Romantic Hideaway

A/N:This chapter is for all of you who love erotic scenes... I really used my imagination on this one. Please let me know if it sparks yours.

As always, my heartfelt thanks go out to NervousAboutAngels and JENGEORGE for all of their great suggestions. I must also include the staff here at The Petulant Poetess for their hard work. They have been instrumental in making me a better writer.

I make no money, I take no credit. The great J. K. Rowling invented everything here that you find familiar.

Chapter 28

"Romantic Hideaway Out of Sight,

Plans for the Future Looking Bright"

Winky took the news of Dobby's death rather hard but found comfort in knowing that he had died saving the life of his favorite wizard, Harry Potter. Her pride in his noble death helped her to recover quickly, and in an attempt to emulate him, she became a bit more enamored with the idea of being a free elf herself.

As the days turned into weeks, Severus and Sienna realized that Harry wasn't going anywhere any time soon. So Sienna began checking in once or twice a day for updates, but she no longer kept up a constant vigil reading Harry's mind.

And although the trouble makers had started out with a bang, the former DA members soon learned to keep a much lower profile since the Carrows were taking great pleasure in harsh punishments following the Dark Lord's new mandate.

Spring semester blew by with much less excitement than the fall had afforded them. Sienna rarely made clandestine visits to the hospital wing any more. She and Severus had both finally concluded that her help eased their pain and sped up the healing process too much. It had ultimately lulled the trouble makers into a false sense of security that no real harm could come to them. So Sienna reserved her visits only for cases where life or limb was threatened. After Michael Corner was almost killed for setting free a first year in chains, Sienna saved him and checked him over thoroughly to be sure he was out of any real danger, but his pain and disfigurement were so great that the misbehaving came almost completely to a halt. After watching Michael suffer horribly, the other DA members must have finally gotten the message.

Severus began to wonder if Sienna was going stir crazy in the secret room. He would have suggested she go to the ashram for a week or two just for a change of scenery, but he also felt an urgent desire to get her pregnant which he acted upon almost nightly. He was determined to keep that pace up until his goal was reached. Sienna certainly didn't seem to mind his increased amorous desire. Quite the contrary -- her youthful exuberance and raging hormones made every night a new adventure. Severus never knew life could be this much fun.

April arrived, and with it a new rash of graffiti on the walls and dung bombs in the corridors. The Carrows could prove nothing, but took great pleasure in torturing the usual DA members for information. Severus knew Neville must have been behind it and began to fear for the boy's life and the life of his grandmother. So after due consideration, Severus finally called the boy into his office. Neville had only just been released from detention and struggled up the spiral staircase after uttering the password Severus had included in his summons. Severus made a mental note to change the password as soon as Neville left.

Severus motioned for Neville to sit in the waiting wooden chair. He regarded the boy for a few moments, studying the bruises and cuts on his face. He could have healed the fresh cuts with a few waves of his wand, but he restrained himself. It saddened Severus to think his face would be scarred for life, but if the pain of those cuts could serve as a reminder that would perhaps save his life, it would be a small price to pay. Curiously, Neville didn't seem nervous, as he would have in years passed. No, this young man had grown and matured considerably over the past few months.

"Longbottom..." Severus' eyes narrowed with intimidation. He kept his voice silky smooth and quiet as he chose his words carefully. "I have no doubt that you are behind these latest flair-ups of rampant insolence."

Neville glared at him defiantly. "You got nothing on me, sir."

"The Carrows have been given permission to use more drastic measures on chronic cases."

"They wouldn't kill me. I'm a pure blood."

"I'm afraid your bloodlines will no longer guarantee your safety," Severus replied coldly.

Neville shifted uncomfortably in his hard chair. "What sort of drastic measures are we talking about... sir?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. Perhaps the boy was finally taking him seriously. "I'll leave the details for your overactive imagination to fill in. Suffice it to say, you will long for the days of the Cruciatus Curse and Sectum Sempra."

Neville met his scrutinizing gaze with anger. "And I suppose I have you to thank for these drastic measures, sir?"

"No, actually, the orders come from a source... over my head." Severus knew the young man would understand that to mean Voldemort. It was never spelled out for the student body that the Dark Lord had the last word for everything that went on at Hogwarts, but everyone knew it to be so.

Neville swallowed hard but remained combative. "I'm not afraid," he replied spitefully.

