Part Nine

Monday, January fifth: classes at Hogwarts resume for the second half of the year.

In Anne’s class, she sat on her desk and waited for her students to calm down before she made the first announcement of the day, “Well, now that we have all had a much needed break from the day to day work of classes, we are going to start our yearly theatre production. We will not be doing a traditional show this year, rather a theatre review. This means that you will be presenting a clip show of acts from various productions, be it drama or musical, dance or whatever- this show will be designed in class, as will all the aspects of the production, such as lighting and set designs. We will divide into crews only after all the design work is done and we are rehearsing the show. I want you to brainstorm today and start making notes- tomorrow we are putting together the script.”

The next day, Anne spread a huge sheet of paper on the floor, “O.K., what should we open with?” Ideas were thrown around until everyone reached a consensus on what the opening act would be. They decided on Façade from Jekkyl and Hyde. Anne scrawled it across the top of paper, “Right, so, what comes next?”

It took them the entire week to discover the perfect order to the show that they were creating.

Jade decided that no matter what order they did things in, there would have to be surprise ending that they engineered without Anne’s knowing. She already had an idea of what it would be.

Starting on the twelfth, the students in her class could audition for parts in the different pieces, keeping in mind that they would have to change costumes for each piece. Brittany disregarded this and auditioned for everything, sometimes to less than good results. The final listings were posted after auditions ended on Tuesday.

Anne had been pleasantly surprised to find that Goyle could rap. She had not found any of her students incapable of at least one part and assigned parts on skill to each student, not by favourites. Those who had received multiple parts had been the best choice for each of the characters needed.

Wednesday her class began to try to figure out a set design that could work for the entire piece- the thing took place in nineteenth century London and Paris, twentieth century New York, the fourteen hundreds, medieval Scotland and Denmark, modern Detroit, and nondescript or flexible locations. There were scenes from apartments and scenes from castles and graveyards all in one show without time for major set changes. The decided to keep it simple since the space they had to work with was not that large either. Jade proposed that the paint a mural the length of their backdrop starting on the left with the earliest scene and blending it up to the one that was most modern to display that despite the different eras, the themes were universal. Everyone agreed that they liked that idea. To furnish the set they would use three long tables and the chairs from the head table, arranging them as needed and using drapes to convert them from one thing to the next. Once again the odd mix of genres was to suggest universality in the themes of the production.

Thursday was a more difficult day- they had to figure out the costuming. They were going to somehow create full nineteenth century poor and working class clothing to be used in most of the acts, yet they also had to create medieval wear for the Shakespeare scenes and they had to figure out what modern clothing they wanted for the RENT bits. For a few of the Jekkyl and Hyde scenes, Anne told them she wanted a gothic look. For the Eight Mile piece, they designed something that they thought would be found in a working man’s closet if he were a rapper, most of the students having never seen the movie. It was a fabulous class with wonderful results.

Friday they designed lighting scheme outlines after listening to each song and they tried to figure out if they would need microphones for all the acts or only some. Jonas loved his new submergence in theatre and decided that it was a new and grand hobby that he would like to pursue. Anne was very happy to have corrupted another mind to her cause of the theatre.

Starting on the nineteenth, Anne divided up her students into crews to begin working on the technical aspects of the show. They would work tech all that week and then they would alternate rehearsing and tech work in all subsequent weeks. She assigned crews to her students, “Our Running Crew this year consists of Crabbe, Goyle, Ron, Angel, Harry, Draco, Zack, and Brittany. Angel will be the crew head due to the extra training she has had through my theatre obsession. Running Crew will also be constructing the set. I will be running lighting and Professor Snape has agreed to run the sound board since all of you are needed in the show. Costumes Crew consists of Jonas, Hermione, Jade, and Ginny. Jadelyn will be heading that crew. Props Crew will not have a whole lot to do with this show, but it consists of Neville, Elenore, and Susan. Neville will be in charge of this crew. Crew heads, I expect you to run these democratically and not dictatorially. Each crew is expected to join the set builders if they have a spell when they do not have anything else to do or when they are done with their duties. If you have questions, first ask your crew head, and crew heads, if you don’t know, come and ask me. Crew heads, come and get the designs that were drafted last week and get to work. You have all week to get your projects started.”

On Friday it was Ursie’s sixth birthday, so Nigel brought her to the school to see her family. Anne’s class was in session when they arrived. Jonas was carrying an armload of muslin from the storage room to Jade’s room which had been designated as the Costume Shop when he saw them. He dropped the muslin in the middle of the hallway as she ran toward him, “Jonas!” He scooped her up and swung her around high in the air, “Ursie! Happy birthday, sweetie.” He gave her a quick kiss and set her down, “Hey Nigel. I am headed down to the Costume Shop. We are putting on a production and I am part of the Costumes Crew- I have to get this stuff to Jade.” He hefted the fabric from the floor and continued to the Costume Shop. Nigel and Ursie followed. Jonas dumped the pile of muslin on Jade’s bed. Ginny and Hermione both nodded to their guests as Ursie crept up behind Jade, “Boo!” she shouted. Jade jumped about a foot in the air before twirling around and swiping up her little sister, “Ursula Snape, you scared me!” she said with a laugh. Ursie giggled, “You jumped high.” Jade nodded, “These are my friends. That one in Ginny Weasley and that other one is Hermione Granger. Herm’, Gin’, this is my little sister Ursie and that behind you is my grandfather, Nigel.” They all chatted for a minute or so until Jade looked at the time, “Crew, we have barely a half an hour left and we are going to complete this mock-up today if it kills us. Ursie, how about you and Nigel try to find Uncle Severus, eh? He should be just two doors that way.” Ursie nodded enthusiastically and tugged Nigel from the room, “Come on, we have to find Uncle Severus! He can tell us how to find Anne and Angel!” Hermione shook her head and smiled as they left, “She is an absolute doll.” Ginny nodded her agreement, “And Nigel is such a gentleman.” Jonas laughed, “Yeah, our family may be screwed up beyond belief, but we are at least all friendly.” Jade grinned and hmpf’ed, “That we are, that we are.”

Ursie knocked on the Potions Lab door and waited for a moment. There was the scuff of a chair and footsteps approaching the door. Severus pulled the door open and found Ursie standing there in front of Nigel with her arms stretched up, beckoning for him to carry her. He picked her up as she said, “Today I am six.” He smiled, “Well happy birthday- did you already give Jadelyn and Jonas this news?” She nodded, “Can you help us find Anne and Angel and Draco so we can tell them too?” He nodded his response, “Indeed,” he turned his attention to Nigel, “How have things been back at the house?” Nigel shrugged, “Better than usual. Adelaide is off again somewhere so it is just Ursie, Chloë and I. We are having a great time, but she misses the rest of the family as well.” Severus understood, “Of course she would, but perhaps that will change next year.” Nigel was curious, but Severus did not offer any other explanation.

They arrived in Anne’s classroom to find Angel hauling an eight foot two by four with Draco from heaven only knows where out into the hall where they had set up a mitred saw. After they delivered their load to Harry at the saw, they both went to greet Ursie. Severus prompted her, “So, tell them your news….” She grinned as Anne walked out of the room, “Harry, here is the cut list for the bookshelf; send these two to haul what you need as soon as they are done here. The table saw is just down the hall.” Ursie waved to her, “Come here.” Anne joined them and Ursie made her announcement, “Today I am six!” Anne laughed, “Wonderful! Are you going to school now?” Ursie shook her head, “Nope, Granddad Nigel is teaching me with Chloë- I like math. I can count to one hundred, want to hear?” Anne smiled and Draco responded, “Sure, but after we hear you count, we have to get back to work, O.K.?” Ursie nodded and began to count, Anne, Draco, Angel, Nigel, Severus and Harry all patiently listening. She did well and they all clapped for her at the end. Severus handed her back to Nigel and returned to work in the Dungeons. Ursie stayed for dinner and sat on Jade’s lap at the head table. Angel sat with Draco and Nigel at the Slytherin table. One Slytherin proceeded to make some sort of age remark about Nigel. Angel nearly replied when Nigel held up his hand, “He may think I am old, and why shouldn’t he? I am! The advantage is that I have not only gone through Hogwarts and know all the old tricks, I had children go through here and now grandchildren, so I know the new pranks too. Did I ever tell you what fun you can have with a chicken pot pie?” The Slytherin, one of the now fourth years who had caused so much trouble the year before, thought he would be clever. He picked up the pot pie in front of him and tossed it like a Frisbee down to Nigel, who caught it without damaging it in the least and set it down on the table, “Nice throw, but your aim was a little high- try aiming for my head next time, Lord knows it is a most obvious target.” Draco laughed. Angel made sure no one was looking and, with Nigel’s help, managed to fling four peas into the pest’s water glass before he turned to drink from it.

Ursie and Nigel returned home that evening on the Knight Bus, Ursie declaring it one of her best birthdays ever. Anne crashed into bed that night with sore muscles and tired eyes. Shop work was difficult, but she definitely was having fun.

The weekend went well, the crews spending some time each day working on their projects as Anne tried to make sense of a model of an abstract metal set piece they wanted to try to build out of wood and gave up, deciding that she would just teach a few people how to use the metal saw and the welding torch so they could actually build it from piping.

On Monday, January twenty-sixth, Hogwarts awoke to find a blizzard wreaking havoc on the outside world. It continued for the entire week, the snow reaching the third floor windows, fully buttressed ice tunnels starting from the castle and going to various places on the grounds thanks to Albus‘ personal flair. Anne’s class was unaffected by this. On Saturday, Anne and her family, including Draco, climbed out of a third story window and ran out on the snow where they knew there were no tunnels. More than once Anne or Severus had to levitate one of the others from the snow and once Severus had to retrieve Anne. They returned to the castle through the same window and shook off their clothes in the window frame so not to make a terrible mess that Filch would surely have their heads for. They went to the Great Hall that evening for dinner in the most informal manner, everyone sitting wherever they felt like. Anne and Minerva got to talk, Minerva asking how things were going with her and Severus. Anne answered happily and then posed her own question, “Why was the Quiddich season so condensed this year?” Minerva sighed, “We have been getting quite a lot of information from an unnamed source about Voldemort’s activities and we suspect that he is planning something horrible for Spring or early Summer. We wanted to limit the risk of student injury by keeping them on the ground during the suspected time.” Anne nodded, “Is your source perchance seeing a future relation of mine?” Minerva gave a curt jerk of her head to indicate Anne was correct in her assumption, “How do you know?” Anne shrugged, “He tells me things.” Minerva smiled, “I am glad that one has a family here to turn to- apparently his father can be quite violent and the boy doesn’t dare tell his father a thing.” Anne glanced out at the students, “I think it is one of the reasons that his lady took such a liking to him as they got to know each other- she has neither parent, but Nigel is like a father to her. Her lad has his mother to talk to. They know what it feels like to be alone and on the outside, both of them expected to be what they want to be the least.” Minerva nodded and ended the conversation as Severus sat down beside Anne.

Sunday the students were getting restless from being trapped inside, so on Monday, February second, she took them out of the third story window and onto the snow, setting down a few rules on what to do if someone sank in the snow, and letting them free to play. It was back to work for the rest of the week.

On Saturday, Severus came to Anne, “Lise, there are rumours going on that there are students using the room of requirement for less than appropriate ends and it has been elected that the staff is going to conduct a raid tonight. Do you wish to come?” Anne nodded, “If you will need me to.” Severus continued, “I am in charge of forming the sort of special operations team that will infiltrate- you are the first person who has consented. Trelawney fears ill results, she predicts failure, and Albus cannot make it due to Ministry meetings that he has to attend in London. Minerva is next on my asking list, but Flitwick was not comfortable with the idea and Binns sees no point in it. Terlynise is sick with a cold and refuses to take anything for it while Sprout has work to do in the greenhouse with a nocturnal plant. I am running out of options.” Anne tilted her head in thought, “Jade loves raids and I am sure that some of the ghosts might be willing to help.” Severus shook his head and went off to recruit more aid.

That night, Severus, Anne, Jade, Minerva, and Filch (with Mrs. Norris) all met in the corridor well after hours. Jade wrenched open the door as Minerva and Severus burst into the room of requirement. Two very embarrassed and startled Slytherin students lay on the bed, the girl down to her bra and underpants while the boy was still fairly clothed. Snape raised an eyebrow, “This might just be the end of both your Hogwarts careers…I hope you two really think it was worth the hell your parents are going to give you, let alone when the Ministry finds out.” Minerva shook her head, “You are going to be expelled- get dressed.” The girl did. Filch looked disgusted and yet somehow still very pleased with himself for notifying the staff of this particular problem.

On Sunday, Angel sat in the Potions Lab for a portrait, her hair braided, little wisps framing her face, wearing a medieval dress and a smock style overdress that Jade had worn as a child. Six days later, Anne sat for a portrait in front of the lake. Severus loved posing Anne in just the perfect position so the sun glistened off her face and her long dress pooled around her in the daisies, her head tilted back so her hair cascaded in a waterfall down her back.

Sunday, February fifteenth- Severus had, as usual, ended up with Valentine’s Day hall monitoring the night before and had hated it as usual, chasing couples from their supposedly hidden places in the school, including the Astronomy tower. Anne made up for the awful night by cooking a big breakfast for the whole family and challenging everyone to a game of Lord of the Rings Risk in the room of requirement that evening. The challenge was accepted.

