Daimons

The trio landed in the middle of the Quidditch field. Severus went to his knees and immediately started to vomit. Harry rubbed Snape¡¦s back soothingly as he ordered Ron to fetch Armstrong. He had his ex-teacher lean against him as he led to Hogwarts and to Poppy. For a passing moment Harry thought of lifting Snape but believed he would be hexed, sick or not. As luck would have it lunch had just started. The odd couple had quite a following as they tramped through the school. A dozen or so students, mainly Slytherins, followed in silence. There was a gasp when Harry no longer saw the use of nearly dragging the Potions Master but picked him up and carried him the rest of the way to the hospital wing. Since there was no protest Harry appreciated how bad Snape must have felt.

¡§Oh my,¡¨ Poppy tittered. ¡§On the bed with him.¡¨

Harry did as he was told. He stood by in case he was needed.

¡§Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear¡K I need to make Severus more comfortable. I thank you for your help but I must ask you to leave now.¡¨ She shoved the young man out the door.

Harry waited for Ron to show up with Armstrong. He was about to go searching for Ron when he showed up but not with Armstrong but Edelman.

¡§Where is he?¡¨ Edelman asked as he slightly pushed Harry out of the way.

¡§If someone just asks I would gladly get out of the way. You don¡¦t have to push,¡¨ he mumbled more to himself than to anyone. Ron was following Edelman when Harry gently stopped him by the touch of his hand. ¡§They won¡¦t let you in.¡¨

¡§Yeah, all right.¡¨ He ran his fingers through his red hair and plopped his behind onto one on the waiting room chairs. Most of the students that had followed them there had gone back to classes. There were about a half a dozen Slytherins that waited. They took the farthest corner of the room away from the Gryffindors.

¡§Ron, this seems as good as any time for us to discuss what has been going on with your life. We are best friends, if you have a problem, even if it¡¦s,¡¨ he looked about the room to be sure no one was listening, ¡§Draco, you can talk to me about it.¡¨

¡§Why are you whispering?¡¨ Ron said louder than need be.

¡§Huh?¡¨

¡§Why are you whispering? I¡¦m not ashamed about how I feel.¡¨ He was getting louder still.

¡§Ron calm down.¡¨

¡§No, I don¡¦t think I¡¦m going to calm down. I don¡¦t think I¡¦m ever going to calm down. Maybe if I spoke up earlier Draco wouldn¡¦t have left.¡¨

¡§Ron!¡¨ Harry eyed the Slytherins who were listening intently to their conversation.

¡§No.¡¨ Ron got up and walked over to the Slytherins. ¡§I liked Draco¡K a lot. And I¡¦m pretty sure he liked me. Being a Slytherin, a pure blood, wealthy, egotistical little snot, he wasn¡¦t able to ¡¥show¡¦ me how he felt about me. Instead he runs away and it¡¦s my fault¡K and yours,¡¨ he pointed to the Slytherins ¡§and his.¡¨ He pointed to Harry. Harry was taken back by the outburst. ¡§If we weren¡¦t concerned with what others thought about us, if we weren¡¦t focused on our petty differences, Draco would be here with me and Snape wouldn¡¦t have had to go out looking for him and ended up in a hospital bed.¡¨

Edelman appeared at the infirmary door. He spoke in a whisper but the command in his voice was there. ¡§All of you, back to class now.¡¨ The Slytherins slowly departed leaving Harry and Ron standing there. ¡§You two¡K class¡K now!¡¨ Reluctantly they turned on their heels and left.

¡§Ron?¡¨ Harry asked.

¡§Yeh?¡¨

¡§I¡¦m sorry I wasn¡¦t there for you. If you ever need to talk or yell,¡¨ he chuckled lightly, ¡§I¡¦ll be happy to be your sounding board. I love you like a brother, don¡¦t ever cut me out of your life again, ok?¡¨ Harry said as they headed to their dorm instead of class.

¡§I feel the same about you. Sorry I took out my frustrations on you.¡¨

¡§That what friends are for.¡¨ He gave Ron a friendly slap on his back. ¡§Race you to the dorm.¡¨

¡§You¡¦re on.¡¨ Ron was already two strides ahead when he replied.

