Keeping Emma

Chapter 7: Desperate Measures

Albus Dumbledore arrived in the Hospital wing still wearing his dressing gown. He saw Severus sitting by Emma's bed. She lay as still as if dead, and just as pale.

"What happened, Severus?" he asked. "What did you do?"

Severus did not know where to begin. He scrambled wildly for some lie, but could come up with nothing. Dumbledore was going to kill him.

"Emma came to my chambers last night. Then, this morning, she realized that I do not feel for her as she had hoped. It would have been worse to lie to her, wouldn't it, in the end? She ran out of my chambers. I chased after her and called out for her to stop. She didn't, so the Silver Circlet...it did this."

"You couldn't listen to me, could you? It always has to be about you, what you want--to hell with what's right, or what's best for anyone else. You are too rash. You do not stop to think before you do things. Won't you ever grow up? This is no different from how you behaved the night that Remus Lupin almost killed you. You just had to get to the bottom of the mystery. You had to try to find out what those boys were doing so you could turn them in. Did you really think Lily would look at you as a hero? She'd have seen you as a sneaky little rat. Then, when she finally rejected you, you went off half-cocked and joined the Death-Eaters. You couldn't wait to raise yourself in their eyes, running to them with your partial knowledge of that prophesy, not caring what infant would die as a result."

"I know. I hear Lily's screams in my nighmares. I live with the litany of my sins every moment of every day, and I'm doing what I can to make amends. I've given you my vow to stay, to do whatever it takes to keep Lily's child safe. And I will. This was an accident. I never wanted Emma to get hurt. I never wanted anyone to get hurt. I'd always thought Trelawney a fraud. I thought that prophesy was a joke."

Madam Pomfrey came by with a vial of deep green potion. She used an eyedropper to drip a single drop into Emma's mouth. "This should fix whatever internal damage the Circlet may have caused," she said. "It seems to do its deed by using the spine to send messages that mimic the impulses of the brain to cause pain. But she'll need as much rest as possible and to not be made upset when she awakens. Then she'll need some Strengthening Potion. I just put a cauldron to brewing a fresh batch. I've never had an injury like this. I really have no idea how long it will take for her to get better. I'll keep her here with me as long as it takes."

"Stay away from her, Severus," Dumbledore warned. "I don't want you here when she awakens. Keep to your dungeons. Take your meals there. Just stay away from her. Now go. Just go. I can't stand to even look at you right now."

Severus reached out to touch Emma's face only to have his wrist grasped in Dumbldore's hand. "I said go. Poppy, make sure that Severus does not come here again."

Madam Pomfrey looked from the headmaster's angry face to Severus' tortured one. "As you wish, Albus," she said.

Emma awoke several hours later. At first, she had no idea where she was. She lifted her head but the room began to spin. Then, her eyes began to focus and she saw Madam Pomfrey busy at the counter that ran the length of the far wall, humming some melody that sounded vaguely familiar. For some reason, a line of the song came to her.

And love makes a magic all its own...

She smiled as she remembered her mother holding her, singing that to her. She had not known all the words, but she had told Emma that her father had sung that song to her when they were together. Then, her eyes had clouded over, as if she had regretted even mentioning it.

"Madam Pomfrey," she called out weakly.

The good nurse turned and smiled to see her patient awake. "Ah, awake are we?" she said brightly. "Here. You're going to need some strengthening potion." She plucked a vial out of a rack on the counter and brought it over to Emma. "Come on now, drink this down. You will need to have the entire vial."

"What happened?" asked Emma as as soon as she'd swallowed the last bit. "Why am I in the hospital?"

"You don't remember?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

Emma looked down and saw the green lace nightgown. It all came rushing back to her. She heard him call her Lily, then the admission that he did not love her. She'd made a fool out of herself. She'd given herself away so easily, so cheaply. She was just like her mother, stupid and weak, with no integrity or sense of self. She groaned and began to cry.

"Do you remember?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

"I...I remember running away from Severus' chambers. But then, nothing. What happened?"

"It was the Silver Circlet. Severus told Albus Dumbldore that he called out for you to stop and...well, you didn't. The Circlet hurt you. Perhaps it is better that you don't remember."

The doors to the Hospital Wing opened and Professor Dumbledore came in. He was followed by the Minister of Magic, Preston Portage, and a young, handsome black man. He was taller than Severus, but not as thin.