Harry wandered down the hallway just before curfew. He heard noise coming from the room of requirement and his thoughts first drifted back on the students who had been caught in an ‘indecent situation’ a week ago. He sighed, he really should warn whoever was in there now. He knocked and didn’t get any response, so he knocked again. Still there was no answer, so he slowly pushed the door open to discover himself in what looked like a very scary room. He closed the door behind him- the room was all black with gothic buttresses around the walls and a very odd black chair off to one side. He heard a voice, “Ha! Jade, I challenge you for control of this realm- Sauruman or not, I am the ruler of Isengard now!” Harry then saw Anne, Angel, Jade, Severus, and Draco all sitting around their game in the centre of the room. Jade laughed, “You and what army?” Angel stopped for a moment, then came back with a ridiculous retort, “The KISS army! Ha, so there.” Anne began to sing, “I wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day!” Angel did somehow emerge victorious, “Jade, go back to Gondor where you belong!” Severus laughed and noticed Harry, “Come in, Potter. Join us if you wish. We are playing in pairs and Draco needs a team mate if you are up to the challenge.” Harry shrugged, “Sure!” He made his way to them as the room shifted to look like Elrond’s library in Rivendell and the team of Anne and Jade ended their turn, moving on to the team of Harry and Draco. Draco asked his new partner, “You ever played this before, mate?” Harry shook his head and Draco grinned, “Neither did I until Christmas- great game- you’ll catch on fast.”

Severus’ birthday came on the seventeenth and the family (including Draco) met in Slytherin house for a big dinner that Anne and Jade cooked. They ate while the others were in the Great Hall and had a wonderful time joking around. Angel had frosted the cake Anne baked and it tasted wonderful despite the odd patterns and colours in the frosting on top. Jade mentioned that it looked like a hippy cake. Jonas agreed.

February concluded with the sets done and the lines memorized for Anne’s show. The students were doing very well and they were ahead of schedule. On Sunday, February twenty-ninth (leap year!), Anne and Severus finalized things for the wedding and made sure that all the invitations Anne had sent the week before had covered all the guests on the list. Angel went leaping down the hallways of the school to celebrate a leap year. Everyone found her quite amusing except for the three fourth year Slytherins who had everything against the Snape family. Unfortunately none of them had been expelled yet, but Anne knew Severus was trying.

Monday, March first brought more rehearsals, but nothing of huge interest. Anne was busy every hour of the day, getting her class ready and making sure that everything that had to be completed for the wedding was done according to her and Severus’ plans. On the twelfth, Anne announced that there would be no class Monday and Tuesday next week so she could work on things for the wedding, along with Wednesday when the wedding was going to take place.

The weekend was chaotic, but the girls from Hell (Lanie, Al, Britta, Rah, and Kat) all arrived as the ‘decorating brigade from Hell’ and set to work, helping Anne in every way possible with the detail work while Severus argued with Fudge, finally ending the dispute by slamming a door inches from his face after saying in a determinedly cold tone, “My wedding occurs on March seventeenth whether you approve or not, and if you dare interrupt it, I will unleash the demons of Hades on your heals before you know what hit you.”

Hogwarts cancelled all classes Monday through Wednesday, everyone pitching in to help set up the wedding and form crews that would quickly transform the Great Hall from a chapel to the reception hall. Anne had no idea how it all fell into place, but she found herself on Wednesday standing before a mirror in the dressing chamber that had been designated near the Great Hall. She slipped into the white dress that had once been intended for Vanessa and had Angel lace up the back. It fit snugly at the bodice and flared to full in the skirt, the straps laying just off her shoulders. She was nervous, but very happy, not caring that her Dark Mark was slightly visible under the plain chiffon band that she had tied around it, decorating the knot with a small sprig of daisies and letting the tails of the chiffon hang down to the tips of her fingers. Her bridesmaids entered, Jade, Britta, and Rah, each one of them wearing teal dresses in the same style as Anne’s gown, but theirs ending just above their ankles while Anne’s skirt dusted the floor, a short train trailing three feet behind her. Jade began to weave daisies in a crown around Anne’s head. Angel, the flower girl, entered the room in pale violet, with her helper, Kat, and Ursie followed in a matching dress with her helper, Lanie. Ursie was the ring bearer girl, as she called herself. Jade, as the maid of honour, lined everyone up and made sure Anne had her bouquet and everything for the ceremony and then checked to make sure that Angel had her flower basket and Ursie had the little white satin pillow with the rings laying in a little pocket on it. A gold ‘S’ was embroidered on one corner of the pillow, and Nigel had given it to Anne for the wedding, telling her that it had been in his wife’s family for generations. As Jade nodded to Anne, it was time for the wedding to begin.

Severus and his men (Nigel as the best man, Jonas and Draco as his groomsmen) stood on the platform in the front of the Great Hall awaiting the entrance of the women. Albus stood in the centre, officiating over the ceremony, and smiled down the aisle. Severus heard the music start, his lady having chose to walk down the aisle to Loreena McKennitt’s Prologue. Anne appeared, everyone turned to watch, and Severus felt his heart spring into his throat- she was absolutely stunning.

After everyone had entered, Albus made a greeting, “We are gathered here on this beautiful Saint Patrick’s Day to celebrate the joyous union of two of our own, Severus and Anne. Let us pray at this time for their happy future.”

Al sang a lovely version of Seasons of Love during the wedding- Anne smiled broadly, that song had been the Girls from Hell’s theme song since they first had heard it many years before.

After that, Anne hardly knew what all happened around her. Voldemort could have waltzed into the room in a Hawaiian shirt and Capri’s and she would not have noticed. It was soon that Albus nodded to Severus, “Do you, Severus Victor Snape, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife…” A short time later, it was Anne’s turn, “Do you, Annelise Marrion Schetzek…”

Before Severus could believe it, he heard Albus say, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Severus, you may kiss the bride.”

Anne melted with the kiss, pulling away breathless as the crowd rose to its feet in cheers. Anne grinned at Severus and their exit music started. It was a wonderful moment as Anne walked happily up the aisle with her husband to the tune of The Wearing of the Green, even though no one in the wedding party wore green.

Anne and Severus arrived outside of the room and she sprang into his arms laughing. He kissed her briefly and then spoke, “Well, come on, we have to get outside to release the doves.”

After Anne and Severus released the doves, the entire wedding party and the guests made their way back inside to the Great Hall that had been very quickly transformed into a dining hall with circular tables for the guests, the head table for the wedding party, and the doors spread open so the entry way was for dancing. The guests were large in number, the student body and the staff comprising of most of it, but adding in Al and Daniel from Anne’s life, the rest of the Snape family (except the absent Adelaide), the MacCumhail’s, and a few others, such as the Weasley family.

They danced long into the night, Anne and Severus waltzing alone to a classical piece that they had chosen. The dollar dance (where one could pay a dollar to dance with the bride) was fun because Anne and Severus had chosen to play Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith.

That night, Anne and Severus left the reception in an open carriage manned by two pure black horses with a trunk for the each of them. Where they were going, only Severus knew, as he was the driver. Anne called to him, “What destination?” He pulled off to the side of the road, “One not far from here, but you must be blindfolded as we approach so it is truly a surprise.” She agreed and they continued on.

Anne rode in darkness, feeling the wind whisk past her as they rode on. Being blindfolded, she could not gaze at the scenery, so she thought of the rest of the day. It had been marvellous, Angel singing at the reception. Anne reflected on how darling it had been hearing her daughter singing the lyric, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” They had tossed the bouquet just before they had left and Jade had caught it. She had winked at Draco and tucked one of the black-eyed susans into his second button hole. She had given her daisy crown to Angel. She smiled, it was fun to have a day when a sea of people parted when you passed, as they did when she and Severus had left. She had seen the horses and wondered where he had found pure black horses, they being especially rare. She had not asked, rather let the mystery of it be part of the fun. She now rode to somewhere unfamiliar and unknown.

A few hours later, Severus slowed the horses and spoke, “Lise, you can remove your blindfold now.” Anne did as she was asked and folded it in her lap. As her eyes adjusted to the bright moonlight, she found herself approaching a huge dark mansion, looking very Gothic and mysterious. To her left was a slope down to a forest and a familiar looking house and on her right was the mansion itself. She squinted ever so slightly and could make out a barn and garden at the base of the slope. It was then that she realised what she was seeing- below her was Nigel’s house and before her was the house on top of the hill that no one ever saw who lived there, “Severus?” He pulled the carriage to the front door, “Milady, this is my home.” She gasped in delight, “This? This is astounding!” Severus helped her from the carriage and let her into the front door, levitating the trunks in also, “Wait here for a moment, Lise, I have to put the horses away.” She nodded and looked around.

She stood in a large entry hall with grand stone buttresses framing the room and an iron chandelier hanging above. Between the grey buttresses hung tapestries of medieval battles, daily life, and court. At the end of the hall there was a grand staircase still of stone. Under each tapestry was a door. Shortly after, Severus returned, “Welcome. The doors on each side lead into other halls. They are empty. Under the staircase is another door, accessed by the sides, and that leads to the kitchens and dining hall. Come, we go upstairs.” He levitated the trunks ahead of them and then told her to stop a moment while he took care of them. He then led her to what was now their bedroom. She undressed down to her slip and stood in front of her husband. He gathered her to him and kissed her slowly. Reality faded away as she felt him lower her onto the bed.

Anne awoke the next morning near eleven to find Severus already up and dressed. He slipped from the room and returned with breakfast for her, “How are you feeling this morning, Lisie?” She smiled and stretched, “Wonderful, love- yourself?” He smiled, “I haven’t felt this good in years.” They ate together in happy silence and he took the breakfast things to the door when they were done, a house-elf waiting for him, “Gretchen, thank you- you are dismissed until we are ready for lunch.” He came back to Anne and grinned, leaning in to kiss her cheek, “You are beautiful.” She blushed slightly, “That may be a slight overstatement, Severus.” He shook his head, “Sorry, I don’t believe it is, Lisie.” She smacked him with a pillow, “I think last night made you go daft.” He grinned, “No matter how amazing last night was, I am not daft.” He began to tickle her mercilessly, “I am not daft- say I’m not daft!” She was laughing so hard she could not respond, only try to tickle him back. She squirmed away unsuccessfully, and found herself tangled in the bed coverings and laying on her stomach. She lay her head down on the pillow and caught her breath as he stopped tickling her.

Severus watched his wife calm herself, taking in every detail of her form. He noticed for the first time that the skin on her back was not perfect and pale such as the rest of her body. He pushed her hair aside and drew the blankets down to trace his fingers over long scars, “Lisie, what is this?” She did not answer him as her thoughts shifted from all the perfect bliss of their wedding to the past from which her scars stemmed. He recalled the only other time he had seen her slightly unclothed- when he had brought her his bathrobe that summer after being caught in the rain. It had been so dimly lit in that room and her hair had hung down so far that he had not noticed her back. He tried to think what could have caused her this pain and recalled his own past. He thought through his history and realised that he had been whipped by Voldemort for disobedience. It struck him as horrific that she may have fallen victim to such cruelty. It was one thing to torture a man, but a woman? He knew that his thoughts would have sounded sexist if spoken, but he was still an old fashioned sort who believed in mercy for the women and children. According to Voldemort though, much like the Nazi’s, if a woman or child could not give him anything or provide useful to him, there was no reason to keep them alive, the same as any man. Severus bent down over her and kissed her shoulder, whispering, “Lisie, tell me…who did this to you?” She finally answered, “Voldemort’s people- it was for failure…a few different times.” Severus gently stroked her bare back, “Love, no failure is bad enough to have to go through this. I suffered the same.” Anne pulled the blankets up to cover herself and the scars in question, “I know.” Their conversation ended. Anne sat up and wrapped Severus’ bathrobe around her, heading off to her trunk so she could find something to wear. Severus was left sitting on the bed alone, thinking that unfortunately he and she shared another commonality in their relations with Voldemort.

That day, Severus showed Anne around his home. It was a wonderfully grand place with many rooms for anything one could think of. She met his house elves, Gretchen, Terence, Arielle, and Tom. They were absolutely delighted when she asked if she could cook with them and teach them the recipes for some of her more unusual dishes. After exploring the above ground levels, Severus took her into the lower levels of the house, “Long ago, this dungeon was fully functional, according to the previous owners. There is a long history behind some of the uses of this place, but it is now merely a place to use as storage and a nice place to come on days when people seem to be calling that you do not know and would rather not speak to.” She thought the dungeon fascinating, “The kids will love this place…”

The next day, Anne wandered around the mansion and discovered that one of the upstairs rooms was not empty. She stood in a room all decorated in shades of red and black, the ebony wood furniture and the black marble fireplace creating a fairly ominous look to the room. She stared at the portrait hanging above the fireplace. The woman’s visage was akin to that of Josephine. Severus entered from behind her, “That is Josephine’s mother. This house belonged to her and was handed on to Josephine on Lydia (the woman in the portrait)’s death. When Josephine died, she left the house to me. We had never lived in it, and Josephine had moved out on her own after she finished her schooling. The house had been empty for some time when I moved in here after I left the Dark Arts.” Anne smiled, “Lydia is beautiful. This room feels very much like a woman’s hideaway- do you mind if I make it that?” Severus shook his head, “Not in the least- go ahead, this room is yours to do with what you wish.” Anne hugged him briefly, “Thank you!” Anne explored the house more with Severus. She found a tiny room off in a quiet corner, “I have never known what that room was for, the bed is only large enough for one, but it is away from the other bedrooms and without any other furniture besides that small, hip height table and the chair by the bed.” Anne looked around and then looked under the bed. She pulled out a box and opened it, finding within a fleece blanket, baby’s cap, baby booties, cloth diapers, and a book on caring for newborns. She also found a shallow basket under the bed, “Severus, by the looks of these, I would guess this is a birthing room- you know, when the midwife would come to the house, this is where she would deliver the mistresses baby.” Severus nodded, “You may be correct.”