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Armstrong was with his men on maneuvers and wasn¡¦t expected back for a couple of more hours. Severus lay in a deep sleep as the Mediwitch and the Healer examined Severus.

¡§His blood pressure is out of sight,¡¨ the Mediwitch explained.

¡§His body is trying to reject the babies.¡¨

¡§It¡¦s so soon in the pregnancy maybe it would be best to let the body naturally abort the children.¡¨

¡§Can¡¦t let that happen.¡¨ He stared at the sleeping Potions Master.

¡§What is it that you¡¦re not telling me?¡¨

¡§Not here.¡¨ With the monitors in place, Severus would sleep for at least a couple of hours, more than likely all night. ¡§Would you like to share a cup of tea with me?¡¨

¡§Yes, I would mind,¡¨ she said without looking at the Healer. Del seemed crestfallen at her response. ¡§But I wouldn¡¦t mind sharing a nice Napoleon Brandy with you.¡¨

¡§A lady after my own heart.¡¨ He graciously offered her his arm which she coyly took.

Poppy¡¦s eyes widened as Del explained the significant of the children. After the lengthy discussion Poppy decided that the children must survive at any cost, even the health and wellbeing of Severus. The two healers talked in detail what Severus¡¦ treatment would be, in the months to come.

¡§I believe we should have an extremely upset Daimon in our mist in a few moments. I suggest you prepare yourself for the onslaught of questions and demands,¡¨ Del teased.

¡§He can¡¦t be any more difficult than Severus and I¡¦ve been handling him for years.¡¨

¡§Would you like to bet on that?¡¨ Del smiled mischievously.

¡¥Is Edelman flirting with me?¡¦ she asked herself. It had been years since anyone had noticed her and she found it flattering. ¡§What would the bet entail?¡¨

¡§Which of the two will be more difficult.¡¨

¡§If Severus proves the most difficult?¡¨ She smiled like she hadn¡¦t smiled in eons. She was, for the first time in years, enjoying the flirtatious conversation with a man.

¡§I will take you to dinner of your choice.¡¨

¡§And if you leader proves more difficult?¡¨ She leaned forward over the table.

Edelman leaned over his side of the table until there faces were a few inches apart. ¡§I will take you to dinner of ¡¥my¡¦ choice.¡¨

She giggled. ¡§I will be delighted to take that bet.¡¨ There delightful tƒ¼te-ƒ²-tƒ¼te was interrupted by a voice bellowing from far down the hall.

Leaning back into his chair, Del grinned. ¡§My Leader approaches.¡¨

Armstrong knocked the door off the hinge as he slammed it opened. ¡§WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?!¡¨

Standing, Poppy went and confronted the Daimon. ¡§This, sir, is a medical ward and I would appreciate it if you would lower your voice, or take your leave. I care not which one you do.¡¨ She waved him off and turned her back on him.

Del sniggered behind his hand as he watched his leader stand there dumbfounded.

¡§I apologize for my behavior.¡¨ He bowed slightly. He gave Del a death glare which only made him laugh louder. ¡§I will behave. May I now see my husband?¡¨

¡¥It looks like the Madam will be choosing the restaurant,¡¦ Del reflected as he followed the two into the infirmary.

Armstrong was stunned at how pale his husband was. ¡§Will he be alright?¡¨ His eyes opened wide. ¡§The babies?¡¨

¡§They¡¦re fine, Arm, for now. We need to talk.¡¨

¡§Don¡¦t you think perhaps we should wait until Severus wakes up to explain?¡¨ Poppy asked.

¡§I am an impatient man madam, tell me now,¡¨ he ordered.

¡§Arm, there is no reason to get snippy. Now sit down and we¡¦ll explain what has to happen in the following months,¡¨ Del explained.

¡§You might as well tell me at the same time,¡¨ Severus said between breathes.

¡§Hey baby, you feel alright?¡¨ Arms stroked Severus¡¦ hair off his forehead and gave him a kiss.

¡§Unless I am truly dieing, decease acting as if I am and leave me alone,¡¨ Severus grumbled as he shifted himself up on his pillows.

