Carefully opening the door to Harry’s dorm, Cash’s body was tensed and ready to attack anything that moved. Unfortunately, the first thing that moved was a rather large toad belonging to one of Harry’s classmates. “Bloody Hell” Cash swore as he shook the goo off of his hand “I’ll be paying for this one” he grimaced as he looked over to the form of the sleeping boy he had seen carrying the toad through the school. “Great, just great. I come to keep my clan safe and kill Trevor the Toad.. Oiy, I’m gonna burn in hell for this one, I can just see it.”

Grabbing an errant towel that one of the boys had left draped over the edge of the bed, Cash quickly wiped of his hand and gathered up the evidence of his lightening quick reflexes. “I promise, I’ll make it up to you.” he whispered as he walked pass Neville’s bed on his way to check on Harry. Cash sighed deeply as he watched Harry sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the danger that was closing in on them. “You look just like your mother when you sleep, it’s the only time she stays out of trouble too.”

Cash silently sat down on Harry’s bed and ran his fingers through the young man’s hair as he smiled tenderly at his descendant. “I wonder if you have any idea at all how proud your mum is of you? You’re all she ever writes home about, did you know that Harry? And the smile she gets on her face when she sees you” Cash shook his head “it’s nothing short of amazing. You’re a good kid Harry, and you deserve a family, a real family. I’m trusting you’d be satisfied calling Sirius da.” he whispered as he gently kissed Harry’s forehead. Standing up Cash took another long look at Harry, “Don’t you worry about anything Harry. Your great-great-great-whatever- uncle is going to make sure everything works out the way it should.”

Cash took great care to check every nook and cranny of the dorm before he left, and cast a protection charm over the door just for good measure. “Now, to find that father of yours” Cash sighed “this would be so much easier if I could hear someone’s thoughts besides Olia’s.” Cash paused for a moment as a thought struck him “Olia? Do you know where Sirius is?” After a brief silence a voice whispered in his ear, with a huge smile on his face, Cash took off towards Angel’s room, hoping Olia’s spirit was correct. . . .

Severus was overcome with emotion as he gazed adoringly at Catri’s sleeping form. He had half thought the whole night had been nothing more than a dream. He felt delirious as he realized that the night of passion they had shared had been real. And it had exceeded every expectation he had ever dare dreamed of. Sev gently brushed her hair off of her face as he tenderly caressed her cheek, he held his breath as he heard her sigh softly and nuzzle against him. He held her in his arms as he drifted off to sleep, his mind whirling as he thought about their future and his dream. . . .

Cash stood in the doorway, a bittersweet smile on his face as he watched Sirius sleeping in Angel’s bed. He seemed so peaceful as he lay in her bed, not his usual state of affairs; Cash had realized early on that Sirius never slept well, how many times had he popped in to check on the wizard, only to see the man’s body convulse and hear the tormented whimpers of pain and horror coming from his friend’s sleeping form. Cash shook his head as he recalled all the stories Remus and Albus had told him of Azkaban, how could anyone send Sirius to such a place, and how did he ever manage to survive without losing his mind and soul to the despair.

Walking quietly to the bed, Cash reached out and barely touched Sirius’s face, allowing the wizard’s thoughts and emotions to enter into him. Cash nearly cried as he felt the intense love in Sirius’s heart for both Angel and Harry, they were indeed the entire world to the man, his sole reason for continuing the fight. Brushing away some of Sirius’s straggly hair, Cash felt a new rush of thoughts enter his mind, Sirius was dreaming again, only this time there was no torture, no dementors, no pain. It was a dream of his past life with Angel, how happy they had been, how safe and secure they had felt in their love. Cash smiled tenderly as he watched the dream unfold in his head, Harry was there now, sharing in the love and warmth of his new family.

Cash bent down and gently pressed his lip to Sirius’s head, “I swear to you my friend, I will see this happen. I will see you her husband if it is the last thing I ever do. She should be in your arms, your bed, just as she is in your heart. And I promise you, she still holds you deep within her heart as well. She loves you Sirius, not him, not the way a husband needs a wife to love him.” . . .

“But if you’re right, and the sea is represented by Sirius, who is the earth?” Orpha asked as she looked at the lists and rough sketches that Tristessa had provided them. “If we assume the werewolf has no part in this, and at this point I am NOT willing to count him out, then how does this Severus fit in?”

Maharet knit her brow as she thought over everything Tristessa had told them. “You say he teaches potions, is that right?” she watched as Tris nodded. “Is there any reason that *needs* to be taught in the dungeons?”

Orpha rolled her eyes “Isn’t that stretching it a bit dear?” she asked “He’s bound to the earth because he teaches under it?”

“Or within it” Maharet responded “depending on how you look at it.”

“I still say it’s a stretch. I’m voting for Sirius and Remus, I think it makes the most sense. And how does Catriana’s son fit in with the air? His broom? I think not.” Orpha deadpanned “And what is ‘that’ look for Tristessa?”

