Chapter 1

Severus was listening to the Wizarding Wireless because there was to be a program featuring the Broomstick Boys talking about what they had gained in their year studying post NEWT studies at Prince Peak. Crys and Nils had been harder workers than Severus had expected; and he wanted to hear what they said.

Nils Tenor said, when asked,

"Well we weren't really there for our popular music; though of course studying music intensively we can't help but to have improved in our song crafting too. Also our voices have improved with the chanting training! It was an amazing experience, being with others of like mind, pushing the boundaries of what can be done with music in magic; and we are proud to be able to announce that our researches have helped towards a syllabus for a new OWL and possibly a NEWT in the subject. And working with such talented people as Godfrey Goodchild, Volodya Potishev, Seagh Snape and little Silvina Snape and all the other talented kids boosted us all because there was something we could each give, and so much to learn from each other even outside the directed study that Professor Snape put together for us" he laughed "And one problem we'd all been wrestling with, and were about to give up on at the end of term, and in blows Jade Snape with her son on her hip, listens to what we have to say, passed small Ralph to Crys, who sits there looking terrified; and Jade picks up a flute, blows a passage and says 'like that'; picks up her baby and blows out. It was an idea of Silvina's; a piece of music to protect against the Cruciatus Curse. Works too."

"You have tested it?" asked the interviewer.

"Yes; we had permission to use the cruciatus curse just to do so. It's going to work for labour pains too, so we're all getting together over the next few weeks to cut a record of it, to sell at cost price for those women who can't afford a midwife, and see about making sure that all communities have a gramophone that can be loaned out. And St Mungo's will be able to use it too."

"Well that's excellent!" said the interviewer "And you did too manage to write some popular works?"

"Yes" Crys answered "We have some music we've written for words from Mad Lockhart and Chad Fenwick; but we wrote a few of our own too."

"Yup!" agreed Nils "Hey, Sev, mate, if you're listening, now we're in England and you're in Austria so you can't poison us a little bit, here's our tribute to you" and he struck a chord on the guitar. He and Crys sang,

"He is the Cauldron Master

With his stirrer hard and long

Brewing up a potion

He makes it hot and strong

He is the Cauldron Master

And all his pupils know

There's no-one brews it quite like him

A cup of hot cocoa!"

Severus had listened to the beginning of this in horror and dismay; innuendo was all that was required to cause trouble for any schoolmaster. And then there was the last line and he laughed.

He was NOT in Austria as it happened but in London; and he listened to the rest of the interview, with tasters from upcoming new songs – the boys HAD improved no end – and apparated to the studio of the Wizarding Wireless to catch the pair coming out.

They pulled a face.

"Hi Sev" said Nils.

"Turn round the pair of you" said Severus. They turned and he clipped them both across the back of the head with two fingers.

They turned back laughing to embrace him warmly.

"He didn't like the song" laughed Crys.

"I worried about the thoughts of the parents" said Severus. "they – quite rightly – worry about the morals of their little flowers."

"Huh" said Nils "They don't need to; their delicate flowers are so delicate, not to say naïve, that I think they believe that even snogging is forbidden until they're over seventeen. VERY different to Hogwarts! Still, it was a relief, if also a bit of a shock, to be surrounded by teenage girls and NOT to have our clothes ripped off; as I recall the grand total of six queued for our autographs, and one of those only because she collects the autographs of the famous and told us politely that she'd never heard of us but that if Professor Snape rated us we must be worth collecting."

Severus groaned and laughed.

"I recognise Evadne Horrocks from THAT telling!" he said.

oOoOo

Severus was meeting Prudence Buffer and her parents for tea in town to follow up an impassioned owl delivered message from the girl asking to be permitted to take astronomy to NEWT under her own studies.

Prudence was no scholar as a general thing though she was a very competent potioneer – it was one of three subjects in which she had received 'O' grade at OWL. The rest were but 'A', barring one 'E' though she had no fails. However, she had studied Astronomy on her own time with aid from David Fraser and had done very well. In fact it was one of her 'O' grades. Apart from the fact that David had never himself taken the subject further than OWL, they were of course to be deprived of his presence this year since David had been named as successor by Albus Dumbledore and was thus taking over as Headmaster at Hogwarts with Albus having retired.