That night, after searching the dungeons, Severus carried Anne to the bathroom, undressed her, and lowered into a hot bath. Anne sighed happily- his gentle hands on her skin was one of the most wonderful things she could think of, other than her little Angel falling asleep in her arms.

On the twentieth, their last full day at the house, Anne explored the uppermost floor. She found a tapestry family tree of Josephine’s family and she perused over it curiously. One name caught her eye, ‘Claudius Matthews III’. Anne noticed his line was not continued on the tapestry, a note pinned to the tapestry by his name stating in graceful calligraphy that Claudius had sailed for America and it was unknown where he had gotten off to. Anne called to Severus, “Come up here…this is really odd.” Severus looked at the tapestry, “What is odd?” Anne pointed to the name, “There is a Claudius Matthews III in my family- he is the one who copied the Christmas and Easter Stories into those big books Angel and I read on the holidays. If he were to be the same person, that would mean he was Josephine’s so-many great-uncle. That would be fairly strange.” Severus shrugged, “She did mention that one of her family members left for America with the intention of studying Christianity there and write his interpretations of the faith. She told me it was this Claudius fellow who left in the eighteen fifties. Does that fit the timeline of the man in your family?” Anne nodded. Severus shrugged, “Then you were related to my first wife, and unless you have other relations still overseas, the house would be yours- there is no one left off the other branches of the family and so it leave’s Claudius III ’s to work with.” Anne shook her head, “Weird….” She was, for some reason, drawn to pull aside the tapestry. Severus wondered if perhaps the dust had gotten to her head. Her action did not prove in vain- behind it was a medieval looking wooden door. She swung it inward and found herself facing a wooden staircase going up. She cautiously ascended and found herself in a very strange room filled with trunks, golden objects, and a few other things that were unknown to her. She wandered around for a while until Severus followed with a lamp, “What did you find? I did not even know this room existed.” She picked up what looked like a very old notebook and read, “I, Nadine Matthews begin this journal as a log for my husband Claudius II. While he is off at sea I intend to record all that he has collected in his years of piracy. Our son, Claudius III, is doing well. I will begin by making a list and tallying the number of those items beside it. This should be interesting. I wonder if I will find where his first pistol made off too….” Anne stopped reading, “Severus, did you realise that your first wife’s family was wealthy from piracy?” He shook his head, “Not in the least- I have never been up here before and she did not often talk about her family.” Anne shook her head in wonder of all the things in front of her, “Angel is going to love this…”

Early the next morning, Severus woke Anne and they travelled back to Hogwarts. Anne found her room in not too terrible shape and set to cleaning the small mess that Angel had made on top of the table. Angel bounced into the room that evening, “Mum! You’re home! Where’s Dad?” Anne hugged her child, “Your father is in the Potions Lab getting ready for tomorrow- did everything go well while I was away?” Angel nodded, “The show is really going well- everyone is off book and we got most of the set changes incorporated into the scenes so the running crew keeps pretty well hidden, even when we are onstage during an act. Jade made and hung a set of curtains for us so we can close and open the main travellers during the show. She got the lighting rigged with Draco, Harry, and Zack and it has just stayed there. Her valence curtain covers it nicely. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised on how well it runs when you see it Monday.” Anne nodded, “I am sure that I will approve- now shoot on over to see your father while I finish up here- I just have to get the table wiped down and then we can all go to dinner.” Angel nodded and bounded next door.

Monday, March twenty-second: Anne saw the play for the first time in a week. She loved it. She made a few very minor alterations, but other than those, she thought the show was ready to open. She and Severus ran the lighting and the sound boards. All was well. They had their second dress rehearsal on Saturday and on Sunday Anne was ready for a break. She and Severus wandered around the grounds with Angel, Jonas, Jade, and Draco all day, bringing a picnic lunch, but returning indoors for dinner.

On the twenty-ninth, Anne’s class had their last dress rehearsal, “I know all of you are slightly nervous about opening the show, but because we start small and get bigger as the week gets on, we should be less nervous each night. We start tomorrow with what you may think is your hardest crowd: the staff and students of Hogwarts School. I want you to go to your dorms, get a good night’s sleep, and meet behind the Great Hall in our preparation area at six o’clock when we will take an early dinner of pasta- good energy food that won’t rile up your stomachs. Then at seven you will get into costume and makeup to be ready for warm-ups at seven-thirty. Dinner for the rest of the students will run from six-thirty until seven-thirty when Albus will make sure that the Hall is cleared. The house elves have been instructed to set up the theatre and the electrics crew will set up their equipment at this time, as will sets crew. All set up will be completed by seven-fifty when we will open the house. The elves have assured me they can work in this time frame. We will begin the show at the standard New York start time of eight-oh-one. Now that you know our time frame, please be on time. Now go get some rest and I will see you tomorrow.”

Everything went as planned on opening night. Anne charmed the curtain to open at the proper time and the show began, the entire company dressed in gothic Victorian costumes and singing the main theme to Jekkyl and Hyde. Anne smiled as the acts blended perfectly together, the Running crew hidden within the scene so that when they left the stage for the first Hamlet scene, the transition had taken place without the audience noticing. All of the acts were wonderful, but Anne was especially taken by Dangerous Game with Jade and Draco. They worked well together onstage and they used their personal relationship as the basis of their character’s relations. However they did it, they were spectacular. They closed the show and took their bows, receiving a standing ovation from their audience. One night was over, four more had yet to come.

The next day, Anne received letters from the staff and students on her classroom door giving congratulations on the show. She also received a less happy piece of news from Severus, “Lise, I got a letter from Nigel today- apparently Adelaide was caught in a Death Eater meeting out in the country where the Ministry had set up a stake-out point. She has been taken in for questioning and Nigel here tells me it is likely she may end up in Azkaban. I am sorry to say it, that I might sound heartless, but this news does me no illness.” Anne shook her head, “I thought she might end up out there- I only hope that they can find another way than Azkaban…”

That evening all was forgotten as the cast and crew frantically prepared for their Ministry showing. Draco was especially nervous. Anne and Severus took their spots and at the proper time, Anne raised the curtain and the show began. Draco was a bit shaky in his first lines of soliloquy, but became more comfortable in the role as he became his character. Anne could see why, he was picturing himself as the persecuted son of a dead father and merciless uncle whose mother was the same victim he was. It wasn’t a terribly far stretch. When he and Jade went onstage for their duet, Anne was nervous- Lucius didn’t approve of the match and she was worried he would try to pull something during their act. The instant his son began to sing, the entire crowd fell into stunned reverence, especially when Jade added her voice to his. They received a standing ovation from everyone but Lucius.

The next day, Anne read reviews in the paper about the show. Fudge mentioned that despite the producer/director, the show was surprisingly fresh with stellar performances from Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. He did not mention Jade. That was all right, the other reviews made up for it. Hermione and Neville were praised as the actors that most surprised the Ministry with their skill and Jonas was plugged as the best new actor at Hogwarts. Someone said that Goyle should replace Eminem, that Zack would make a nice addition to the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Susan and Elenore should be in musicals. Angel was called the most energetic actress to hit Hogwarts and Brittany was only mentioned once as the prettiest face in a review by her Uncle Lucius.

They opened for the public that night, the first of April, and ran the until the third without a hitch and with rave reviews and a packed house each night. On the last night, nearly every student, staff member, Ministry representative (including Alabama), and adoring public packed the Great Hall beyond full to see them close out the show. At the end of the show, Jade came in front of the curtain, “As in years prior, we would like to thank the folks who made this possible. Anne and Severus Snape, who will be celebrating their one month anniversary on the seventeenth of this month, were both influential in our production. Not only are they running our electrical systems, but they both aided in our set construction, character analysis and creation, costumes, production designs, and they continuously gave us constructive feedback and criticism on our work, both onstage and off. To thank them for this, we would like to present one more piece. The cast is currently readying themselves backstage, and now I must join them. Please don’t mind the short wait, we will be our shortly.” Jade disappeared behind the curtain. The audience waited patiently as Anne dimmed the house lights again and waited for Jade to cue her on what to do next. Since, as all tech crews have, there was a headset system rigged up from backstage to the lighting and sound deck for quiet communication, Anne paged Severus, “Did she tell you she was going to be doing anything like this? I wonder what she has up her sleeve this time….”

They did not have to wait long. The curtain rose again and the entire cast stood onstage in various costumes from the production. Jade stood stage right with Zack while Draco stood stage left with Ginny. The rest of the cast filled in the space between. A grand piano had been brought to the centre of the stage and was oriented sideways, Jonas sitting at it with Angel, his little page-turner. He played an introduction and then Jade and Ginny sang,

“When you're weary, feeling small,

And friends just can't be found,”

The entire cast joined in the chorus,

“Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down.”

Draco and Zack sang the next verse,

“When you're down and out,

And pains is all around,”

Once again the cast sang the chorus,

“Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down.”

They continued to sing to the end of the song,

“Sail on silvergirl,

I will ease your mind.”

After Jonas finished off the song, Jade gestured to Anne and Severus, “Our bridges over troubled water- give them a hand, they deserve it.” The audience applauded long and loud, ending only when Jade spoke again, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming and have a good night, we hope to see you back again next year! Thank you!” The curtain fell, the audience applauded once more, and then began to filter out, many of them stopping to congratulate Anne and Severus for their marriage and for the wonderful production.

That Sunday, the cast and crew tore down their set and replaced the Head Table to its proper place in the Great Hall. After their work was done, taking care of everything they had used, Anne threw a cast party in the dungeons. Everyone left around ten o’clock so they could get enough sleep for classes the next day. Late that night, Jade, Anne, Angel, Severus, and Draco sat up and read the Palm Sunday story from a manuscript Anne had found in her belongings that was written by none other than Claudius Matthews III.

Monday, Anne took her class out to the greenhouses to see what was growing and perhaps lend a hand to Professor Sprout. Their help was instantaneously employed and Anne found herself watering a strangely familiar plant. It looked like the geraniums she had had on her porch back in Hell. She stroked the plant’s leaves and it seemed to recoil. It bit her. Anne was surprised, “Ack! What the hell was that?!” Professor Sprout took a look at Anne’s hand, “That was a fanged geranium- a nasty little beast when he wants to be- go have Poppy take a look at this, I will keep them busy until you get back.”

Anne returned an hour later with her hand back to normal. She stayed away from the fanged geranium. Jade, however, took a liking to it, “Anne, this is so cool- do you think I could have one in my chambers and train it to attack Lucius and Mould Man?” Anne laughed, “Right, if you can tame it first.” Jade took that as a challenge and, with Professor Sprout’s permission, began her attempt. She left the greenhouse that day with a new plant that she decided to keep in Anne’s classroom in the window.

April sixth, Anne discussed the rest of the term with her class, “Well, after today we will have the rest of the week off because of the Easter Holiday and the days around it that are also considered Holy. We will have class as usual on Monday and I will probably let you use the time as a study hour. I think that will be time well spent. After that, I have no idea what to do. Today is catch up day for all that you missed because of the play. Use it wisely.”

Maundy Thursday was yet again commemorated with a Seder dinner. Severus, Angel, Jade, Draco, Jonas, Minerva, and Albus all attended the ceremony which Anne led, leaving one seat open, as in tradition, for the prophet Elijah. After the ceremonial part of the dinner, they all sat down to experience a traditional Jewish Passover meal. Angel found it very interesting, as did others present.

On Good Friday, Anne felt ill in the afternoon, wanting to sleep the day away. She could not do this, however, for she had a Good Friday reading that she and Angel were doing that evening for anyone who wished to attend. She fought to stay awake and decided that if it lasted more than a day, she would have to see Poppy.

The Good Friday reading went well and after it, the group (which consisted of the same attendees as the Seder) sat around Anne’s table and discussed what happened on Good Friday- what Jewish laws were broken, what officials were present and what effect each person mentioned had on the outcome. Draco still found this fascinating. He was particularly interested in the laws that were broken, “So Jesus was killed not only in one of the worst ways possible, but illegally too- because the trial was at night and all…right? Why didn’t anyone notice this? Was everyone against Jesus?” Angel answered his questions, “No one cared about the law- Jesus was making waves and they didn’t like that. It was disturbing their way of life and they thought it had to stop. It was illegal, yes, but no one noticed. Not everyone was against Jesus- the women and a few others stood at the foot of the Cross, but what could they do? Pilate didn’t want to hand over Christ, but he really had no other choice to avoid nasty political consequences, Joseph of Arimathaea gave up his tomb for Jesus’ body, all the folk who wept behind Jesus as he went to the Cross, one of the thieves crucified with Jesus understood and asked Jesus to remember him when they met again in Heaven and Jesus said that they would be together that day in Heaven, and lastly Pilate’s wife, according to the Gospel of Saint Matthew, told Pilate, ‘Have thou nothing to do with that just man: I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him’- so there were people who did not want to see Him die, they just really couldn’t do much about it. Women had low social standing, Pilate would have lost his head to the Pharisees and Sadducees, and really, a smattering of people could not stop a chanting crowd. It is sad, but the good thing is Easter came, so the Devil didn’t win.” Draco nodded, “Alright, I will think on this tonight- perhaps it will all make more sense come Easter morning.”

