Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, if I owned the Harry Potter series books 4-7 would not have been written in the way they were.

Author's Note: I have completed this story, as a rule I never like publishing a story without completing it. There is some debate on whether or not to write a sequel. If I do write one, know I will not publish it until it is at least 90% of the way done, mostly so I dont end up torturing my readers by long periods of not posting. I will post a chapter a week or so at a time. Two chapters will possibly be posted in the same week. This story is only 7 chapters long. I love reading reviews, even if it's just one word so please tell me what you think.

Summary: Not all things are clear cut, black and white, good and bad, right and wrong.

I'd like to dedicate this story to my best friend Patty and my cousin Monica, without their support I dont know if I'd have continued writing stories as long as I have. Thank you guys, you mean the world to me.

Chapter One

Does He Love Me?

May 21, 1979

The camera flash blinded them all for a brief moment before Sirius burst into laughter while the camera man readied another shot. "So when's the divorce?" James took a swipe at him but his best friend and best man ducked. "How much did he pay you to marry him, Lily? I need to know how much it will cost for me to get a wife," he joked to the beautiful red-head at his side.

"Like any woman would be stupid enough to marry you," Helen Thatcher said shifting the weight of her nearly one-year-old daughter, Bethany.

Sirius looked wounded as the camera man called for their attention. "Yes, yes, very amusing, please only three more pictures and then we are done." The exasperated man said. The group laughed before the flash blinded them once again. The gray-haired hunchbacked man spoke again. "Now I need all the bridesmaids and groomsmen,"

"That means you too, Helen!" called Lily firmly as the woman how had been half hiding behind the camera man took a step back.

"But I wasn't—"

"You were too!" Sirius said jumping off the platform and grabbing her by the arm. "Come along now, mon belle,"

Helen made a face at him as he led her towards the platform. "It's 'ma belle,' for the feminine version, if you're going to use French use it properly."

"Je regretté, tu est très, très belle," He bowed low, her hand in his.

She snorted and Bethany squealed and leaned forward, her tiny fist forming around the black hair. He let out a squeak. "Easy there, Beth. You might hurt him," she said detaching the fingers.

"A one-year-old can hardly hurt me!" Sirius scoffed indignantly.

"Of course not, Padfoot, the person would have to be at least two," James joked as the camera man grumbled something about quitting.

Helen shook her head and stepped up on the platform, at the end of the line. In front of her stood the bridesmaids and the maid of honor who had been in the previous shot. Bethany let out a cry of glee, clapping her hands. "She's clapping for you Lily," called the brown-haired woman as the Marauders settled in place.

Lily grinned looking over, her green eyes sparkling with joy. "I think she just likes being the center of attention so she's drawing it back to her,"

"Please!" exclaimed the camera man loudly causing Helen to flinch a little. "Settle down…smile,"

"Say dog treats!" Sirius shouted as the camera flashed. (James decked him afterwards.) Three more flashes and they were done (the camera man letting out the happiest sigh in the world.) "Now, where's the food?"

Remus laughed. "Always thinking with your stomach aren't you?"

"Better that than other parts!" James said helping Lily off the tiny platform they had been standing on.

Lily grumbled playfully. "I'm beginning to wonder why I agreed to marry you,"

"You were drunk," Sirius slung his arm over her shoulder.

The red-head arched her eyebrow. "Of course, how else would I have even considered matrimony with this fool," The group chuckled; Lily's eye catching Helen who was smiling wistfully at the group. "Come here, Meg, I should be in company that has a greater combined IQ than a five-year-old." Lily pushed her way over to the brunette.

Helen grinned at the shocked look on the men's faces. "Hey! I'll have you know that we are very intelligent," Peter retorted lamely.

Sirius picked up the slack however. "Yeah! We graduated from Hogwarts!"

"With barely Acceptable grades,"

Lily linked arms with Helen and began to pull her away from the crowd. "You looked a bit lonely over there,"

"Of course not!" Helen denied as Bethany fought to get down. "Beth if I set you down you're going to crawl off," The girl whined at her mother.

The red-head laughed. "Spell a leash around her, that way she won't get too far," Helen paled drastically, her mind flashing to the past when she had been held prisoner for three months in a Death Eater's home. Lily wanted to hurt herself as she watched the girl unconsciously shiver. "Merlin, Helen, I'm sorry…"

She shook her head, trying to hide the onset of tears with a smile. "I'm fine, Lily." The brown-eyes couldn't quite meet the green. "Your husband is looking for you," she lied nodding towards the group of Marauders who had just bursting into loud laughter.

"Why don't I take Bethany?" Lily said holding her arms out for the child.

"She'll ruin your dress,"

"This little tyke? Never, she can only make it look better!" Lily said causing the child to clap her hands and lean for the red-head.

Helen frowned before handing the child over. "Behave yourself, Beth."

