Chapter 25

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks to June for doing the beta work for me.

Chapter 25

With his head bowed, Severus sighed heavily, and took his cousin from his shoulder. He stared into the fathomless eyes that would soon be closed forever, as he felt the tears running down his face. Severus began to softly sob, and he felt his body shaking. This was the only family he had left. Osiris had truly been more a brother to him in the past twenty years, than just a mere bird. With trembling hands, Severus took a small knife from the table and placed it just below Osiris' throat. He hesitated. He had never hesitated to kill anything before in his life, not even a human being.

In those early days as a young Death Eater, when he was called upon to kill he did so readily, and without question. Then, as part of the Order, to keep up appearances Severus still needed to kill. During those times he knew the sins he committed would be for the greater good. But now, this life in his hands was so precious to him, that he felt himself faltering.

Osiris nodded, then closed his eyes and turned his head. He was giving himself unselfishly, so that the unborn child Hermione now had in her womb would live.

Severus made a small incision, and held his cousin in his shaking hands. The blood came pouring out of Osiris' body, and into the cauldron. Severus felt the life leaving his cousin's body, as he whispered words of comfort and gratitude for his sacrifice. As the tears flowed from his eyes, he hit upon an idea. Crookshanks had been huddled in the corner of the room for several minutes. Severus whispered a spell to start the wooden ladle to stir itself, and then called Crookshanks.

Severus had kept himself from the Dark Arts for many years, knowing it to be too much of a temptation for his borderline dark soul. Now he remembered something he had researched just before Voldemort's demise. Voldemort had asked him to create a potion, which would take part of one person's life force and merge it with another's. Voldemort wanted a guarantee, that if he were mortally wounded, he would be able to take the life force from another and join it with his. Doing this would allow him to continue living.

Severus had succeeded in creating the potion, only to keep it hidden for the Order. He knew it would be easy to alter and use it with Osiris and Crookshanks. The only side effect was that the two people sharing the life force would be bound to each other for life. Osiris was technically still a wizard; therefore Crookshanks would live the life span of a wizard once they were bound. He knew that this was Osiris' only hope, and if his cousin lived and hated him for doing it, then so be it; at least he would be alive.

"By the fact that you came in here together with my cousin, I know you two must be friends. He needs your help now."

Crookshanks scuttled over to Severus and allowed himself to be picked up and placed on the table. Severus transfigured a piece of parchment into a small blanket and placed Osiris' body on top of it. He then whispered a few words and closed the wound.

"Osiris is dying. I have taken his blood to make this potion for Hermione's and my child. I can only give Osiris a blood-replenishing potion, but that alone will not help. His life force is weak; he needs what you can give him. I have to take this potion up to Hermione." He looked into the cat's eyes and asked, "Do you understand me?" To his surprise, Crookshanks nodded. Severus ran to the supply closet and brought out two small vials. One held the red Sanguis Restituo Serum, the other the green Vita Partitio Potion.

He placed a small straw into the red bottle, and then placed the other end inside Osiris' beak. He positioned Crookshanks' paw so that he held the straw firmly in Osiris' beak. Severus then took a second straw, and did the same thing; only this time with the green potion. He made sure Crookshanks held both bottles in place with one paw, and Osiris' head with the other, then recited an incantation. The Vita Partitio Potion began to sparkle with green and red light. After making sure both Osiris and Crooks were comfortable, Severus then poured the still warm Fortis Cor Serum into a medium-sized bottle. Before he left, he lowered his head and whispered into his cousin's ear.

"I will come back to you soon, dear one." He kissed his small head and left the lab.

Crookshanks moved closer and placed his hind leg over Osiris, then lowered himself carefully to lie down next to his friend.

* * * * * *

Severus entered the hospital wing, and immediately went to Hermione's bedside. Poppy looked at him, then at the bottle he was holding.

"Make sure she drinks all of it," she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "We'll need to let it take effect for a few minutes. Let me know when you are finished, as I'll need to check the child once more."

He nodded and Poppy walked away. Severus sat down on the bed and gently lifted Hermione's head.

"Hermione, you need to drink this potion." He tipped the bottle to her lips and began to slowly pour the potion into her mouth. Hermione tried to move his hand away. "I know, darling. I'm sorry it tastes dreadful, but it's a heart strengthening potion. Please, love, you have to drink it or our child will die."

She immediately opened her eyes, and looked up at him. There was a tear falling down the corner of her right eye, which he brushed away with his thumb. She took the bottle in her weak hand and drank all of it down. She closed her eyes as Severus let her head gently fall back down onto the pillow.

Severus set the empty bottle on the table next to the bed, and looked back to Hermione, who was now staring at him. He lifted his hand to touch her, only to have her turn over on her side, leaving her back to him.

He sighed and looked out the window. He knew she had every reason to despise him. He wanted to stay near her, but thought it would be best if he left her alone for the moment. He stood and walked to Poppy's office.

"She has taken the potion, Poppy," he said quietly.

"I'll check on her then," Poppy walked past him, and he waited inside her office. She came back five minutes later.

"It worked; the heartbeat is stronger. I'll begin giving her some proper vitamins in the morning. They will both be fine." She smiled and gave him a reassuring pat on the arm, then sat at her desk.

Severus moved to leave, then looked back to Hermione once more.

"I will come by in the morning to check on her," he said to Poppy. He appreciated the fact that Poppy asked no questions, as he walked out with his head hung low. He had ruined everything; he knew that now. The fact that she would not even look at him proved that.

He walked back down to the dungeons to check on Osiris. He hoped his cousin was all right. Osiris had unselfishly given himself without question, knowing full well it would cost him his life. Severus only hoped Crookshanks could pull him through.

When he reached the dungeons, he saw the cat had his paw draped over Osiris' body. He carefully removed the straws from Osiris' beak, and wrapped his cousin up in the blanket he had been lying upon. Osiris felt warm to his touch, and Severus thought he felt a faint pulse. He lifted his small body carefully, then took hold of Crookshanks as well, and walked with both of them to his rooms. He placed Osiris on his lap, and sat Crookshanks next to him. He spent the night watching over his cousin, hoping to see some sign that he would be all right.

As morning drew near, Severus felt something moving on his lap. He opened his eyes and looked down. Osiris had lifted his head and was looking around the room.

"Oh no! I've died and I'm living in the dungeons of hell." Osiris dropped his head and closed his eyes.

Severus chuckled. "You are not dead, you impertinent bird," said Severus as he rubbed Osiris' head with his thumb.

"Severus? What happened? Did you make the potion? Was it enough blood? Is the baby all right?" Osiris tried to get up, but Severus held him down.

"Don't try to move; you are still weak. The potion was made, and I gave it to Hermione. Poppy assured me the baby would be fine now. I cannot thank you enough for what you did, Osiris."

"You don't have to thank me. I would do it again if need be. I would do anything for you." He looked down on the couch next to Severus and noticed Crookshanks' head now creeping onto Severus' lap.

Severus stroked Crookshanks behind his ears and looked at Osiris. "Your friend here was kind enough to give you some of his life force. If not for Crookshanks staying behind while I took the potion to Hermione, you would not have survived." Severus smiled as Crookshanks began to purr.

"You hear that? I saved your life." Crookshanks let his paw brush Osiris' wing.

"I better not start coughing up hairballs," said Osiris, as he dropped his head down and fell asleep.

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Next chapter, Severus and Hermione finally talk.