Always

Chapter 20: You Couldn't Be More Wrong

"Put her down, Cornelius." Severus said weakly his hand shaking with anger. "I do not believe you have the right to order me. I have the upper hand." He snarled. "What, the fact that you are holding a woman against her will make you feel a little bit stronger? More of a man?" Severus said as he was pulling out his wand. "I wouldn't," Cornelius smirked as he shoved the end of his wand into Beth's neck. "You think threatening Elizabeth Washington is going to make me weaker?" He frowned. He sounded brave, and Beth watched him sadly. She knew that he was trying to be brave, but she saw the expression on his face and it was of fear. "She just.....happened to be in the area, when I arrived," Cornelius said as he gripped her tight. "Look, I did not come to mock. I came because I wanted to correct a little misstatement." He spoke as Severus was very tense in his jaw. "I told Elizebeth to deliver a message a few months ago. That was not sent and was rather hidden. Now, I am here to tell you what I am here for." He said deeply as Beth was nervous as all hell. "I want this woman. I have put my claim upon her, and she is mine." He said as the word mine seemed to cause Severus to snap.

He stepped forward, his wand now poking Cornelius in the cheek. "Leave her out of this. We are settling this like men." He spoke gravely as Cornelius laughed. "Then, by all means...... let." He said as he threw Beth to the ground and Severus' heart dropped when he just threw her down like that. That hard. "How dare you mistreat her that way?! You maniac!" He growled as Cornelius looked down at Beth seeing that she was holding her three-month-old belly. "Wait a moment......" He said as he grabbed her neck to pull her up a bit. "Someone's expecting." He smirked but it turned into a deep frown. "That should have been MY child!" He yelled as he threw her down again and he drew his wand. Severus had a slight smirk on his face. "Well, it is not yours to control......" He said as they both walked around each other and Beth was starting to get that same illusion she saw while in the Hospital Wing. Severus and Cornelius battling each other out......for her......it was painful to watch. "I suppose I can give her another one.......and kill the spawn." He said as Beth gasped and Severus gritted his teeth in anger. "You will not lay a hand upon her, or the child." He said as they were staring into each other souls. They began to whip their wands at each other, full of passion and anger. Severus was very good at duels, but so was Cornelius. Beth then remembered one part of that image: Severus said something to her, and if she did not act upon it, Severus would be hit with the Killing Curse. She had to time it though. She moved away from the two of them and Severus was hit in the arm. He growled as he fell to his knees. He turned to face her and Cornelius laughed. "After a long and tiring rivalry, it ends now Severus." He smirked. See, the thing about villains.....they boast so bloody much. Severus looked into her eyes and mouthed "Elizabeth.....please finish this." She knew she had to do it. She had never killed someone before, but if she did not do it now, Severus would die, and not only would she lose her lover, but the baby would have no father.

She whipped out the wand and she couldn't hesitate at all. If she even mispronounced it, it was the end of Severus and most likely herself and the baby. "Avada kedavra!" She yelled as she moved her wrist and hoped she hit him. Cornelius was shocked seeing her raise her wand like that. He screamed as he flew backward and fell to the ground dead. Beth was shaking as she dropped her wand fell to her knees and sobbed. Severus gently moved to her and embraced her. "Shh, shh, shh....." He hushed her as he rubbed her back. Hearing her cry made him angry. Upset. Even sad. He was slowly changing himself as a person, and although he did not like it, he loved Beth. If Lily was here.......she would have told him to comfort her. He had not gotten over her fully......but he felt like he had to protect Beth. He wanted to comfort her better but he failed. He sighed sadly as all he could do was hold her and be silent. Beth, on the other hand, was just fine with him holding her as she cried. She just killed someone. Yes, he was evil and was going to hurt her, but she ended up ending someone's life. A Malfoy too. "Am I going to get in trouble?" She asked as she cried into him. "No. I can assure you, Elizebeth......" He mumbled deeply as he put his hand through her red hair and took a soft whiff. It smelled like lemons and it was calming him down. He even forgot the pain he felt in his arm. "He was a wanted man......you will be rewarded my dear, not punished." He spoke as she looked at him. "Are you sure?" She asked as she looked at him. "I am positive." He whispered as he held onto her. "Stay. I must seek out Minerva immediately." He said as he held his arm and stood up. "Your arm...." Beth said as she pointed to it. "I will be fine......now stay." He said as he went back into the castle. Beth unfortunately had to stare at Cornelius' limp and pale body as she whimpered. "It's okay.......it's okay sweet baby, the bad man will not hurt us anymore. I promise and I swear." She whispered as she held her belly and rocked back and looked away from the body. Her brain managed to save her after all, as well as Severus. If she had not gotten that image in her head at the Hospital Wing, the ending would have been a lot different than this one.

She did have to wonder why her brain had that image in her mind. Maybe someone was watching out for her that day. After all, it was not the muggle world she was in. She moved away from the corpse and she looked at the sky. It was sunset now. It was so beautiful. She sighed as she waited, and waited, and waited for Severus to come back. After what seemed like forever, he finally came back. He has made leaps and bounds during their time together because he fully ran to her to make sure she was still in good shape. He embraced her slightly cold body and sighed. "Are you....." He asked. "Fine. I am fine." Beth said as Minerva ran out behind him. "Elizebeth!" She spoke as she too hugged her. "I'm fine, really I am.......Severus was so brave to take him on....." Beth said as Severus looked away slightly. Was he blushing? Surely not. "That ruffian has been dealt with, at last. You can both move on from this." She said as Beth pointed to her lips. "The dark magic....." She said as Severus looked intently at her face and held her chin up. "It is gone, Elizebeth. The one controlling it is dead. The magic does not have a master controlling it any longer." He said firmly as he kissed her lips lightly. She kissed him back as she looked at Minerva. "Minerva, I am so sorry but we have been hiding this secret from you and I should have said it sooner. I've been pregnant for three months, almost four, and I didn't know what you would think." She blurted out. Minerva smiled. "Oh dearie, I already knew." She said. "WHAT?!" Beth shouted as Severus groaned. "My ears." He grumbled as Beth apologized to him lightly. "It was only a matter of time. Besides, Severus is usually not this protective." She smirked as Severus rolled his eyes. "Well...I hope that is okay. I mean it can't be changed." Beth smiled. "Of course. I am very happy for you both. Now, I will have to do something with his corpse. If you will excuse me." Minerva said as Severus gently picked up the pregnant Beth. "We will take our leave." He said as he brought her indoors.

After a slight pause, she looked at him. "That felt better....telling her." She said as he slightly smiled at her. "Elizebeth.....I admit it. I am afraid of being a father because my own was a swine. I do not wish to be what my father was to.....this child." He said in a shaky voice. "Severus.....we are in this together. You will never be alone with these fears. I am with you. I promise." Beth said as she held his cheek and he exhaled, moving her to his quarters. "I wish I could do more." He said as Beth smirked as she moved out of his arms and closed the door. "Oh, Severus Snape....." She said as she moved her dress off of her. He smirked deeply as his black eyes didn't leave her pregnant body. "You couldn't be more wrong."