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Chapter 12 Garrett and Persephone

The Great Hall erupted with loud chatter. Rumours and questions flying across the room. Teachers swarming the entrance, pushing the students back into the Hall.

Ginny turned to Seamus and Neville questioningly. She stood when she saw Malfoy and Parkinson making their way toward the entrance.

"What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" She asked, trying to make herself as tall as she could.

In response, he scowled and walked back to where he had been sitting.

***

Severus hurried to the infirmary, carrying his limp wife in his arms.

He could feel the life fading from her and her muscles relaxed.

Poppy ran over to them when they entered.

"Heavens!" The Healer exclaimed, seeing the younger woman. "What's happened?"

Severus shook his head. "I haven't the faintest clue, she stumbled into the Great Hall and passed out."

He laid her on one of the cots and left the nurse to her work.

A half hour later, she turned to Severus and smiled. "She'll be fine. Just needs rest. It seems as though she was tortured often, over a long period of time. She's got relatively fresh bruising around her neck, wrists and on her hips."

He sat in the chair beside her and twined his fingers with hers, fiddling with her wedding ring.

"The story isn't over." The dark wizard whispered, pressing his lips to her left temple.

He sat by her side in silence for what seemed like hours. He supposed it must have been, because he watched the sunrise high into the sky.

It's beautiful, the sunrise, isn't it?
He heard a frail voice say, in the back of his mind.

Severus turned and couldn't help the small smile that graced his face.

Eliza sat beside him, smiling too. Sage green eyes filled with large tears.

"Where is your voice, my love?" He asked.

She shrugged. Gone. Came a whisper. Oh, Severus, how they hurt me.

He pressed his lips to her hand, holding it tightly, taking in her sweet scent.

Severus. She said. Here.

Eliza handed over the roll of parchment she had received the day prior and ran a hand down his face as he sat up to read it.

At the end of the letter, his eyes were wide. Dumbstruck, he searched for his words.

"A daughter..?" The Headmaster tested the words. "We're... Grandparents?"

Eliza nodded happily. Isn't it wonderful?

"And you remember now?" He inquired, hopeful.

His wife nodded again.

I love you, Severus.

"And I, you." He replied.

The sat in silence, holding hands for a moment longer. Severus stood, lay beside her on the hospital bed and wrapped his arms around her.