[Chapter 25 - The Aftermath]

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Minerva couldn't believe what just happened. One moment it seemed like the standoff was over, the next, Genevieve was little more than a puddle of red and blue, her robes spread about her, soaked with blood after releasing an unearthly scream.

It all seemed like a haze to the older witch who had only witnessed such mass destruction during the war but she promptly turned her attention back to Quirrell, who was shaking with fury.

"How could you do this to me, Minerva?!" he screeched, flailing his wand around.

"It's over Quirinus, the Aurors will be here soon and you'll be locked away in Azkaban where you belong," she countered, praying he didn't call her bluff.

"You'll pay for this, for taking my love away from me! Confringo!"

"Protego Horribilis," Professor McGonagall swiftly blocked the fiery cloud, deflecting it with a flick of her wrist. She was the 3-time winner of the duelling cup after all. Using the cloud of smoke to her advantage, the transfiguration professor snuck behind the doubled over settee with the stealth of a cat.

Catching Quirrell's back searching in the smoke, Minerva waiting for the right moment to pounce. As he scampered over to the magical theory professor's limp body, Minerva took her only open chance, putting all her energy into her body-binding curse until there was silence.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Minerva collapsed against a turned armchair, only now noting the extent of her inquiries, as a sharp, piercing ache shot through her head. But her pain didn't matter. Creeping over the rubble and shattered glass, Minerva patted around Genevieve's abdomen, trying to find the source of all the blood dousing her hands.

She discarded her cloak to one side and with a flick of her wand, transfigured the material to a proper binding around the large gash.

"It'll be alright Genevieve, just hold on," the older witch whispered to her, propping her up against the wall once the bandage was secure.

Knowing that Genevieve was stable, Minerva sent a Patronus to Severus and Albus and turned to Madam Hooch and Pomfrey who were beginning to gain consciousness again.

Hopefully, they would arrive quickly before poor Gen bled out.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus licked the tip of his thumb and flipped the page of the next essay.

Nymphadora Tonks was a hopeless cause when it came to potions. Looking through her essay, Severus visibly cringed at how little she paid attention in class. He turned to the front, ready to mark it with a big T when Genevieve's words from early rang in his ears.

Thinking for a moment, the man wondered if he should be nicer. Genevieve would praise them for their effort and encourage them to do better, not allowing them to learn from their mistakes. Eventually, he decided on a poor instead, returning to his early corrections and changing all failing papers to poor to please his partner.

Once finished, he looked up at the grandfather clock, noting she was gone almost the hour. For some reason, her accident came to mind again as he stocked up the fire. Maybe it was the fact she was carrying his child? Looking at the burning embers for answers, Severus racked his head for any clues.

"What if it was just an accident?" he thought, sitting back on the couch.

But then realised it couldn't have been. Rummaging around the bookshelves, Severus found a copy of 'Hogwarts: A History', turning the pages until he reached the chapter in question.

"The building of Hogwarts can never be damaged once its protective wards are intact. The particle spell in question was cast by the founders in fear of muggle attack, making the castle indestructible to non-magical sources such as fire, water, rust etc..."

"So it couldn't have been an accident, " he pondered, putting the book back.

Proving his theory, Severus then went about listing anyone who might want to harm Genevieve. This proved to be a shortlist,  but not empty. Here, all the dots connected themselves. It had to be Quirrell. Since Genevieve began teaching he found Quirrell's behaviour far more suspicious. What had Genevieve to with it though?"

Remembering that she would be with Minerva, a well-accomplished witch turned his attention toward the coffee table and reached for his tea. Watching the copper liquid, he had to squint to see the faintest of rumbles rise and sent a ripple through it. He held his breath, his hand was utterly motionless when a silver ball shot through the door.

The cup was thrown onto the table with such force, the tea inside spat out and saturated all the corrected essays.

Severus ran down to the ground floor, foot on the bottom step when he first caught sight of the destruction filling out the corridor. Smoke filled Severus' lungs as he came to the corridor dominated by a line of broken statues and half-collapsed suits of armour.

Chunks of bookcases crunched beneath his heels as he came to the obliterated entrance of the teachers' lounge. It had been reduced to ruins, with the potion masters' heart aching when he saw the bruised and bloodied Genevieve, lying against the back wall and a tied up Quirrell.

"What on Earth happened?!" he barked at McGonagall as his hands were scrunched up into fists.

"It was Quirinus, Severus, he was behind everything," Minerva informed him, helping Rolanda steady her feet as Poppy examined Genevieve's side.

"You sick, son of a bi-" Before he could finish the sentence, Severus swung from the man.

His furled fist quickly collided with Quirrell's face, smashing his nose on impact and splattering blood down his robes," How dare you touch her! I'll kill you!"

He went to swing at him again but Minerva swiftly held him back, "Severus stop! Genevieve needs you by her side, not in Azkaban with this lowlife."

Taking deep breaths, Severus calmed himself down, returning to Gen's side as Madam Pomfrey finished her examination.

"We need to get her to St Mungo's immediately before it's too late!" Wasting no time, Severus scooped up the witch and hurried down to the hospital wing to the connected fireplace. The legs of his pants clung to his skin from the slow, hot ebb of blood seeping into the fabric. Poppy flooed in first, then Severus.

"She'll be alright, she's a fighter," Minerva assured him as his figure went up in green smoke, turning back to the large oak doors as she waited for the Aurors to arrive.

Once they arrived, Madam Pomfrey dashed over to the head healer, explaining the situation. They were promptly brought up to the Janus Thickey Ward where with a snap of Healer Stourt's fingers, a gurney appeared in front of Severus and he lay down Gen delicately as the healer's brought her into a private room. It was only now he realised that the source of all the blood was in her stomach.

Severus' heart plummeted as they closed the door, pacing up and down the hall until one of the healers patted his shoulder.

"Will she be alright?" he asked, his forehead scrunched up with concern.

Flipping through her file, Healer Strout told him, "It seems a type of dark magic was used because the bleeding won't stop. There's also some internal bleeding so myself and Healer Jones will be bringing her down to the OR and then we'll be able to stop the bleeding."

Severus let out a sigh of relief but this was short-lived when the healer continued," But I'm afraid the baby might not survive the procedure. There has been considerable damage caused to her womb."

Hearing this, Severus went into shock, sitting down in one of the waiting room chairs as his head fell into his hands. He could lose the love of his life and his unborn child in one day. How could Genevieve ever forgive him? Before the wizard could grieve, Healer Strout sat down beside him along with Madam Pomfrey.

"There is something we can try. Now there's no guarantee as it's completely experimental,"

"What is it?" he asked, sitting up straighter.

"Well, since Ms Blackwell's nowhere near delivery yet, they'll have to create an artificial womb and speed up the fetus' development by magic. -'' Poppy explained but was cut off by Severus, who lept up.

"Do it. Do whatever you need to save my family. You have my permission,"

Shaking his open hand, the healer thanked him and headed straight down to surgery. All he could do now was wait, and wait,

And wait.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I was so excited to write this chapter and the satisfaction I got by making my boy Sev hit Quirrell was just *chefs kiss*

*The_lost_flower*