Anne did sleep all of Saturday away, except for when she woke of and became ill to her stomach.

Sunday started much better than Saturday had, so the Good Friday group gathered around the table in Anne’s room to read and discuss the Easter story together. Angel had n incredible knowledge of the Easter story and told it nearly from memory, Anne following along in the big book so she could interject anything Angel forgot, which turned out to be not much at all.

Later that day, Anne went to talk to Poppy about her illness. She left the hospital wing very happy and was seen whispering something to Severus outside of the Lab. Severus embraced her and then swung her around joyfully, but no one knew what for.

On Easter Monday, Severus did not assign any homework and was in an extremely good mood. No one knew why and he did not answer anyone who asked.

Anne’s class continued to meet despite the ending of their large project. There were mutterings gathered from the Ministry that Voldemort was on the move, so Anne, Jade, and Severus all answered questions that the students might have and gave them Anne’s class time to work on their Defence Against the Dark Arts work. The rest of the week was spent in much the same manner.

Monday, April nineteenth, things began to go downhill. Anne woke to not only her frequently queasy stomach, but the throbbing of her Dark Mark. To her dismay, Severus’ Dark Mark had started bothering him as well. She made her report to Albus.

Tuesday Anne woke with a start around four in the morning. She had dreamt that a line of Death Eaters had advanced on Hogwarts without them ready and destroyed the school and everyone in it. Anne could not get back to sleep, so she merely sat awake in bed and began to list off in her mind all the ways she could help fortify the school.

Later that day, Angel stopped in her tracks in the hall near Minerva’s classroom and stared off into space. After a few minutes she returned to reality and ducked into Minerva’s classroom where she was grading papers, “Professor McGonagall- I just had a prem’nition and I’ve gotta tell someone so I don’t forget.” Minerva lay aside her work and motioned for Angel to sit on the edge of the desk, “What did you see?” Angel closed her eyes, “I watched as a line of Death Eaters lead by Voldemort himself descended upon the school without any warning and destroyed it and all of us with it…we had no way to know and we weren’t ready.” Minerva shook her head, astonished, “Angelique, your mother reported having almost the same dream last night, are you sure you are not imagining that?” Angel’s eyes grew wide, “Mum had the same dream? I had no idea…. This is bad, very bad.”

On Wednesday, after Anne finally crawled out of bed around noon, she made her way to a classroom she had never visited, Divination. Angel had requested that she and her mother sit in on the highest Divination class Trelawney offered, wondering if they might perchance have their own experiences translated. Trelawney was thrilled to have them present. Partway through the class, she had Angel and Anne tell of their corresponding dreams and the class was allowed to interpret it as they may. Everyone thought it was a premonition, except for Angel, who insisted it was a warning. Angel then asked if she might read the tea leaves. Trelawney consented enthusiastically, wondering if the young girl would really see anything. Anne sat behind her daughter, “Ang, remember what I told you- it may not be your gift to see the possibilities of the future in all methods.” Angel nodded and then began to work, “I see a death- a release and freeing from evil, a new beginning, and a rebuilding. Someone close to our family will suffer a loss- a great one, at the hands of someone familiar to both victim and mourner. There will be a climax at the end of this year and the fates of all hang in the balance. Also, MSU will win the Rose Bowl next year.” Angel looked up at Trelawney, “That is all I can see in there. It all fits, except the MSU thing. I guess we just wait and see about that one, eh?” Trelawney nodded slowly- a strange glaze had drifted over her eyes and she fell to catatonia, “Angels meet demons and the dragons unite, the heir of all evil must chose where to fly. Nothing is possible where unity lies not, but unity itself will fall should one voice find the harmony too difficult to sing….” The room fell silent. No one moved. Trelawney awoke from whatever it was she had been in, “Angel, good reading. I cannot see such detail in the leaves since I am reading them up-side down from you.” Angel shook her head, “You have no idea that you just prophesied, do you?” Trelawney looked puzzled, “I did what again?” Anne picked up the question, “You went into a trance of some sort and became a channel through which the other world flowed.” “What did I say?” asked Trelawney. Angel closed her eyes and recalled, “Angels meet demons and the dragons unite, the heir of all evil must chose where to fly. Nothing is possible where unity lies not, but unity itself will fall should one voice find the harmony too difficult to sing….” One of the students was dazed, astounded by what she had heard, “What does it all mean?”

On Thursday, Draco came to Anne’s desk in class, “Anne- may I speak to you privately for a moment? There is a matter of great importance I need to discuss with you.” Anne nodded and put Severus, a near permanent fixture in her classroom, in charge. She stepped out into the hall and placed a charm around them so that no one else could hear the conversation, “What do you need, Draco?” He handed her a letter, “I got this from my mother this morning.” Anne took the letter. It was hastily scrawled unevenly on the back of a grocery list,

Anne sighed, “Do you mind if I take this to Albus?” Draco shook his head. Anne folded the letter, “Return to class- practice counter curses with Jade. I am going to see the Headmaster. After all we have seen and heard this week, the staff has to meet.”

Classes were cancelled Friday to allow the staff to meet and discuss the impending danger they were facing. Everyone agreed that caution was necessary, but some were far more passive than others. Minerva wanted to fortify, as did Anne, Severus, Jade, and Terlynise. Many others favoured a more indirect manner of approach in which the students were kept mostly in the dark. Albus finally rose to make a decision, “The students will be informed of the danger approaching and those of you who wish to take an active approach in defending them are invited to do what you can together. The rest of you I advise to think about what is best for this institution. I will be sending out owls to three friends to help us- Moody, Lupin, and Black.” Severus cringed.

On Monday, April twenty-sixth, Anne met with the three helps, “Hello- I am Annelise Snape and this is my niece, Jadelyn Riddle, our Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor Terlynise Adrians, and my daughter, Angel LeFay. We, along with Minerva and my husband, are forming a group which will aim to fortify the students against an attack by, as Jade has called them, ‘Daddy V. and the D.E.’s’. I am hoping that in working together we can get the student body ready for whatever may come at us. Without further adieu, let us get to work.”

Tuesday, April twenty-seventh: After a meeting of what Jade had christened ‘The D.V.A.K.’- the Daddy V. Ass Kickers- Sirius Black requested to speak to Anne. She consented and, since classes had been cancelled due to another staff meeting, patiently waited for him to finish conversing with Remus Lupin. Lupin, she had been informed, was a werewolf- she had never worked with a werewolf before and was very happy to add this contact to her lifetime’s interactions. After Remus left, Sirius sat down with Anne, “I was wondering- is your husband the head of Slytherin house?” Anne laughed, “Sirius, how many Snapes do you believe dwell in this place? Indeed he is, and quite a character if I may say so myself.” Sirius nodded. Severus entered the Great Hall, “Lise? Are you-” he broke off mid-sentence as his eyes narrowed into a very deadly glare directed at Sirius, “You!” Anne sighed as Sirius rose. She had recalled as Albus had mentioned Black and Lupin that her husband had reacted to those two names as foes of his from his Hogwarts days. Apparently the old feud still lived. Sirius grinned, “Ah, Snivellus…now nice to see you again.” Anne smirked and muttered under her breath, “Real creative there, Sirius….” Severus ignored her, “Sirius, if you will please leave, I have come for my wife.” Sirius laughed, “Me leave? I would prefer not to. Anne and I were just having a little conversation when you entered, care to join us?” Severus muttered something about all Hell not being able to make him join Sirius. Anne cleared her throat, “Is something the matter? Cannot we make light of the past in preparation for the future?” Severus shook his head, “This man publicly humiliated me! It is because of his and his little friends’ torments that I turned from the path Nigel advised me on and became engrossed in the evil that consumed me. They pushed me to the edge and beyond. I die again with these memories each time he is in my presence.” Sirius snorted, “You need to relax a little. It was just a bit of fun, eh Snivellus?” Severus whipped out his wand, “You call me that one more time and I swear it will be the last thing you say.” Sirius shrugged as Harry brought Angel into the room, followed by Jonas, Jade, Draco, Ron, Zack, and Hermione, “There are worse things that could be my last words…Snivellus.” Anne stood abruptly, “That is enough, Sirius. Severus, lower the wand- you are not the only one who suffered injustices in your youth.”

All eyes were on her as Sirius leaned on a table, “Did you have a nickname?” Anne shook her head, “That was not what bothered me. I was the quiet one- the girl who was out of place in any society- the picked on geek who wandered through the school halls with her eyes cast down to the floor as she walked, clutching an armload of books and a heavy backpack hanging off her shoulders. There were many times when a particularly nasty lot of students would trip me, throw things at me, or knock my books from my arms. My last year they decided it would be funny to not only knock my books over, but to scatter the papers down the halls or form a ring around me and push me about like a ping-pong ball, off balance from the load on my back and trying not to release the pile in my arms. These times, Lanie would usually come to my rescue. She would charge Britta and Rah with alerting the staff of the school, usually elsewhere, while she would burst into the circle and literally fight anyone who tried shove me. She was nearly expelled a few times, but with my testimony she was always commended for her loyalty instead. None of this compared to what happened on my last day of classes. This same gang watched me leave the school from the side door, as always, and jumped me. I dropped my books and they shoved me over, causing me to trip over the mess on the ground. I fell backwards and landed hard, my backpack severely bruising my spine. As I tried to recover, they kicked my sides until I managed to curl up into as tight as I could, laying on one side. They then dumped a bucket of butchers leavings on me- you know, old meat and blood. I am, as I was then, vegetarian, so not only was it just disgusting and embarrassing to lay there covered in something’s insides, but it was a direct affront to my beliefs. I sobbed- what could I do? My work was scattered under a sludge of gut and I was unable to walk home as I was. They laughed- the cold, cruel laughter that I later heard too often in Voldemort’s services. I could do nothing but to be the subject of their mockery. Then I heard a familiar voice yelling, “Get the ‘F‘ away from her!” It was Lanie. She ran out there as fast as her legs could carry her, yelling all the way. The gang continued laughing, failing to notice the attention that Lanie was drawing from within the building. The drama instructor had been passing when Lanie had started yelling and she followed Lanie. The gang members started running. They were gone before anyone could take names or anything. The drama instructor asked what she could do and Lanie told her to find Britta and Rah. It seemed like an eternity before the got there. Rah went to her car and dug out an unused gym towel and a medieval chemise she had for re-enactment purposes. Britta helped me up and wiped me down with her used gym towel- I really didn’t care. Lanie peeled my backpack off me and went to trying to salvage some of the papers on the ground. Britta and Rah snuck me into the locker room and I showered and changed into what Rah had found in her car. I threw my other clothes away- there was no purpose in keeping them. I returned outside to find that Lanie had removed everything from my backpack, recovered quite a few of the not-disgusting papers and had copied in note form the papers that she had been able to read from the mess. With all this, Rah drove me home, followed by Britta and Lanie. They told my mother what they could while I went to shower again. Mum was going to press charges, but the parents of the boys in the gang were all the sons of the local powerful families who could get away with anything and afford the lawyer we would have never been able to afford. It was that incident that decided for me that I would not attend Michigan State University, rather I would go overseas to Cambridge. I did not want to chance running into any of them again.”

Severus and Sirius both stared at her as though it was a wonder she was sane. Angel trotted over to her, “I wondered when you were going to tell Dad about that…but I think you put everyone here into shock.” Jonas came up to her next, “Anne, that really sucks.” Jade nodded, “It not only sucks, it is just plain cruel- what a bunch of heartless bastards!” Draco and the others were too stunned to respond. Severus held his wand at his side, “Aren’t you furious that you could not do anything about the situation? They were never punished for their crimes!” Anne shrugged, “The past is dead and gone- I cannot change what was done to me. Anger and hatred are awful ways to spend energy that could be used in much more wonderful ways. It is behind me. I have not needed retribution when I have seen that there was some good to come of it in the long run. That incident and those boys were what forced me overseas. Should I have never gone to Cambridge, I would not be the magically inclined lass who stands here now, strong and able to stand tall before her husband, daughter, and family to say that the long and winding road so tinged with evil has led me to good.” Sirius shook his head, “So you are telling me that you have forgiven that gang?” Anne nodded, “There is no reason not to- much time has passed and in my experience, if someone is so stupid that they cannot grow up and learn that destructive behaviour will eventually agitate someone who can turn about and return the act, then what is deserved is what is rightly gained. The old saying is ‘what goes around comes around’ and I have found it holding nothing but truth.” Severus lay his wand on the table and went before his wife, holding her close to him, “I am so sorry that you had to endure that…how do you ever have the strength to be so saintly in such matters?” She pulled away, a little smile on her face, “I do not do it alone- God has not left my side the entire journey, even when I ignored His presence.” Severus looked to Sirius, “I suppose since greater transgressions have been overlooked, I may attempt to pass over his for the sake of our common goal.” He extended his hand to Sirius who stared at him, aghast, “You have hated me for thirty years!” Severus nodded, “And now I look back on those who have set an example for me to follow- my father forgave me for murdering his eldest son and that family, my wife forgives a gang of high school terrors, she forgives me for many things, Jadelyn forgives Draco for all the harm he caused her, and Angel can forgive Annelise for killing Angel’s parents. If there is not a pattern here set to follow, I do not know what I should take as my example. I give up the grudge against all four of the Marauders.” Sirius excepted Severus’ handshake, stunned. Harry cheered, Angel gave hugs all around, Anne laughed, Ron, Zack, Draco, and Hermione joined Harry, while Jade and Jonas sang and played air-guitar,

Anne laughed, “Leave it to you two to sing Ozzy as the ultimate song of forgiveness….”