¡§Take a seat Mr. Armstrong and we¡¦ll explain everything,¡¨ Madam Pomprey ordered. ¡¥Men!¡¦ she said to herself.

¡§I can assure you Severus you are not dying.¡¨ Poppy was told that Severus only knew of one child and not of its twin. ¡§Your, child as young as it is, is healthy. For lack of a better explanation your body wants to reject the fetus. Mr. Edelman¡K¡¨

¡§Del,¡¨ he corrected with a grin.

¡§Del,¡¨ she repeated smiling back.

¡§If you two are done flirting, could we continue?¡¨ Severus said irritably. Arm sat on the side of the bed, his hand within centimeters of Severus. Without conscious effort his fingers sought out the hand of his bonded.

¡§We have a regime of potions that you will be taking daily,¡¨ Poppy started off.

¡§You will be bed ridden and your feet propped up, twenty hours a day,¡¨ the Healer continued. ¡§The other four will be supervised exercises.¡¨

¡§You will only get out of bed when someone is there to accompany you. That includes, but not restricted to, the loo.¡¨

¡§You will eat everything that is put in front of you¡K without complaint,¡¨ Del finished the instructions. ¡§There will be no use of magic or any potion making in the following months.¡¨

¡§I¡¦m sorry.¡¨ Severus¡¦ head fell back onto the pillow. He never sounded as defeated as he did at that moment. ¡§This is my fault.¡¨

¡§Darling, you did nothing wrong.¡¨ Armstrong tried to reassure his husband.

¡§I cursed the babe, I said ¡¥to hell with my child¡¦. This is my fault.¡¨

¡§If it¡¦s anyone¡¦s fault it¡¦s mine,¡¨ Armstrong interjected, ¡§It was me that put so much stress on you¡K¡¨

Infuriated Del took a deep breath before he used his authoritative voice. ¡§THIS¡K¡¨ he caught every ones attention, ¡§this is no one¡¦s fault. It¡¦s the nature of the beast. If you do as I¡K we say you should be able to deliver in twenty-eight weeks. We will keep you as calm and as stress free as we possibly can.¡¨

¡§Severus, I have known you for over a quarter of a century and never in all those years have you been a good patient. I need to know if you are willing to do what it takes to save your childr¡K your child. Or do we let nature take its course and let it naturally abort?¡¨ Madam Pomprey used her stern lecture voice.

¡§Being pregnant was the last on my list of things I wanted in my life. Now,¡¨ he pressed his hand protectively over his stomach, ¡§I can¡¦t think of anything more important than to give this life a chance. Madame, for once in my life, I will listen carefully to every word you speak and obey.¡¨

¡§Humph¡K¡¨ she muttered. ¡§We¡¦ll see how long that lasts.¡¨ She turned her attention to Armstrong. ¡§Go on, take him home. His potions and instructions are waiting for you there, as is Dobby. He¡¦ll be attending the good Professor when you are not around.¡¨

¡§I don¡¦t need Dobby¡K¡¨ Severus cut his sentence short. The death glares he received from the three people immediately silenced him.

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Draco was sure he was dead. His last thought was that freezing to death was not a bad way to go, if one had to go. He was just sorry he couldn¡¦t have the life he wanted. He never really contemplated about the afterlife and was shaken to realize he had conscious thought. He expected that there would be nothingness, not a warm, secure, comfortable feeling. He struggled to open his eyes, surprised that he even had eyes, but was blinded by the light. He had heard stories about the light that would lead you to the afterlife. He always assumed it was a bunch of bullshit. Now, he wasn¡¦t sure. So much had happened in the past few weeks, everything he believed in was shattered and new ideas and awareness over took him. To find that there was an afterlife was probably the biggest surprise. Would he have lived his life differently if he had known? Probably¡K not.

¡§The lights have dimmed. You can open your eyes now.¡¨ Ears, he had ears as well as eyes. The sound was melodic and soothing. A calming hand brushed his brow. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light and opened, there, standing, was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen. He would have called her a woman but no woman had ever walked the earth that was this beautiful.

¡§Hello.¡¨ He found his voice.

¡§Hello.¡¨ She smiled lovingly. ¡§Sleep well?¡¨