Karina walked into the Transfiguration classroom as calmly as she could. All eyes were upon her as she took her seat in the back.
�How nice of you to join us Miss Clark,� McGonagall said.
Karina didn�t even bother to comment. She wasn�t in the mood for an all out bitch fest with the wench. Instead, she took out a quill and piece of parchment and gave the impression of taking notes. In all actually she was making a list of names. She smiled to herself at the thought.
�I�m going to have a baby,� her mind squealed in delight.
Her mind wandered from thought to thought as McGonagall continued her lecture on transfiguring spells. She was so lost in her daydreams that she jumped at the sound of the bell. She quickly gathered her books and rushed out of the doorway and down to the dungeons. As she was making her way towards the classroom, a pair of hands grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows. One of the hands covered her mouth, the other firmly clasped around her body. She tried to wiggle free but to no avail. Abruptly she heard a voice next to her ear.
�Sweetheart calm down. It�s me,� Snape whispered.
�Don�t scare me like that,� Karina breathed.
�Sorry love but Dumbledore is observing the class today and I wanted to warn you,� he said in a hushed voice.
�That dirty old git,� Karina grumbled.
�We must be on our best behavior,� her lover said.
�Alright,� she agreed.
He let her go and waited until she was in the room to step from the shadows. He briskly walked into the room and slammed the door loudly. He glared menacingly at Harry and Ron.
�Great, he has it in for us today,� Ron muttered.
�Weasley shut up!� Snape spat.
Ron looked surprised that Snape had even heard his comment. Harry slumped down in his chair and waited for the class to begin.
�Severus, if I may interject,� Dumbledore said calmly.
�Of course headmaster,� Snape said, trying desperately to hide his contempt for the man.
�I spoke with several students before class and am curious to learn the purpose of the potion made yesterday,� the headmaster said.
�A precaution,� Snape answered dryly.
�For what?� the headmaster countered.
�For idiots who don�t think before they act,� Snape spat glaring in Harry�s general direction.
Karina smiled but then looked down at her stomach. She didn�t look any different than she had a month ago but she felt different. She was always tired but had attributed it to late nights. She sighed and returned her attention to the argument the two men were having.
�It is my class Albus and I shall do with it what I wish,� Severus remarked loudly.
�Fine. Continue with your class,� Albus said, slightly insulted and stood up. Without a second glance, he left the room.
Snape tapped the board and everyone groaned. Their assignment was to write an essay, two and a half feet in length on the production and use of memory potions. Karina took out a piece of parchment and a book and began writing. She knew this topic inside and out. Memory potions were one of her favorite past times, which had invariably landed her in detention her first three years at Hogwarts.
�Miss Clark please come here,� Snape said, breaking her concentration.
She looked up and gave him a �But I�m almost done with this,� look. He shook his head and motioned for her meet him in his office immediately. She sighed and put her quill down. Slowly, she rose from her seat and walked to the door of his office. He opened it and they stepped in. Karina turned to face Snape. The room was cluttered with vials filled with potions covering every color of the rainbow.
�What�s going on?� Karina asked nervously.
�I want you to have this,� he said, handing her a small bottle of a crimson colored potion.
�Why? What is it?� she questioned.
He paused and glanced at the floor. He took a deep breath before he met the young woman�s gaze.
�Severs what does it do?� Karina begged, a concerned tone in her voice.
Suddenly a look of fear crossed her face. She began to tremble.
�It won�t�� she began but trailed off as tears began falling from her eyes.
�No! It�s to protect the baby. It will help hide the pregnancy,� Snape said urgently, pulling the weeping girl to him.
�As long as you take a spoonful twice a dy no one will know,� he added, resting his chin on her head.
�anything for our baby,� Karina answered, wiping away her tears.
�our baby,� Snape echoed. �I like the sound of that.�
The bell rang and voices could be heard in the classroom. Snape quickly reentered the room with a stern look on his face.
�Your essays are to be on my desk first thing tomorrow,� he instructed loudly.
Karina gathered her books and headed for the door. As the last of her classmates trickled out, she turned around.
�Um, what are we going to do about the meat situation?� she inquired, a smile on her lips.
�Claim you have turned vegetarian after a horrible and tragic accident that occurred over the summer,� Severus suggested humorously.
�Ok,� Karina replied laughing.
They walked to the Great Hall and exchanged a quick kiss. Karina hurried to the Gryffindor table and sat as far away from Harry as she could. When everyone was seated, Dumbledore rose. The room went silent as the students waited for the headmaster to speak.
�There will be a trip to Hogsmeade for students above their 3rd year in two weeks on November the third,� Dumbledore began.
�Students in their sixth and seventh years do not need parental permission. If you wish to participate there are sign-ups in each common room,� he finished.
Karina caught Snape�s eye and flashed an eager smile. The third was her birthday, her 18th birthday. After dinner she rushed to the Common Room and sighed up. Her heart beat furiously as she thought about what she and Severus would do to celebrate.
�Are you gong to go Harry?� Hermione asked as the trio entered from the Portrait Hole.
�Yeah what about you Ron?� Harry inquired turning to his best friend.
�I�m going seeing as this is our last year and all,� the redhead answered as he and his friends approached the board. Karina quickly moved away and headed for the girls dormitory. After she had enterd and closed the door she noticed an owl was tapping at the window. She let it in and took the letter it was carrying and read it. It said:
Karina,
Wait until tomorrow to take the potion.
Love always,
Severus
She smiled and got ready for bed. She knew McGonagall would be lurking around so she decided it was best to sleep in the dorm that night. As the next week and a half progressed, Karina�s eagerness became increasingly visible. She was taking the potion as Snape had instructed and so far, it seemed to be effective. Although she was gaining weight, she looked the same. The next day was the trip to Hogsmeade and Karina could hardly wait.