Over the few days prior to the re-meeting of Severus and Sirius, Anne had given up wearing her form fitted dresses in favour of flowing robed and dresses. This was noted by Lucius Malfoy who showed up most unexpectedly on the twenty-eighth. Anne sat in the Great Hall after lunch and waited there for Sirius. They had been discussing the possibility of an attack from Azkaban and needed his expert opinion on the subject, so Anne was playing a sort of Ambassadorial role. Lucius entered the room, “Annelise…fancy meeting you here.”

Anne nodded a curt acknowledgement, “I should say the same for yourself. What business brings you to Hogwarts?” He stood in front of her, “Family- you?” Severus and Sirius entered the room as Anne answered, “Military.” He had not noticed the other two men enter the room, “You know, the offer still stands….” Anne sighed, “And I still say no- how many times will I have to deny you before you will realise that ‘no’ means ‘I won’t even consider it- stop trying’?” He spoke low and threateningly, “Annelise, I will not hesitate to reign down Hell itself upon both yourself and your husband should the need arise.” Anne kept her cool, “And I will not hesitate to pour out the wrath of God upon you, should the need arise.” Lucius shook his head, “Woman, do not defy me.” Her eyes, now green, grew cold, “Man,” she spat, “Do not challenge me.” He was not pleased, “Woman, you try my patience, either you will reconsider all that you have denied the Dark Lord and myself or you will suffer a fate worse than death!” Anne grinned, “Bring it on.” Lucius slapped her. She hardly flinched. Immediately she noticed that both Severus and Sirius had drawn their wands in her defence and were ready to kill Lucius if they had to. She motioned for them to lower their weapons and rose tall, “Should you raise a hand against me one more time, as you so often did in the days of old, I will no longer consider it deserved punishment, I will fight back and I will do it as maliciously as I wish.” Lucius shoved her backwards, but she regained her footing quickly, “That is it- have you no respect for me? I can kill you instantaneously if I wish- do you not realise this?” He sneered at her, “Do you threaten me? Woman, you, along with the rest of your sex, are just an annoying distraction to me. I feel nothing for any of you but contempt.” Sirius joined in the conversation, “Especially since what happened with Narcissa…am I right?” Anne gave Lucius a challenging look, her right eyebrow raising in question, “Narcissa? What is this, do you have a little secret?” Sirius really had a wicked look on his face as he spat out, “It’s not really a secret- everyone who ever had contact with either of them know it was a shotgun wedding. Lucius and Narcissa weren’t married when Draco was first conceived…and Draco knows that Lucius never cared for Narcissa other than for his own pleasures. Draco was a mistake and Lucius was forced to marry Narcissa by the Black family.” Lucius looked like he was going to kill Sirius. It was then that Jade entered in through the door by the Head Table, pulling Draco behind her, Jonas and Angel bringing up the rear. Jade marched up behind Lucius and yanked his perfect pulled-back hair hard. His head snapped back and Jade snarled, “You are a scum sucking bastard whose ass I will kick if you dare to raise a hand against your son again.” Jonas and Draco walked forward along with Angel holding Draco’s hand. Draco had not raised his face and Jade had not released Lucius. Anne spoke to Jade, “Let him go, dear. Take Angel to her father.” Jade gave Lucius’ hair a yank and then shoved him forward. She scooped up Angel, kissed Draco’s cheek very gently, and then went to stand beside Severus. Lucius recovered and turned on his son, “What did you tell that whore?!” Draco kept his eyes lowered and did not answer. Lucius slapped Draco, “Boy, you will answer me or suffer the consequences.” Anne walked over Jonas by Draco. As she did, Lucius brought his hand back to strike Draco again. His fist flew forward, but was stopped by a firm hand that gripped Lucius’ wrist tightly. It was Jonas. His black eyes burned like dark coals glimmering with the anger of his soul, “I wouldn’t do that again, Mr. Malfoy.” Anne stopped, she had never seen Jonas angered before, but he was, to her, just as intimidating as Severus- their eyes both had the same intensity. Lucius tried to wrench his arm free and found that the scrawny looking boy in front of him was uncommonly strong and in control of his strength. Lucius tried again to wrench free and Jonas yet again kept him at bay. Lucius reached for his walking stick he had earlier set on the table. Anne filched it before he could retrieve it. Jonas released him while Anne, still holding Lucius’ stick, placed herself between Lucius and Draco, “Draco- look at me- are you alright?” Draco raised his eyes to meet hers, “I will be.” It was then that Anne noticed Draco’s face. He was bruised on both cheekbones and his brow, his right eye blackening, and the left side of his lip split. Anne shook her head and sighed, “Jonas- take him to Poppy to fix those bruises and stay there until I come to retrieve you both. I will use a family pass phrase so you will know it is really me. You do not have to tell her how you were injured.” Draco nodded, “I came to try to warn you he was here…I guess we were a little late. Sorry.” Anne smiled reassuringly, “Do not worry, I am none worse for the wear. It is you who are important right now. You and Jonas just go and get you fixed up.” Draco and Jonas left. Anne turned to Lucius, “Leave- you strike your son, you strike me, and then lastly you strike your son in front of me- as a mother this I do not accept and I will not tolerate you here.” Lucius glared at her, “What I choose to do to my son is none your business.” Anne retorted, “I am making it my business, seeing as he and my niece are close.” Lucius shook his head, turned on his heels, and called back, “Annelise, he is still mine and he will come when I call.” He reached the door and Anne gave her reply, “You do not know your son, Malfoy- he will follow his heart.” Lucius was gone.

Anne did not let these events hinder her annual Beltane celebration. Along with her meetings with the D.V.A.K., she constructed her maypole on the lakeshore and decorated the Great Hall with spring greenery. On May first she invited students, staff, and others to forget their troubles for one day to celebrate the coming of the life of the earth in spring. They accepted her invitation whole-heartedly.

On Monday, May third, disturbing news reached Hogwarts: Karkaroff had been discovered dead. Severus shared his fears with Anne, “Somehow I am going to be accused of this- I know it…all because he and I have a common history! I wouldn’t have been able to be at Durmstrang if I had wanted to be!” Anne shook her head, “I know…Fudge is going to twist this as hard as he can to get us both into Azkaban.”

Their fears came to fruition on evening of the fifth when the Ministry sent people to Hogwarts in full force to question and contain Severus. So far they had not touched Anne. This changed as soon as Fudge arrived on the sixth, though he merely cited Anne as some sort of background accomplice to the mess. He met with Severus in Albus’ office. Anne did not dare to miss the meeting and Angel could not be kept away- no matter how often Fudge pushed her out the door, she always appeared somehow in the room and added her two cents to the discussion. Fudge finally ignored her, “Now, Severus, your record speaks against you right now. Karkaroff is dead, and you are my prime suspect in the manner. I have arranged for you to be detained in Azkaban until we can sort this all out.” Angel piped up, “Where is your evidence? You can’t base a case on a personal grudge, there has to be non-circumstantial evidence for your allegations to hold water in a court of law.” Fudge stared at Angel and then smiled almost sickeningly sweet at her, “Well, that is all very interesting, dear-” “Drop the ‘dear’- I am Miss LeFay to you.” Fudge shook his head an returned his attention to Severus, “We have to do this, Severus.” Anne shook her head, “You aren’t taking him without me.” Fudge ran his eyes along Anne, “With your condition, I would not risk it. Azkaban could kill you, Annelise.” Anne nodded, “I understand the dangers- I have endured much. I am not giving you a choice, I am giving you an ultimatum. Deal with it.” Fudge nodded, “You have half an hour to make your peace here.” Anne nodded and Fudge left with his people. Albus took Angel’s hand, “Let us go find the rest of the family so that they may also have a few minutes to wish Anne and Severus the best.” Anne and Severus were left alone, “Lisie, there is no need for this. I will be fine on my own. It is too much of a risk.” Anne shook her head, “I have been having nightmares about this for the last two nights and Angel had a premonition yesterday. I have to go.” Severus sighed and held Anne close to him, “I understand.” Angel burst into the room followed by Jade, Jonas, and Draco. Jonas and Draco talked to Severus for a bit while Jade went immediately to Anne, “Anne…you know that this is going to be Hell, right?” Anne nodded. Jade sighed and spoke very quietly, “In case you don’t get out of there, I have to show you something.” Anne nodded as Jade held out her right hand and let her eyes flutter closed. Angel watched as Jade’s hand grow black iridescent scales from the tip of her fingers up her wrist, long black claws replacing her dark red nails. Anne’s eyes grew wide as she held her hand forward and let her eyes float shut. The exact same thing happened to her hand. Jade opened her eyes, as did Anne, both of them looking at the other in shock, “You?” they asked in unison. Angel grinned and whispered, “I knew it….” Anne let her hand return to normal, as did Jade. They both looked at Angel. Angel whispered her explanation, “I heard a long time ago from a very old woman in Kildare that there would come a day when I would meet two women who would be dragon sisters- both of them shifters into black dragons, a very rare creature to shift into and a very rare colour of dragon indeed. It fits with what Trelawney said. I mean, Jade is the heiress of all evil- she will have to chose which way to fly- literally. We will have to unite to win this thing, and the voice that may have a difficulty with the harmony would be Draco- I mean, who else has a choice like his except Jade? I still can’t figure out the loss part, but maybe by the time you and Dad get home- you will only be there for a few days.” Anne smiled at Angel as she finished, “I know you are correct- what makes me apprehensive is what will happen in those few days.” Jade glanced back at the guys, “We had better rejoin them so that they do not do anything to rash.” Anne laughed, “Look who’s talking.” Jade shot Anne a grinning glare and the women rejoined the men. Severus took his wife’s hand, “Jadelyn- you, Draco, and Jonas are responsible for my little girl during our time away. I don’t want you to forget this.” Jonas scooped up Angel, “Don’t worry sir, we won’t.” Jade gave a curt nod as Draco draped his arm around her shoulder, “We are a family, sir, Jade has taught me that no matter what happens we can and will stick together. Jonas and I are like brothers and I see Angel sort of like a little sister. We won’t let you down.” Severus smiled at Draco, “I know.” Fudge returned, “Your time is almost up. Say anything important now.” Angel spoke, “Dementors are a nasty lot- the best way to defeat them is to kill them with kindness. The happiest thoughts I have to send with you are these: The first time you two kissed- I had never felt such peace between two people. Remember the proposal and acceptance, the kindness you two have always poured out to one another, and the wedding and the events around it. Defeat their cold with the warmth of love.” Anne kissed Angel, “We will.” Before any more goodbyes could be said, Fudge had them ushered from the room.

They arrived at Azkaban Prison on the seventh in mid-afternoon. Anne and Severus had been brought in separate carriages as part of the punishment for the crime that neither of them had committed. Severus exited his and immediately shoved past his guards and opened the door to Anne’s carriage for her, offering her his arm as she descended the few steps to the ground. Fudge, who had accompanied them, led the escort into the prison where they met the warden, “Cornelius…what the ‘ell are yeh doin’ ‘ere? Yeh never come ‘round with yer newest inmates…bit ‘fraid of us ‘ere yeh are.” Fudge shook his head, “I am not afraid. These two are to be held here until they can be cleared for the murder of Karkaroff.” The warden extended his hand, “Well…with what they sent me, I’d be guessin’ that yeh’re Severus Snape and ‘is lady Annelise. I can’t say yer goin’ t’ get any sort of welcome ‘ere, but eh, what can yeh expect? Any’ow, I’m Ernest Toklein.” Fudge shook his head, “Just keep them out of the way….”

Ernest told them to call him Ernie and not to mind the Dementors much. He put Severus in a cell alone with Anne’s cell beside his. Anne managed to find a chink in their adjoining wall and they conversed all through the night, both of them too uneasy to sleep.

The next morning Ernie pushed plates of porridge through traps in their doors around eight. Anne could not bring herself to eat. Severus tried to coax her, but he failed miserably at the attempt, “Severus, the stuff is like glue and I already feel sick- I don’t want to throw up while I am stuck in this cell; I am not tempting fate by filling my stomach.” Severus had to agree with her. After lunch, which Anne could not eat either, the lighter security prisoners such as Anne and Severus were allowed to leave their cells for a brief time and sit in a gathering hall. Upon arrival they found Dementors everywhere. Anne sat close to Severus as one passed them by, “This is really creepy…it feels like that thing just sucked the happiness from me….” Severus nodded, “Just remember what Angel said- that will hold them off.” Anne sighed and looked around her. She recognized a few faces from her past and one from her present, “Severus- is that Adelaide over there?” Severus turned to look where Anne indicated and cringed, “Yes, it is.” Anne noticed a little snake crawling by the wall near where they sat. She whispered to it and it came to her. She whispered something else to it and it slithered off. A few moments later, Adelaide shrieked and jumped up on the table. Anne grinned and snuggled beside Severus. Adelaide shrieked again as the little snake crawled up onto the bench she had been sitting on and then made its way to the table top upon which she stood. Adelaide ran down the length of the table and then leapt off the end. Anne noticed someone go toward the snake with a shoe. She extended her hand and whispered, “Come.” The snake flew from harms way and into her hand. She spoke to it to calm it and discovered it too had a name. She introduced her new friend to Severus, “Severus, this is Nadine.” Nadine curled up on Anne’s shoulder and flicked her tongue out at the approaching Adelaide, “What were you thinking?!” Anne chuckled, “I wasn’t- and I have to say I rather liked it.”

