Another Dark Star

A/N: Thank you ANGELWINGZ1983, LadyNightlord and MalfoysBitch for your encouraging reviews. Anyone else enjoying this fic is more than welcome to click the review button and say hi!


Chapter 53


By the day of her birthday, Wednesday the 29th, Sadira was more worried than ever about her husband’s state of mind. Cruciatus used as a punishment? Dark magic being thrown by students at each other in class? She could barely believe it. The staff’s attitude toward the family improved little. The longer she was there, the more grateful she was that her advanced stage of pregnancy prevented her from getting about much.

Draco visited her often, at least once a day, but he was guarded and fearful. She could tell that he was unhappy but working hard not to show it; unsure if he could trust her. He was also terrified of returning home for the holidays, uncertain as to whether Voldemort would be there. She could gauge no more from him as his Occlumency had improved and she daren’t risk alienating him by having him realise she were using Legilimency on him.

She spent her 23rd birthday in relative quiet, just tea with Severus, Hadrian, Winky and herself in Severus’ private quarters. Winky seemed quite surprised and honoured to have been included in the family occasion. Sadie was glad at that, as she had become fond of the loyal, helpful elf and had noticed that she had become rather gloomy of late.

“Winky, I’d like a word with you if I may.” Sadira said lightly while Severus was reading Hadrian a bedtime story. Well, he was actually reading about the Founders from a History of Magic book, but the effect on Hadrian was the same.

“Yes Mistress?” Winky asked fearfully, her large ears drooping.

“You aren’t in any trouble, I just wondered; you seem to have become rather down since we returned to the castle.” Sadie remarked. Winky wrung her apron uncomfortably.

“Winky is not liking the Kitchen Elves, excepting Dobby that is. Winky is liking working for nice Snapes, not wanting to go back to Hogwarts.” She said, tears in her enormous eyes.

“Oh dear! Winky, I like having you with us too. And Hadrian loves you, that is obvious. You truly wish to remain with us permanently?” Sadie asked. The little elf nodded her head with a hopeful face.

“I will speak to Severus, ask his advice on the matter.” She assured her.


Sadie found her husband in his office, poring over a sheaf of parchments in what looked like Dumbledore’s writing.

“Happy Birthday, Great-Granddaughter!” Phineas Nigellus called proudly. He looked and sounded like he had been off drinking the five hundred year old wine in the picture of some drunken monks near the Charms corridor. Clearly Hermione had insulted him again and he’d gone to drown his sorrows with the Fat Lady.

“Thank you Phineas.” She replied.

“Yes, many happy returns my dear.” Dumbledore said fondly. She turned to him with a half-glare.

“Thank you Albus, but I’m still cross with you.” She said, wanting to forgive him, but still quite hurt for the way he treated her husband.

“Understandable my dear, but it was the only way, and as I said before; I did tell him to inform you earlier.” He replied.

She shook her head slowly in a gesture of resignation. She moved to stand by her husband’s shoulder, peering at his work. He raised his head to look at her; he looked exhausted and stressed.

“I shall be up late again Love, so I would advise against waiting up for me.” He told her, lifting the top sheet in emphasis.

“I see. There was something I wanted to discuss with you though.” She began. He put down the parchment and his quill and turned to give her his full attention.

“Winky is unhappy. She hated working at Hogwarts and she’s worried that we are going to send her back here.” Sadira explained.

“Well, she does belong here. Technically it was an abuse of my position to send her to you in the first place.” He said.

“Yes, but she’s a paid elf on contract, not bound to the school.” She countered. “I think that’s what’s bothering her. Crouch really upset her when he had her dismissed.”

“Are you really suggesting bonding this creature to us?” he asked incredulously.

“I think I am. She loves Hadrian; he has her wrapped around his tiny finger. And if anything were to happen to either of us she could protect him and take him to safety; to family.” She suggested.

He could not argue with that. He wanted Hadrian to be secure in any eventuality. He mulled it over silently for a moment.

“Hmmm.” He pondered with a slight smirk.

“What?” Sadie asked.

“Just imagining the look on my mother’s face if she knew I had a House Elf.” He grinned. Sadie shook her head with a rueful smile.

“Very well. I agree.” He relented.

“Winky!” Sadie called with a satisfied smile.

“Yes Mistress?” she replied, Apparating in front of the desk silently.

“Is it true that you wish to be permanently bonded to this family Elf?” Snape asked in a very serious tone.

“Oh yes Headmaster Sir!” she gushed.

“You are prepared to serve us loyally? Willingly?” he asked.