"Ah, yes. That's very noble and brave of you, to be sure... A true Gryffindor to the last," Severus droned sarcastically. "But there are others to be considered. You see," he continued, "you are not the only person they may take their wrath out on."

He stopped to let his words sink in.

Concern and resentment spread slowly across Neville's face as he put the pieces together.

"I suggest you modify your behavior. I wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's pain... incarceration... or death... Would you?" He could almost see a shiver go down Neville's spine. But a hint of defiance remained in his eyes.

"Will that be all, sir?"

"For now."

Neville rose and started for the door.

"Watch yourself, Longbottom," he added with a tone that mixed fatherly advice with a menacing air.

When Severus could no longer hear Neville's footsteps down the corridor, he closed the door and spoke to it. "This is Headmaster Snape. The password will now change from Wulfric to Brian. I repeat: the password will now change from Wulfric to Brian."

*****

Two weeks later, Severus heard a rumor that Death Eaters had failed in their attempt to capture Neville's grandmother. A short time later, Neville himself disappeared, but the dung bombs and graffiti did not. Other troublemakers stopped coming to class and meals one by one, and no one could shed any light as to their whereabouts. But the clandestine disruptions became more frequent. Aberforth would only tell Severus that he didn't want to know what was going on, so at least Severus could be confident that Aberforth was helping them and that they wouldn't starve.

With Sienna's help, he finally discovered that they were hiding in the Room of Requirement. But as long as one of them stayed in there, he couldn't get the door to open. It was maddening in a way, but when he finally resolved himself to their predicament, he found their psychological torture of the Carrows quite entertaining. He inwardly cheered them on and had to force himself to react with anger when the Carrows came to him with complaints of their latest disruption.

*****

Spring was in full swing and with it much more pleasant weather. Winky began to take Sienna up to the cliffs on the far side of the Lake to meditate, and Severus could immediately see a change for the better in her attitude.

On the very first night of May, Severus came back to the secret room after dinner in the Great Hall. Instead of finding Sienna getting ready for bed, she met him fully dressed with a mischievous gleam in her sparkling blue-gray eyes. She grabbed both of his hands in hers and pulled him close as she gazed lovingly up into his smiling face. "Can we go for a walk by the lake...please?" she added as he began to object. "It's dark, no one will see us. Perhaps we could find a little cove that's not visible from the castle."

Severus furrowed his brow. But she was beaming at him and radiating a joyous energy that began to dissolve his objections. She so seldom asked for anything. He couldn't bring himself to refuse her. "Oh, alright," he conceded. "For a little while."

They asked Winky to transport them to the water's edge and promised to call her when they were ready to return. As the two walked hand in hand with the castle rising up behind them, he couldn't help but wonder if they were finally living Sienna's vision. They walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the cool crisp night air and the pleasant absence of insects that would undoubtedly descend upon the area in the days to come.

"I brought you here for a reason," Sienna finally broke the silence.

"Oh?" Severus waited with baited breath.

"I have news... I think you'll be pleased, but under our current circumstances I can't be sure."

He had a feeling he knew what she was about to say. With hope swelling his heart to a monstrous size, he waited impatiently for her to continue.

"We're going to be parents," she said softly and with great apprehension.

Severus cocked his head back with relief. He let out a faint cry of joy and started laughing. "I knew it." This time it was his turn to beam at her. They both began to laugh as he pulled her close. He gazed into her inviting eyes. "You have made me unimaginably happy," he admitted as a joyous tear meandered down his cheek. "Thank you," he added softly. Then they kissed like there was no tomorrow, a long, wet, passionate kiss that left them both giddy.

"Let's see if we can find that cove you mentioned," Severus suggested with an impish grin.

As they continued to walk hand in hand, Sienna reached up and touched his hair. "Are you getting gray?"

"I should hope not! I'm only 39."

"Ah, don't worry," she said as she ran her fingers through his hair. "I think it's just the moonlight reflecting off of it."

"Oh, that's good to know." He smiled down on her. Perhaps this was her vision after all.

"I'm so relieved that you're pleased by my bit of news."

"How long have you known?"

"I had my suspicions last month, but I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure."

"So when do you think she'll be born?"

Sienna looked at him curiously, "December ninth, if my calculations are correct. But what makes you think it's going to be a girl?"

Severus finally admitted his last dream with Lily and why he had suddenly become so amorous. Sienna's mood immediately became melancholy and she was deathly quiet as they continued along the shore.