As they were being returned to their cells, Adelaide let out a shriek of joy and ran to meet the man who was going to be Severus’ cellmate. Anne cringed as he laughed a high, cold laugh, “Adelaide…fancy meeting you here.” Severus shuddered, “I hate that laugh.” Anne nodded, “I hate that man- he is one of the leading Death Eaters in Cambridge.” Ernie did not bother to try to drag Adelaide from what had been Severus’ cell, “Eh…I really don’t want t’ try an’ separate those two…I’d get killed. Severus, yeh can share Anne’s room, seein’ that yer married t’ ‘er.” Severus thanked the man profusely. Come dinner, Anne tried to eat some steamed vegetables and not only managed to eat them, but kept them down as well. Severus was quite glad- he worried about his wife in a place such as Azkaban in the state she was in. That night, Anne curled up beside Severus and fell asleep, he joining her in dreams shortly after.

Early the next day Anne was woken by Severus shaking her. She groggily sat up, “Wha…?” Nadine sat on Severus’ shoulder, “Anne, there is something happening out there- the Dementors all are on the move and there are screams everywhere.” Anne was fully awake by this time. She stood up and inspected the door. As she was doing this, Ernie flung it open, nearly hitting her, “I know yer innocent, so get out. The damn bloody Dementors are getting’ all riled up an’ they’ve got some baddies on their side. We’ve got t’ get out of ‘ere.” Anne nodded and Severus rose. Both of them followed Ernie through the winding halls leading to his office. They never made it. The Cambridge man and a good fifteen Dementors and inmates blocked the hallway, “Ah…Miss Matthews- you decided to join us?” Anne shook her head and strode forward. She raised her hand and shoved the air aside, “CLEAR!” she shouted. The people in there way were flattened against the wall. She motioned for Severus and Ernie to go through. Ernie was impressed, “Well, I’ve never seen anythin’ as the likes of that….” He lead them through the corridor as Anne gave him a warning, “That wears off in five minutes- we have to move faster.” Just after she said this, a group of Dementors rounded the corner and began to follow them. Ernie pulled down a trap door in the ceiling and down dropped a rope ladder. Anne insisted Severus go first, as did Ernie. She shoved Ernie ahead of her and clamoured up last. She could not shut the trap, so she set fire to the rope, “If I can light torches in my chamber, I light other things on fire as well….” Ernie was yet again impressed as Anne surveyed her new surroundings. She was on the roof.

Severus sighed, “How are we going to get out of here?” Anne looked over the edge to see Dementors and other unfriendlies coming toward the prison, “Oh crap…we have company.” Ernie shook his head, “We are goin’ t’ ‘ave t’ jump.” Anne did not seem to hear him, “You two go stand over on the other side of the roof.” Puzzled, they did as she said. They watched as first her hands became black and scaly, then spread to the rest of her body. Her face transformed as her hair became a great ruff around her head. She grew large. Within a minute she had fully shifted into a huge gunmetal black dragon with crystalline faceted black eyes. She stretched her wings with a creaking of leather and kneeled down. Severus took her hint and motioned for Ernie, “Climb on.” As soon as her passengers were aboard, Anne leapt from the rooftop and spread her wings. They soared out away from what was fast becoming Hell.

Anne landed just outside of Hogsmeade with a thunderous wham. Ernie slid off her back and tipped his hat to her, “I ‘ave t’ go tell the Ministry what’s ‘appening- thanks ma’am, if yeh can ‘ere me.” Anne nodded and Ernie was off.

Anne flew back to Hogwarts and landed on the Quiddich Pitch, surprising a few random students out flying. Snape slid off her back with Nadine still on his shoulder. Anne folded her wings and returned to her natural shape, fully robed as she had been prior to her change of shape. Severus offered her his arm and they returned to the school to make their report to Albus. After doing so, she headed for her chambers while Severus stayed behind to discuss what to do about he and Anne’s escape. Anne opened her door to find her room dark and empty. She went to Jade’s room and pushed open the door. There sitting on the floor at her feet was Jade’s fanged geranium. It made a lunge for her as Jade called from where she was lounging on the bed, “Down George!” The plant stopped its attack and seemed to watch Anne as she made her way to Jade, “You named it?” Jade nodded, “Of course. He really is rather loveable once you get to know him. He really likes Angel, but Draco not so much.” Anne shook her head, “He is just like you- anyhow, where are the others?” Jade gestured towards the door, “Angel wanted to go see Hagrid so she, Draco, the Inseparable Trio, Jonas, and Zack all went on a field trip. So…you are back early- tell.” Anne told.

On Monday, May tenth, Anne stood in front of her class and knew exactly why they were so quiet, “I know you are all wondering about the weekend. I can assure you that the allegations that Severus is charged with are false, as are any rumours that have taken flight. Speaking of flight, that was me which you saw land on the Pitch. I hope I did not frighten anyone too terribly. This week in class, our guests (Black, Moody, and Lupin) will be joining us along with Professor Adrians. We will be using this time as a supplement to your Defence Against the Dark Arts class and will be focussing on duelling, blocking, and counter curses, along with a few handy things that you should know about the Death Eaters, their techniques, favourite moves, and other miscellany that I happen to think of. Are there any questions?” No one raised their hands, “Then I turn the floor over to Terlynise.”

The rest of the week proceeded in the same manner. By Friday, everyone needed a break. Jade had an idea and set it into motion. Starting Saturday morning at eight and running through Sunday she would have a horror film festival featuring every Friday the Thirteenth and Nightmare on Elm Street movie ever made, closing the marathon with Freddy v. Jason. Saturday, Anne settled into Jade’s room on the couch they had dragged in from her chamber and watched as students entered with armchairs, blankets, pillows, and beanbags. Around ten, Jade started the films. Both Anne and Angel looked down every time something gory came on, but they listened in amusement. Severus, Jonas, and Draco found the films hilarious, as did Jade, Angel, Anne, and the Trio. Zack had opted out of the festival- he wasn’t terribly fond of horror movies. There were quite a few Slytherins watching, including the troublesome group of three fourth years, along with Brittany, Crabbe, and Goyle.

Very early Sunday morning (around two o’clock) when they had finished watching Jason, they took a half an hour break an then started on Freddy. They finished watching Freddy around two thirty Sunday afternoon. Jade took a poll, “Alright, we have all seen these two fine men at work, who here is Jason fan?” There were many in the room who thought Jason was awesome, including the Trio. Jade then asked for Freddy supporters. The Snape family (including Draco) all voted for Freddy. Jade counted the results, “Right- we have ten Jason fans and sixteen Freddy fans, along with seven of you who just don’t have an opinion either way. I want to hear you make some noise, because it is time for Freddy v. Jason!”

After Freddy and Jason fought for turf in the final flick of the marathon, everyone went to crash. It was only five in the evening when Jade’s room cleared, but no one had slept in around thirty hours so it was expected that no one would be awake for long. As Jade was dozing off, she placed George in front of her door and thought, “That would be my eighth time through Freddy, sixth through Jason, and tenth time seeing Freddy v. Jason. What a way to spend a weekend…Nigel would be proud.”

April seventeenth: the fourth year Potions class entered the lab as usual and sat down at their desks. Jade sat at Severus’ desk watching them enter, her hands folded on her lap. At the prescribed time, Jade rose, her hands now tucked behind her back and still hidden. Angel sat on the desk as soon as Jade had vacated the area. She drew forth her right hand and slammed a hand wearing a glove with ten inch blades on the fingers against the blackboard, screeching the blades down the board. The class fell silent as they all cringed. She waved to the class, the blades clicking together, “Good morning, I trust you all had a well-spent weekend, I know I did-” One of the troublesome three interrupted her, “You watched horror movies all weekend! How is that well-spent?” Jade shrugged, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” A few of her students understood her joke. She continued, “Today we will be working on a fairly complex solvent that Professor Snape uses to clean off the ceilings in here when things explode. The ingredients are on the board. Get to work.” The three troublemakers muttered to one another under their breath. Jade pointed at them with one blade, “I would not recommend tempting fate….”

After class, Angel sprang off the desk, “Jade, that is absolutely awesome…where did you get it and can I have one?” Jade scraped the blades together, “Nigel helped me make this when I was thirteen.” Angel’s eyes grew wide in awe, “Can I make one?” Jade laughed, “Go ask your mother.” Angel scampered out of the lab and ran into Anne coming in, “Can I have a glove like Jade has?” Anne looked over at Jade who waved back with her gloved hand, the blades clicking together. Anne looked at Angel with a look that asked, ‘do I look daft?’, “No.” Angel tried another approach, “Can I borrow Jade’s?” Anne shook her head, “No.” Angel sighed, “She used it in the lab today to cut some sort of root- I could use it to be practical.” Anne raised her eyebrows as Jade tossed four strange looking fruits with little spikes on them in the air and speared them on the blades of her glove. Anne shook her head, “No…because you could also use it to torture the Slytherins, and you would.” Angel shrugged, “Eh, it was worth a shot.”

After Anne and Angel left the lab, Severus entered to see how Jade’s day had gone, “Jade, there were no problems today? You seem to be in high spirits.” She grinned as he extended his hand to her, laying her gloved palm across his, careful not to slice his hand off or skewer him on the blades, “None whatsoever, Severus.” He inspected the glove, “This is nice…” He nodded his approval as she walked to the door to leave. He called after her, “Tell Lise I will be joining you both for her class after I make the necessary arrangements for tomorrows class.” Jade turned back to him, “You may need to repair the chalkboard too.” She gave him a peace sign with her gloved hand before she left to go to Anne’s class.

Anne stood in front of her class with a grim look on her face as they met that day, “I am going to put this as blatantly as I can- Voldemort is coming and he is coming soon. There is evidence pouring in that he will hit soon and if we are not prepared for his coming, we are all going to get our butts kicked. I want you all to remember that there is nothing that he can do to you that we cannot somehow prepare for- you have a few veterans and the most powerful wizard- the only person Voldemort is afraid of- on your side. Thing aren’t going to be easy and we are going to be on pins and needles for the next few weeks. Jade will be taking a few of you away for this class period, but the rest of you are to work here with the D.V.A.K. to make this place the most secure it can be. Any questions?” No one answered, “Good- get to work.”

Jade took Harry, Hermione, Ron, Zack, Draco, and Angel into the Dungeons to her room, “You are some of the people Albus is most worried about in this- he says that Daddy V. has special interest in the lot of you. Harry, we haven’t a clue as to why he wants you, but he does-” Harry interrupted, “Actually, I do know- there was a prophesy made that one of two children would take him down- one was me, the other Neville. He chose, by his attack on me, that I would be the one to defeat him. Neville doesn’t know about this at all. I have to be the one who casts the final spell.” Jade shook her head, “Alright, we do know why Mould Man wants you…Ron and Hermione, he isn’t as concerned with you, but since you are friends of Harry’s, his followers don’t really like you too terribly much. Zack, you turned his younger followers in to the authorities, so he isn’t really that fond of you either. Draco, I think we all know why you are here. Angel, you are the child of two people who left his service and condemned it to evil, making it part of their lives’ goals to keep others off that path. He will come after you to get to Anne and Severus. I think we all also know why he is likely to come for me. Albus will be meeting us here shortly and we are going to be aiding in the planning of Hogwarts’ defences.” Albus entered the room, “You have briefed them?” Jade nodded and watered George. Albus sighed, “We have a dark future to prepare for…let us try to brace ourselves against its ravages.”

For the next two weeks, Anne and Jade separated the class in this manner, Jade informing Anne of what she had discovered or what she needed Anne’s class to do to fulfil the schematics that Jade’s group was drawing up. On Friday, May twenty-eighth, Anne’s Dark Mark was burning more viciously than it had done in years. She could not find Severus to tell him, but she thought that his must be quite painful also. She crashed into bed that evening wondering what detained him for so long and where he was.

On the twenty-ninth, Anne once again slid into bed without knowing where Severus had gone. He had not arrived at the D.V.A.K. meeting that had been that afternoon. She drifted off to sleep.

Around two o’clock in the morning, Anne awoke to the clicking of her door. She sat up in bed, “Severus, is that you?” She got no response, so she lit a torch by her hammock. She sighed, it was he, “Love, where have you been all day? I have been worried about you.” He still did not answer. He walked over to her and stood in front of her, his face stony and unwavering. Worry crossed Anne’s visage, “What is troubling you?” He raised his wand and pointed it directly between her eyes. She did not flinch, ‘’Severus, lower it.” He just stared at her. She slid from her hammock and moved around so that she could reach his face. She gently stroked his cheek, “Come on, I know you are in there- you don’t want to do this, shake off his hold on you.” Severus’ face softened slightly and he lowered the wand. She smiled and kissed him. His face crossed with pain and he stepped away from her, his wand sharply returning to it’s former position aimed squarely between her eyes. She sighed and sat down on the hammock, watching as he kept his weapon trained on her, “Fine, if you cannot shake him and you must do this, remember that I forgive you for it and will look down on you from Heaven protectively because you are my husband and I love you.” Severus remained immobile for a moment before he lowered his arm and then slowly cast his gaze down to the weapon he was wielding. He sharply threw it across the table and then stared at his hands, walking to the couch as he did, “What have I done?”

