As the late February evening sun drifted lazily beneath the clouds, Karina sat alone in the Gryffindor Common Room. It wasn�t a place she frequented often but tonight seemed like a night she could risk being found there. Her mind raced around in a jumble of thoughts. Two day earlier Hermione had almost walked in on her and Severus before Potions class. Fortunately, Ron had distracted her and the couple had managed to regain composure before anyone entered. Sighing heavily, Karina glanced at the dwindling fire before returning to her half finished Transfiguration essay.
�Why do I even bother?� she mumbled to herself as she set the parchment and quill aside.
Suddenly the portrait hole opened and then closed again. Karina did even bother to look up until a hand touched her arm. She looked up in surprise to see Severus standing beside her.
�Damn! Don�t do that!� Karina said, catching her breath.
�Sorry. What are you doing in here anyways?� her husband asked.
�First of all, it�s my house Common Room and second of all, well never mind but how�d you get the password?� Karina half answered.
�I�m a teacher,� he stated simply, as if it was common sense.
�Well that explains everything,� his wife responded playfully.
She rose and embraced him, disregarding her unfinished assignment. They were so engulfed in their embrace that they were not aware of the set of dark brown eyes boring into them.
�Leave,� a voice demanded.
�Gladly!� Karina spat as she whirled around to face her head of house.
�Jesus woman. I swear you spy on us every bloody chance you get!� Severus barked in outrage.
�I said leave!� McGonagall ordered firmly, eyes burning with anger as they strayed to Karina�s unfinished essay.
�Shall I give you detention now or tomorrow?� she stated curtly.
�You fucking bitch!� Karina yelled grabbing her wand and pointing it at the aged woman.
Snape seized Karina around the waist and held her tightly. She struggled desperately against her husband�s strong grip but he didn�t let go.
�Listen to me. Just do the bloody essay and you won�t have to deal with her,� he whispered forcefully in her ear.
Karina groaned but nodded in affirmation. She grabbed the essay and stormed out of the room and into the dark corridor. The two colleagues were left staring at each other.
�Some day Minerva, you�re going to learn,� Snape murmured and walked out.
�God! That woman is going to be the death of our children!� Karina moaned as they headed for Snape�s office.
For the rest of the night Karina labored over her essay, pausing briefly to glance longingly at her husband. By midnight she had finished her essay and was passed out at her desk. Severus stealthily moved to her side and shook her awake.
�What?� she mumbled quite annoyed at being disturbed.
�Well I don�t think a desk is one of the more comfortable places to sleep in this castle but whatever works for you,� Snape said, trying desperately to hide the laughter in his voice.
She pushed herself out of the chair and walked, half asleep to their bed where she quickly entered into a deep slumber. Snape smiled at her sleeping form and kissed her cheek as he pulled the silk sheets around her.
The following morning Karina entered Transfiguration with a smug look on her face. Grinning evilly, she walked up to McGonagall�s desk and placed the finished essay in front of the teacher. McGonagall�s mouth fell open at the finished product sitting in front of her.
�And no, he didn�t help me,� Karina sneered under her breath.
With that the young mother-to-be turned on her heel and sauntered to her usual seat. The Transfiguration teacher quickly closed her mouth and stood with the support of her walking stick.
�I trust all of you have completed the essay,� she began surveying her students.
Her statement was met with groans, nods and sighs. To Minerva, it seemed that the students grew less concerned with their schoolwork each year. The aged professor walked to her desk and retrieved her wand.
�Alright, we are having a surprise test,� she said as the class whined and groaned.
The students took their test disparagingly. None were happy at the prospect of transfiguring spells. Karina was surprised that she actually knew what she was doing. She only hoped that it wouldn�t look like Snape had helped her.
�Let her think what she wants,� Karina thought to herself as she sat back in her seat.
When the bell rang, the class rushed out the door like a herd of elephants. McGonagall stared as the last robe swirled around the corner of the doorframe out of sight.
�Can you believe she made us do something we learned before break!� Ron moaned as the trio headed for lunch.
�Oh quit whining about it. It�s over isn�t it,� Hermione said with a sigh.
�I hope I didn�t fail,� Harry said, a worried expression in his emerald eyes.