"Our patient has awakened, Headmaster," said Madame Pomfrey. "Good afternoon, Minister, Auror Portage. And who do we have here? Kingsley Shacklebolt? My goodness! How do you like being an Auror?"

"I like it just fine, Madam Pomfrey," said Kingsley, coming forward to take his old nurse's hands. She reached out and gave him a pat on his cheek.

"We brought Kingsley along because he is an expert in old magic and ancient artifacts," said Fudge. "I do apologize for this, Miss Gianni. Preston was quite sure that he had removed the old curse before placing the Babel Hex on it."

Emma looked over at Portage and saw a slight smirk come over his face. He wasn't sorry at all. Emma suspected that Severus was right. He'd done it deliberately.

"Well, there you go, Kingsley," said Fudge. "Have a go at it."

Kingsley walked over and stood by Emma's bed, looking down at her. "I'm sorry, but I will need to get a close look at it. Do you mind?"

"Yes, I mean no, I don't mind. Please. Just get it off if you can."

"I'll try, Miss Gianni." Kingsley said. He removed a tiny mirror from his robes and held it close to the necklace. The mirror should show if there was something out of whack with the artifact, if it was functioning properly.

"Well, what do you think, Kingsley?" asked Fudge.

"Give me a little time, Minister." He removed his wand and touched its point to the Circlet. "Aparecium," he said.

The Circlet turned violet and suddenly an ancient writing appeared. What does it say?" asked Fudge.

"It's in Ancient Runes," he said. "Woe to the bearer of this band; it harkens to its Master's hand. The Most Ancient and Nobel House of Black."

"It can only be removed by someone of the Black family line," said Professor Dumbledore.

"Well, that's that then. All the Blacks, as I understand it, are in Azkaban, are they not?" said Preston. "We're certainly not going to allow Sirius or Bellatrix out for a day trip to Hogwarts."

"Isn't Lucius Malfoy's wife a Black?" asked Cornelius. "Perhaps she would come..."

"I doubt her husband would consider the wellbeing of a Muggle important enough to make the journey," said Kingsley. "What about Andromeda? I'm sure she'll come. Ted and I are great friends. I was at their home for dinner just last week. Their little girl, Nymphadora, is a real pistol; it's hard to believe she's nine years old already."

"I'll use the Floo Network to contact the Tonks family," said Dumbledore. "Please, gentlemen, why don't you stay for supper?"

"We can't. Preston and I have a meeting scheduled this afternoon," said Fudge.

"I think I'll stay, if it's all right," said Kingsley. "I'd love to see some of my old professors again."

"You are always welcome here, Kingsley," said Dumbledore. "Will you be staying the night? I can have a chamber made ready."

"Perhaps it is better if he stays, Albus," said Cornelius. "We need one of our own here to take control of the Silver Circlet when it is removed. We can't have it falling into the wrong hands, after all."

"Trust me, Minister. I will make sure that this is never placed in the wrong hands again," said Kingsley.

"Cornelius," said Albus, "Placing Emma under Severus' custody was not a prudent idea. He has been abusive. His rashness caused this fiasco."

"Perhaps you are right, Albus. Have you a viable alternative?"

"What if you gave both Poppy and me joint custody?"

"That would be an excellent idea. Consider it done."

"Well, as our little Emma seems to be recovered, perhaps you'd like to escort her back to her chambers, Albus," said Madam Pomfrey as the Minister and Portage left her ward.

Emma looked down at the revealing green lace nightgown. She knew that she'd never wear it again. "Um, could Merope bring me something else to wear? I really don't want to be traipsing around in this."

"Oh, of course we can, Emma. What was I thinking?" said Madam Pomfrey.

A half hour later, Emma was dressed in one of the outfits Severus had brought her. Had it just been yesterday? She felt as if she'd aged 20 years overnight. She'd asked Merope to bring her anything that was not green, so Emma was wearing a wrap dress of deep garnet silk that hugged her curves like a second skin. But it was classy, not sleazy. On her feet were her mother's shoes. She caught her reflection in a mirror that Madame Pomfrey held up as she tidied her hair. She even looked older, like a real grown-up and not a kid.

She was dreading dinner. The thought of having Severus sitting next to her was humiliating. Even as she swore to not break down, she sobbed.

"What's the matter, Emma?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

"Severus. I wonder if I could just skip dinner tonight, have it up in my rooms."