Anne rose from the hammock as he sank onto the couch and clutched his head in his hands, sobbing and muttering, “What have I done?” Anne sat beside him and pulled him to her, letting his head rest on her shoulder, “You haven’t done anything. I am fine- no one else saw…Angel is with Jade tonight, guarded by George. You have done nothing….” He could not respond. She enfolded him in her arms and gently rocked him until he cried himself to sleep. She slid from the couch, careful to not wake him, made sure he was comfortable, tucked a blanket around him, and then went to her hammock thinking, “Voldemort has to be close…or an operative of his. I bet Lucius has something to do with this. Oh God, please let Severus be all right in the morning….”

Anne woke up to find Severus still sleeping on her couch. She slipped next door. Angel was awake and watering George while Jade and Draco poured over diagrams with the Trio and Zack. Angel looked at Anne with great concern, “Mum, what happened last night? I felt Dad’s sorrow really strong…what got to him?” Anne sighed, “Voldemort had hold of his mind, dear, and tried to have me killed. Your father was very strong and threw off Voldemort’s grip. I was not harmed. Do not worry, it will not happen again.” Angel nodded, “I thought so- and I already knew it wouldn’t happen again. There isn’t time for it to.” Draco sighed, “Voldemort didn’t cast the curse on Professor Snape.” Jade’s head snapped up, “What did you say?” Draco sighed, “It was my father- I heard him telling Professor Adrians that he had inside information that Professor Snape was going to kill Anne as a service to the Dark Lord and to prove that he had indeed returned to the Dark Arts. Professor Adrians was stunned, but really didn’t know what to say. I think that my father cursed Snape to try to ruin him.” Jade let out a string of expletives and then looked to Anne, “Sorry- that bastard is going down if I have any say in what happens in history….”

Severus was very withdrawn for the rest of the day. He either sat on Anne’s couch or lay there without motion, lost in thought.

Monday, May thirty first, Anne cancelled her class so that the D.V.A.K. could meet with Jade’s defence committee. She arrived early to the meeting wearing a lovely black tank dress and black fringed shawl. She had not felt quite so ill for the last two days and she sighed as she rested her hand over her protruding stomach. What was causing her illness was obvious, but neither she nor Severus were going to make the announcement until after Voldemort showed his cards. No one else was in the Great Hall. She sat down and waited. Unfortunately Lucius was using the Great Hall as a cut-through from the door on the platform to the main doors when just as she sat down, “Well if it isn’t the little-” Anne cut him off, “Shut your face, Malfoy, before I do it for you.” Severus entered the Great Hall from the main doors, “Leave, Malfoy.” Lucius did not budge, “It should be I telling you to leave…after all, I could land you the Kiss of Death very easily with all that you have done.” Anne looked up at Lucius, “Like I couldn’t do the same for you….” Lucius grinned, “You couldn’t- not while I have friends in Azkaban. Anyhow, Severus has to put up with me. I have a little leverage- you see, if he obeys me, then I don’t tell anyone who might tell the Dark Lord where he is, and therefore he stays alive. Should he disobey…not only is he exposed, and I will be sure it gets to the Prophet, but I will make sure that the Dark Lord hears first of where to find his father. If that wasn’t enough to convince him, I would just have to make sure that you, Miss Anne, met with the same fate as his little, weak, but not-as-pathetic-as-you Josephine. It really is a pity that he couldn’t make a better choice in a wife the second time around….” Anne rose indignantly, “You cold-hearted bastard! Who the Hell do you think you are, talking about Severus like that?” She slapped Lucius across the face as hard as she could. His eyes burned with cold fury as he hit her cheek with a closed fist. She staggered backward and fell onto a table, eventually righting herself enough to sit on the bench. Severus was by her side immediately, “Lisie, are you alright? Did he hurt…?” he asked as he rested his hand on her stomach. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself- her cheek was bruising quickly. Lucius turned to leave as the door on the platform slammed open with a crash that resounded through the Great Hall and beyond. There stood Jade, her anger nearly visible in the air around her. Lucius spun around as her voice rose, filling the space with her commanding presence, “LUCIUS MALFOY, YOU LITTLE FERRET, THAT IS THE LAST TIME YOU WILL LAY HANDS ON ANYONE IN MY FAMILY!” Her voice became low and deadly, “If I were not so determined to be the opposite of my father, I would kill you.” She instead formed a glowing white orb of energy in her hands, rolling it around in her palms as it became round. She pitched it at Lucius with all the strength she could muster and watched it strike him full in the chest while he was trying to discern what Jade was doing. He found himself upside-down and stuck to a wall with a body-lock curse added for good measure and a muting charm. He was immobile and silent. Jade dusted off her hands, “Much better.” Anne stood, still shaking from her encounter, “Good work, Jade, good work.” Severus escorted Anne from the room, “Jade, tell our colleges that I am taking Lise to Poppy to make sure everything is well inside and out. Begin the meeting without us.”

Albus was quite amused to find Lucius stuck to the wall, “He doesn’t really match the décor….” he joked. Draco shrugged, “I think we should just leave him there and throw things at him during dinner.” Everyone in the D.V.A.K. agreed with Draco.

That evening at dinner, Draco let his classmates discover for themselves the newest ‘wall hanging’. When Anne and Severus arrived, Jade was pleased to see that Poppy had cleared Anne’s face of the bruise that had marred it earlier. Jade pulled Anne and Severus’ chairs ouf for them. Anne sat first, her husband being sure she was comfortable before he himself settled. Jade inquired, “Do you like the new decoration? Draco and I both hope that no one takes it down over the night hours.” Anne laughed a little. Jade’s face became serious, “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Your back hit that table hard.” Anne shook her head, “All is well, Jade- we got lucky.”

The next morning Anne discovered that someone had indeed taken Lucius off the wall. Her Dark Mark burned her skin and there was a foreboding feeling surrounding the day. Hagrid ran into the building, “Th’ Centaurs all are reportin’ strange things movin’ through th’ Forest- dark critters with a nasty chill- Dementors if yeh ask me.” Anne nodded. Severus vanished to find Albus. Angel took a deep breath, “Mum- can I use your wand if we fight today?” Anne nodded, “You may use a wand- Severus and I discussed this already and it was agreed that you will be using his mother’s wand. Severus said she would have wanted it so.” Angel was nervous, “Why is this taking so long?” It was then that everyone heard an alarm bell ring through Hogwarts. Anne sighed, “So it begins…we must convene in the Great Hall. Severus will join us after he has collected Slytherin House.”

As the Great Hall filled with students and faculty, Anne made a detour to the dungeons to make sure that Jade had heard the warning and to retrieve the staff that she had last used when she had been a traveller. It was a wonderful piece of metalwork with a Celtic Triune Knot at the top and a secret hollow for her wand to slip into, making it as effective as her wand itself. She found it quite easily and ventured over to Jade’s quarters. She found Jade’s chamber empty and fiercely guarded by George the Fanged Geranium. Upon closing the door, Anne noticed someone in the shadows on the other side of the hallway. She moved toward them and recognized Narcissa Malfoy, “Ma’am, what are you doing here? Isn’t Lucius going to be furious?” Narcissa shook her head rapidly, “I don’t care the risk, I had to come- they are coming through the forest…I had to warn my baby, apologize for what his father is going to try to make me do today, and make sure that he knows I am aware of what I am doing.” Anne placed her hand on Narcissa’s arm, “Do you want me to pass this on?” Narcissa nodded, “Tell him I love him and would stop this if I could.” Anne sighed, “I will tell him. Do not fear for your son, for he is strong and knows where he stands.” Narcissa nervously glanced down the hall, pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, and gave Anne one last message, “He stands right where he should- with those who love him more than life itself. Thank you, Annelise, and thank Jadelyn as well. Without her, my son would be standing with his father.” Narcissa silently strode off down the hallway while Anne ascended the stairs to bring the news to Draco.

Draco froze after Anne relayed all that Narcissa had said, “My mother…oh God I hope Father doesn’t kill her….” Jade wrapped her arm around his shoulder, “I will do all in my power to see that he doesn’t, but if he does, she will have died a free woman with her soul where it should be.” Draco nodded, “Did you know Mother is Catholic?” Jade kissed Draco’s cheek, “Never would have guessed it. Albus is about to speak, hush dear, we need to hear this.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to undertake the singular most difficult task in Hogwarts’ history. You have all trained for this moment, some of you for not very long. Plans have been laid and last night all your house heads briefed you on the situation that was fast approaching. It has come. There will be no more speculation as to how the Dark Arts will descend upon us after we embark on this journey, we will be living history. Everyone, please follow the instructions given by Lupin, Black, Moody, Snape and Snape, Riddle, Adrians, McGonagall and I. We have to move quickly.”

The students and listened carefully as their leaders called off lists of names. Each set of students gathered together and received instructions on where their defensive positions were going to be once they moved into place. Anne sat with her group, “This group consists of a wide range of skills. We are forming the centre section of the defensive line. If you look at this map, the staff and student body will be forming a partial ring around the school. This ring is not your permanent position. When the attack comes, the ultimate goal, besides survival, is to prevent entry to the school. This building holds not only a wizard’s school, but a centre point for our culture and history. You will stay in your positions until the attack, but after that, the only determinant to your placement is where the attack is coming from. The group leaders will stand slightly in front of the main line. Defend one another, do not be afraid, and try not to kill anyone if possible. Now that you have an idea of what is going on, let’s move out.”

Out around Hogwarts the groups formed their defensive line, each of the leaders stepping forward and toward the centre to form a lookout. Angel refused to stand back with the students, instead standing beside her mother and clutching the wand she had been lent. She was slightly nervous, so she began to sing, shakily at first, but gaining strength as she dove into her old favourite,

From the front row, Anne and Jade began to sing with her.

Anne’s theatre students from her first year teaching added their voices to the chorus,

Anne sang the verse alone,

Those who had caught on joined those who sang before,

Anne smiled as Angel continued the song with the finale from Les Miserables, this time everyone who had sang with them back in Anne’s first year joining in, including those who had sung along in the crowd,

As they finished the song that Angel had taken as her battle cry, they noticed shadowy figures emerging from the dense mist that had gathered in the forest. Anne leaned on her staff and whispered to the incoming figures, “Come on you bastards, show your cowardly selves and bring it on….”

Severus looked along the line, wondering who would be the first to move. He turned his attention back to then advancing mass. It was headed by the Dementors, sucking the hope from their adversaries. Jade shouted up, “Keep heart, men- they cannot take away what we refuse to give them!” Following the Dementors came the Death Eaters in a triangular configuration led by none other than Voldemort himself. The advancing line stopped thirty feet away from the Hogwarts front line. Fog hovered behind Evil. The sun rose from behind Hogwarts. All was still for a moment. Voldemort sneered, “The day has come…MEN, DO YOUR WORST!” Anne shouted as Hogwarts braced themselves for the defensive, “KEEP STRONG AND STAND TALL!” Lucifer took on the Throne one final time.

Draco found himself face to face with his father, Narcissa weakly by Lucius’ side. She winced as Lucius dragged her forward, “Woman, don’t force me to curse you….” Jade kicked a Dementor in the face sending it flying backwards before she joined Draco. Narcissa nodded to Jade and wrenched herself free from Lucius’ grip, “I’ll take my chances.” Lucius could not believe his ears, “What are you saying, woman?” She did not respond, rather stood where she was, watching both parties. Draco drew his wand, “Today, Lucius, we end this.” Lucius sighed and muttered, “Avada Kedavra.” Narcissa stepped between Lucius and Draco, crumpling to the ground as she was hit. “MOM!” Draco shouted and dove to her side. Jade glared at Lucius as he reacted, “Hmm…I probably should have expected that.” Draco cradled his mother’s body. Jade cast on Lucius, “Incendio.” Lucius’ robes caught fire. He muttered something and the flames vanished, “Pardon me, Miss Riddle, from this heated topic, but my Lord calls.” Jade’s stony eyes shot daggers, “As does mine….”

Meanwhile, Zack found himself face to face with his own foe- Eddwords, “What the heck are you doing here? Weren’t you trying to catch the Death Eaters?” Eddwords shrugged, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Zack shook his head, “You are despicable.” Eddwords nodded, “Petrificus Totalus.” Zack laughed as he blocked the curse, “Are you serious? Rictusempra!” Eddwords began laughing uncontrollably. Zack cast another curse, “Tanrantallegra!” Eddwords began to disco. Angel ran by in pursuit of a Dementor that her Patronus was chasing, “What did you do to him?” Zack called after her, “Tickling charm and then a dancing charm.”

Noon: around ten Death Eaters were incapacitated in various forms while five Dementors huddled by the lakeshore where Angel was ‘storing the collection’, all of them terribly afraid of Angel’s fluffy white rabbit Patronus. Anne heard a call for help coming from Jonas. The man from Cambridge they had seen in Azkaban and Adelaide were trying to kill Jonas who was fighting them off with various degrees of success. Anne pressed a trigger near the top of her staff and a knives extended from each of the points of the triune knot. She slashed at a Death Eater who backed into Minerva. Minerva took over handling him. Anne made her way over to Jonas with her hack and slash method and finally strode up to Adelaide and slapped her across the face, “You want to fight, fight me, because I have had an earnest yearning to beat the shit out of you ever since you first opened your mouth, you little slut.” Adelaide looked at Anne in shock and then anger, “Fine, if that is how you want to play, we’ll play.” Adelaide muttered, “Reducto.” to try to slam Anne backward. Anne blocked it with a shield charm and then counterattacked with, “Impedimenta!” causing Adelaide to move in slow motion. Anne then shouted, “Expelliarmus!” at both Adelaide and the Cambridge man, causing both their wands to fly from their hands. Anne whispered, “Come…” and the wands landed nicely in her outstretched palm. She tossed them to the ground and stamped on them, then casting, “Incendio” on them so that the wands burst into flames and were reduced to ash.

