_rufus_ (_rufus_) wrote in lupin_snape, @ 2007-10-24 22:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | fic: pg |
Ficlet: 3 AM and All is Not Well
Title: 3 AM and All is Not Well
Author: _rufus_
Disclaimer: Not mine, clearly!
Word Count: 755
Rating: G/PG
Warnings: Possibly slightly schmoopy; part of an mpreg arc; links to previous installments go to LJ and those with R/NC-17 ratings are locked!
A/N: For ellid, who suggested I write some PHB-'verse fic to break my SnuSa block! And many thanks to mnemosyne_1 for the beta. Any remaining mistakes are my own.
Previously: Pleading His Belly , Birthday Presents , Baby's First Pictures (prelude), Baby's First Pictures, Birthday Celebrations, A Brief Respite and An Afternoon Alone , and A Reckoning Comes Due
Severus came awake suddenly, with the feeling that something was very wrong.
He blinked at the ceiling a couple of times, his initial anxiety fading as he confirmed that he was in his own bed and in possession of all of his fingers and toes (though, to his fresh disappointment, his cock was still missing). He turned to look at the clock on the nightstand and relaxed further when he saw that the big hand was still pointing towards the sleeping dragon with Precious is Sleeping Soundly printed above its head. Feeling slightly foolish, Severus turned on his side and curled a hand around Remus' shoulder, intending to go back to sleep.
He was surprised when Remus made a small gasping noise and rolled over, curling his fingers in Severus' nightshirt and burying his face in the crook of Severus' neck. For a moment Severus was too stunned to move, but then something (Instinct? Training?) kicked in, and he slid his arm around Remus' waist and squeezed gently.
Remus mumbled something Severus couldn't quite make out and burrowed closer, wedging a leg between Severus' knees. The uneasiness that had awakened him bloomed anew in the pit of his stomach, and Severus pushed up on his elbow for a better look. There was just enough moonlight for him to see that, while Remus' pyjamas were twisted around his body and his hair was sweaty, he seemed otherwise intact.
"Remus? What's happened? Are you hurt?" Severus whispered, skimming a hand over Remus' back and straightening and smoothing his pyjamas.
Remus coughed and shook his head and mumbled something that sounded like Bella and you and baby and captured, and Severus froze. Bellatrix is dead, he reminded himself. You saw her burned and scattered, and this house is warded within an inch of its life. He's just had a bad dream.
Severus turned to look at the clock again, but the position of the hands hadn't changed. The spell might have worn off, he thought, that thing's been around since Draco was a baby . . . He sat up, his heart pounding, and Remus made a soft unhappy noise and grabbed at his wrist.
You are being ridiculous, Severus thought, and squeezed his eyes shut briefly. Still, he knew there would be no going back to sleep (for either of them) until all doubt had been removed.
"Winky!" Severus called out, and the elf appeared, her ears tilted forward inquisitively. "Bring Athena to me, please, and see that you don't wake her up."
The elf nodded once and disappeared. Severus settled on the bed and let Remus cuddle close again before moving a hand up to stroke his hair.
"Shh, it's all right," he murmured, and swallowed carefully before pressing gentle kisses to Remus' temples. "Hush now."
Remus sighed softly and pulled away, and Severus fell back to petting, wondering if he was doing something wrong. Slytherins only came to their Head of House for comfort when they had a larger political point to make, and his usual method of soothing nightmare-spooked students had involved extracting a summary of their "bad dream" and sending them directly back to bed with a cup of valerian-infused hot cocoa.
He was trying to remember some of the stories Minerva and Filius had told in the staff room – one of them had been fond of something to do with Cheering Charms and warmed blankets – when Winky reappeared, his daughter snuffling in her arms.
"Winky is sorry for taking so long, but Mistress Athena was needing a clean nappy," the elf said, as she hopped up on the bed. "Winky has stuck herself with a pin."
She held out one pale green (and bleeding, sweet Merlin) finger as proof, and Severus scowled at her as he sat up to take his daughter.
"Does Master need anything else?" Winky asked, as Severus settled the baby against his chest and the dull ache in his stomach finally eased.
"No, thank you," Severus said, as the baby gurgled in her sleep and kicked him in the ribs. "Good night, Winky."
The elf flapped her ears and vanished with a faint pop!, and Severus lay back down. Athena grunted and kicked him again, and he kissed the top of her head before he slid her across the bed and into Remus' arms. He was only slightly startled when Remus curled a hand around Severus' own on her belly and pulled him close for a slow, salty kiss that lasted until they fell asleep.