Shaking her head and laughing, Tris replied “I was just thinking of what Cash would say on the subject. As much as he adores the wizard Sirius, he despises Severus. Cash has made it well known that he intends for Sirius and our little girl to marry.”

“Oh really? And since when does a man dictate such things?” Maharet questioned as her eyes grew dark. “I don’t care if he is the Greenman, its is NOT for him to decide.”

“Shush, Maharet” Orpha chided her, “it’s not like Cash to take to outsiders. Tell me again what you know of Sirius Black and his relationship to Cash and Catriana. . .”

Severus awoke to a bright and cheerful morning, it had been ages since he had slept so late into the morning, but then again, he could never remember having such a wonderful reason to stay in bed before either. Carefully sliding himself out from Catri’s warm embrace, he shivered as he felt the chilly morning air against his skin. Grabbing a dressing gown, Sev quickly slipped it on as he gazed dreamily at Catri. His mind ran wild with ideas of how he would propose to her, if there had even been a sliver of doubt in his mind about making her his wife, last night had completely obliterated it. Dozens of romantic fantasies filled his head as he recalled the dream of his new family, it would be so nice to see this house, his family’s ancestral home, filled with love and happiness. Not wanting to wake her, Sev quietly left the bedroom and walked downstairs, he paused midway down the stairs as a vivid flash of last nights dream flashed through his memory. He had tore down these very same steps last night, only to find his wife and children in the salon.

Smiling warmly, Severus made his way to the salon. He opened the pocket doors and shook his head, he had almost expected it to be filled with toys. Looking up over the fireplace, he saw the portrait of his mother, Serena Snape. She had been so beautiful, too bad his father had never appreciated her beauty or kindness, he had only been interesting in her power. Severus stared at the painting of his mother holding a rose as she smiled softly at him, reaching up, he gently touched the canvas, feeling a terrible pang of loneliness over her loss. It had been nearly twelve years and he still felt the emptiness her death had left within him, aside from Catri and his precious daughter Serenity, she had been the only other person he ever felt he could trust with his heart. She had done everything she could to protect him, and in the end, had paid with her life to keep him alive, to give him a chance at a new life.

Severus sighed deeply, wishing he could speak with her again, he had always been able to talk to her, to confide his deepest fears and hopes to her. If only he had been a better son, if he had been stronger, maybe she would still be alive, maybe his father’s temper wouldn’t have ended her life. Sev cringed as he recalled rushing through the doors of this very house when he heard his mother’s screams, only to see his father striking her repeatedly, not that that was anything new. But this time there had been a madness in his eyes that Sev had never seen before, and something else. . .fear.

“Mother, if only you could be here now. I have finally won her away from them. She is with me now, I know how much you adored her, you always told me how lovely and sweet she was. We are together now, and I intend to make her my wife. I want to begin again, have a family. . .I swore one day this house would know kindness and love, I just wish you and Serenity could be here to share in it.” He blinked as the tears welled in his eyes, gods how he missed them. . .

Sirius woke as the bright sunlight streamed in through the tall windows. He smiled warmly as the scent of Cat filled him with peaceful and loving thoughts, that was until he realized she wasn’t there, or more precisely, where she was.

“Don’t let it concern you my friend” Hamish smiled, he didn’t need to read the wizard’s mind to know what he was thinking. “Cash is positive things will chance quickly when Angel realizes you are not spoken for. In fact, he’s already planning the wedding, he told me he’d leave the honeymoon up to you.” he winked as the wizard blushed.

“Does Cash know I slept here?” Sirius asked as he felt his cheeks turn crimson under Hamish’s searching eyes.

“Now what do you think?” Hamish teased as he grinned widely. He paused as he gave the wizard a critical look-over “Well, she’ll need to fix you up a bit, do something with that mess you call hair, put some meat on your bones, . . .but I agree with Cash, you would make a wonderful husband for her, and a good father for Harry.”

“Nice to know I have her clan’s approval” Sirius smiled back “now all I need is hers. Hey, where is Cash? I thought if anyone would be left to harass me it would be him.” He watched as Hamish’s normally cheerful demeanor darkened considerably. “There was an attack last night, Sirius” he placed a reassuring hand on the wizard’s shoulder as the wizard nearly sprang out of the bed. “Calm down, Harry wasn’t involved, however Olia is dead.”

“What?! How?” Sirius asked as he twisted out of Hamish’s grasp. Jumping out of bed, he pulled on his boots, asking testily. “Why didn’t anyone get me?”

“There was nothing you could do, there was nothing any of us could do. Its that cursed Tremere. ..” Hamish snarled “He’s placed spells around the school, we can’t even hear each other, not just Kindred to Kindred, but even my own Clan is silent. Olia sacrificed herself to end the spell, but the effects won’t dissipate for a few more hours. Hopefully in time to call Angel.”