An outcropping of rock put an abrupt end to the shore line, but Severus remembered that if they swerved inland, they could find a path that led to the other side. He had made a point of exploring the shore line during the many lonely hours he had spent here in his youth, so he knew it well. As they emerged on the other side, a secluded cove presented itself, just as Severus had remembered. A wide sandy beach lay before them, and gentle waves quietly lapped against the surrounding rocks. With the quarter moon rising over the opposite shore, Severus couldn't have dreamt of a more romantic spot.

He conjured a fluffy down comforter for them to sit on, took Sienna's hand in his, and they sat down. "Now please tell me what is troubling you," he insisted.

She stared at the water as it shimmered in the moonlight. Words escaped her for some time, but she finally found the courage to speak. "I'm just afraid you'll forget about me once you have Lily back in your life."

Severus sat in shocked silence for a moment. Then he reached up gently and took her face in his hands. "Look at me," he coaxed. When her eyes finally met his, he realized she was crying. "How could you ever think that? Look into my mind – my heart. Can't you tell how much I love you?"

"But she's your soul mate. What chance do I have?"

"She'll be my daughter. And you will still be my wife." His eyes bore into hers as he willed her to read his mind. When her tears did not subside, he let go of her face and looked out at the sparkling water in frustration. "Perhaps this is just some hormonal thing you're going through because of the pregnancy," he suggested with annoyance.

"But what if you spend all of your affections on her? I need to feel your arms around me, Severus. I need you in my life, not just as a bread winner. I need your heart, your love and devotion."

"And you will always have it," he reassured her. "When Lily expressed a desire to return to me, I was only willing after she assured me that I would love her strictly in a fatherly fashion. I will reserve all of my romantic desires for you and you alone." Sienna still looked skeptical. Then Severus remembered Dumbledore's advice from before they were married, and he wrapped his arms around her. He rocked her back and forth for a long time. "I will love you and seek your affections to my dying day and beyond," he whispered. "Please believe me. You have nothing to worry about."

Much to Severus' dismay, she was totally unresponsive. "Can't you read my mind right now?"

"No, actually, I guess my emotions are so strong that they have clouded my view. Or perhaps I'm just being selfish."

Severus decided that a more persuasive tactic was in order. "Well," he mused as his eyes sparkled seductively, "if you could read my mind, you'd know that I am currently salivating at the mere thought of tasting you."

Sienna's face became hopeful.

"For instance..." Severus leaned down and began to nibble on her ear. "Mmmm... delicious. But your ear pales in comparison to your neck." His lips slowly progressed to said area, where they gently sucked as his tongue caressed her skin. "Ahh. Just a hint of salt. Did our short walk overexert you?" he asked with true concern.

"No, I think I was just nervous because I didn't know how you would take the news of my pregnancy, and then also what you said about Lily."

Severus shook his head slowly. "As I said, nothing to worry about. Now, where was I?"

"I believe you were giving me a hickey."

"You don't mind if I leave that job unfinished, do you? I feel that there are other, more effective, ways of marking my territory." He raised his eyebrows, awaiting her consent.

"By all means, carry on as you wish." She finally bestowed a smile on him.

With great relief, he returned her smile, but he knew he still had some convincing to do.

"Now, your mouth," he continued, "is another matter entirely. More than a vault full of flavors, such wonderful textures await to tantalize my tongue. Did you know that the tongue is one of the most sensitive parts of the body?"

"No."

He thought he noticed a sparkle returning to her eyes, thank Merlin. Sensing an opportunity, he leaned in gently and began to kiss her, his lips slightly parted. It felt as if his sense of touch had been magnified somehow. Her delicately trembling lips felt softer and hotter than ever before. As his tongue coaxed her mouth open, he felt the hard smooth surface of her teeth, the ridges in the roof of her mouth, and the roughness of her tongue as it began to stroke his. His heart filled with joy as she began to take an active part in the kiss. She must have regained the ability to read his thoughts again because she began to respond to his desires as only Sienna could. He had begun this overture with the tasting theme, and she could tell that he wished to continue the encounter along those lines. But apparently, she could also tell that he wanted to work for his rewards.

"Ahh," he murmured upon releasing her mouth, "delicious." His eyes followed her neckline down to her cleavage. "I believe this lovely dress is about to get in my way. After all, my taste buds have only begun their adventure." He reached behind her and lowered her zipper, then pulled the sleeves off her arms. His lips found her collarbone and worked their way to the newly exposed cleavage. His fingers pushed one of the bra cups to the side, but it wasn't enough. He stopped long enough to penetrate her soul with his intense black eyes. "More pesky clothing."

