. And still the Jarvey wasn't letting them through.

"A rat eating its way inside a man?" Remus offered, sounding drained.

"Wormtail! My idol!" The Jarvey sounded honestly amused. "More, more! Try more! Can't you come up with anything better, you whore?"

"Remus is not a whore," Lucius said coolly. "So the point of this is to disgust this horrifying thing, right?"

"Exactly," Severus said, nodding wearily. "But even the worst of Voldemort's ideas weren't anything to him. Shit, if homosexual underage non-consensual bestiality with pregnancy and abort isn't enough, what can we say to make him let us pass?"

Lucius looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he said, quite calmly, "Dill pickles, whipped cream, salted fish, strawberries, salt peanuts, and fudge with extra sugar, all piled on a hot chicken-cheese-cucumber sandwhich and covered with vanilla ice-cream and chili pepper."

The Jarvey didn't even take time to think about it. Instead, it grimaced. "You are a mean old pimp!" it shrieked. "My poor little brain! Pass, now, you all! Never come back, you son of a bitch!"

They quickly walked through the gate as it flung open and the Jarvey stepped aside, leaving the old witch staring after them, her eyes wide and jaw hanging open. As they walked down the corridor they still heard the Jarvey's shrieks, "The Wolfboy has forgotten to comb his tail!"

"How did you come up with that?" Sirius asked, truly amazed. "Really, that was brilliant! Brilliant, and more than a bit disgusting!"

"Quite easy," the blond man replied calmly. "I'm the one who's been pregnant, even though for only five months. I should know what a pregnant person can crave." He looked saddened for a while at these words. Then Remus slipped his arm through his husband's, and the blond's expression lit up a bit.

None of them noticed, however, how Severus flinched a bit at Lucius's words, an odd expression momentarily rising to his face.

*

The Malfoys had habarely arrived when a little cloud of silvery mist started to materialize in front of them. "Olivia!" exclaimed Laura as soon as her form had become whole. "You're back!"

"Laura!" replied the other teenager girl just as enthusiastically. "Yes, I am back. Hopefully for the time being."

"Oh, I'm so glad," the ghost chirped with genuine joy. "You have to tell me what happened!"

"Of course I will," said Olivia with a smile. Then, after giving a questioning glance to her adoptive parents and receiving an approving nod in return, she walked out of the room -- for some reason, she wasn't comfortable with the mirror magic yet. Laura followed her, floating softly in the air.

"I didn't know she'd made friends with Laura," said Lucius as both girls had left, raising an eyebrow. "And I'm not entirely sure if I should be happy about it or not."

"Why so?" asked Remus, frowning. "What could be so bad about her making friends?"

"Well, for one thing, she might get surprising ideas," said Lucius dryly, sitting down on a couch and drawing Remus down next to him. "You see, Laura died about three hundred years ago -- by jumping from a window." At Remus's shocked gasp, he smirked dryly, then continued, "Besides, if Weasley finds out that her only friend is a ghost, we'll never hear the end of it. Just imagine how he'll turn that against us -- she doesn't even have live friends!"

"Well, better a dead one that none at all," said Remus, although he was a bit wary. "Besides, there aren't many people around she could make friends with, now is there? And she gets along well with Severus, for example," he added then.

"Yes, she does," admitted Lucius, "but Severus is not her age. And I bet Weasley is going to claim that we need to provide her with some 'healthy companion of her peers' if we truly are good parents."

"Then let's do so," said Remus lightly. "I'm sure Dumbledore would let a couple of students for a little holiday to visit the Manor."

"And exactly whom do you have in mind to invite for a visit?" asked Lucius half-teasingly, wrapping his arms around his husband. He was ready to try it out, if it sounded sensible, though -- he agreed that they'd won the first trial too easily, and was ready to do anything to come over whatever things Weasley had prepared for the second one.

"Well, Clarissa at the very least," replied Remus. "I think we'd better stick to family. And then Malcolm, of course, and maybe Jonah."

"Malcolm?" echoed Lucius disbelievingly. "Jonah? No way, dear. Malcolm will have her in tears in no time with his nastiness, and if she's afraid of straight men who don't even come near her, Jonah will make her scream in fear at the first sight. That boy has already been through half of the female population of Hogwarts, teachers included!"

"Jonah will behave, if we tell him so," said Remus confidently. "And Malcolm is in fact fairly similar to Olivia. They both like potions, for example -- and both adore Severus. You know that both characteristics are pretty rare among youngs, and people in general, too."

