Situational Ethics

Situational Ethics

By Mizzfreestyle

Edited by Effie-Chan

A/N: It has been a very long time since I've updated and I am terribly sorry. But if you still want to give this story a chance, then thank you. However, I will warn you know that I won't be able to update as frequently because of school and a combination of problems I've been having since the last time I updated.

Chapter 27:

"Wonders"

As she flipped her bright red curls over her shoulders, she glanced back furtively making sure she wasn't being followed. She thought she had heard something, but maybe she had just imagined it. It was rather late, after all. She pulled the cloak tightly around her body to keep the cold winds from snatching the bit of warmth she could afford.

She was hurrying towards the entrance hall when suddenly she heard footsteps on the stone floors. She spun around and scrutinized the halls but she made no effort to demand a name. If someone was just passing, she didnft want them to know she was there. Her lips pursed before she turned back around.

At last, she pressed her hands against the wooden door and made to open it when out of the darkness a strong hand appeared and gripped her wrist, "It's a little late to go out for stroll, don't you think, Caitlin?"

"Severus!" she breathed in shock, "Dear, I thought you were asleep."

"Trying to sneak out, love?"

"No...," her voice quavered as she tried to keep a smile on her face. "Just getting a bit of fresh air."

"At this hour? When everyone is conveniently asleep? Careful now, or someone might think you're up to something."

Snape tugged on Caitlin's wrist and drew her away from the door. "Severus, really, this isn't necessary." She twisted her wrist in Snape's grasp, trying to free herself.

"Where were you off to?" Snape asked softly.

"I told you. I just needed a little fresh air. It gets stuffy down in the dungeons."

"Then why not step out into the courtyard? Why venture all the way out of the castle? What are you hiding from me?"

"Severus, I would never hide anything from you."

"Come, love. There should be no secrets between us." Snape drew Caitlin into his arms and cupped her cheek with his free hand. "It's only a matter of time before I find out."

Caitlin shook her head frantically while trying to maintain even breaths.

Snape sneered. "Going out to see Potter, are you?"

"N... no! What made you think that?" she forced a laugh and then managed another smile.

"Is that where you have been running off to? Been seeing Potter have you?"

"Never, Severus!"

Clearly fed up, he placed his finger on her lips and said, "Do not lie to me."

Caitlin shook her head. "I visited him once. Just once. And all we did was sit down and have a nice cup of tea. I even asked him to write you a letter. That's all. Nothing suspicious there."

"I never said it was," Snape glared at her.

"What more do you want? I am just taking a walk to clear my mind."

"Tell me the truth."

"I did!" she exclaimed now in annoyance. "Why won't you believe me?"

"If you were frolicking about the castle, I would not care. But completely disappearing from the campus, regularly, is enough to raise suspicions, is it not?"

Caitlin shook her head and Snape ran his hand through her curls. "Sweet Caitlin, it's time for bed. Not for strolling in the woods, visiting Hogsmeade, or seeing Potter."

"But... I...."

"Shhh. It is late. I am tired. And we have work in the morning."

HARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTER

There was a blank piece of parchment resting adjacent to Harry's quill. Harry was leaning over his desk, his eyes closed and his faced tense. He wanted to write to Snape. Merlin, he was starved for some connection. He had already written dozens of letters, all of which he violently crumbled up and tossed into the trash. None of them were decent, he had told himself. First, he didn't know how to address Snape. If there was even the slightest chance Caitlin might stumble upon the letter, Harry couldn't write 'Severus' at the top of the page. But then Snape wasn't his professor so he couldn't use the title, either. Was he to call him 'Mr. Snape'? When Harry finally settled on that, his first paragraph sounded desperate and childish. Snape might think of him as whiny and needy and completely incapable of surviving without him. Now, that might be partly true, but Harry's pride was still on the line.

Frustrated and ready to burst with emotion, Harry wrote his ideal letter. He didn't plan on sending it, but he needed a way to vent his pent-up emotions. He wrote 'Severus', at the top of the page and went on from there. He mentioned his training casually, then strayed to more important matters, like his heart. He cursed Snape a few times, calling him insensible and cold along with the rest, and made sure to add a touch of Snape's own sarcasm with the rest of his second paragraph. And then Harry's quill shook in his hand. Anger was only covering up for pain he felt. "Why don't you visit me? Are you that happy to be rid of me?" Harry asked as if he had transfigured Snape into the piece of parchment and the only way to make him listen was to write down his thoughts on it. "Then why did you keep luring me in? Does the possibility of me finding happiness elsewhere disturb you? Why would you care?"

Harry's writing was becoming messy. His hand shook and for a moment, he considered sending the letter. That ought to piss the git off. Then there would be the possibility of receiving a nasty reply, but at least Harry would have achieved that connection.