Prudence had both her parents in tow; her mother Severus recalled vaguely from Hogwarts as an approximate contemporary of his, a timid and much bullied Hufflepuff, who had left in a cloud of underachievement after OWLs – he had checked since, she had attained only five, though that meant nothing since the Weasley twins had no more and they were very successful indeed and had also managed a couple of NEWTs apiece – and she still treated him rather as though she was a twelve year old on the mat before him. Prudence's father was a Hellibore boy who was a solid 'A' student with a surprising flair for decorative woodwork who ran the cabinet making firm his father before him had set up, employing a large number of people under him including the muggle father of a Hogwarts student and a number of goblins with perfect amity in the workshop. Severus firmly shook hands.

"It will be harder than working with Professor Fraser, young Prudence" he said. "I can give you some tutorials; and I can let you have the use of my magical orrery. What else are you taking? Potions I assume and Divination?"

"Yes sir; and I thought as I got an 'E' in Care of Domestic Beasts I might take that as well; I might as well go for four."

"She's very clever, er, Severus" said Madam Buffer.

"More important she's a good hard worker" said Severus as Pru squirmed, knowing herself not to be clever by the standards of many at her school. "I have no doubt you'd have got plenty of OWLs and a sufficiency of NEWTs if we'd had a bit less friction in the school in our time, Pippa. The legacy of Tom Riddle is a couple of generations of damaged people and those who could have done better; you've raised an excellent daughter who is prepared to stand behind those who fight dark wizards and you should be as proud of her for that as for her academic achievements."

"It's partly to spite my Aunt Aggie" said Pippa honestly "She's always been so disparaging."

"And she only has two NEWTs" said Pru.

"Do NOT overreach yourself just to outdo her, young lady" said Severus "I shall be watching you; and if I feel you've bitten off more than you can chew I'll let you know in no uncertain terms; and insist you drop a subject. I think you can achieve an 'O' in both Potions and Divination, all being equal, if you put in the time; if doing four subjects brings down your performance I shall tell you so. Better to be outstanding at a few than mediocre at many, hmmm?"

"Well if I can GET 'O' in two it's still better than Great Aunt Aggie" said Prudence "But I would like to follow up what I'm interested in. And if I have to drop one, it would be care of beasts if you'll let me take Astronomy."

"I should like you to follow up what seems to be a subject you have a talent for" said Severus "You did better than David Fraser, as it happens – he was also studying Astronomy part time at Hogwarts – because he got an 'E' at OWL. I never took it to NEWT either; I found the study useful for its applications to Potioneering, but I tend to put in what astronomy a potioneer needs into the lessons and recommend good almanacs, which for most potioneers is more than sufficient. As you take Divination too that puts a different slant on it. And if you DO do well, I shall be looking to consider you as a possible future professor in the subject, though you may want to put in a year or two working away from school first."

"Gosh sir! That's awfully nice of you!" said Prudence. "I say, being Professor Buffer would probably give Great Aunt Aggie an apoplexy!"

"That ISN'T nice, poppet" laughed her father.

"Oh sometimes not being nice is awfully comforting when you have someone on your back" said Severus. "At least my dear this Great Aunt of yours isn't your parent or guardian."

"No; and what a relief THAT is!" said Pru. "She reared mummy because of deatheaters killing my grandparents!"

It took a few days for Pru to recall that statement and with Professor Snape's obvious understanding to suddenly wonder if he had been ridden by HIS parent or guardian; which when she discussed such a thought with her mother had Pippa exclaiming that it would explain why he had been such a solitary and snippy little boy and if only she had shared with him that being reared by Auntie Aggie was just as bad as his experience they might have been friends

And Prudence was happy because whilst he might have been a snippy little boy and a very stern headmaster, Professor Snape was ready to be flexible if you would meet him half way and promise to work hard! He had moreover asked her to help out a new girl who would be joining the sixth from Durmstrang. She was a girl called Frieda whose surname Pru could scarcely pronounce let alone remember, who had been brain damaged at birth because she stopped breathing while she was being born. Apparently she had, with help, struggled through four of whatever the Germans called OWLs. Frieda was to come to Prince Peak on the recommendation of Jade Snape – or rather Von Luytens as she now was – to be under the care of the small lower sixth class in the hope of getting one or two NEWTs and perhaps another OWL or two. Well Milos Milic in their form would be helpful; he had defected from Durmstrang, but how amazing it was that Professor Snape thought that the Headmistress of Durmstrang actually cared about the girl doing as well as she might! And now that Pru had heard that Clementine Gribble was definitely not coming back for the sixth there was nobody in the class likely to upset this girl Frieda, unless Leneli had one of her peculiar sulks. Though she was growing out of them; one would just have to hope that Frieda was not racist.

oOoOo

Severus was unaware that he was looking at all grim as he came back into the house in Orme Court; he was frowning to himself in concentration of hoping that he would not let Pru and her ambitions down over Astronomy because it meant a lot of working alone for her; and he would have to brush up his own knowledge to guide her! Sevnev however did notice and giggled; then sang to the tune of the second half of the Postman Pat theme,

"Everybody knows his deep dark scowl

All his pupils quail as they rise to greet him.