“NO!!” Sirius gasped, “You can’t call her, she and Harry are probably his first targets,. . .” Sirius became suddenly quite when he saw the look on Hamish’s face. “What aren’t you telling me Hamish?”

Hamish hung his head, avoiding Sirius’s piercing glare, “Cash has stood watch over Harry and instructed me to watch over you. The Tremere told him he would kill Angel’s son first, he wants to see her driven mad by the grief and guilt.”

Sirius hardly heard Hamish yelling after him as he bolted out of Cat’s room, he was heading towards Gryffindor Tower. His insides tightened with dread and terror, what if Hamish was wrong? What if something had happened to Harry? Sirius felt a soul-chilling shiver settle over his heart, he couldn’t even bear to think about it. Shifting shape as he ran, Snuffles sped through the nearly empty corridors, he had to make sure Harry was safe, he needed to see him with his own eyes . . ..

Severus startled as he felt a pair of warm hands circle around his waist, he melted as he realized it was Catri. He felt her lips press against the soft silk of his dressing gown as she kissed him through the fabric. He could not help but smile when he looked at her, she was wearing his shirt from last night, her hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back. Lifting his arm so Catri could stand next to him, he squeezed her tenderly as he recalled the weekend she had spent in this house when they were students. “She always spoke of you, and especially your voice, you all but mesmerized her when you sang,” Severus said softly as he stared at the portrait, “you made quite an impression on her. She always referred to you as enchanting, very high praise from her. ”

Catri looked up into the indigo eyes of Mrs. Snape and smiled, she had been such a sweet woman, but so timid, she almost seemed afraid to be in her own home. “She was so pretty, and so sweet, although she did keep insisting I sing for her, she said it reminded her of her sister.” Catri remarked as she remembered Mrs. Snape playing the piano while she sang several arias, she had felt very silly at first, but Sev’s mother was such a dear, Catri simply could not say no to her requests.

“She had a sister?” Sev asked as he stared at Catri “Father told us she was an orphan, no family at all. In fact, he was rather adamant on that point.” Sev added as he remembered the night he had questioned his father about a comment he had overheard Lucius’s father make at one of the weekly “social events” he had been forced to attend.

Catri shrugged her shoulders, “I’m fairly certain that’s what she said. Although it has been years….

Sev felt Catri press herself against him, sharing in his warmth. Merlin’s beard how he longed to take her again. He looked into Catri’s eyes and was certain she felt the same longing he did. Turning to face her, Sev wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her deeply while running his hands over her curves. He felt her sigh into him as she returned his kiss with the same passion she had shown the night before. “Catri” Sev sighed as he felt her untying the belt of his dressing gown, he found it hard to believe any woman could be so passionate. Running his hands up her legs, he quickly realized the ‘only’ thing Catri was wearing was his shirt. He felt his flesh grow hard once more, springing to life as her nimble fingers found the prize she was searching for.

Not wanting to take her on the floor, Severus lifted her in his arms and carried her to the couch, laying her down as he pushed his shirt up over her hips. He watched as she began to undo the fastenings of the shirt, revealing her full breast and pert nipples as he shrugged out of the dressing gown. Positioning himself upon her, he began to kiss her neck, relishing the response of her body to his touch. He rose up slightly to look at her, good heaven’s but she was lovely, and ever so willing to share herself, share her love with him. Severus cupped her breasts in his hands, massaging them as he enjoyed the arching of her back and the motion of her hips against his rigid desire.

“Please Severus” Catri sighed, “I want to feel you inside me again.” she whispered as she kissed his lips. Taking pleasure from being in a man’s arms once more, it had been far too long since she had been able to feel this close to anyone. She felt a nagging in the back of her mind as she thought of Remus’s cruel words of last night, it was true, she did still love Sirius, but what was she supposed to do about it? After all, he was married, albeit to the most whorish woman on the planet, and they both looked like hell for it. But Severus loved her, and she was fond enough of him to know she would be able to be a good wife to him. And if the past few hours were any indication, becoming pregnant should be no problem at all. . .

Severus embraced Catri, panting heavily, feeling his heart pounding in his chest, but smiling all the same. He could not even raise his head any more, he simply rested it against her stomach, to exhausted to move. Three times and they hadn’t even had breakfast yet. By the gods, he never thought it could be like this. He had never even heard of any woman who craved affection and contact like she did, much less be fortunate enough to hold her in his arms. “Are you alright Sev?” he heard her ask, in response he kissed her belly softly, and tightened his arms around her. “I am not entirely sure my dear. But I promise, if I die, it will be with a smile on my lips.” He grinned as he felt her laugh, even in his wildest dreams he had never thought life could be so wonderful, or that he would ever know such joy and contentment as he did at this very moment. He had almost dozed off when he was startled by a strange growling sound.

Lifting up his head, he looked at Catri with a smirk on his face “Hungry are we?” he asked, already knowing the answer. . . .