Bethany let out a squeal, poking her finger at one of the sparkling gems in Lily's red hair. Lily smiled. "We'll be fine, go and get something to drink," The brunette didn't answer. "I'm going to go make sure my husband isn't blowing anything up," Lily said walking towards James and his friends. She could believe she was that stupid in brining up the past. Her face must have looked troubled because when she got to the group (Remus happily taking Bethany off of her hands) James asked her what was wrong immediately. "I said something stupid to Helen,"

Sirius' eyes flashed something inexplicable before searching for the brunette. "What happened?" Remus questioned.

Lily felt her eyes tear up, not able to believe the stupidity of what she said. "Bethany wanted to stand and try to walk but Meg was reluctant, I suggested a magical leash,"

James, Remus, and Sirius paled before Sirius immediately headed over towards the brunette girl, who was pulling away from the crowd and heading into the gardens. "I don't understand," Peter said.

The raven-haired man pulled his wife to him. "When Helen was with the…the Death Eaters Rosier kept her on a leash, so she couldn't ever run away." Lily closed her eyes, berating herself for the stupidity. "Don't get so upset at yourself, Lils, it's a fact that you didn't really need to remember,"

"I should have though…" Lily whispered. Peter and Remus carefully stepped away, leaving the couple in a bit more of a private atmosphere. "She was practically a Marauder herself, James. I can remember that Sirius and Remus hate talking about their families for obvious reasons that they both were disowned, I can remember useless and useful facts about Peter like he's allergic to green-beans and that his parents died in our sixth year when Voldemort attacked a village. But for Merlin's sake, James, I couldn't remember how those Death Eaters kept Helen with them for three months?" her voice was soft but the tears in her eyes spoke volumes at how upset she was.

He pressed his lips onto her forehead. "It's all right; we've all done our share of stupid things."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Helen pulled away from the party, trying not to cry. Slipping into the garden, the brown-haired girl fought to control the images that had begun to flash across her mind.

"Well, well, well, what have we got here?" a voice dripping with malice said. "Malfoy, one's still alive."

"Then kill her and come back…"

A slim cold finger traced her cheek and she tried to pull away but couldn't, the bonds that had kept her from fighting while they raped her were still in place. "Feisty, I like you." The person appraised after a moment.

"Rosier, now! The Dark Lord won't be kept waiting, kill her and get it over with!"

"No," the man said with a flick of his wand. She was on her feet in seconds her head swimming with pain. "I want to keep her,"

A figure in black was next to the one who had been examining her in an instant, the masks still firmly planted on her face. "He said no prisoners,"

"She won't be a prisoner, I want a new toy, my old one broke." The man sounded like he was pouting.

She squeezed her eyes shut but to no avail, her mind continued to turn over the horrifying experience.

"What kept you?" Rosier asked snidely.

She swallowed hard, her throat aching from the tightening collar he had placed around her neck. "I was delayed by Mistress Lestrange," she forced the words out politely. Delayed wasn't quite the words she would use for it more like: whipped until her back had more red on it than a lady-bug.

The face darkened. "I have guests this evening; I want you to be prepared to perform if needed."

"No." she spat without thinking. The collar tightened and he tugged on the magical leash he had around her that prevented her from running away. Stumbling forward, Helen fell to her knees in front of them, hissing in pain as she did.

"What did you say to me?"

"No sir,"

He slapped her across the face. "You will do as I say!"

"If you make me, certain parts on that man will be sorely missed." She growled. It was an empty threat but he didn't know that. When they had brought her to the manor where known Death Eaters stay one of them attempted to rape her in front of Voldemort and she had a burst of accidental magic that cost him his testacies.

Another hit later he spat on her. "Get out of my sight."

Weakly she got to her feet and limped away.

"Helen?" a hand touched her on the shoulder. She let out a frightened squeak and tumbled off the bench she had been sitting on. The person who had touched her was sprawled on the ground as well, a fall caused by accidental magic. "Helen?" the voice wasn't upset it was quite the contrary actually, it was full of caring.

Slowly coming back to reality, she focused on the person that was inching towards her. Piercing blue eyes, shaggy black hair, and white shirt with unbuttoned collar… "Sirius," she said softly, as the features fell into place in her mind.

He nodded, barely four feet from her now. "Are you all right?" Biting her lip, tears leaked from her eyes as she shook her head. Pulling her into a hug his arm rubbed her back, trying to calm her. "Sshh, sshh, it's okay, it's okay."

Sniffing slightly, Helen buried her head into his shoulder, soaking up the comfort she readily sought. When she had been taken by Death Eaters in November of her seventh-year she had thought everything was over for her. Instead of a painful death, she had a painful three months of slavery. The Marauders along with the Order of the Phoenix rescued her when she reached her second month of pregnancy (not that Rosier, her 'master'—she shivered unconsciously at the thought of him—cared about his child growing in her womb.)

"Lily didn't mean to bring up the past, Helen." Sirius whispered softly to her, his hand brushing through her curled hair.

Helen shook her head pulling away. "I know," She took a deep breath, pushing her emotions beneath the surface. "I'm fine."

He stared at her for several moments, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Of course you are." Sirius said sarcastically. He helped her to her feet. "Now Lily and James want to cut that loverly cake of theirs, would you care to join me for a piece?"