Maybe, you can never be sure,

There'll be whack, bonk,

You've been Gibbsed once mooooore"

And Severus Gibbsed his son lightly with two fingers.

"Ten out of ten for ingenuity and quick parody horrid brat" he said. "I'm scowling am I? Well it's because a girl needs me to be a tutor for a subject I'm rusty on and never took to NEWT and she wants to study that far."

"Oh that's what library work is for" said Sevnev airily "It's the second reason for having a library. The first is researching mischief of course."

"Well I dare say YOU'LL be a Marauder one day then" said Severus. "I'll go and poke around in Smith's secondhand bookshop; you're quite right" he added, ruffling Sevnev's hair and wondering if the lad would actually go back to being Severus formally at school or whether the childhood shortening of Severus Neville would stick.

oOoOo

It was a matter of some minor excitement to take possession of a portrait of one Eutropius Gaunt, wearing the Peverell ring in his portrait; David Fraser had acquired it for Krait from the auction house of the parent of a young muggleborn witch, and Severus took the Orme Court Hearse – the minibus that the New Marauders had done up as a hearse – to collect it and take his youngsters to meet young Coral Sneden.

He took Neesa Smith along as well so the half elf, half goblin child adopted by Anastasius and Grace Smith might know another little girl; since unless the muggleborn child was a tomboy, Sevvy and Tarquin would not have much in common with her. And as Coral kept fairies in her dolls' house Severus was glad to have made that decision!

Eutropius Gaunt was snippy, having lived in a muggle loft for a very long time; so Krait proceeded to offend him further by telling him in no uncertain terms what the Gaunts had come to; and challenging him to rise above the normal view of Gaunts by showing some degree of humanity and sanity. They were going to hang him somewhere in the Prince Peak school and Krait threatened to hang him near Cornelius Slytherin who was NOT fond of the Gaunts at all and resented his daughter having married one.

Eutropius descended into sullen silence which made, as Krait said, for a less stressful drive back to London with him.

oOoOo

Severus took the portrait of Eutropius out to Austria and met Jade there, taking a brief time off organising her own school to organise a weevil fest of her own. She had talked Herzog Eduard Von Frettchen into organising it and was collecting Yrdl's brother Reaz Breuer to add to Paul Ingate, Severus' ward to meet Zhenga Rebet, adopted daughter of her own potions' master, Fyra Gan Neric and Alrik Gan Torik, who she was herself sponsoring to meet the Ferret's new brother-in-law, Wilhelm Schmitt and his best friend Serrik gan Torgar. As most the others who were coming into the school were younger siblings of those already there, she also managed to persuade the parents of Bertha Jorkins-Kovaci, Bruno Accola and Lydia Grant to let their offspring attend; though the little brother of Saula Kim who had been at Durmstrang and who Saula thought would do better at Prince Peak would not come so far from Kazakhstan. It was time, Jade said, that Von Frettchen did for Europe what Lucius did in England and needed to be done before the bride dropped whatever ferret kitten or kittens she was carrying.

"You are a bad girl" said Severus.

Jade grinned.

"I had to fence with him a sight more than you when we were stealing him from Odessa" she said "I'm allowed to be rude about him. Besides, I told him how to go about finding a nice girl; and he took my advice and it worked very nicely."

"And you're still a bad girl" said Severus.

oOoOo

Fyra and Alrik held hands; they had grown up together and were almost like brother and sister even before they had been brought into the blood group to protect them inside the walls of scary Durmstrang castle.

And now they were going to school for themselves and meeting some of their schoolfellows ahead of time.

The part human child looked pugnacious.

"My name's Zhenga Rebet but I like to be called Zhen" she said. With short red hair she could have passed as a boy quite easily.

"That's fine" said Fyra "I'm Fyra; this is Alrik. Do you know Frau Von Luytens too? We've been learning from her."