Karina grinned at the trio�s conversation. She wasn�t the least bit interested in what they had to say but she felt she could hold something they said against them. As she neared the Great Hall, the midnight robes of her husband caught her eye. She walked briskly over to him and grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him into shadow.
�Yes?� he asked, as he turned to face the girl.
�She�s officially gone mad,� Karina giggled.
�Oh really?� he responded with a smile.
Just then a group of Slytherins led by Malfoy walked by the couple and stopped dead in their tracks. Draco strode bravely up to them and glared at Karina. Snape immediately stopped smiling and savagely wrenched his wrist from Karina�s grasp.
�What is going on here Professor?� Draco inquired, sticking his nose in where it obviously did not belong.
�Oh go shove off ferret,� Karina grumbled.
Draco ignored her and continued to stare at his head of house waiting for an explanation. Karina prayed that Snape could come up with something believable. The teacher cleared his throat quickly and locked eyes with the blond haired menace.
�If you are so intent on knowing then I shall tell you,� Severus began.
�Oh God don�t tell him!� Karina thought, a cold sweat breaking out on her neck.
�Miss Clark was simply inquiring upon what grounds I felt it necessary to take house points yesterday,� Snape stated calmly.
�Oh�well I�m sure she deserved it Professor,� Draco replied and continued on his way, sneering wickedly in Karina�s direction.
Karina breathed an immense sigh of relief. Seeing that the Entrance Hall was nearly vacant she hurried into the Great Hall without so much as a backwards glance at the greasy haired man whom was the father of her unborn twins.
�That girl is an absolute menace,� Minerva whispered to the headmaster as Snape sat down.
�How her parents allowed her to marry is beyond me,� she continued, fully aware of the Potion Masters presence.
�Well then I�d have to say that we are blessed that you don�t have to comprehend it,� Snape snarled.
For several moments, they simply glared at each other until McGonagall turned abruptly away. Snape rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the food in front of him. The anger inside of him was beginning to bubble and rise to the surface. Taking deep breaths was all he could do to keep from grabbing the walking stick from her and whacking her in the head.
The rest of the month passed uneventfully. Karina narrowly escaped detention with McGonagall by annoying Hagrid enough during Care of Magical Creatures that he gave her detention. It turned out to be quite fun except for the fact that Hagrid asked her some very disconcerting questions.
�Karina, are you�� he began but trailed off as they entered the Forbidden Forest.
�Am I what?� Karina asked, figuring she had better stay on his good side while they were in the forest.
�Pardon me for asking but are you pregnant?� the half giant inquired, blushing instantly.
�Wh-what makes you ask that?� Karina stuttered nervously.
�Well, you look a bit on the chubby side and I didn�t want to say anything but I really think that if you are then you ought to see Madame Pomfrey or Professor Dum---� he said, in one long breath.
�NO! I refuse to talk to him. He supports the wench!� Karina seethed angrily.
�Excuse me?� Hagrid said, stopping in his tracks to stare at the girl.
�And who might this �wench� be?� he asked, spitting out the word as if it tasted foul on his tongue.
�McGonagall,� Karina mumbled.
�Now why do you say that?� Hagrid inquired.
�It�s none of your business,� Karina spat as she shivered.
�So you really are pregnant,� he muttered softly, more to himself than her.
�Let�s get you back to the castle then,� he urged.
She didn�t say anything except followed him back they way that they had come. She was in a rather irritable mood, one that Severus was surprised to encounter halfway down the stairs towards the dungeons.
�What happened?� he whispered.
�I�ll tell you later,� Karina muttered, continuing her decent.
He followed her down and they climbed into bed. It was late and Severus could tell Karina was tired. As they snuggled down under the silky sheets, Karina turned towards her lover.
�Hagrid knows I�m pregnant,� she stated simply.
�Damn it!� Snape scowled.
�You don�t have to tell me twice,� Karina groused angrily.
�Well that should make next week�s staff meeting unbearable,� Snape mumbled to himself.
Disheartened, the couple fell asleep, subconsciously dreading the coming week. With the knowledge of Karina�s pending due date, the staff would be on its toes. They didn�t need the added weight of rumors flying around the school but that was something to worry about later.