“Hmmm?”
“Do I look horrible?”
“Exceedingly.”
“Severus!”
Severus set aside his quill and looked up at his pregnant wife. It had taken awhile, seven months, but she finally looked pregnant… very pregnant. “I meant that in jest, so it would be best if you put that figurine back down and did not throw it at me.”
Morgan didn’t look pleased with the arrangement, but settled back against the couch irritably. “The House Elves sent down tea, would you like some?” she finally asked, trying not to sound too petulant.
“I would. I have graded more failing essays tonight than I care to think about.”
“I’m huge…” Morgan bemoaned softly once they were settled next to each other, tea in hand.
“You are simply very small to begin with, so the weight from the baby looks larger on you than it might on a taller woman. However, I wish you would eat more, you may have put on weight around your middle, but you are losing weight everywhere else.”
“I try…”
“And stop feeling so sorry for yourself.”
Morgan managed a small smile, “now you’re just teasing me.”
Severus looked properly offended, “as though I would sink to such levels,” he snapped. However, he did move a bit closer to his wife and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders.
Morgan leaned against him and laid her head on his shoulder, “how is the tournament coming along?”
Severus sighed, “I am still doubtful as to whether Potter will survive it or not. But we are doing what we can to ensure that he does.”
“Do you really hate him?”
“Are you always so incessantly nosey?”
Morgan’s response was to stick her tongue out while making a face.
“I’m beginning to think I would fare better with the stack of appalling essays on my desk,” Severus made to stand up.
“Don’t go,” Morgan clung to his arm, “stay here and keep me company.”
“Morgan, are you content?” Severus cursed himself for asking the question, but he found that it mattered a great deal to him whether his wife was happy or not.
To her credit, Morgan did not blindly answer in the affirmative, but cocked her head to the side as she thought for a moment, “yes, I am. I was a bit upset with myself for awhile when I agreed to marry you when we both knew we weren’t in love. But, you promised to take care of me, which you have. And, it’s silly really… but, I wanted to take care of you.” She glanced up a bit shyly, “and I’m afraid that there are times I do little more than annoy you.”
Severus gently cupped her face with his hand, “you are incredibly infuriating, but I am beginning to wonder what I would do with myself if you were not here to aggravate me.”
Moran smiled as she leaned in for a kiss, “it’s nice to know that we did the right thing.”
Severus obliged her by taking her lips with his own, “Exceedingly nice. However, I will have to leave you on your own for awhile this evening. I promised Albus that I would patrol around the Forbidden Forest tonight.”
“Let me get your cloak for you, it’s still getting rather cool in the evenings.” Morgan tried to push herself up off the couch with little success.
“Stay where you are, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“No, help me up and I’ll get it. I need to move, I’ve been sitting here for so long. Besides, if you leave me down here I may not be able to get myself up later.” She took the hands Severus offered her with a smile, knowing that he was displeased and would keep her in bed all day if he could until the baby came. “How many times will Poppy have to tell you that exercise is good for me until you believe her?”
“She needs to stop meddling in our personal affairs.”
Morgan kissed Severus warmly and smiled as she felt his eyes on her while she left the room. She opened the wardrobe in the bedroom and pushed aside the numerous black robes in search of her husband’s black cloak. She wondered if she should try to do something about his lack of color, but didn’t think that it would be appreciated. Perhaps if she tried to work in one piece in green… As she pulled the cloak out it caught on the lid of a box on the floor of the wardrobe, and the lid clattered off.
She sighed as she tried to reach for the lid to put it back. At least it had fallen to the bottom of the wardrobe and not the actual floor. She had trouble reaching things on the floor these days. She had tried to explain this to Severus when he had come into their bedroom the week before, a handful of socks held in his hand. His response was that she was a witch and had damn well better learn to use her wand or the socks were going in the fire the next time he found them out.
She normally didn’t take much interest in Severus’ personal belongings, but something compelled her to look in the box as she made to put the lid back in place. She found herself face to face with a Death Eater mask. Her blood ran cold and she could feel herself shaking. She was vaguely aware of someone’s heavy breathing, which turned into screams. She didn’t realize she was hearing herself. She heard the screams turn into chocking sobs as someone grabbed her and she was dragged away.
It wasn’t until she was back in the living room that she realized it was Severus that had pulled her away. She tried to push him away from her as tears shook her body. Severus only pulled her closer. “Let me go!” she pleaded.
“Hush,” Severus pulled her down onto the couch next to him, “you’re perfectly fine.”
“Let me go,” Morgan’s plea was weaker this time, but she was still shaking.
“Stop that,” Severus commanded as he stroked her hair. “The mask is hexed to cause panic. Something you certainly don’t need in your condition. You need to calm down.”
Morgan continued to shudder, but her breathing started to come back to normal. “I didn’t mean to look…” she whimpered.
“Of course you didn’t, and I should have put those things away someplace safer.” Severus was being far gentler with his wife than he had been before, and it was mostly because of guilt. He tried to keep his Death Eater activities as far away from her as possible. His official duties were all in the past, and now it was simply gatherings with old ‘friends’. He had brought that box out recently though, he had a feeling that he would need it again. He didn’t know what he could do to protect Morgan then. And he did want to protect her… he found that he cared for her very much. He didn’t want to see her hurt.
“I think I’m alright now,” Morgan finally said in a quiet voice.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What you saw in there…”
“It’s alright Severus… I know you wouldn’t hurt me.” She couldn’t help but add ‘intentionally’ in her head.
“I shall do my best not to,” Severus vowed. “I dare say you could use a stiff drink about now, and I wish I could give it to you.”
Morgan laughed, albeit a bit shakily, “I’m fine really. A bit worn out though. I think I may be ready for bed.”
“Give me a moment to put some things away before you go to bed.”
“Will you come with me? I don’t really want to be alone…”
Severus kissed her gently, “if you wish.”