"She helped my mum give birth" said Zhenga "'Cos I got a new little sister. Now I have a proper dad and I can use his name" and she put up her chin.

"It sounds a human name and you don't use 'gan'" said Alrik.

"My mum's a half breed" said Zhenga defiantly.

"I guess that's not important so long as she loves you and so does your new dad" said Fyra "I don't have a mum; she died along with a baby that took too long to come; there's only my dad and my little brother."

"That's tough" said Zhenga. "It's wrong that people don't let goblins and part goblins use midwifery potions and spells; my mum's a potioneer and she's going to go around with human and goblin bodyguards and give people contraceptive and midwifery potions; Frau Von Luytens is paying for it. And she's to train to teach others. I'm going to be a potioneer too; one of the most famous people in the world is the potioneer Severus Snape and he's our headmaster!" she added awed.

"And he's Frau Von Luytens dad too!" said Fyra. "I say, we've been introduced to two others; will you come and meet them? We're a bit short of girls so I'm jolly glad to have you to be friends with, and both of us speaking German too so it'll be nice to talk in our own language; we have to learn French and English too; Alrik and me have learned a little."

"My daddy has taught me English and German because most potioneering books are written in those languages; I'm Ukrainian" said Zhenga "Who are these others?"

Paul Ingate and Reaz Breuer were already friends from growing up around the Prinzhorn together; and Reaz explained that he had a goblin dad but had adopted his and his siblings' sponsor's surname because it was originally to protect them and now because they were all so proud of her; and that their dad also used it as a surname.

"Except that it's not so appropriate for me because I haven't made much of a showing yet at potions; but I DO like metalwork – dad's a cauldron maker and he does tourist metalwork too – so when we get a metalwork teacher NEXT year I should be all right in at least one subject! I really want to do well enough not to let down Aunt Anett and my big sisters because I'm the oldest boy."

The children were presented formally to the other human and goblin pair of friends by the tall, aristocratic man; Wilhelm and Serrik grinned as they made their bows.

"We're looking to get into trouble as well as to learn lots" said Wilhelm.

"Oh, is it your ambition to be marauders?" asked Fyra.

"YOU know about Marauders?" said Reaz.

"There are Marauders too at Durmstrang where we have lived" said Alrik. "It is jolly; and serious also, because Marauders get into mischief to practise fighting dark wizards; the older ones at Durmstrang had some nasty people to fight last year, a wicked uncle and too an undead thing that killed loads of muggles to keep sort of alive."

"This Marauding sounds good" said Wilhelm "My brother in law, Eduard, fought Odessa. And he puts right wrongs as well, he found out that people ignore building regulations and he and my sister bully ministry people."

"That's worth doing in any country" said Paul. "Uncle Severus says the ministry will wriggle like a maggot on a line to get out of doing anything they don't want to."

"Graphic if disgusting" said a small girl who had just arrived "Lydia Grant; I'm the youngest of a huge array of Grants from Prince Peak and I say, are there any brooms here to play quidditch? Nothing like a good game to break the ice! I have Bertha somewhere with me, her family have gone to Prince Peak for a couple of generations too and she has marauding brothers – you WERE talking about Marauders weren't you? – though she isn't sure she'd want to Maraud."

"I don't think I do; my stars don't recommend me taking undue risks" said Bertha following on behind Lydia "Though of course I support what Marauders stand for and I SHALL join the MSHG."

This was quickly explained and Fyra and Alrik looked at each other and said

"OH, like the English Custom Club."

"Is this all the year?" asked Lydia "I know some years are a bit small; there are nine of us which isn't bad."

"There's three more to come but only one of them's joining us here" said Paul, who knew most of such things as Severus' ward "One is a long way away in one of the Stans sort of a long way east and he has a sister at Durmstrang and the other is a boy from Sweden who's an artist and nobody knows him yet. We're missing a Swiss boy whose sisters are already at school."

"Well it will be easier to be friendly to newcomers if we already know each other" said Fyra equably "Just four girls then? Oh well, we shall have to SOUND as though we outnumber you boys then."

"Sounds good" agreed Zhenga "We shan't let them beat us!"

Once brooms had been found, the final child had turned up, half goblin Bruno Accola whose parents were actually married, a strange state of affairs to Zhenga, who was only just getting used to the idea that her human dad was actually prepared to marry someone not fully human. Bruno was a merry youth who knew Paul and Reaz a little from their visits to Switzerland on holiday trips.