Lucius couldn't help but chuckle slightly. It was true that Severus was certainly not one of the most-liked people in the Wizarding World -- and he didn't do much to change that, either. Lucius secretly suspected his friend in fact enjoyed his reputation as a man who ought to be feared.

"Anyway, we will discuss that more later," continued Remus firmly. "Right now, I do believe we have something else to be concerned about."

"Oh?" Lucius raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

"Well, we have Olivia back, at least for now," his husband said, smiling. "I don't know about you, but I, at the very least, am well on the mood for a little... celebrating."

"You know," the blond man replied, "I think I am in a similar mood."

So, celebrate they did. In the master bedroom, of course.

And Olivia and Laura had yet another quiet chuckle together over the emerald moving on the silver figure of a snake.

*

While the Malfoys were discussing Olivia's low state of friendships, the Blacks were already home. Sirius, however, left soon with Draco to see Harry, promising to come back soon. Thus, Severus was left alone. Feeling suddenly very tired after all the hours spent in the archive for nothing, the Slytherin decided to take a little nap before Sirius returned from meeting his adopted son.

He did not find rest easily, however. Instead, his dreams were full of disturbing images that didn't make any sense, but filled him with an endless agony.

*

Severus fell down in the middle of darkness. He saw nothing else, heard nothing, just saw himself falling through an endless darkness.

Then, suddenly, his falling form stopped abruptly on its track. His memory-self let out a loud, pained cry, then lay unmoving, his arms wrapped around his stomach.

Around his very round stomach...

And, suddenly, Severus remembered.

He remembered.

*

"Severus?" Sirius called out as he stepped out of the fireplace. "Severus, where are you?"

There was no reply. Sirius frowned at this. Severus usually didn't go far away from the master sitting room, which was also rather near to his potions laboratory, as well as their bedroom. The Black Manor was big -- far too big for two, by Sirius's mind -- but Severus had never taken a habit of wandering around it.

So, logically, if he didn't answer, he had to be in the bedroom. Whether or not he was asleep, that Sirius couldn't say -- there were permanent two-way silencing charms on the walls of their bedroom, for reasons he would rather not repeat in public. This in mind, he went towards the master bedroom of the Manor.

To his great shock, he did find Severus. The Slytherin lay on his stomach on their bed, his face on his folded arms, and crying - something he never did.

Sirius sat down on the edge of the bed, collecting his weeping husband to his arms. "Severus," the Animagus said softly, "what exactly did you See?" He knew for sure that Severus had Seen something -- nothing else could have caused this.

Severus was quiet for a moment, the sobs still escaping his lips every now and then. "I Saw you," he then said quietly. "You were in Azkaban..."

Sirius frowned. Severus usually was shaken whenever he'd Seen memories of Sirius's time in Azkaban, or the time he'd almost died, but those were not enough to make him cry. There was only one thing concerning both of them that had hurt the Slytherin that much.

"Calm down, love," he hushed his lover. "Tell me, Severus... Did you remember it?"

Severus hesitated for a moment, then gave him a shaky nod. There was no doubt what Sirius was talking about. Only one thing in their shared life was addressed to as "it."

"Oh, Severus," Sirius sighed, collecting his husband to his arms. The Slytherin still didn't say anything, he just clutched on Sirius's robes like a drowning man to his saviour's hand.

For some time, they just stayed like that. After some time, however, Severus's crying lessened a bit, at least enough for Sirius to consider talking to him. "Do you want me to Obliviate you?" he asked quietly. "Or shall I call an Unspeakable from the Ministry tomorrow to do it?"

"No," Severus replied. "I - I want to remember. This time."

"Are you sure?" Sirius asked, crumbling his eyebrows. "You've said yourself that you can't handle it - that it's simply too much for you."

"I'm fine," the Potions Master argued, completely ignoring the tears that were still rolling down his cheeks. "I can deal with it. And even if I can't, it's the time for me to learn. I can't escape it forever - it always catches me, and I'm shocked again. I'd rather know what I'm afraid of."

"If you want it, it's your choice. I just don't want you to get hurt, love."

Severus gave him a little, shaky smirk through his tears. "I'll live," he said quietly. Then he again broke into seemingly endless sobs and tears.

Sirius merely held him again, not saying a word.

*

After what seemed to be forever but was really only half an hour, Severus had cried himself to sleep. Sirius still remained on his side, absent-mindedly petting the silky hair, his mind rolling in the memories of the first time he'd seen his husband like this.

The time they had lost their unborn baby.

