Chapter 7
As soon as your feet hit the grass outside the school you are rushing to the doors, pushing through the crowds of students as Severus keeps your hand locked tightly in his. You walk up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore’s office, your heart beating against your ribs with every step.
He stands in the opening as you land on the top step, his blue eyes scanning over your face as you come to a stop, your breath coming in jagged spurts as you look back at him. Severus squeezes your hand, stepping closer and nodding at Dumbledore once. He nods back, turning and leading you both into his office.
“I heard what happened.” He says quietly, sitting on the edge of his desk before waving his hand and shutting the door behind us. “What can I do to assist the two of you?”
Severus tells him about your sudden trip to Azkaban, explaining what Bellatrix told you and what you saw in her mind. You hold his hand in yours as you lean against him, feeling a lingering sense of panic slowly leaking through the fog from him to you.
Dumbledore considers all of the information, nodding and closing his eyes for a moment. You hope he’s working out a plan as he sits there, eyes moving gently behind his eyelids as he thinks.
“Do you have the ring?” He asks, opening his eyes and fixing them onto yours. “Your mother’s.”
You nod, swallowing hard.
“It’s with Molly Weasley.” You answer, taking a deep breath.
He nods again, stepping closer to you and Severus.
“You’ll need to retrieve that.” He says softly. “And then I think we’ll have a chance of finding your daughter.”
Your breath catches in your throat as he says that, and you find Severus’ hand tightening on yours again as he looks down at you.
“We can go now.” Severus says, eyes flitting to Dumbledore. “Can we use your fireplace?”
Dumbledore nods, stepping behind his desk and retrieving a bag of Floo Powder. He hands it to you before gesturing to the fireplace. You step in with Severus, looking into his eyes as you both take a fistful of powder.
“My fireplace is the only one in the castle connected to the Floo Network, and you’ll need a password to get back through.” Dumbledore says before you go. “It’s Pumpkin Pasties.”
He shoots you a sympathetic smile as your eyes fall back to Severus’, and you drop the powder in sync, saying your destination in unison as it falls to the bottom of the fireplace. A moment later, you step out into the kitchen of The Burrow.
You cough once as the soot clears, and Molly and Arthur look up at you from the table with wide eyes.
“(Y/N)?” Molly asks, standing up and walking over to you. “What happened, are you okay?”
She brushes your hair away from your face before resting her hands on your shoulders, her wide eyes searching yours.
“The kids and Daisy sent an owl and told us about the attack, but they didn’t know if you two were okay.” She looks between you and Severus before looking down at his hands. “Where’s Nova?”
The mention of her name is too much for you, and you bury your face into Molly’s soft sweater as tears stream down from your eyes. She rubs your back gently as Severus explains what happened, keeping you held tightly against her chest as she does.
She reaches a hand down to gently pull your chin up to look at her as Severus finishes, and you wipe the back of your hand across your cheeks as you look back into her eyes.
“Listen to me.” She says with a small smile, tears glistening in her eyes. “We’re gonna go upstairs and get your mum’s ring, then you’re going to go find your baby and bring her home.”
You nod, forcing a smile back at her as she takes your hand and leads you up the stairs. You walk with her to her bedroom, following her to the dresser with the small jewelry box sitting on the top. She opens it slowly, looking into it before rummaging around in the items within before pulling out the small, gold and ruby circle.
“Here it is.” She says, turning back to face you before extending her hand out with the ring.
You take it, sliding it onto the middle finger of your right hand. Molly takes your hand in both of hers, looking at the ring.
“I miss your mum.” She says quietly. “I think of her often.”
You nod, looking at her as you do.
“Do you think she’s alive?” You ask, your voice shaking as you dare to consider what that means. “And if she is, do you think she’s a—working for them?”
Molly shakes her head slowly.
“I don’t know.” She whispers, reaching up with one hand to cup your cheek gently. “But if that is the case, just remember who you are and where you came from.”
You nod, smiling at her as you tuck one of her orange curls back into her bun.
“If that were to happen,” You whisper, “I’ll remember who my mum is, and I’ll come right back here.”
Molly smiles at you widely, pulling you back into a hug as she squeezes you tightly.
“I’m lucky to have been given the opportunity.” She whispers back.
A moment later, she leads you back out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen, where Arthur and Severus are waiting.
“Found it.” You say, holding your hand up to show Severus the ring.
He smiles a small smile as he takes your hand in his, lacing his fingers through yours.
“Hurry back, and do try to keep us updated.” Arthur says, handing you the bag of Floo Powder.
You hug him and Molly before taking a handful, and Severus does the same, standing beside you in the fireplace.
“Ready?” He asks, looking down at you.
You nod, remembering the password Dumbledore told you.
“Professor Dumbledore’s office, Pumpkin Pasties.” You both say as you drop the powder, and the green flames consume you as you transport back to the school.
You step back out into Dumbledore’s office, and he meets you in the center of the room.
“Did you recover the ring?” He asks, looking between you and Severus.
You nod, taking it off of your finger and holding it up to show him. He nods, turning and gesturing for you and Severus to follow him. He leads you to a boiling cauldron at the far end of his office, and he pours another liquid into the bubbling mixture before turning to look at you.
“May I?” He asks, pointing at the ring.
You nod, setting the ring in his palm. He drops it into the cauldron, stirring it as he murmurs under his breath.
What is he doing? You push to Severus, not pulling your eyes from Dumbledore’s actions.
I’m not sure. Severus pushes back. This is foreign magic.
You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself as Dumbledore pulls the ring, now dripping with clear liquid, from the bottom of the cauldron.
“This ring will lead you to it’s owner.” Dumbledore says, drying it off and turning to hand it back to you. “So it should lead you to your mother, and hopefully your daughter.”
You nod, taking the ring from him and sliding it back onto your finger. You look at it in awe as you feel a slight buzz shimmering up your hand and arm from the band.
“What if it isn’t true?” You ask him, tearing your eyes from the ring long enough to ask the question.
Dumbledore takes a deep breath now, shaking his head.
“Then we’ll start over.” He says slowly. “But I do think that what you saw in Miss Lestrange’s mind is true.”
You nod, feeling your heart sink in your chest. Severus wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close to him.
“The ring will pull you in the right direction, trust it, and I’m only a mental leap away if you need me.” Dumbledore says, saying the last part to Severus specifically.
Severus nods, thanking Dumbledore as he does.
“Now go, good luck.” He says, smiling between you and Severus once.
You turn to leave the room, and the ring buzzes through your hand and arm excitedly, almost like it’s ready to go. Severus keeps you close, weaving you through the halls to your small apartment above the classroom so you can both pack a quick bag.
You throw clothes, money, and various potion ingredients into the bag before sliding it onto your shoulders, the ring buzzing impatiently as you leave the room. Together, you walk down the halls and out into the courtyard, ready to find your baby.