Alrik joined the girls for a five a side quidditch match and the girls and Alrik trounced the boys. Partly because of the blood bond between Fyra and Alrik and partly because Lydia was really rather good, more than making up for Zhenga being rather unhandy on a broom; of the boys only Wilhelm was any good, but it did not matter because they were all having fun together.

It was all good fun; meeting people and exploring the German Duke's extensive and beautiful castle and even being scolded by his house elves for being too close to beautiful and priceless treasures whenever they were indoors. But most of the children were glad to go back to their respective homes.

As Zhenga confided to Fyra, it was tough being away from home and she missed mummy and little Nefrina and she would be away for most of the next few years.

Fyra nodded; and explained how she and Alrik had missed home because of being the safeguards of their community, because if they did not receive letters every week from their fathers, Frau Von Luytens – or Fraulein Von Strang as she was then – would know to punish those who had been wicked. Frau Von Luytens was also Jade Snape, daughter of Professor Snape, and she had pretended to be Fraulein Von Strang to help bring down Odessa and it was all quite complex; but it was also a Marauder thing. Fyra and Zhenga, Alrik, Wilhelm and Serrik were determined to Maraud. Reaz was not sure; Paul smiled and said Ingates were supporters not marauders and the other two girls were undecided. Bruno was also cautiously keen; his sister Roseli was not a marauder but said they were cool; and his stuffy oldest sister Leneli, who was to be a prefect this year, was also in a year of marauders and said they were rough and noisy. Which description from Leneli was almost enough to make Bruno want to Maraud on its own.

Zhenga thought that with friends as close as it seemed Marauders were supposed to be it would make being away from mummy easier; and it was nice to think that as mummy would be living with daddy in the school where HE was to be teaching there would be no risk from the crime bosses and pimps so at least she need not worry about mummy. And Professor Snape was a friend of Daddy and they respected each other so it was almost as though there was kind of sort of family nearby.

And she was NOT going to be homesick because she was a big girl of eleven.

oOoOo

Darryl Zabini was going to miss not so much home – Prince Peak WAS his home now – but Mimi Snape. And though this was his last year, it was another whole year after that before she would finish school. Still, he had his NEWTs to concentrate on, and coming to terms with the fact that the Lowther twins and cronies would actually be in the sixth form and almost responsible adults – a scary thought! The Lowthers and their cronies Rory and Randolph would too have to make three new lower sixths welcome; Mungo Fraser, who Darryl knew from Hogwarts, who was transferring rather than be in a school where his adoptive father was headmaster; the kid from Durmstrang that Severus had asked him to keep an eye out for, who had brain damage; and a young man who had only five OWLs – or rather ZPs – not because he was lacking but because those were all the local school offered. He was to be a quaestor, or Anwalt as the Germans called their legal advisors. Darryl had volunteered to run through with this lad Marius what he had covered in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, both of which Marius hoped to take to NEWT; and Percy Weasley would talk to him about history. Marius wanted to take a ZH in European History and Severus was happy to have in German examiners to facilitate that, or have the lad take the exam in Durmstrang, whichever seemed best at the time. Marius could not prove a pure enough bloodline to be accepted at Durmstrang, and was ineligible to go there to study but he was one of Jade's protégés. Darryl grinned. Snapes always had protégés. The brain damaged girl was one of her projects too and had been wished firmly onto Pru Buffer who was a good sort and not too academic to scare the poor kid. And Pru was a prefect too now; and at least the lower sixth would have healthy numbers with the addition of these three, with eleven in; and two more boys for the Yule ball a trivial reason to want plenty of boys in the girl-heavy upper forms but not one to be ignored. There were four of each of them in the upper sixth and for the first time the boys outnumbered the girls in the lower sixth which was just as well since ten of the sixteen in the fifth were girls. At least his blood brother Victor Crabbe would be available as a spare, staying on to do post NEWT work; as was Seagh Snape, still researching music in magic, but likely to find a subsequent engagement rather than dance at the Yule Ball! Seagh was snide enough to make Oscar Wilde's comments sound perfectly natural coming from him as quotes and one could easily imagine him telling ministry control of import officials that he had nothing to declare but his genius as much as declaring that he was unavailable for having a subsequent engagement.

And Darryl, Victor and Seagh worked well together; and Darryl wondered, when Mimi left school, whether they would work together either as freelance fighters against the remnants of Odessa or in setting up another free school, especially if Victor and Seagh met any special ladies.