Jade was having fun shouting, “Serpensortia!” at her opponents and watching them shout out as a snake flew at them. She tried it on Bellatrix and found that Bellatrix did not appreciate it in the least bit, so Jade did it again. Neville refused to come anywhere near Bellatrix until he watched as she began to curse Jadelyn, who was dealing with a determined Dementor. He whipped his wand at Bellatrix, “Petrificus Totalus!” Bellatrix stopped speaking in mid, “Avada K-”, freezing up and falling over. Neville smiled. Jade cast her Patronus on the Dementor and a giant silvery basilisk began to herd the Dementor toward Angel’s cache. She gave Neville a peck on the cheek, “Thanks- after this mess is done, I owe you dinner aty place.“ Jade grinned as the Death Eaters paused briefly to watch her Patronus along with those from Hogwarts in amazement.

Voldemort pointed his wand to the sky and called out, “Morsmordre!” The Dark Mark appeared in the sky above him. It was just after that when he noticed Jade’s basilisk Patronus near the lakeshore. He sighed, that girl was going to be more trouble than his night with Adelaide had been worth….

Three o’clock: Ron and Hermione were guarding Hagrid’s hut with Hagrid when Harry came running, “He’s conjured the Dark Mark- we have to be ready for him to bring out the rest of his followers.” Ron moaned, “You mean there will be more of them?” Hermione nodded, “If what Anne told us is true, about there being training houses for the Death Eaters, there have to be enough Death Eaters for an entire army.”

Draco guarded Narcissa’s body near the lakeshore, fighting off anyone who dared come to desecrate it, “She died a free woman and for love, she will receive honour in death that she did not receive in life.” he stated to Jade. Jade nodded as Angel and her Patronus brought in a few more Dementors, “That she will, love, that she will.” Angel crossed herself, “May she rest in peace. Jade, I think I am finally going to name my Patronus- his name is Frank.” Jade shook her head, “Your train of thought is on a very crooked track. Mine is Captain Barbosa.”

Ginny ran a message to Severus from Anne, “He is calling- be strong, keep tall, and don’t count on getting any outside help. We are on our own.” He shook his head, “We’ll see about that.” He uncorked a tiny vial he had kept hidden inside his robes and threw its contents to the ground. From it grew a long black smoke trail that began to spiral its way outward until it had a five foot diameter and then it began to rise to the sky. Severus turned from the column that was fast growing in height and sought out another opponent.

Half an hour later, Severus’ column was as tall as Hogwarts and shifting in shape to look like Isengard. As if on cue, the instant it was fully formed, a huge flock of ravens swarmed from somewhere on the Hogwarts rooftop, circled the tower, and flew off in the direction of Hogsmeade.

Four o’clock: Voldemort’s army arrived, filling the grounds with shouted curses and counter-curses. Ginny dodged to the side as a Death Eater in front of her cried out, “Crucio!” and hit one of his compatriots who had been standing behind Ginny. She snickered and went off to find Zack.

Zack was busy casting “Waddiwasi” at his opponents, causing random objects to fly up their noses. Ginny joined him. Less than a minute later, someone released Boggarts.

Brittany faced off against Jade, “I challenge you, shamed daughter of the Dark Lord, to a duel to the death!” Jade laughed, “Really? Are you going to talk me to death?” Brittany huffed, “Of course not, you filthy whore, I am going to take you down in one swift stroke of-” she never finished. Jade swept her arm across her body and without touching Brittany, she shoved her backward much as she had done to Crabbe and Goyle during her first few days at Hogwarts. Jade kept pushing, collecting new Death Eaters as she went. She pushed them back to Angel’s Dementor stash and shoved her unwitting guests into the Dementors, “Have fun, Miss Gwyn. I doubt they will have s much patience for your talk as I did.”

Five o’clock: From the direction of Hogsmeade came a welcome sight- reinforcements. Fudge stood in front of a mass of wizards all looking quite ready to fight. They arrived on the grounds and Fudge attempted to relay a battle plan. The Weasley clan starred at him as though he were mad. Alabama Cray shook her head, “Are you insane, Fudge? No Death Eater or Dementor is going to give a rat’s ass about your little plan. You delayed coming here- you said they could handle it- you were afraid to risk your own skin if someone else would instead. You little coward.” She shouted to her fellow witches and wizards, “THIS IS OUR DAY- LET US DEFEND OUR HOMES WITH HONOUR AND COURAGE, REMEMBERING THAT AT THE END OF THIS WILL COME EITHER OUR VICTORY MARCH OR OUR FUNERAL HYMN, THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN! MOVE ON!” A cheer rose from the throats of the new arrivals, attracting the attention of those who had been fighting all afternoon. Alabama shouted a battle cry, “CHARGE!” They charged.

The battle raged on through the night, neither side making any headway against the other. Anne fought on through the moonlit night, frustrated that no matter how many Death Eaters they incapacitated and brought to the lakeshore, there were still so many on the battle field. The same thing went for the Dementors. Thankfully the Boggarts had been easier to eliminate. One had confronted Angel and changed into Lucius Malfoy. She had pointed her wand at it and strongly said, “Riddikulus!” In an instant it had appeared before her in full drag resembling Jade’s sleazy Hallowe’en costume. Angel had laughed so hard that it had attracted the attention of the real Lucius fighting not far off. He had turned and glared at both Angel and the Boggart quite fiercely. Angel now watched as the Boggart exploded , but Lucius himself stood there filling with fury. He pointed his wand at Angel, “Crucio.” She dropped to her knees and gasped as the pain hit her for the first time. She closed her eyes and fought it off, rising to her feet and pointing her wand at Lucius. She was breathing slowly, concentrating on fighting off the curse. She slowly brought a grin to her face, “Eat slugs, Malfoy.”

It was nearing sunrise when Lucius returned from the forest, slightly green. Angel was once again herding Dementors. Anne and Severus were fighting off many foes at once with their backs pressed against one another. Jade was in a fistfight with Crabbe and Goyle’s parents while Crabbe and Goyle hid in a doorway. Draco guarded Narcissa with unmatched dedication. The inseparable trio and Neville were going after Voldemort’s inner circle with Lupin, Moody, Black, and Terlynise. Albus and Minerva went after Voldemort himself.

Seven-thirty: the tired and hungry wizards kept up their defences even though their physical strength was waning. At this time, another wave of wizards joined them, having travelled from as far away as Durmstrang. The students from Beauxbatons joined in the fray a half an hour later. There was hardly room to move, but there was a definite turning in the tides. Lucius saw the battle turning from him and went to find his son.

Draco watched his father come near him and sighed, there would have to be one last battle between the two. Jade sighed as she stood by Draco, “You know he is going to ask you if you would want to join him. This is Trelawney’s prophecy coming true. ‘Angels meet demons and the dragons unite, the heir of all evil must chose where to fly. Nothing is possible where unity lies not, but unity itself will fall should one voice find the harmony too difficult to sing…’ Ang read in the tea leaves about Narcissa’s death, but she couldn’t figure out at that time to whom it referred. You must chose whether or not the harmony is to difficult to sing.” Draco kissed Jade, “I know where I stand.” Jade smiled, “Then let’s prove it to Lucius.”

Lucius aimed his wand at Draco, “Boy, come with me and the girl lives.” Draco shook his head, “Draco, I will kill her- and girl, wipe that smirk off your face!” Jade’s eyes challenged Lucius’ very existence, “It is not a smirk- this is my Cheshire cat grin. Welcome to my rabbit hole.” Lucius looked at her in disgust, “What kind of wizard reads Muggle literature?” Jade shrugged, “A good one.” Lucius sneered, “Insolent girl- I am going to teach you the meaning of pain!” Jade thought quickly and quoted, “’You like pain? Try wearing a corset.’” While Lucius was trying to figure out why Jade had just mentioned a corset in the middle of a battle field, she and Draco took advantage of the moment. “Expelliarmus!” Draco shouted. Jade’s face grew stony, “Imperio….” Lucius was under her control, “Bow to me, you slimy git, and then go tell that Dark Lord of yours a favourite quote of mine, ‘Do us a favour...I know it's difficult for you...but please, stay here, and try not to do anything...stupid.’ Then tell him his little girl has a reminder for him- he can always surrender.” Draco looked at Jade in awe, “You are really scary when you get like this…I think it is one of the reasons I love you.” Jade watched Lucius scamper off, “It runs in the family.”

Ten o’clock: The Death Eaters cleared a path as Voldemort went to the centre of the field to meet Albus head to head. Anne and Jade knew that the battle would be brief, if no one did anything terribly stupid. Unfortunately, someone did. Crabbe and Goyle’s parents attacked Albus as well. Everyone on the field was in shock- the Death Eaters did not want to cast into the fray for fear of hitting their leader and no one on the opposing side was willing to risk hitting Albus. Anne knew there was one thing she had left to do. She handed her staff to Hermione and ran into the forest. Jade met her there. Both of them stood apart from one another and released their greatest power yet.

The spectators on the battle field froze as two black dragons circled the area. Jade dove in and grabbed her father in her mouth. Anne landed with a WHAM in a cleared space and walked forward so that Albus could climb on her nose. She took off and followed Jade to the lake. Jade made a circle and dove into the deepest point in the lake. Cheers rose up from the crowd and many of the Death Eaters dropped to their knees in surrender. Albus whispered, “It is not over yet….”

Jade spat out Voldemort and swam for shore.

Anne landed and deposited Albus on the ground before returning to her birth form.

Harry stood on the bank of the lake and looked out, “It can’t end that way…I have to be the one to cast…” Out from the lake rose the Dark Mark, looming over all. Voldemort levitated up out of the water, rotating to survey his domain. Harry thought to himself, “This is your chance to end this once and for all.” He whipped out his wand and pointed it at the figure, “Avada Kedavra,” he said in a voice so strong that Hermione stepped back a little. The curse flew out over the lake and nailed Voldemort square between the shoulder blades. Evil screamed in agony and burned green, exploding in a vortex of black that sucked the light from the day.

At Voldemort’s defeat, Anne felt a shard of pain stab through her Dark Mark and blaze through her entire body. She gasped. Across the field, the same thing happened to Severus.

Angel recovered from the shock and watched as Jade, soggy, but no longer dragon, merely a human with a pair of great leathery wings, dragged herself exhaustedly onto the beach. Draco ran to meet her as the wings slithered back into her shoulder blades, “Jadelyn, love- are you alright?” Jade sat up and wrung out her hair, “I am hungry and tired as hell, but other that that, I feel better than I have felt in years.” Draco held her close, “Harry did it- we are free.” Jade stood with his help and shouted to the sky, “YOU HEAR THAT? I AM FREE!”

Anne and Severus ran toward one another, Anne scooping up Angel on the way. They met in a family embrace and much laughter. Anne set down Angel and checked her Dark Mark- or where her Dark Mark had been, “Severus…it’s gone- what about yours?” He nodded, grabbed Anne’s shoulders, and kissed her. Angel grinned as Jonas approached, “Looks like Anne’s a bit busy, eh?” Angel nodded as Anne and Severus pulled apart and Anne turned to them, “I heard that- let’s go find Jade and Draco.” Upon the reunion of the Snape family, they went to seek out the Trio. Harry was being carried around the field by Ron, Hermione, Zack, and Ginny and shortly the Snape clan added themselves to the parade, along with Moody, Lupin, and Black, Adrians, Minerva, and Albus. They began the difficult task of restoring the field and carting the offenders off to Azkaban where they were Petrified until they could be tried by the Ministry.

That night Jade crashed in her room after retelling her battle stories to Draco and George. Angel curled up with Kath, while Anne’s snake friends, Nadine and Liam, draped over the ladder up to Angel’s loft. Anne herself curled up beside Severus on the pull-out couch and they all slept soundly well into the next day.

June third, Jonas’ birthday. Jonas awoke in Ravenclaw house and realized to his delight that he had the best birthday present anyone could ask for- the first day without Voldemort was his own.

It took the staff and students until the sixth to restore the grounds. Lucius Malfoy was found in tree and carted off to Azkaban to await trial. There were no classes for the final week of school. The end of year feast arrived on June eleventh.

Albus rose and addressed the student body, “There is not a single one of you in this room of whom I am not proud. Each and every person who fought has truly discovered their skills as wizards and witches. We have quite a few end of year announcements, starting with Annelise Snape.” Anne rose, “As you can tell, I am pregnant- three months as of this week. This means that I will have a new little one around the house and will not be returning to teach next year. Instead, I have had a wonderful volunteer step forward to take my place. Zack Pitman will be teaching for one year and then he and Ginny will be leaving for Romania to study dragons. At this time, Mr. Ronald Weasley will be taking the position.” She sat down as Severus rose, “I also will not be returning to Hogwarts next year so that I might aid my wife in raising our youngest child. Taking my place will be Miss Riddle.” Jade stood to make an announcement on her own, “…who you will address as Mrs. Malfoy after this summer. My husband will be aiding me in the Lab.” Albus smiled, “We have a bright and glorious future ahead of us, let us each greet it in our own way. Let the feast begin.”

The students said their goodbyes on the twelfth, those who had been in Anne’s class telling her that she had no choice but to bring in her baby. Anne agreed gladly.

The staff departed on the fourteenth after resting all day on the thirteenth. The adventures against Evil had come to an end and Anne sighed happily as she prepared to enter into a great adventure of another kind- living in one place with her husband and newborn while Angel attended Hogwarts.

End of Part Nine