Sienna smirked at him and began to reach behind her back to unclasp the bra, but he stopped her.

"Allow me." In a flash, it had fallen to the down comforter that they were sitting on, and her bosom burst forth, young, firm, and swollen from the onslaught of pregnancy. His penis twitched inside his pants. "Merlin, you are more beautiful now than ever."

"Perhaps, but will you still think so six months from now when I'm waddling and swelled up like a balloon?"

He beamed at her with a joy that he had never felt before. "There's a life growing inside of you that is the product of our love for each other. You will become more beautiful, and I will want you more, with each passing day.

"Now, where was I? Oh, yes." He dove for her nipples, already firm and rock hard, just as his erection was fast becoming. He caressed and sucked gently, just as she had taught him to do. He knew that this was one of her favorite pastimes.

She gasped with delight and let the breath out through her teeth in a long, soft hiss. Another gasp produced his favorite phrase: "Yessss, Severusss." She began to blindly grope for the buttons on his frock coat, but his hands intercepted hers.

"Relax," he cooed. "Your radar must still be in a state of disrepair, or you would surely know that I want to drive you completely wild before I give you any access to me whatsoever. I have always wanted to make love to you while I am fully clothed and you are completely naked. In fact, I have an idea that may enhance the experience for us both. Do you trust me?"

"What a silly question. Of course I do."

Severus smirked impishly and raised his eyebrows. "I want to try something new. We've been experimenting quite a bit lately, but with the less than soft landscape, and my knees being what they are, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to try a new spell that I've been working on."

"And what spell is that?" She looked a bit apprehensive.

"It's a surprise." His impish look grew into devilishness. "Could you lie back, please?"

Her apprehension morphed into suspicion.

"I thought you said that you trust me!"

"Can you give me a hint at least?"

"Lie back," he insisted. "You'll be glad you did. I promise."

Reluctantly, Sienna stretched her legs out straight in front of her. Then she slowly and cautiously leaned back until her body was completely horizontal, but her eyes never left his. "I'm all yours."

"Yes, you are, aren't you?" he purred. He lay down beside her and propped his head up on one hand as the other hand caressed her face. Then he worked his way down the center of her chest and back up again. "But what you seem to forget sometimes is that I am yours as well, from the top of my greasy git head..."

"You head is not greasy and you are not a git!"

"... to the bottom of my gnarly toes..."

"Albus had gnarly toes. Yours are beautiful."

"... and every fiber of my heart, soul and spirit in between."

Finally, Sienna began to beam back at him. "I can see what you have in mind. This should prove interesting."

"Finally!" He rolled his eyes in mock irritation. "You really have me spoiled, you know. It's high time I returned the favor." He whipped out his wand in a flash and touched it to Sienna's abdomen. "Leviosa Longitudina." Sienna's body rose up off the ground just a few inches. "How does that feel?" he asked tentatively.

"Like I'm floating on a cloud," she admitted with amazement.

"Try to move for me," he commanded.

She could speak and move her face, she could turn and lift her head slightly, and she could wiggle her hands and feet from the wrists and ankles down to her fingers and toes. But her arms and legs wouldn't move. "This is a bit frustrating. Almost like a Full Body Bind Curse."

"I'll have to work on the amount of dexterity the spell affords its victim. But this will do for now." He got to his feet and bent down, grabbing her waist with both hands. He pulled her floating form up to workbench height and discovered with delight that she remained there after he released her.

"Perfect!" He slid the dress down just enough to give him open and easy access to her swollen breasts; then he continued to taste them each in turn, tickling and laving them one by one. He found that he could wrap his arms around her back without encumbrances, and she delighted in his every touch.

Like a kid with a long wished for new toy, Severus explored the endless possibilities that presented themselves with her floating in mid air. When he wanted to kiss her back, he raised her up for easy access. When his lips hungered for hers, he would pull her back down again. After thoroughly tasting the top half of her body, he began to work on the bottom half. He slipped her shoes off one by one and watched her squirm and giggle as he sucked each toe. For the sake of keeping her warm, Severus pushed Sienna's lose dress up over her waist. Then he dispensed with her knickers and kissed and nipped his way up her inner thighs after prying her legs apart. His touch lightly tantalized her senses as he caressed her legs, over, under, inside and out... and her buttocks, so round, so firm, so soft.

