HELLO! Thank you to everyone who decides to read this book. I am publishing the first chapter today to honour the Battle of Hogwarts, as tomorrow (May 2nd) is the anniversary. Of course, the Battle of Hogwarts isn't for several Victoria books yet.

Prelude: Though this is the second book in the series, I have written it so you do not need to read book one. (Just like JKR wrote some of her books so it was okay to not start at the beginning of the series)

Beginning Again

Victoria Snape sat in her window sill, in her room at the newly named Snape Manor. Silver cushions supported her back as she relaxed on the soft green seat. In her hands was her birthday card for half brother, Harry.

Harry!
Happy Birthday! I decided to send you two gifts. The first is a first-aid potions set. These potions will heal cuts and stuff. After all the trouble you got into last year in the Chamber of Secrets, I figured you could use one! Oh, and I managed to get a vial a Phoenix tears for the set too! The second gift is a picture of Mum with me as a newborn. I don't think you've ever seen a baby picture of me.

Because of Dumbledore, Victoria thought bitterly. Dumbledore kept me away from my only family: my brother and my father.

Victoria gazed out her window, to see her parents sitting by an oak tree in the vast yard. Severus and Lily, together at last. Victoria's mother had been in a coma since Voldemort had come to Godric's Hollow that fateful Halloween. Not having wanted to anger one of his loyal servants, The Dark Lord had attempted to knock Lily out, assuming it would kill her anyway because of the power of his magic. Dumbledore kept her hidden away in a special private ward in St Mungo's. Harry still didn't know that their mother was alive, or awake, as Lily had been since Christmas morning.

But Lily still had contact with her son. She had become the official substitute teacher (under the influence of polyjuice potion) and would assist other teachers during lessons Harry was in.

"arf!" Maxi, her dog, barked to get her attention.

"One minute," Victoria said, sealing the card in an envelope, and giving it to her father's owl. The owl took off, out the window, and Victoria turned to Maximus.

"You've come for lunch, haven't you? Let's go then, I've got to feed you and Nagini."

Victoria headed down the stairs with Maxi, hand skimming the top of the railing as she counted the steps to the bottom. From there she headed to the cooler side of the mansion, where Nagini spent her days.

Victoria took a Hyfina (a magical animal with a week lifespan, and rat like breeding habits) and tossed it into Nagini's territory. "Working on the potion, Nagini, I promise! I'll find a way to speak Parseltounge."

Backing out of the enclosure, Victoria found a bowl of ground beef in the "Pet Food" fridge, and covered it in shredded cheese.

"Your favourite, Victoria said, setting the bowl down.

Maxi barked his thanks before moving to eat his meal.

As Victoria walked away from the animals she found her smile fading. She missed Ginny and Luna. And Kylen. Kylen would be in his fourth year at Hogwarts. Would he feel he was too old to spend time with her? It didn't help that he hadn't written to her over the summer.

It's not like you were dating or anything. You're just friends. He doesn't have to write.

Just friends. That was funny. Kylen was the only person besides her, Severus, and Dumbledore who knew that Lily was alive. Kylen was the one Victoria practiced and experimented with Dark Magic with. She was in love with Kylen, and she knew it. She had inherited her father's passion and it had already taken over her heart.

Sighing, Victoria moved back to her spot on the window. She picked up her green journal, a Christmas gift from her father. Opening it to the first page she wrote:

Things Kylen doesn't know.

Under that she wrote:

Lies I've told, and truths I haven't told.

She turned the page.

1. I'm a terrible person because I lie to him so much

Victoria sighed. If she ever managed to let him see this book he would already know that. The big stuff first. If you're ever going to end up in a proper relationship he'll need to know everything.

Victoria glanced over to her set of rings that Kylen had given her. Priceless, rare rings which gave her extra magical powers, should her own not suffice, to be on the safe side, or to add to her abilities. Lately Victoria had been wearing the golden gemed ring. If she let it's power surround her it gave her a feeling like she was being lifted out of her own body, to a secure and happy place. She only used it when she was alone, because she knew her father would be upset to know she felt the need to use that. When she went around the manor she wore the sky-blue ring, which allowed her to fly without attempting dark magic. Usually she was good with dark magic… she, like her father, had entered Hogwarts knowing more dark magic than many 7th years… yet lately it had been difficult for her.

Focus! Victoria reprimanded herself, and turned back to the diary.

2. I was there when Harry destroyed the diary and the basilisk

3. I could have died because I opened my eyes when the basilisk was there (but Dumbledore's Phoenix had destroyed the eyes already)

Am I putting that one in there for pity? Does it count now? Will it ever even matter anymore?

4. I used the imperious curse to get Harry to destroy the diary (but that was the only way to save Ginny without revealing myself)

Victoria scratched behind her right ear, then looked around again. The clear ring, the ring of invisibility, was on the bedside table, there for easy access if she needed to go out. Invisibility was the best defence, in her opinion, if something were to happen while away from the house, and while her magic was finicky.

5. I don't really understand History of Magic that well. I cheated on my essay, I found the ones that father had written and rewrote them. I can't focus when Binns teaches! I don't mind some of it but some times I just don't get it and can't say it because I don't want someone to think that I'm stupid. I don't want you to think that I'm stupid. That would be the worst. I do like history though… some of it.

Victoria gazed out her window again. An owl flew down with a large bundle, headed for her parents. It suddenly occurred to her, just how lucky she was that her parents were together. If James hadn't died, then Harry and him would have known she was in the hospital in a coma, and would have been the first to know of her awakening. James may have even taken her off life support.

Victoria noted that her father was scowling at a letter, while her mother was spinning gleefully with the rest of the package, rather childishly. But it was wonderful to see her mother moving, after all those years in a coma.

The package must have been from Dumbledore, Victoria decided, and she gazed back at the notebook. Rereading what she had wrote, Victoria scowled and looked away again. Nothing she had written was right. It didn't make anything better; it was pathetic. Juvenile. She was lying to Kylen, and then trying to justify it to him. Like he would care, once he knew. And after all he had done… and given her those rings.

Victoria sighed dramatically, more to let out her own frustrations, then put the book aside. She paused by a mirror, and deciding herself presentable headed downstairs, letting her hand trail down the cherry oak railing of the spiral staircase which led to the main exit into the yards.

"Dad, Mum!" Victoria called to them.

"Victoria!" her mother gushed, running forward. Severus stood smirking in the background, as Lily acted like the twenty year old she had been when falling into a coma. Age differences didn't matter in the wizarding world, but knowing that Severus and Lily were the same age often presented amusement to the former when the later acted in youthful manners. Lily was of the opinion that Severus was holding himself too strictly, and took no notice of herself thereafter.

"Remus will be teaching at Hogwarts this year… that will be professor Lupin to you… but it will be perfect! … and we can ask him to be your Godfather."

Lily's voice sounded like a song as she spoke. "Remus was always a great friend… you'll love him Victoria."

Victoria gazed up at her father just in time to see him hide a scowl. "I think Ann and Rod are coming over for supper again—"

"Sev–er–us! Don't change the subject. All we need is Narcissa and then we can arrange your baptism and—"

"And I've still never met either of them," Victoria cut in, "that ought to happen before we plan anything. And maybe they won't agree— they can't know you're alive anyways, mum."

Lily paused. "Oh, right. Well, we'll figure something out."

"Of course," Severus said, "but for now, let us get ready for another–" and here he dropped his voice, "awkward, dinner."