"Severus won't be there, dear. The Headmaster has ordered him to take his meals in his dungeons. He is to keep away from you. Come now. It is nearly dinner time. I'll walk with you to the Great Hall."

As they walked, Madam Pomfrey said, "Emma, I...well, I hate to give you something else to worry about. But, last night, when you and Severus...well, did he, by any chance, give you a potion, milky white in hue?"

Emma felt her face flush and looked at the kind nurse. "No, why? I...he didn't drug me, if that's what you think. I went there of my own free will."

"No, I didn't think he'd...well, there could be...complications, if you get my meaning. I was wondering if he'd bothered with any anti-pregnancy potion."

Emma stopped short. "No, oh my God, no. It can't happen. I'd be tied to him for the rest of my life. Could you give me some?"

"I'm sorry, Emma. But it would be too late. It has to be taken within an hour before or after you and he...well, you know."

"But it was only one time. Just once. Maybe it's the wrong time of month."

"When was your last cycle, dear?"

Emma thought. With all the excitement of her graduation and preparing for the trip, she could barely remember. "Let's see. I was attacked in London nine days ago. I'd been in England for two days before that. It last came the day after my birthday, which was on June 25th."

Madame Pomfrey counted in her headback to June 26th. Exactly fourteen days. This, most definitely, was not good. "Well, perhaps we will get lucky," she said, not wanting to further upset the girl.

They walked into the Great Hall together. Albus came right over to her and took her hand. He removed a ring from the pocket of his robe and slipped it onto her finger. "I enchanted this ring to keep the anti-Muggle charms from affecting you once the Circlet is removed. It will allow you to see and pass through the portals to our world. It used to belong to my sister. I want you to have it. You remind me of my dear Ariana in so many ways. Now come, Emma. I want you to meet the Tonks Family. They arrived via the Floo Network just a few minutes ago."

He led her over to where a fair-haired man stood with a dark haired woman. He was tall and was sporting the middle-age bulge around his waist. He looked slightly unkempt. The woman was also tall, with long black hair. She held the hand of a young girl, who must be the aforementioned Nymphadora.

While being introduced, the little girl had interrupted the Headmaster to proclaim that her name was "Tonks, just Tonks."

Mrs. Tonks gave her child a stern look and had said briskly. "Well, let's not wait another moment, then." The entire room fell silent, as if they were all holding their breath. She placed her hands around the Silver Circlet and pulled. They heard a loud snap and Andromeda held the nasty thing in her hands. The entire gathering sighed in relief. She quickly handed it off to Kingsley, as if she were afraid of being contaminated by it.

Kingsley placed it on the floor and removed his wand. He pointed it at the circlet and said, "Confringo." The Blasting Curse caused the Silver Circlet to explode into particles of silvery dust.

"I was under the impression that Fudge and Portage wanted you to return that to the Ministry, Kingsley," said Dumbledore.

"Really? They did not specifically say that, as I recall. I took them to mean that they wanted it destroyed," he answered, in his slow, deep voice.

"Now that you mention it, Kingsley, that's how I understood them too," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "You did promise not to let it fall into the wrong hands. We all know to whom those hands are attached, don't we?"

"Names begin with F and P?" asked Kingsley.

"Most definitely," said Professor Dumbledore.

As they took their places for dinner, Emma walked toward her usual spot next to the headmaster. Kingsley preceded her around the table and pulled out her chair for her. Emma smiled up at him as she was seated. "Thank you, Auror Shacklebolt," she said.

"You're most welcome, Miss Gianni," he answered.

"Emma," she said. "Just call me Emma."

"Only if you call me Kingsley," he answered.

"Of course, Kingsley," she said.

"I've always enjoyed hearing an American accent," he said. "I find it fascinating how two hundred years can cause a language to morph into something unique from its mother-tongue."

"Yes, I know exactly what you mean. The semantics are constantly evolving, as we are. Language has a heart and soul of its own. It's alive."

Albus watched the exchange and a new idea began to glimmer in his mind. Severus was not the only wizard of a marriageable age. Why hadn't he thought of it before? Kingsley was only twenty-four and unattached. And he was a gentleman. He'd been wrong to put all his eggs into one basket. Emma deserved better than Severus Snape. In his mind, he began to form a list of former students he would begin inviting to dinner.

