The Distraction

I stared at Severus, willing him to tell me what was on his mind, and of course it didn't work. I even tried a bit of covert Legilimency. I'd taken lessons in my last year of school, but failed the course miserably. Hey, it was worth a shot.

Severus jumped up as Bill and Molly appeared in the fireplace. He stode to Mrs. Weasley and whispered something in her ear. She glanced over at me and looked as if she were about to say something, but Severus grabbed her arm and shook it, silencing her. Molly nodded, eyes wide in shock.

"Stand up, Miss Jacek, and hold your arms out," Severus commanded, moving to stand at the head of the table.

"What?" That was the last thing I had expected him to say.

"Just do as you're told!" he snapped, his cheeks regaining their angry flush.

Not being one to argue with Severus when color manages to reach his face, I pushed my chair back and stood, holding my arms out beside me, feeling very foolish.

"Mrs. Weasley, if you will..."

Molly walked around the table and stopped about four feet away from me. I turned my head to look at her, to see if I could get some hint of what was going on. Her face was pale, her eyes wet as if she were holding back tears. She raised her wand and flicked it at me, mumbling a spell I didn't understand. A stream of golden light shot out and encircled my abdomen in a bright band. It revolved around me, like the rings of Saturn, for a few moments before slowly turning blue.

"Ah.... So he will have his son," McGonagall murmured. "That's too bad. If it were a girl--"

Severus held up a hand, silencing her. "Wait! There cannot be-- just wait!"

It was an extremely awkward moment, standing in a kitchen with six people staring intently at my stomach. The gold-blue band continued to rotate and waver as I held my breath. But suddenly, it turned back to a shimmery gold and split in two, the now seperate streams revolving in opposite directions.

There were many startled intakes of breath and Severus let out an inappropriately gleeful, "HA!" I half expected him to say, "I told you so."

"You can remove the charm now, Mrs. Weasley," Severus said, idly waving his hand as the gold started to turn blue.

Molly pulled her wand back and went to sit next to her son.

"Twins?" I asked, collapsing back into my chair. "I'm having two of them?" There was an odd buzzing noise in my ears. I felt hot, as if I had a fever, and the people in the room, all of them only a few feet away, seemed blurry, distorted, like I was gazing at them from a great distance.

"You wouldn't be pregnant at all unless you were having twins," Severus said. His voice sounded as if it were coming from the opposite end of a tunnle. I drug my eyes upwards to look at him, to find his tall figure surrounded by a black haze. I started intently at his face. I could barely hear him, and was determined to catch every word that came out of his mouth. "There must have been a fertility potion in the brandy. Mixed with a contraceptive, the two have the rather perplexing backfire of a dual conception."

"That's one fuck of a backfire, Severus," I slurred. The room was starting to spin around me; I felt like I was going to be sick. I alread knew I was pregnant. I had know for almost an hour, but until Molly cast her charm on me, it didn't sink in. It didn't seen real. But it did right then.

"I agree," Lupin said, frowning up a Severus. "Why didn't you tell us of this possibility?"

I looked back to Severus in time to see his jaws clench. I knew he wasn't fond of Remus, and he seemed to be insulted by the question. "The Dark Lord had Bellatrix cast an Ovulation Detection Charm on Miss Jacek. I only assumed that since the results had shown her cycle would begin the next day, that the Dark Lord would not think he needed the extra insurance of a fertility potion. It seems I have underestimated him once again...."

"Now what? What do I do?" I asked, my voice hollow and muffled.

"You will tell the Dark Lord of your pregnancy, and continue in your role as a spy. This may be better than the original plan," Severus growled, moving around the table and pulling me up to face him. "Two children will surely be a more effective way of sidetracking him than just a pretty play thing that won't get pregnant. Miss Jacek, are you listening to me?"

I closed my eyes and pulled away from him, swaying slightly. "Of course I'm listening to you! How could I not? Now, would you please let me sit back down?"

Severus frowned and moved away from me and I sank gratefully back into my seat. I felt someone nudge my shoulder and glanced up to see Tonks holding out a small glass with amber liquid in it. "No, no more alchol...." I mumbled, pushing her hand away.

"It's not," she said, half a smile playing across her face. "Just a calming potion. A strong one," she added, pushing the glass into my hand.

I nodded and took a sip, sighing as I felt the potion start to take effect.

Albus stood and went to stand beside Severus, who was looking down at me with what could only be described as extreme disapproval. The old wizard layed a hand on the younger one's arm and Severus sat down with an expression of deep resentment.

"How long have you been gone from Malfoy Manor, Tamerlane?" Albus asked, turning his blue stare upon me.

"A few hours," I answered quickly. "But Narcissa knows why I went out, so I'm not particularly worried."

Albus nodded, looking slightly amused. "So, Mrs. Malfoy has caught on to the activities taking place in her home every night?"

"Yes...." I replied and felt myself blush. "She was the one who recommended that I get tested."

"No doubt Lucius will be deeply honored when he learns of this," Severus mumbled darkly.

Minerva scowled at Severus and looked as if she were about to say something, but at that moment, Severus gave a sharp intake of breath and his right hand shot to his left forearm.

Everyone at the table froze. There was only one thing that it could mean.

Seveus stood quickly and turned to Albus. "I'll be back as quickly as possible. And you," he said, turning to me, "get back to Malfoy Manor immediately!"

"Alright...." I said, a bit confused, but I was used to following orders from Severus.

Severus nodded curtly to Albus and swept out of the room and I went to the fireplace. When I first moved into Malfoy Manor, Arthur Weasley had a friend of his in the Floo Network Department at the Ministry hook the hearth in my bedroom into the Network, unknown to anyone that wasn't in the order. Needless to say, the secret connection had come in handy many times.

I took a pinch of powder from the pot and stepped into the green flames with muted wishes of good luck ringing in my ears.