“Yes Headmaster, Winky is liking the Snape family very much! Is a good, honourable, real wizarding family.” she replied.

He stood and gestured for Sadie to join him in front of Winky. He took Sadie’s right hand in his left and raised his wand, pointing it at Winky’s hands which were raised in supplication. Red and gold ropes of light shot out of Snape’s ebony wand and wrapped around her hands while he chanted an ancient incantation. The bonds dissipated after the chanting ceased. Unlike the Handfasting, the bonds did not seem to hurt the diminutive elf; rather she wore an expression of utmost peace and joy.

“Now you are bonded to us; to obey all orders and instructions my wife and I should give, to serve us loyally and care for and protect our family.” Snape said in his lecturing tone.

“Yes Master, thank you Master.” Winky said obsequiously, almost bursting with happiness at finally belonging to a family once again.

“Very well, you are dismissed for the time being Winky.” He said. She bowed low and Disapparated silently.

“Are you happy now?” he sighed to his wife.

“I am happy that she is happy, yes.” Sadira said.

“And I am happy that you are happy.” He replied, kissing her gently.

The next day, Severus was off school grounds. The Dark Lord had summoned him for a report on the workings of the school, so Sadie was minding his office. She was confident that Severus would be fine. These meetings had become a regular thin; the Dark Lord didn’t seem interested in Hogwarts, he was more keeping an ear out for any information on Potter or anything that could be used against him. Snape usually returned unharmed but shattered from continued reinforcing of his Occlumency.

To occupy her day, Sadira was reading to Hadrian from a baby book.

“D is for Dragon.” She read, pointing to the animated picture of a Welsh Green flapping on the page.

“Daa’un!” he repeated. That was a word he was very familiar with, his favourite sleep toy and teething comforter.

“Good boy! E is for Elf.” She continued, noticing that the House Elf in his book looked rather simpering and nowhere near as confident as Winky had become.

“Ef!” he said happily. Yes, he knew that word; it got him chocolate!

“Well done. F is for Flobberworm.” Sadira read.

“Fob.” He squealed, remembering how much fun he had squishing ‘fobs’ in Daddy’s cellar lab when Mummy was out and how much mess he had managed to make. Fobs were fun!

Just then Snape Apparated directly into the Headmaster’s office with a crack that made Sadira squeak in alarm.

“What the..? Severus, are you ok?” she asked when she realised who it was.

“Fine, just tired.” He replied, summoning an Invigorating Draught with a nonverbal Accio from his bedside table.

“Wait, I thought you couldn’t Apparate in or out of Hogwarts.” She said accusingly.

“Headmasters privilege.” He replied smugly.

“Dada!” Hadrian squealed. Severus stared, stunned, at his son.

“Did he just say..?” he gaped.

“Who’s that Hadrian?” Sadie asked, smiling and pointing at her husband.

“Dada!” Hadrian shrieked again, reaching his arms out to his father.

“Clever boy!” Sadie encouraged. Severus lifted his son into his arms proudly.

“We’ve been learning vocabulary today.” She told her delighted husband.

“So I heard.” He replied wryly.

“Dada.” Hadrian said softly, snuggling into his father’s arms happily.

Severus held his son tightly with a proud smile. He couldn’t quite explain or understand how good it felt to be called ‘Daddy’ by his first born son. Hearing that tiny baby voice utter those two syllables was one of the greatest moments of his life.

By Friday, Sadira had packed, ready to return home and was feeling melancholy about having to leave Severus again. However the atmosphere at Hogwarts was beginning to get her down. The staff were outwardly less hostile toward Snape while she was present, but the Carrows were still appalling toward the students. It was only the beginning of December but there was a far more sinister chill in the air.

After Friday dinner, she was walking back alone toward the Headmasters quarters. Hadrian was sleeping, watched by Winky and Severus had been called aside by Minerva at the end of the meal. No doubt she had another catalogue of complaints to which he must be outwardly indifferent, even though he secretly agreed.

Walking the silent corridors alone, she could pretend that she was Head Girl again doing her rounds and all was well; no Dark Lord, no Death Eaters and Potter was simply a first year with an unusual capacity for trouble, not the saviour of the Wizarding world. Well, that fantasy would have been easier to believe had she not been almost eight months with child.

She and Severus had started seeing each other in early November of her seventh year. She smiled to herself, remembering how foolishly forward she had been with her professor; ridiculously so for an 18 year old girl. To that day she still marvelled that he hadn’t crushed her heart and reported her to Dumbledore. Rejection would certainly have been his simplest option, even though she had been rather wanton. She wondered what would have happened to them if she had caught pregnant while in school. She also wondered just how many knew for certain the true story of what had happened between them in that year.