*****

Two days later, Professor Dumbledore looked out the window of his office and smiled with satisfaction. Kingsley had extended his stay. At dinner the night before, Poppy had said that Emma needed to build up her strength. She'd suggested that she begin taking daily walks outdoors.

Albus had then suggested that Emma explore Hogsmeade. Unfortunately, both he and Hagrid would be too busy to accompany her. He'd looked pointedly at Kingsley, who had offered to take her. And there they were, just rounding the bend leading to the gates. Dumbledore had told Kingsley to have her back by dinner. Dumbledore was surprised to feel that old stab of regret that he had never had a child. He'd thought he'd laid that one to rest so long ago. He'd known quite early on that it would never be.

Severus was on his broomstick, flying back from the Three Broomsticks where he had gone to have breakfast. Eating in his chambers was getting old fast. He heard the tinkle of laughter from below. He looked down to see Emma and Kingsley Shacklebolt at the gates. Kingsley opened them and they began to continue up the road toward Hogsmeade.

Damn Dumbledore. He hadn't even bothered to send word that Emma was all right. He doubled back, intending to set down to talk to her. But then, Emma looked up to see him above. She stopped and turned white. Kingsley took her arm as if concerned. Then he followed her gaze and saw him too. His face turned steely cold. Severus turned back and flew toward the castle.

He tossed his broomstick carelessly on the floor of the entrance hall and bounded up the stairs toward Dumbledore's office. After giving the password, Severus stormed into the Headmaster's office without even knocking.

"What are you up to?" he asked, advancing on Dumbledore as he sat at his desk.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you are referring to," said Albus.

"Emma. Why is she going to Hogsmeade with Shacklebolt?"

"Madame Pomfrey suggested that Emma build up her strength by taking nice long walks in the fresh air. Someone had to accompany her."

"What happened to Hagrid? You used him as your watchdog whenever I was around her."

"Kingsley is a gentleman. He can be trusted around her. Emma cannot be truly free unless she marries a wizard. You are not interested, so I am opening up the search, so to speak." He picked up a pile of small envelopes on his desk. "I am busy sending invitations to several young, unmarried wizards from age eighteen to twenty-six to come to dinner here at Hogwarts, to renew acquaintance with their old professors before the new term begins. I want Emma to meet as many prospective husbands as possible."

"You have no right to do this. Do I have to remind you that I have custody of her? I don't want her off the grounds of this school without me. You have no right to place me in danger should she try to run."

"Oh! For a moment there, I thought you might be jealous. But, of course, it's only yourself you're concerned about. How silly of me. Did I neglect to mention it? Fudge agreed to award Madam Pomfrey and myself joint custody of Emma. You are officially off the hook, Severus."

Severus felt the wind go out of his sails. That had been his only argument. He opened his mouth to speak and realized he had nothing to say. He turned around and stormed out of the office in a huff, stopping as Dumbledore called his name.

"By the way, I know you have not bothered to inquire, but Kingsley was able to figure out how to remove the Silver Circlet. Emma is quite safe now. Not that you care, of course."

Severus turned his head to look back at Dumbledore, daggers flew from his eyes. "I care," he said before storming down the steps. He blew by Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey in the hall without even seeing them.

"Ah, Severus," said Dumbledore, chuckling. "You've got it bad and you don't even realize it."

He looked down at his desk and began to write yet another invitation. A few seconds later, he heard the rumble of the gargoyle as it turned to admit yet another visitor. My but he was certainly popular today, Dumbledore thought.

The door opened and Minerva and Poppy came into the office.

"Albus, we must speak with you," said Minerva. "It's about Emma."

"I'm all ears, ladies," he said. He motioned for them to be seated in the chairs that stood in front of his desk with a flourish of his great peacock quill.

"Well, Poppy came to me and asked me if you should be made aware of a potential problem."

"Well, a potential problem is always better than an actual one," said Albus. "Perhaps we can avert it."

"Unfortunately, this is something out of our hands," said Poppy Pomfrey. "I asked Emma if Severus had given her any...well...any anti-pregnancy potion. He hadn't. And, when I broached the subject with her, she became quite upset. I asked about her, well, you know, her cycle. She was at her most fertile point two nights ago."

The quill in his hand suddenly snapped. He threw it on the desk in anger.

Severus stormed into his chambers and paced. Damn, damn and triple damn, he thought. He was going to lose her. He knew it. He had no rights to her anymore and Dumbledore was making sure he never spoke another word to her again.