He strongly suspected that Seagh was interested in one Traudl Mondshein, one of the German bloodgroup; who also had fey blood. Traudl was teaching in Jade's school and there was not a dedicated senior chanting professor save Jade herself so maybe Seagh would be lost to them. Or whether if they did work together, Jade would just replace her Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. Well that all remained to be seen.

And before all that they were to go to England for the season's weddings; Lucius Malfoy and wives presiding over the marriages of anyone who was anyone in the wizarding world, even if those who were merely socialites and had not fought Voldemort did not understand some of their choices of young couples to launch.

Nobody would question Lydia Snape marrying Viktor Krumm; Lydia was a Malfoy as well as Severus' adopted daughter; and Viktor Krumm was big enough news at any time for being a sports hero. And that his half brother was also marrying one of Severus' wards, Helga Von Strang would be considered reasonable, two brothers getting married together, even if they had never heard of the younger one. Mei Chang to Mad Lockhart was also going to go down well; the Changs were an old and respected family, and the Lockharts were on the fringes of society. Lucius was known to have become friendly with the Arthur Weasleys, so launching Arthur's young cousin Theo in his wedding to Peronel Pettigrew would not raise too many eyebrows; and most people would have forgotten who Peter Pettigrew was and how he had been a deatheater.

What the skirters would find it hard to understand would be Lucius' launch of nobodies like Shona Moorcroft and Nigel Clough, families from the wrong sort of neighbourhoods; that he did it as a favour to Severus because Shona and Nigel were some of the most able potioneers he had taught in Hogwarts before moving to Prince Peak would puzzle such snobs. And what would shock them outright would be the marriage of Kreacher the elf to Polly, first elf in Hogwarts and a marauder with Lydia, Mei, Mad, Chad, Leo and Mort. And naturally Lydia, Mei and Polly wanted to get married together. And from Lucius' point of view it was a statement; that elves were people too. And Kreacher would enjoy posturing; he had become such a style nazi since he had accepted freedom and so wore clothes! He had even asked Lydia to brew him a potion to enable him to grow facial hair; that, once cut to the length he wanted did not grow any further because it was not a natural growth. He had a rather Mephistophelian beard and moustache and it actually looked good on him; and Polly loved him for his rebellious nature and desire to be different. They would take the surname 'Black'; because Kreacher was Sirius' much loved brother. And the name settled on Polly and her parents, Kirrin, would not die because Polly had a small brother called Drax because Draco Malfoy had sorted out their inheritance.

Yes it should be fun at the weddings, seeing how much outrage there was amongst those who considered themselves out of the top drawer and yet really had very little idea at all of all that went on behind the scenes.

oOoOo

Before the weddings would be the World Cup; and their very own David Fraser to referee the game between Portugal and Poland. Bulgaria had suffered the retirement of several players besides Viktor though there were a good number of young players coming up; Bulgaria would be great again. And at least, thought Darryl, Brazil was also out, knocked out by Portugal and leading to disgraceful scenes of violence that had earned Brazil a banning for the next three World Cups. He was looking forward to going to the World Cup; Severus was taking all his children and wards and dependants to support David; in fact they were to go in the Prince Peak helicopter. It was a good job it was a great deal bigger on the inside than the outside! And Viktor and Lydia were going together; and Darryl had teased that they were taking their honeymoon before the wedding.

"And why not?" said Viktor "Both of us teaching a selection of brats, we shall hardly have the chance to have one afterwards!"

"And I AM good enough to brew appropriate potions" said Lydia "We plan to be married for the year round before we think of a family; so no unscheduled sprogs for us!"

Darryl laughed.

"And from anyone but a Snape that would be time for a comment about hope triumphing over expectation; but I have no doubt you really will manage to plan your family!"

"As Mimi will" said Lydia.

Mimi and Darryl both blushed!

It WAS as well that they were to be separated for a while yet; Darryl looked into the loving eyes of his beloved and diminutive betrothed and knew that both had far to much ingenuity not to manage to jump the gun if they were both at school together!

Well, they should do their best to be good when NOT separated; and if they could not be good, Mimi could be skilful. Not that Darryl was at all poor at potions; he was on line for an 'O' grade at NEWT. But Mimi had the touch of having grown up with the world's pre-eminent potioneer!

And anyone who was at school under him was fortunate indeed.