She was pulled from her ponderings and recollections by two voices up ahead. One was a loud and shrieking voice, the other was small and defensive. Sadie sped up a little to see what was going on. It was Alecto Carrow and she had Ginny cornered.

“What is going on here?” Sadie asked calmly.

“This ‘un’s causin’ problems fer us teachers. I jus’ caught ‘er tryin’ ta vandalise this corridor.” Carrow said defensively.

“Is that so?” Sadie asked levelly, sounding alarmingly like her husband’s mannerisms in such a situation, even to her own ears. Perhaps McGonagall had been right all along. They were becoming too alike.

“Sad... Mrs Snape.” Ginny began, remembering to use the respectful form of address in public. The families were meant to have fallen out.

“It’s not true, I didn’t do anything. You can see that!” she said, gesturing to the clear, tidy corridor.

“Lyin’ little cow!” Carrow spat venomously.

“It would appear, Alecto, as if the young lady is innocent on this occasion. I see no damage. If there is a problem with her in general I would suggest speaking to Minerva, she is the girl’s Head of House after all.” Sadie said.

“Not likely. She’s too soft on ‘em. I know ‘ow to fix ‘em!” Carrow said, raising her wand.

Sadie stepped protectively in front of Ginny, about to speak but it was too late. Carrow hadn’t expected Sadie to move and had already shot a Cruciatus in Ginny’s direction.
There was a scream and a clatter as Sadie fell to the floor in agony, dropping her wand and clutching her belly.

“Oh shit!” Carrow bellowed. “Mrs Snape?” she called, panicking. If Snape didn’t kill her for cursing his wife, she was bound to be in serious trouble with the Dark Lord. Sadie was still screaming in a great deal of pain.

“Sadira?” Ginny asked, gingerly patting her cousin’s hand. “What did you do?” She growled at Carrow.

“I done nothin’. I took the curse off her real quick like, she should be fine.” The Death Eater defended.

“Severus... get Severus.” Sadie panted. A bloom of red had formed, staining her pale mint maternity robe between her thighs.

“Oh shit, the baby! Something’s wrong with the baby.” Ginny cried.

“You get Snape, I’ll take ‘er to the Hospital Wing.” Carrow said, preferring to swallow her pride and help Sadira, rather than face Snape’s fury.


Ginny raced off toward the Headmaster’s office, stopping and panting when she reached the gargoyle.

“I don’t know the password but it’s an emergency. The Headmaster is needed urgently.” She pleaded. The gargoyle glared at her for a moment, then grudgingly stepped aside.

Ginny rapped hard on the door to the Head’s office until it swung open. Snape was sat at his desk and Hadrian was crawling on the floor in front of it.

“Miss Weasley, what could possibly justify you attempting to break down my door at this hour?” he barked.

“Carrow... Sadie’s in the Hospital wing! The baby... something’s wrong with the baby.” She blurted in fright.

“What?!” he shouted, standing in alarm.

“Carrow aimed a curse at me, Sadie got in the way. Now she’s in the Hospital Wing, bleeding... down there.” Ginny explained more clearly, gesturing to her skirt to indicate the source of the blood. Snape’s famously sallow complexion paled still further.

“Winky!” he shouted.

“Yes Headmaster?” she replied, appearing before them instantly.

“Look after Hadrian until I return.” He ordered.

Ginny remained where she was, awaiting further instruction. She noticed how upset Dumbledore’s portrait looked at this news. She also spied the sword of Gryffindor gleaming from a display case nearby. She longed to wield it against Alecto Carrow for hurting her friends and her loyal, brave cousin.

“Miss Weasley, return to your common room.” Snape said, rousing her from her thoughts.


No sooner had Ginny left them than Snape ran down the spiral staircase, down passageways and corridors, up another flight of stairs until he reached the Infirmary, bursting through the doors in a blaze of fury, causing them to ricochet off the walls with a loud bang.

“Where is she?” he demanded of Madame Pomfrey.

“I couldn’t do enough Severus. I had to Floo her to St Mungo’s to have a chance of saving either of them. I’m not trained in Obstetrics.” She replied.

Snape saw the bed that Poppy was cleaning up. It was soaked in blood. He felt physically sick with worry a dread but masked it well, marching authoritatively through the Floo to St Mungo’s Maternity Ward.