Her crotch now stared him in the face. But he wanted to be able to view her reactions while tasting her core. So he gently pushed her down slightly and gazed into her eyes with curiosity. "Can you bend your knees?"

"I don't think so. I think you have to do it."

He grabbed her leg where it met her hip with one hand, and wrapped his other hand around her ankle. Then he pushed her foot towards the rest of her body. When the task was repeated with the other leg, he angled her butt up slightly. Perfect! Now he could dive face first into her core while still gazing into her eyes. But he found that the dastardly dress now obstructed his view of her impeccable breasts. He could cast a spell to keep her warm if need be, but that dress would have to go. With one graceful sweep of his arm, Severus pulled the dress the length of her body and tossed it aside. Now she floated before him, completely naked. Merlin, what a turn-on!

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Severus snorted incredulously. "You have no idea!"

"Actually, I do. I have full access to your thoughts and emotions again."

"I suspected as much." He ran his fingers lightly around her labia and just barely touched her clit. Then he licked and laved his fingers and coaxed open her dripping wet entrance. Before tasting her, he blew on the spot gently.

"God, you know just how to drive me wild." Her brow furrowed. She almost seemed stressed.

Severus chuckled as his tongue entered her and began to caress and tickle as only his tongue could do. All the while his hands massaged her behind, and his fingers lightly ran down her crack to tickle her anus. His penis felt so hard in his pants that he took a moment to unbutton his frock coat and unzip his fly, so he could free the stifled member. It popped out of its own accord and stood straight out perpendicular from his body. He could feel the tip already weeping as he went back to tickling her clit with his tongue and entered her heat with two fingers.

"Severus, God, Severus, please!"

Just her words almost sent him over the edge. He took a deep breath and tried to hold on to his composure. He was determined to send her to the brink of insanity, and he knew that in order to do that, he would need to give her breasts just a bit more attention. He withdrew his fingers and pushed her down gently to crotch level. Then he walked around her leg to her right side, relocated her right arm up over her head, and placed her left arm at her crotch. "Can you stimulate yourself like this?"

"Yes, but I would much rather..."

"Good." He proceeded to lean into her side and tickle her nipple with the head of his still-weeping, rock-hard cock. He used his other hand to stimulate her other nipple.

She began to quiver and moan. "Severus, please. Be merciful!"

He knew that he couldn't take much more himself, so he quickly, almost frantically, repositioned himself at her crotch and let the head of his cock lubricate her fingers, her clit and her entrance, before sinking into her core. He took it slowly, knowing that she preferred to be teased. Only his dark glistening head at first. Then just a small part of his shaft. He could hear her gasp and moan as he grabbed both of her butt cheeks and pulled her towards him. With her floating like this, her body felt weightless in his hands and he could move her at will, an infinitesimal amount, or several inches, almost with no effort at all. Up, down, side to side, the direction made no difference.

Oh, Merlin, she felt good. And she was wet, so very, very wet. He slid in only a couple of inches, then moved her body in a circular motion as his cock slid in and out, a little deeper with each stroke. He could feel her muscles tightening around him.

"Severusss. Yessss, Severusss."

Deeper. Faster. Her muscles began to spasm as they tightened around his granite-hard cock.

"Severus...God...Severus!"

Her wet heat and primal moans coaxed him onward. An unmistakable sensation started in his loins and shot through the head of his cock as he heard himself half groan, half scream in ecstasy. He could hold back no longer and spilled his seed into her welcoming body.

Then he ripped his own clothes off while still inside of her and scooped her up, silently releasing her from the levitation spell. He longed for skin on skin contact. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck, their bodies pressed together in the afterglow of the most incredible sex either of them had ever experienced.

Severus lowered himself to the ground and they lay together in a warm embrace as the moon drifted overhead. He conjured another blanket for their comfort, and they fell fast asleep.

*****

When Severus awoke the next morning, the sky above him shone so brightly it hurt his eyes. He gasped with anxiety as he fumbled for his pocket watch in the pile of clothes by his side. "Sienna, wake up – it's already 7:30! I've missed breakfast and you've missed Potter!"

Sienna sat up suddenly with the news. "I'm so sorry. I had read that pregnant women need a lot of extra sleep during their first trimester, but I had no idea it would be this bad."