***

15th of May, 1997

*

Sirius walked slowly through the corridors of the castle. Everyone who saw him quickly avoided his gaze, stepping out of his way. Conversations were stopped as soon as he came to sight, only to be continued in quickly whispered comments right behind his back.

Everyone in the school knew that Severus was in the Infirmary. Only very few knew why he was there, however, and Sirius wholly insisted to keep it that way also. Severus had suffered enough without everybody knowing the reason behind it.

As soon as he entered the Infirmary, he saw his husband. The usually so proud and controlled Slytherin lay on one of the hospital beds, crying his eyes out.

Sirius frowned, genuinely worried. Ever since he'd woken up, Severus had just cried. Not slept, not eaten, not done anything else, just cried all the time. As it'd been two days already, they were all seriously worried about his lover's mental and emotional state. It could not be healthy to just cry for so long; this could result with serious damages in Severus's mind at worst.

"Severus?" he asked quietly. Testingly.

In an instant, the teary onyx eyes shot up to him. "Sirius," breathed Severus. "Take it away," his lover then begged him. "Just take it away..."

"Take what away, love?" Sirius asked, genuinely confused. "What it is you want me to do?"

"Take the memory," Severus whispered, renewed tears rolling down in endless streams of sorrow. "I can't handle it, it's too much... Please, Sirius, just Obliviate me..."

Sirius swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall from his own eyes as well. He hesitated for a moment - usually, he thought that it was the best if bad things were dealt with immediately. But, Severus wasn't him. The Animagus knew all too well that his husband couldn't just fight and forget, like he did. Also, he saw just how much pain Severus was in.

Slowly, he raised his wand, pointing it at Severus. Steadily meeting the other man's eyes, he said quietly, "Obliviate."

For a moment, it was deadly quiet.

"Mmm... Sirius?" Severus asked then. "Why am I in the bed?"

"At last, you're awake," Sirius sighed, rapidly making up a story in his mind. "You tripped in a stairway, love - hit your head to the floor. Don't worry if you don't remember something, Poppy said that some level of amnesia is just to be expected."

Severus nodded slowly, then raised a hand to stroke his damp cheek. "I've been crying," he noticed, looking confused. "Why?"

"No particular reason," Sirius said, trying to catch a light tone. "Harry and Draco just slipped some Weeping Potion into your pumpkin juice. Don't worry," he added as he noticed the dangerous glow in Severus's eyes. "They've already been assigned detentions - separated ones, because they only did it to have more time together. Harry's with Filch and Draco's with Hagrid." In his mind, he prayed the boys wouldn't hate him too much for this - he'd have to really give them those detentions in case Severus wanted to check it.

But he didn't think the boys would really mind that. Not, if he explained them what would be the price if this didn't go through.

Surely they would take one detention to save Severus's sanity, wouldn't they?

***

The next morning, Sirius watched quietly as Severus tore all his robes out from his wardrobe, collecting them in the middle of the room. Then, as all of his robes were in the heap, the Slytherin took a vial from his belt, tossing it to the floor. As soon as it was broken, the robes caught fire, starting to burn on a rapid pace.

This wasn't the first time Sirius saw his lover doing this. Three times before, Severus had remembered his miscarriage, and three times before, he'd burned all his robes. But usually, he didn't really knew why he did it - he'd just suddenly had a strong dislike for all robes, a dislike which then just disappeared as all traces of the memory disappeared from his mind.

Now, however, Severus knew exactly why he was doing this. And that upset Sirius more than anything else -- anything, except the empty gaze in those jet-black eyes. That was what hurt him most -- all that unvoiced pain and sorrow inside his lover, pain and sorrow he couldn't help.

"Let's go," said Severus then shortly, turning his back to the burning clothes. He was wearing simple navy blue trousers and a dark grey shirt - nothing remarkable, but very unusual for him. It was very rare to see Severus anywhere without his usual wizarding robes. Those were what he'd got attached to - despite the fact that he always burned all his robes after remembering.

Nobody had been able to truly define what exactly had caused Severus's flight down the stairway back then, and, as a result of that, the loss of their unborn baby. Severus had been six months along then, and thus a miscarriage had been almost impossible - but, of course, it'd happened instantly when the baby had died inside him. The protection charms they'd placed on Severus's concealed stomach had done no good in the accident.

