Chapter 17 - Comfort
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Lily was quite fortunate to have such a caring lover.
After tucking her into her nest and drying the last of her tears, Severus spent the evening tending her as he hurried from the kitchen to the bedroom with tea and food, after he had cast a protective charm on the bedroom to secure Lily’s safety and privacy.
“Sev, you don’t have to fuss so, I can walk.” Lily chided as she sipped yet another cup of soothing tea.
“My only wish is to see to your comfort, my love.” Severus nodded.
“Then while you’re at it, can you find us another situation, please?” She joked sarcastically as she cast him a wry smile, “I’m afraid this one isn’t to my liking.”
Severus replied with a sad frown.
It annoyed him beyond measure that the pesky reality of Voldemort’s order kept encroaching on what should have been a joyous occasion for him and Lily.
“Help him……..” Lily mused out loud after several minutes of lengthy silence had passed, “......Or end our child’s life. What kind of miserable choice is that?”
“Perhaps……..a rather amusing one, after all.” Severus replied.
“What?” Lily frowned.
“Hiding your current state from his knowledge isn’t possible.” Severus elaborated, “The Dark Lord can sense emotions and thoughts….he’s certainly capable of detecting life, should he ever visit this place, our ruse would be immediately discovered.”
“Yes........But where does that leave us?” Lily sighed.
“These walls…..” Severus mentioned as he glanced around the room, “He’ll enchant them to record the birth, if they haven’t already been sending him snippets of our lives thus far.”
“I don’t see what we can do to avoid that, Sev.” Lily frowned.
“Suppose the birth doesn’t happen here.” Severus suggested.
Lily furrowed her brow.
“Suppose no one but you and I bear witness to the event……We can hide the child…..until the end of the war…..and all the while, alert the Dark Lord to the tragic stillbirth.” Severus reasoned.
From the look on her face, he worried Lily would ask if he had gone mad.
To his surprise, she seemed interested in his idea, “And then where will that leave us? He’ll demand we try again.”
“Should that be his next course of action, you and I will be more careful with our use of Contraceptive Potion until the war concludes and his defeat arrives.” Severus reasoned, “Then we will collect our son or daughter and live our lives together.”
“Where will the baby stay?” Lily pouted.
“Hogwarts is the safest place in our world.” Severus nodded, “You can occupy my chambers during the day and care for the babe there. At night, we’ll return here and leave the little one in the arms of the staff to avoid suspicion.”
“The walls….” Lily began before she shook her head, “Sev, he’ll see me gone every day. He’ll know I’m-“
“-Working at your new position after having found employment as assistant to the Potions Master, yes.” Severus nodded.
A slight smirk curled Lily’s lips as she began to really believe that Severus’s elaborate scheme could truly be a tangible hope.
“Do you honestly think he’ll see truth in any of that?” She scoffed.
“If I am to tell him myself, then yes, my love. I have no doubt he will believe me completely, especially after I regain his trust.” Severus replied.
“Oh, Sev!” Lily cried.
As she placed her teacup down on the nightstand, he interpreted what she wanted from the way she rummaged around in the covers, as if she meant to stand.
Eager not to allow her to exert herself, Severus quickly moved forward and pulled Lily into his arms for a quick embrace of reassurance.
He had never much cared for physical contact, although to his surprise, he found that taking Lily as his mate had changed his mind.
He would gladly accept kisses, hugs, gentle touches, or any other form of expressive affection from his dear flower.
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A part of Severus felt excited to put his new plan into action, a larger part trembled with fear.
Less than a week later, he stood in front of Voldemort, atop some lonely, craggy cliff far above the mountainous grounds of the highlands while the two spoke privately.
Voldemort let out a loud, humorless laugh when Severus told him the news.
“Well done, my friend!” He smirked, “I was certain that the layer of enchantments I placed on that modest little cottage would cure whatever plight the mudblood’s womb had suffered! You must keep me informed during the upcoming months. I intend to collect the child as soon as it arrives.”
“Of course, my lord.” Severus said with an obedient bow that thrilled Voldemort to see, “You will be the first to learn of every necessary update.”
As their meeting ended, Voldemort and his would-be follower parted.
Severus headed straight for Hogwarts while Voldemort disappeared into the night like a whispering plague.
He had spoke to one master, only one more to go before he could return to his pregnant mate’s side.
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Two hours later, Severus sat in front of Dumbledore’s desk while the elderly headmaster gazed at him shrewdly.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Severus.” Dumbledore spoke at last.
His claim was false.
He had understood his young employee perfectly, although he wanted several minutes to think while Severus repeated what he had already explained.
“Lily is with child.” Severus began as he simplified the previous minutes’ conversation, “She carries the one the prophecy spoke of, or at least, the Dark Lord believes that to be so. He intends to snatch the child from her arms at the very moment of its birth.”
Severus had already detailed the prophecy itself and his unconventional arrangement with Lily, but Dumbledore had more important facets to the situation on his mind.
“And what am I to do about all this?” He asked.
“Hide them! Hide her! The castle is formidable enough to keep mother and child safe, headmaster, if you will allow them to seek shelter here when the time comes.” Severus implored his employer.
Dumbledore’s heart was colder than Severus had anticipated.
Instead of readily agreeing to help, he began to bargain, “And what will you give me in return, Severus?”
“In return?” Severus blinked. His jaw clenched in irritation at the headmaster’s greedy cruelty, “Anything! I…..I can….”
Lily’s innocent guess from months ago suddenly echoed back to him.
“I can offer you my services as a spy against the Dark Lord.” Severus nodded, “I am one of the elite he keeps close, if you will allow Lily and her baby to take refuge at the castle, I will do your bidding and divulge all I can possibly learn about the Dark Lord to hasten his destruction.”
Dumbledore resisted the urge to smile.
He had successfully managed to stall until his desired outcome had been achieved.
“Very well, Severus.” Dumbledore said as he stretched out his hand, “We have an agreement.”
As Severus leaned forward and shook Dumbledore’s hand, he couldn't help but frown.