Another Hogwarts Mystery

Chapter 21 - Considerations

"I'm pregnant" repeated Casandra with her smile increasing. "Well, I'm most certainly sure that you are" noted Snape, sitting down next to her. "To be absolutely sure, however, we can test it right here" he added, pointing at some liquids at the back of his office. "Of course!" cried Casandra. Somehow, her mood was lifting and she felt utterly excited. The thought of being pregnant made her thoughts dance cheerfully. Of course, the timing was rubbish to be fair, but it didn't matter at that very moment. They would find a solution and a way to deal with it. Snape always had a plan.

"What shall I do? Please don't tell me that I have to pee into a jar like Muggles do" sighed Casandra. Snape burst out laughing. "Don't worry. I'm not really keen either to use your pee. Sometimes, I honestly cannot believe that you're actually a pureblood, given the fact that you know so much about Muggles and don't consider the possibilities of magic, my dear" Casandra rolled back her eyes. She simply wasn't proud of being a pureblood. "I'm a Ravenclaw, I know things. Just tell me what I should do" she snapped sulkily. "You have to drink a potion. If you're pregnant, your breath will turn blue. If you're not, it'll turn red" answered Snape. He went to his cupboard, took out some ingredients, and started mixing. After 15 minutes, he came back with a transparent liquor. "Here, drink it" he instructed with a smile. " Ugh eek! That smells disgusting. I think I'll throw up again, if I drink it" Yet, Casandra took the potion and downed it at once. "Breathe!" instructed Snape nervously. Casandra hesitated for a moment. Then, after a deep inhale, she exhaled. Her breath had turned blue.

She looked at Snape in excitement. His eyes found hers and she knew that they were both thinking the same. At once, Casandra rushed upon Snape, throwing her arms around him. He embraced her tightly before looking deep into her eyes again. He pressed his lips on hers and entered her mouth with his tongue, swirling it around hers. Casandra noticed that she had never witnessed Snape kissing her this passionately before. When they finally let go of each other, she felt something wet on her cheeks, and this wasn't due to the kiss. She looked at Snape again and noticed that he was crying tears of joy. "Severus" she breathed but Snape put a finger on her lips, instructing her to be quiet. "How is it possible that I deserve you? I love you Casandra. I love you more than anything in the world" he whispered and brushed her forehead with a kiss. "So," asked Casandra quietly after a few seconds "what's the plan?" Snape looked at her in confusion and thought about her question for a second before saying "What plan? Do you mean the hearing? Well, it's on Monday and we'll apparate from Hogsmeade to the visitor's entrance of the Ministry and—" Casandra raised her hand and shook her head, stopping Snape "—No, no. I mean about the baby..." Snape's eyes filled with shock. "Y-you you do want to keep it, don't you?" he asked anxiously. "Of course!" cried Casandra "That's not what I meant though. I mean, how shall we do it? Soon, it'll be visible that I'm pregnant. We can't keep it a secret for ever. To be fair, I don't mind keeping the name of the father a secret. I don't care if other people think that I'm a...you know. All I care about is you and I don't want you to get into trouble because of me!" Snape smiled and stroked Casandra's face with his hand. "We'll figure something out. Trust me. For now, though, let us just be happy about the fact that we're going to be parents" he assured.

At the weekend, Casandra practised Occlumency with Snape and Dumbledore. They wanted to make sure that she is well-prepared for the hearing. It was Sunday evening and they were at Dumbledore's office again. However, there was one thing that Casandra had noticed over the last couple of days. Dumbledore was different to her, but not in a negative way. He seemed to be even more caring than he usually was. Casandra pondered whether he knew about her relationship with Snape and her pregnancy. But, how could he? Did he use Legilimency on her? No, Dumbledore wouldn't do that, she thought. On the other hand, he was indeed a very curious old man. Casandra's thoughts were wrestling with each other when a deep voice jolted her out of her daydream. "Miss Clark? Did you hear what the headmaster told you?" asked Snape politely but sternly. "Huh? Oh, pardon me sir" she said to Snape and turned to Dumbledore "I'm sorry headmaster, what did you say?" Dumbledore's soft expression turned into an even wider smile. "No worries my dear. I understand that it's been a long day for you and that you must be exhausted — especially given the current circumstances" Casandra looked puzzled and was about to ask Dumbledore what exactly he meant as Snape interrupted her. He must have read her mind. "Of course, you must be very nervous about the hearing. It's absolutely normal to feel exhausted during these stressful days" added Snape somehow nervously. "I think," said Dumbledore whilst putting his hand on Snape's shoulder "that we've done good work. It's enough for today. Severus, please keep an eye on Miss Clark tonight" and his smile increased. "You need to leave at 6am tomorrow morning" he added and wished them a good night.

As they made their way to the Ravenclaw common room – so that Casandra could fetch her clothes and stuff for tomorrow – she stopped dead and looked puzzled at Snape. "What was that?" "What do you mean?" Snape asked, pretending that he didn't know what Casandra was talking about. "Oh c'mon, Severus" she whispered, looking around to see whether someone could hear them. "You know what I mean. Dumbledore was weird. He seemed to know something" Snape raised an eyebrow and grabbed Casandra by her wrist. "Don't talk about it here" he instructed and almost dragged her to the common room. "Get your things. I'll wait here" he commanded when they arrived. Casandra wrested herself from him and looked into his eyes "Why do you ignore my question?" "I don't –" Snape was about to finish his sentence as the door of the Ravenclaw common room opened. Sabrina almost jumped at the sight of Snape and Casandra. She didn't know about the two of them and Casandra wanted to leave it at that. It would be hard enough to keep it a secret at the hearing, although Casandra thought that no one would believe her parents or a traitor like Professor Handerson — even if they would bring it up. "Professor Snape. Casandra" gasped Sabrina, touching her chest in shock. "Miss Kettleburn," stated Snape coolly "Why are you leaving your common room at this late hour?" "I—I have an appointment with the headmaster at 10pm. He told me that you would be finished by then. I think he wants to tell me about the procedure. I'm leaving with the two of you, I guess?" "Yes" answered Snape sharply. "Erm... all right...What are you two doing here then?" she asked Casandra. "I guess that is none of your business Miss Kettleburn" snapped Snape angrily "—Professor Snape accompanied me to the common room so that I can fetch my things. The headmaster has ordered that Professor Snape keeps an eye on me during the night so that my parents cannot enter my mind again..." explained Casandra seriously. "Oh, of course. I'll see you erm tomorrow" smiled Sabrina nervously and went off to Dumbledore's office.

That night, Casandra was extremely nervous and had difficulties to fall asleep. Thus, she tossed and turned sleeplessly in bed. Snape embraced her from behind and stroked her gently. "Are you all right love?" he whispered in her ear. "No. I can't sleep, but please, I don't want to talk about it" said Casandra under her breath. Her mind was filled with many different thoughts. Primarily, she thought about her parents. Seeing them again worried her the most. Moreover, she thought about Dumbledore's behaviour, which was extremely odd. Regarding this, she thought about her unborn child and touched her belly. The future would be anything but easy. Feeling the panic rising in her body and her pulse increasing, she pleaded "Just distract me". Gently, Snape's stroking increased, and he started to kiss her neck from behind. He hugged her to himself and entered her from behind, making love to her until Casandra could finally empty her mind and fall asleep.