Severus had had a lot of time to think about the situation. Despite what she believed, Emma did not love him at all. She only thinks she does. It was nothing more than infatuation and the fact that, like all Muggles, she had been raised on fairy tales of happily ever after. He was sure that if he had the chance to explain all this to her she would realize that she actually had the same feelings for him as he had for her. Lust. It wasn't love at all. Severus felt quite proud of himself for figuring it out. Now he only had to find a way to force Dumbledore to allow him to speak to Emma again.

A small croaking voice behind him said, "P...P...Professor, Sir?"

He turned to see the House-Elf assigned to keeping his chambers clean behind him.

"What?" he said harshly.

"I...I found th...this vial under your bed, Sir. I thought you might be looking for it," the ancient elf was shaking with fear.

Severus swept over and tore it from the elf's hand. He held it up in the dimly lighted room. It was the vial of anti-pregnancy potion he'd prepared. He'd forgotten to give it to her. At first he was dismayed, but then he felt a glimmer of glee. If Emma ended up pregnant, Dumbledore would insist that he marry her.

Severus threw himself into the chair that stood by the fireplace in his sitting parlor and laughed. Well, that would put a fly into the ointment of Dumbledore's plans to arrange a more suitable match. Who would be willing to take on another man's child? Suddenly, the idea of marriage was not so reprehensible any more. Emma would belong to him.

Severus took out his wand and pointed it at the small side table next to his chair. A second later, a glass of elf-made wine appeared. He stretched his long legs out in front of him and celebrated, smug and secure that he had figured it all out. After finishing his wine, Severus decided he had better keep an eye on Emma and Shacklebolt. He got up and ran back up to the Entrance Hall to retrieve his broomstick and headed back toward Hogsmeade.

Kingsley and Emma sat in the Three Broomsticks enjoying a pleasant lunch. Recalling the woman in the clothing shop, Emma had been worried about the innkeeper's reaction to her, but Madam Rosmerta had welcomed Emma into her establisment most graciously.

Kingsley looked across the table at Emma. She was a sweet child, but he knew that she was hung up on Severus Snape. He'd seen it in her eyes when she'd looked up at him. He also suspected that Dumbledore was using him to make Snape jealous. Kingsley remembered Snape from his days at Hogwarts. He had been two years ahead of Snape and had never liked him. Kingsley was more than willing to spend some time with a pretty girl and drive Snape a little nuts. At eighteen, she was nearly seven years younger than him. She looked about twelve sitting there, drinking a glass of milk. He considered Emma more a little sister type than a girlfriend. He was not in danger of losing his heart.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like a glass of elf-made wine or sherry with your lunch?" he asked.

"No," she said, subconsciously placing her hand over her stomach as her eyes filled with tears. "I don't think I should be drinking anything with alcohol in it."

Understanding lit Kingsley's face. He wondered what the bastard had done. Had he gotten her pregnant and dumped her? Kingsley would have to kill the man, or, at the very least, hex him into the next century. "Are you with child, Emma?" he asked.

Emma wiped away a tear that had broken free of her eyelashes with the back of her hand. "I don't know," she said. "I might be. Madam Pomfrey says she won't be able to tell for at least another two weeks. Oh, God, I'm so ashamed. I believed that he loved me. I really did. I'd have never..."

Kingsley reached out to place his hand over hers. "A child is nothing to be ashamed of, Emma. It's a gift from God. Any shame belongs on the shoulders of Severus Snape. Someone should tell you, Emma. He's not a good person. I don't know how much you've been told, but until last autumn, the Ministry was at war. There was this wizard who turned bad; we don't even say his name. We had been fighting him for years and we were losing. Severus had always been fascinated by the darkest magic. After leaving school, he joined the forces of evil. The dark wizard tried to murder a little boy. He seemed to think the child was a threat. I suspect Dumbledore knows why because he had discovered the danger and had sent Lily and James Potter into hiding. But it didn't work. The dark wizard killed them and then tried to kill the baby. But something went wrong. The curse rebounded on him and he vanished. Little Harry was found in the wrecked, smoldering shell of the house."

Emma remembered what Severus had told her about Lily having been killed the previous fall. "Do you think Severus was involved?" she asked.