They hastily slipped back into their clothes and called Winky, who popped them back to the secret room. As soon as she was gone, Severus halted his rush to freshen up and touched Sienna's face gently. "Thank you for last night.  I shall treasure the memory always."

"Me, too," she admitted as she caressed his hand. He bent down to give her a quick kiss and then it was back to business.

"I'm going to shower and change into some fresh clothes. Why don't you see if you can find Potter? Gringotts always has guards at the front door. Find out if either of them has seen Bellatrix Lestrange this morning."

"But the Bank doesn't open until 8:00, right? So they won't be able to get in until then."

Severus glanced again at his watch. "It's almost 8:00 now."

"Well, go on then. I'll let you know when I find out something."

Severus showered and changed in his quarters so as to not distract her. Then he headed to his office to tackle the usual morning paperwork. A few moments later, Sienna called to him from the archway. "They're in. I'll try to keep tabs on them."

"Does anyone suspect anything?"

"I'm not sure; Harry Confunded the two at the front door. I think he was forced to Imperio a Death Eater who decided to tag along."

"Potter casting Unforgivables... truly an act of desperation." Severus began to worry. How could they possibly pull this off? And what could he do about it if they were caught? "What's happening now?"

She didn't answer right away. She had to find them again. "I don't know. I don't think they're in the lobby any more. Perhaps they are headed down to the vault already. This may be difficult."

Severus returned to the secret room and sat beside Sienna on the love seat as she closed her eyes to concentrate. Several minutes passed before she opened her eyes with a look of frustration. "I can't find them. The underground tunnels are like a maze, going in many different directions. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I'm afraid they'll come back out while I'm searching the tunnels, and I won't even know if they succeeded or not!"

"Perhaps you should concentrate on one of the goblins in the lobby. He will surely notice if Bellatrix comes back through. Make sure you chose someone who has not been Imperiused or Confunded."

"Right."

Babaji had been correct, as always. Severus really felt grateful for her mind-reading ability as he made his way back into the office and continued to work at his desk.

About an hour passed before she came running in. "They did it! They escaped!"

"Where are they now?"

"I still don't have their location. They came bursting out of the tunnels on a DRAGON! It all happened so fast that the goblin whose mind I was reading didn't know what was going on until they were already out the door. He ran and hid behind the counter. So by the time his mind could tell me about it, they were airborne and too far away for me to find. They could have gone in an infinite number of directions."

"Did they retrieve Hufflepuff's Cup?" asked Dumbledore's portrait."

"Not sure. I need to find someone of authority to focus in on and find out what they took."

"Well, at least we know they're still alive and still free," added Severus.

"Thank Merlin's wand," commented Phineas Nigellus.

Sienna smiled at Severus and headed back to the secret room, where they sat together again on the loveseat as she closed her eyes.  "Griphook is among the Goblins... He's got the sword of Gryffindor. I was afraid of that, the double-crossing little..."

"Sienna, I'm surprised at you. I thought you were taught not to judge people," Severus taunted her. He was actually relieved to see that she was not so "perfect" after all.

"A little golden cup, yes, the cup, that must be it. That's the only thing that's missing from the vault."

"Good. They got it. But without the sword, how will they destroy it, I wonder?"

"I don't know." She opened her locket and called Dumbledore's name. He appeared obligingly, with a slight bow.

"How may I be of service, my love?"

"Albus, they have Hufflepuff's cup, but Griphook managed to steal the Sword of Gryffindor from them. What other ways are there to destroy a Horcrux?"

"A Horcrux can only be destroyed by a magical object or spell of great destructive power, but it also must be able to protect itself from the Horcrux, since the bit of soul inside will no doubt attempt to defend itself. Harry used a Basilisk fang in his second year here to destroy the diary. I suppose any Goblin-made knife, sword or hammer that was soaked in Basilisk venom would do the trick. It wouldn't necessarily have to be the Sword of Gryffindor."

"And none easy to come by, even under the best of circumstances," Severus observed. "Well, there's not much else we can do except wait. Sienna, I know it will probably prove a waste of your time, but keep looking for them. You might get lucky."

"Yes, love," she sighed, looking down at the locket. "Thanks, Albus. See you later."

"You know, it's lunch time. I should go down to the Great Hall, since I didn't make it to breakfast. Why don't you take a break and eat something. Pregnant women are always hungry."

She smiled. "Good idea."

Severus disappeared down the spiral staircase.