Now that Harry had vented his frustrations he felt a need to write about his more tender feelings. He mentioned small things that he liked about Snape and Harry's quill touched the page softly. 'I miss your scent. There are nights I wake up, thinking you are next to me. Remember that one night you asked me to marry you?' Harry wrote slowly. 'Are you still waiting for my reply?' Harry's forehead touched the page and he sighed deeply. 'It's been so long, too long. I long for you.' Harry held his quill still for a few moments then wrote, 'I want you to meet Eras. He's our son, you know? I should have told you. But I was scared. I am still scared. I made a potion and your wife helped me. I made sure I got impregnated by you that Christmas night. I guess that wasn't exactly the most moral thing to do, but I think it's also a little sweet. Severus, there's something I need you to know.' Harry's quill hung over the page before he wrote, 'I l-'

Harry jumped at the noise behind him. A long line of ink stretched to the bottom of the page. Harry was looking over his shoulder at the intruder.

Moody stood over the threshold with a rather impatient look on his face. "What are you scribbling there? You are late."

Harry's eyes turned to look at the clock. Indeed. His lessons with Moody started over ten minutes ago. "Sorry, sir!" Harry shoved the letter into his desk and fumbled to grab his wand.

Moody rolled his normal eye and then limped back towards the practice room. "Word about a certain curse has reached my ears, and I want to see you reproduce it."

Harry followed behind, half listening, half wondering if he had hidden his letter well enough. He had definitely jammed the paper deep into the drawer. "Yes, sir."

"Dumbledore asked you to refrain from using this spell again. I think differently. Chances are the Dark Lord will know about these series of spells, but without the necessary materials, he won't be able to use them."

Harry froze. "Hang on... You don't mean...."

"The Siren's Cage. Yes. Remember it, Harry? Remember what you needed to feel in order to channel the spell? It's time you learned how to control it and use it as a means of defence."

"I... How?"

"I will instruct you to the best of my ability."

"Yes, sir.

"Unlike with the Unforgiveables, channelling hate will not allow you to produce an overpowering attack. You will need to think about protecting someone you love. As Dumbledore told you, they only work during desperate times."

"But, sir, how am I suppose to learn..."

Moody raised his hand to stop Harry's mid-sentence. He then directed Harry's attention towards the door and Harry's eyes widened. Sirius was looking back at Harry then he too looked down at the infant in his arms. "Eras...."

"Your son will be all you need to draw your powers from. Imagine yourself standing before the Dark Lord. Imagine that Eras is with you, in your arms. No one else is there. Just you and him. A father and a son. If you are the only one who can protect Eras' life, will you not do everything in your power to do so?"

An overwhelming desire to fight conquered Harry's qualm. He raised his wand and Moody grinned.

"Try me," Harry dared.

Moody levitated a rock and watched with pride as the cage encompassed it and intensified while Harry's desire to protect grew. "Attaboy! Think of Eras! Think of your son!" Moody held still as strong winds disbursed from the cage.

Gradually, the rock crumbled until nothing more than sand spun inside the massive sphere like cage. Sirius watched agape with his arms shielding Eras from the winds. "I have never seen the attack before...."

"Ah, yes." Said Moody. "Neither have I."

SEVERUSSNAPESEVERUSSNAPESEVERUSSNAPE

"MMnnn,... no... no," Harry moaned as he grabbed at the sheets and threw his head back further against the bed. "Severus...."

There were people congregated around the old trees, deep in the forest. They were sitting around a massive fire. Someone was angry. Harry knew, because his scar burned. It was Voldemort.

Harry bit at his pillow and sweat rolled down his face.

"Severus, you've failed me."

"Se... Severus....," Harry mumbled.

"I asked you to report on the Potter boy's training! How dare you tell me that you cannot see him?!

"Forgive me, my lord."

A man cloaked in black kneeled humbly before Voldemort. Harry's scar burned more painfully. "Crucio!" The other hooded figure spat.

The dream faded and another began.

Harry was looking at Hogwarts from a distance and there was someone beside him, whispering. The voice was high and light, like that of a young woman's. "You know what you must do." Harry whimpered.

"Yes, my lord." The soft voice replied. Harry turned to look at her, thinking that he was about to see Bellatrix, but instead saw much lighter hair reflecting the moonlight. Narcissca?

Harry's eye flew open and he found himself lying in bed on cold sweat. Harry sat up and stared hard at the edge of the bed. His scar was still burning. His hand felt like it had just held a wand. And his head... it was pounding. Harry looked over to the crib and said softly, "Severus...."

A/N: I will try my best to update soon. Thank you for reading and your support.