The ward hadn’t changed much since last time he was there; it may even have had the same staff. However unlike last time, the staff were regarding him with revulsion, mistrust, fear or anger, whereas last time they had been helpful and unflappable professionals.

“Where is my wife?” he demanded of the ward sister.

“She’s in the Emergency Labour room, you can’t go in there.” She replied.

“I want to see my wife.” He growled insistently.

“She isn’t well enough, the Healers are still working in there and no non-medical personnel are permitted inside.” She replied, frightened but holding her ground.

He made an irritated grunt of frustration and instead collared a young trainee Mid-Witch.

“Hawkins, which is the emergency labour room?” he asked in a dangerously soft voice. The poor terrified young woman pointed shakily toward a large room at the end of the ward and he swept off in that direction, stepping defiantly inside.


He was alarmed and dismayed at what he saw. No fewer than five members of staff; Healers and Mid-Witches, all working furiously trying to save his wife and child. One Mediwitch was pouring Angel Tears healing potion into Sadie’s open screaming mouth. He understood then how dire her situation was. It was a very strong potion, used in the most severe of cases and there were a further two empty bottles of it on a tray on the cabinet nearby.

“Professor, you shouldn’t be in here.” One Healer challenged him.

“I was only just informed. How are they? What is happening?” he asked.

“Your wife has lost a lot of blood and she is still haemorrhaging. She was hit briefly with the Cruciatus, which ruptured the placenta and sent her into premature labour.” The Healer explained quickly, rushing to help the Mid-Witch who was trying to disentangle the umbilical cord from the baby’s neck while still in the birth canal with a very complicated and difficult charm.

Snape moved into the gap to catch a glimpse of his wife. She looked paler than ever, so ill, and kept drifting in and out of consciousness under the influence of the potions and lack of blood. The Mid-Witches were compensating for that by casting charms to push for her when she was unable to do so naturally.

“Professor, you have to leave. We need to move the baby now. It’s the only chance we have of saving either of them.” The Mediwitch insisted, moving Snape toward the door. It was testament to how much shock he was in that he allowed her to do so.


She drew him a chair outside the door and conjured a cup of tea for him which he took dumbly but did not drink. He merely remained standing, staring off into space like a silent forbidding sentinel at her door. He couldn’t get over how much blood she had lost. More than that, he could see in the Healers’ faces, they doubted that either mother or child would survive.

He had finally sat down and was still lost in his thoughts when, ten hours later, shifts changed and a new team of Healers entered and the first group left looking drained and hopeless. They offered him no word and he began to fear the worst. What would he do without her? How could he carry on his role and look after Hadrian alone? How could he live without her to light up his life now he knew what love was? She made his life easier to bear, constantly supporting and reassuring him; his dark star, his guiding light.


Six hours later, a very tired and filthy Healer emerged, clearing up his lime green robes with his wand.

“Well Professor, your wife is stable for now, but it was touch and go for a while there. She’s been sedated to aid her healing but this next 24 hours will be critical. She will be under close observation for any changes during that time.” The Healer said tiredly.

“And the child?” Snape asked with trepidation.

“A girl, also very ill. You’re very lucky she wasn’t taken to a Muggle hospital, they would have both died. As it is, the girl was delivered far too early to cope without help. We have given her some nutritional and growth potions and a charm is helping her to breathe. She is very small and very weak. I offer you no promises as to her survival Professor.” The Healer said gravely.

“I see, thank you. May I see them?” Snape asked.

“Of course. The Mid-Witches have finished clearing up, you can go through now.” The Healer replied.


Snape entered the room, not much different from the one in which Hadrian had been born. He sat cautiously on the bed and stroked Sadira’s hair softly.

“I’m so sorry Love. I should never have let you come to stay. You were safer at home.” He chided her unconscious form.

He hung his head sadly, greasy black hair falling in curtains to obscure his face. He took her hand, pale as the sheets on which she lay, and kissed it.

“Please don’t leave me now. I need you, our son needs you.” He begged in a whisper.

He wished the charms she had made them worked both ways. He would have known she was hurt and it would have begun healing her from the start. Sighing, he stood and stepped curiously toward the glass cot in which his new daughter lay. She was tiny, thin and frail, like a doll, with sparse brown hair. He laid hid hand on the crib, which glowed with the residue of protective charms and alarm wards monitoring her breathing and heart rate.

His heart ached. He adored her already, this fragile little thing, longed to lift her into his arms and protect her; his daughter.

“It’s ok little one, Daddy’s here.” He whispered when she stirred. He was grateful they were alone. His voice was choked and heavy with the weight of the tears that ran down his hooked nose.