Kingsley sighed. "No, not really. Everyone at school knew he had a thing for Lily. He and James had hated each other. To be honest, James was an egotistical bully as a boy. It wasn't all Severus' fault. He did try to avoid James. He must have been devastated when Lily married him. After it was all over, Dumbledore testified that Severus had been acting as a spy for him. I suspect that he turned against the Death-Eaters when he learned that Lily was in danger. It was a brave thing to do. I guess he can't be all bad or Dumbledore wouldn't have him as a teacher."

Despite her own pain, Emma found herself feeling sorry for Severus. It was so unfair. She didn't want to take Lily's place in his heart. But why couldn't he make room so she could have a spot of her own?

Kingsley caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. It was Snape. He was crouching outside the window, watching them. "Now, I don't want you to look, Emma," he said. "But Severus is outside, spying on us. I will bet you that within the next minute or so, that door will be accidentally blown open by the wind. It will be him, with a Disillusionment Spell cast on himself. It will make him invisible. You know, perhaps the semblence of a little competition is all the man needs to grow up."

For the first time since she had run out of Severus' bedroom, Emma allowed herself to hope. "You really think so?" she asked, as the front door to the Three Broomsticks suddenly blew open.

"This is important," he whispered. "He can read minds, but he needs to maintain eye contact to do it. So, do not look around. Keep your eyes on me."

Severus entered the Three Broomsticks invisibly and made his way over to a table near Emma and Kingsley. Trying to not draw attention to himself, he carefully lifted a chair and pulled it out from the table and sat so he could listen in. This was not good. They were holding hands and looking into each other's eyes. Even Emma should be able to see that what she thought she felt for him could not be love if she could be so thoroughly charmed by Kingsley so soon after that incredible night they had shared. He wondered if she even realized she might be pregnant. Probably not, or she would be banging on his door begging him to do the right thing. He wondered if he should wait for her to come begging.

Kingsley called out. "Madame Rosmerta! Bring another glass of milk for my lady, please." Then, to Emma, he added, "I'm glad that you are looking forward to a large family, Emma. I love children. Also, as an Auror, I am perfectly able to support a larger family. It's a very good paying job."

"In my country, government positions always pay well. Except for teachers. They just don't seem to command the pay scale and respect that they really should."

"It's the same way here. A teacher would be the last person to bet your future on. The financial struggle would be a real hardship. Also, my family left me rather well off. You would never have to worry about struggling to make ends meet with me, Emma."

Severus nearly gasped out loud. What the hell was going on? They only met two days ago; how could they be talking about marriage already? And those cracks about teachers were absurd. Hogwarts paid their teachers quite well. And because of that settlement, Severus could offer Emma security in the Muggle world as well as the magical one. He couldn't believe she was falling for this line of crap.

Madam Rosmerta came by with a pitcher of milk. Severus had to duck to avoid being hit in the head with it as she passed by him on her way to refill Emma's glass.

"Thank you for lunch, Kingsley," said Emma. "It is so nice to finally be able to spend time with a gentleman. I'm even grateful to that Silver Circlet for bringing us together."

"I am too, Emma," said Kingsley. But I am sorry you were injured. I can't believe that Snape was so careless with your safety. But, he was always that way, even as a boy--selfish and self-centered through and through. I'm so glad that you've come to realize that."

"Yes, he was a mistake. I realize that now."

"Let me take you to Honeydukes, the finest sweetshop in all the world," said Kingsley, removing a dragonskin pouch from his robes and leaving a small pile of wizard gold on the table. He stood and moved Emma's chair back so she could stand. Then, his arm around her, they left the Three Broomsticks, slamming the door in Severus' face as he attempted to follow.

Severus was livid. He hurried out of the Three Broomsticks and popped into the alley where he had left his broom. After retrieving it, he mounted and raced back to Hogwarts. For the second time that day, he stormed up to Dumbledore's office. He kept hearing that word--mistake--over and over. He remembered his father used to love to say that. He used to yell at his mother, saying that marrying her was a mistake. Then, he'd turn to Severus and say that he was an even bigger one.

Dumbledore was not surprised when Severus burst into his office a second time that day. He had seen him racing back to the school on his broom, looking like a dark thundercloud.

Sighing, he said, "Yes, Severus, what is it now?"

"I'll marry her," he said.

"Not without my consent, you won't," said Albus. "Besides, Severus, I doubt she would have you now. She lives in fear of running into you. You humiliated her. She offered you her heart and you spit it into her face."

"She might be pregnant, you know," said Severus, who preferred to ignore truths for which he had no counter-argument.

