Melanie's POV

Both Knox and Severus were probably unaware that I was fully listening in on their entire conversation which was even a surprise to me.

Sadness filled my heart when I had heard of Severus's task to kill me from the very start of things...makes sense to why he was so random in the beginning.

But love took hold of my heart soon after because I knew if Severus really wanted to finish his task he would have done so already.

Knowing he didn't and never planned to showed me his trueness.

But my brother...who wasn't at all a brother to me was the most dangerous of us all.

So full of deception and deceit. I never could trust him in the slightest.

And I knew for a fact that I had to do something to prevent Knox from harming either Severus or our baby once I came out of this deathly curse.

Just then I felt heavier as if coming back to.

My eyes grew with fear once they were opened but I had to stop feeling like I was useless and weak in front of my brother.

He will not win this time.

I took my hair pin I had holding my hair, stabbing him in the chest with it.

"I will not be afraid any longer dear brother."

My elder brother seemed surprised at the fact I was out of my sheep like manner.

I was always so timid and afraid around him...he probably guessed I would be that same woman today as I was before...but after meeting Severus...all that changed for me.

I had something more than just my life to fight for now.

I was to fight for Severus as well as for our new baby.

Something clicked for me...the thought of not giving up so easily.

I was to accept my fate but what would that leave Severus...heartbreak?

I truly didn't even want to ever see what he looked like so broken and empty...neither will it happen.

We fight as a family now.

As one.

"Severus." I tried to get out of bed but fell having him run over to me with the baby in his arms.

I took her in my own.

"I need you to get my wand Severus."

"But your not-"

"I'm not asking." Just then he gave me a reassured look, rummaging through a chest to find my wand as my brother was recovering from my surprise attack on him.

Just when my brother recovered he tackled my husband.

"Severus!" I shouted in surprise as broken glass shattered all around Severus.

"Bleed dog!" Knox got up, swiping blood off his face...Severus's blood.

Crimson blood that splattered, painting the floor with its color as well as my clothes.

I kept Serena close to my chest, securing her to me, tying her enough to me with a cloth that she wouldn't so easily fall out.

I readied my wand casting a spell to zap Knox.

"Your fight is with me! Not Severus!"

"He knows the rules. He's failed and those who fail suffer the consequences as a death eater. So stay out of it." Knox blasted a restraining spell on me, causing me to be unable to move.

"I am a death eater no more. I renounced myself long ago."

"Because you've grown soft. Even so no one leaves unless dead." Knox punched Severus in the face as all I could do was watch.

I wanted to burn my brother alive for what he was doing.

I didn't care what orders he was under...I know he was enjoying the pain he was afflicting on both me and Severus.

My brother never wanted me happy.

Just like my mother, he was the real monster.

If he couldn't truly be happy in that mad mind of his he'd surely make everyone else's a living hell.

And he did so wherever he went and never once has he stopped.

All the horrors I was seeing...Knox jammed a shard of glass in Severus arm and leg while Severus did all he could to hold back bloody murdering yells.

"Let her live." Severus started to beg for my life.

I looked down at my baby who batter her green eyes at me.

"I'm sorry." I kissed her forehead giving her a protective charm.

I bit my hand, using magic I swore I'd never use.

Even now knowing full well it was my last option I still hated myself for what I was about to do.

I knew deep down if I wanted to beat Knox at his own game I'd have to use fire with fire.

Fire sprang from my hands burning down the spell my brother had casted.

I quickly grabbed his arm, twisting him to face me...to stop harming Severus as he was.

My hand planted on his heart.

"With this fire I burn your heart. With this magic I take your soul. With this spell I steal what holds you alive. I burn you to ash. May my cinders burn you alive."

And with a final end to my brother he disappeared as if he never existed.

Surprised even to myself...I was shedding sorrowful tears for him.

But I had no time for the thought.

Making my way to Severus I gave him the healing spell he had once given me as he started to inhale and exhale correctly again.

I touched his side as he hissed in pain.

"Looks like he might've broken a few ribs."

"Unfortunately."

"Fortunately enough you're alive and that's all that matters to me."

"And that's all that matters to me. Is that you and our baby are both very much alive."

He gave me a look that made me want to pinch the side of his face.

"You scared the life out of me you know." My tone full of pout while he gave a weak look.

"I would say the same."

With a piece of my dress I grazed his lips to wipe away the blood that colored them.

Once Severus was back on his feet I grabbed Serena from where I last hid her.

Thankfully she was more than safe, sleeping soundlessly while her little chest rose in fell indicating she was alive.

"She looks dead in the way she sleeps."

"Stop teasing her, she's only a baby and it's honestly a miracle she's even sleeping so delicately despite our fight."

"She does."

I nudged him gently being mindful of his fresh wounds.

"She's does take your skin tone which is very much pale in comparison to me."

———

After our fight with my brother it was as if no one but us knew of it so we both decided it was for the better that it was kept secret between us.

After some time I finally grew into my comfort of peace, of knowing my brother was no longer out there trying to haunt me.

Someone I even made a grave for.

Being the spring of the third year since our near death experience Serena had just turned two as she walked about the courtyard Severus and I often met before we married.

Even til this day we occasionally spend our free time here enjoying the quietness within the school of Hogwarts.

Severus came over from keeping Serena from further venturing into the patch of trees and bushes in the courtyard to catch a frog.

Holding her hand, she was so happy to be by his side with such a big smile on her face she was almost laughing.

When she saw me she jolted away from his grasp as she went headfirst into me as I sat.

"Ohh someone's happy to see me!"

"Yes Mama! Happy!"

I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

She was surely my little pocket of sunshine.

And another one along the way.

"Can you believe you'll be a father of two soon."

"Don't rush it. I'm still preparing."

He sat down alongside me as he ruffled Serena's black hair that matched his perfectly.

"Hi little cat."

"Hi daddy!"

I rested my head on his shoulder as he took my left hand in his right hand, interlocking fingers with me.

"Today's weather is nice." I referenced to the nice weather that we had been having for at least a solid week as he rested his head on mine.

"It is."

Once the sun started to set we headed inside our shared quarters.

Severus held a sleeping Serena in his arms, putting her down to sleep in warm blankets by the fireplace.

"We must prepare for him to come after her Severus. We must train her well."

"Yes, but until then my dear let us allow her to sleep. Let her childhood be full of color before she must fight. Let us give her the memories our parents couldn't."

He took ahold of my hand as we transfixed our gaze to our little girl who snuggled in her blankets like a little cat reminding me of myself when I was little.

"Thank you for being such a good father and husband Severus."

"It is because of you my dear." His warm lips pressed against my hand ever so gently.