It was a miracle Severus hadn't broken his own neck, or skull, or whole body in that flight. Still, he'd managed to stay alive - alive to blame himself. Even though nobody knew what had caused him to fall over, as even his own memories of it were rather vague, Severus himself was certain that he'd stumbled on his robes and tripped over the hem. That was why he always expressed such a dislike for robes every time he remembered. Even when it was just a subconscious urge, he wanted to destroy what he thought to be the very symbol of his 'failure,' not that Sirius or anybody else would ever have called it that. They blamed Severus of it just as much as they blamed Lucius for the death of Philip, Joyce, and Kathleen. They could never do that, because the men were the ones who'd been hurt most.

For those few precious months, the still unborn baby boy had been the center of their lives. They'd already named him - Brian James Black, although getting Severus agree on the second name had taken a lot of coaxing from Sirius's part. Everything had been planned ready, they'd even decided how they'd decorate the nursery, which of course would have been in Severus's quarters, where they both had lived by that time. Harry, who'd been one of the very few who had known, had been only happy when he'd heard of the future addition to his adopted family.

Just as well as he'd been horribly shocked when he realized that there would not be any additions. Maybe not ever.

As Severus didn't remember a thing of his whole pregnancy and the incident most of the time, they were always walking on eggshells when it came to the touchy subject. Severus managed to deal with his subconscious fear pretty well. After all, he was now the head of the Ministry's Male Pregnancy Section, discussing and arranging male pregnancies every day at work. He had never had any visible problems with that. Only when somebody suggested that he himself should carry a baby, he was filled with an unexplicable jolt of fear and shame, quickly changing the topic. Sirius had talked long and seriously with almost all the officials in Severus's section - of course unknown by his husband - and made sure that none of them would ever suggest that. He'd always done everything he could to keep Severus experiencing any more pain than he absolutely had to.

Therefore, he no more even thought that they might once have their own children. Of course, he dreamed of it, he desperately hoped for it to happen, but he didn't think that it could ever be. It was a painful realization, as he'd spent the better part of his life hoping to be a father one day. He'd always been hoping to have some little one to care for and teach things and spoil rotten.

But Severus couldn't bear that, and for Severus, he would give up anything. Even his dreams.

Although now that Severus remembered at last, maybe he could get over his fear and at least consider it? Of course, he wouldn't have to carry a baby, Sirius would gladly do that to save him from his fear. Maybe Severus could accept that much?

As he bellowed the name of their destination before quickly stepping to the fireplace, he thanked all gods he could think of about the fact that they had this option. Not everyone did.

Not, for example, the Malfoys.

It was truly painful to even think about. He and Severus hadn't had children because Severus was afraid of it, Lucius and Remus hadn't gotten any -- at least not biological -- simply because they couldn't. Lucius could never again carry a baby, and as for Remus, well, male werewolves were not known to be able to carry children. Female ones could, of course, but with males, a miscarriage always happened after three months at most. Usually, it happened right after the first full moon when they were pregnant. No matter what had been tried, the miscarriage couldn't be prevented.

He stumbled to the floor of the Malfoy's sitting room. Getting up to his feet, he noticed the Malfoy's stares at Severus, who of course had remained standing, graceful as ever. Olivia looked simply curious as she saw her mentor in this unusual -- unusual for him, that was -- clothing, while Remus and Lucius both looked concerned, although they did try to hide it.

However, Severus wasn't blind. Noticing their expressions, the Slytherin snapped his tongue. "Yes, I did remember," he said sharply, "and yes, I still do remember. I wouldn't let Sirius Obliviate me this time."

"What do you mean?" asked Olivia curiously. "What did you remember?"

The Blacks exchanged glances, then Sirius sighed. "Well, Olivia," he started, "it's a quite long story..."

The girl listened quietly as he told of it everything; keeping the pregnancy secret in the middle of the War, planning their future, naming the baby, and, finally, losing him. In the end of it, her eyes were wide as platters, and she was as pale as a sheet.

They all expected her to say something, anything, really. Instead, she just rose from her seat, walked over to Severus, and gave him a tight hug, tiny tears rolling down her cheeks. And, to even greater surprise of the others, Severus returned the hug, albeit a bit awkwardly. No matter what, Severus still hardly showed his feelings, especially not in physical ways like this, not to anyone but Sirius.

However, as Olivia now hugged him to offer some comfort, he accepted her gesture. And this, even more than the fact Severus seemed to be in control of his emotions, made Sirius think that his husband might actually get past his fears one day.

But, from the experience of years, he knew that the pain would never go away. Fade a bit, maybe, but never go away.


Author notes: The next chapter: Sirius' Trick
Severus is not the only Black with a trick up his sleeve. When the next trial starts, he finds something that leaves Weasley enraged. However, before that, Olivia gives them quite a fright...