"We're all well aware of that, Severus. You could have avoided that quite easily, you know. If you think I am going to insist that she marry you because of it, you're quite mistaken."

That's exactly what Severus had thought. Severus sat in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. "Just give me a chance to fix this. I'll make things right. Just let me talk to her."

"No, Severus," Dumbledore said. "She has asked me to keep you away from her. I gave her my promise that I would."

"You cannot keep me away from my child. You haven't the right."

"We're not even sure there is a child, Severus. She could very well not be pregnant."

"But if she is?"

"We will know in two weeks. If she is, then it will become necessary for the two of you to work out some arrangement."

"I will not permit Shacklebolt to have her."

"Excuse me?"

"Your hero in this little play you're directing. They are talking about being married."

"They're talking about being...wait a minute. Let's back up here. How do you know this?"

"I heard them. I placed a disillusionment spell on myself and sat not three feet from them listening. The entire thing is absurd. They've known each other for only two days."

"As opposed to the ten days you have known her, of course," Dumbledore said wearily.

"Exactly," said Severus, not catching the sarcasm at all.

"My decision is made, Severus. You will not approach her, not speak to her until we find out, for sure, if she is pregnant. Only then will I permit you to speak with her so the two of you can work out arrangements concerning the child. If there is a chance that she can find happiness with Kingsley, I want her to have it. You will maintain your rights to see your child even if she is married to another."

Severus ran his fingers through his hair as if he were pulling it out. Dumbledore had no idea what he was doing. Two weeks was an eternity. By then, Kingsley would have stolen her away from him. He was going to put a stop to it.

That afternoon, Severus was waiting. He had discovered what room Dumbledore had assigned Shacklebolt and he was there, outside the door, waiting for him.

Kingsley turned the corner and saw him standing there. Ah! The confrontation scene, he thought. "Severus," he said as he shielded his mind. He noticed that Severus had developed a tic in his right eye.

"I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Emma, of course. Are you aware that she may be pregnant? If she is, that is my child."

"I am aware that she may be pregnant, Severus. If she is, I am more than willing to raise your child as my own. Emma and I have discussed it. We're both sure this will come as a relief to you. You do not have to feel obligated to Emma or the child in any way."

"I'm not going to sit back and let you ride off on your broomstick with her."

"There's really nothing you can do about it, Severus. Now, I need to change for dinner. This is getting a little tedious."

Kingsley found it difficult to maintain a straight face as he opened his door and walked into his room. The poor man, he thought, he almost felt sorry for him.

Severus needed to clear his mind. He swept down the stairs and out of the castle. Without even thinking, he walked to the lake. Severus paced back and forth, trying to think of something he could do. Talking to Kingsley had been useless. The man was so smitten that Severus began to wonder if Emma might be a witch in disguise. Maybe she was just playing all of them. No, that was impossible. He closed his eyes and breathed. Control. Discipline. He had to get control back.

He had to get her away from here. That much was clear. Screw Dumbledore and his orders. Severus was under no obligation to obey him in this matter. He had to get her alone. He felt sick at the thought of any man touching her. He wondered when it had stopped being a game he was playing, another conquest. It was on the train. A vision came to him, of her standing there, saying that she forgave him for everything. Somehow, he knew that she was his salvation. He had to have her.

Maybe he didn't feel for her the way he'd felt about Lily, but he enjoyed having her around. She knew nothing of his past, so he didn't have to keep his guard up around her. He knew the things that were whispered about him, the doubts and suspicions the wizarding world held toward him. Few women of his world would come within ten feet of him. The ones who would were not the type any man would want around on a long-term basis. His saw his life stretched out before him as an endless succession of days spent alone. He owed a debt to Lily and he would pay it, probably with his life, in the end. That debt was the only reason he had to continue on. Emma was the only person who kept the darkness at bay. She made him laugh, and forget, for a time, the things he'd done. He was not going to stand there, like an impotent fool, and let some other man ride off with her. Not again.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. He would kidnap her and take her someplace. But where? Not Spinner's End. That's the first place Dumbledore would look. The Shrieking Shack; it would be perfect. No, it was too close. He'd be seen going out to buy supplies. Then he remembered the old Bluff House. It was nothing more than a one room building on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the ocean. And it was unplottable. The Death-Eaters used to use it for meetings. And it was just a two hour's broomstick ride away. He would begin apparating there to stock the place with supplies.