"It'll go straight to my hips," Helen feigned happiness. They both knew it was a lie but neither addressed it.

"All the more to love," He said earning him a swat on the arm.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

May 9, 1980

"I will always hate you for making pregnancy look easy," Lily declared to Molly Weasley as the two pregnant women settled on the couch. Helen smiled to herself as she fixed the tea. "How can you handle three older boys and the twins while still being pregnant, ugh, I can barely handle that kicker that's in here," the ruby-haired woman patted her rounded stomach.

"Arthur helps out a great deal and Bill and Charlie love entertaining the twins though they are a handful in a half, Percy is often entertained by his books though. It's not all that difficult. This child is a pain, though. Literally and figuratively," the women shared a laugh as Helen brought the tea tray out. "You really should have let me help you with that, dear."

Helen shook her head glancing at the clock. "Four tea cups, is someone else coming?" Lily asked, trying to lean forward.

Right on cue the doorbell rang causing Molly to laugh. Helen swatted at Lily's hand. "I invited you three over here to relax, not make it harder on yourselves," the brunette said opening the door. "Alice, come in, take a load off—literally." Helen stepped to the side allowing the third pregnant woman in.

Alice Longbottom entered the house looking very nervous. "Hello," the woman said uncomfortably.

"Molly, Lily, I'd like you to meet Alice, she's an old friend from Hogwarts," none of the women missed the slight tremor that occurred in Helen's eyes at the mention of Hogwarts.

"She was in Hufflepuff, the year above us right?" Lily asked as Molly leaned forward to pour the tea.

Helen slapped Molly's hand this time. "Yes she was." The red-haired woman looked her half pouting as the brunette poured tea in each of the four cups. "I brought you here to relax, and for Merlin's sake, Molly I'm not letting you play house in my house."

They laughed at the look on Molly's face. Alice settled in an armchair, her hand on her rounded belly. "Where are the children?" she asked.

"With their father, and that group of James'," Molly answered accepting the steaming cup.

"Thank you, Meg," Lily said as she took the tea cup. "I told James he'll need the practice. The way this brat is kicking in me he'll be a handful of his own."

She smiled sitting down on the couch across from them. "They all are like that."

"How do you three know each other? I know that you were in Ravenclaw, right?" Molly asked after complimenting her on the tea.

Helen smiled weakly, setting her cup down. "Lily and I met on the boats. Both of us knew little of the magical world,"

Alice was surprised. "I thought the name Thatcher was pureblood,"

"It is, my grandfather married a Muggle and turned out two squibs and because of that, my grandfather took his family out of the Wizarding world completely." Helen could remember this like it was yesterday. Unlike most of the more recent memories of Hogwarts she loved remembering the past. "By the time I was born grandfather I thought that the weird things he and I did were only because we believed in them. My older sister, Melody, was practical and continuously told me that magic wasn't really. My grandfather died when I was five and it was forgotten about…"

She smiled weakly before going on. "I remember that I had stopped doing magic in public, my grandfather was trying to get me to control it and I couldn't…at least not very well. But sometimes at night I would be able to make this bright ball of light and change its color. Imagine my parent's surprise when I got the letter from Hogwarts. My father didn't know much about magic because he didn't grow up in the world either, so Lily and I latched onto each other quite quickly. Through her I met the Marauders and they became friends as well," Helen set the teacup on the table. "Alice and I met in Herbology during fifth year, she was staying after to get extra help and Frank was there. He was a master in Herbology and we all got along wonderfully,"

The conversation took another turn and soon another and another before it landed on the subject of husbands. While the three married women spoke of theirs (Lily saying that sometimes she wondered what she ever saw in James) Helen busied herself with cleaning the dishes, not wanting to intrude.

"So, when are you going to get married, Helen?" called Molly from the living room.

Helen nearly dropped the teacup she was washing by hand. "What?"

"Come now, you've got to get married at sometime, I'm sure the moment people heard you were thinking about dating you'd have a line out the door," Lily said before bursting into giggles at the ashen look on her friend's face.

"How about Sirius?" Alice evilly teased.

Molly clapped her hands together. "Yes, Sirius likes you a great deal, you should marry him,"

Helen shook her head turning around, Sirius' laughing and caring face burning into her head. "You three are insane, me marry Sirius…what did I put in that tea? A Confoundous potion? You're all mad,"

Lily smirked. "Is that why you're blushing?"

Her hands flew to her face, forgetting that her hands were wet and soap bubbles now dripped down her cheeks. "You all are horrible," she mumbled turning her back to them. They laughed and continued onto a different conversation but her mind was still turning over the possibility.

When they started to leave one by one Lily was the last, struggling to her feet. Helen helped her and started to bid her goodbye but stopped short. "Lily," she said swallowing hard. The red-head looked at her with a smile. "Does…do you think he…I mean…does—"

"Does Sirius like you in that way?" she completed with a broad grin.

Helen's face flushed a vivid red causing Lily to laugh and hug her (despite the round belly preventing them for getting very close.) "We're just friends; he doesn't like me in that way. He can't, I mean he—"

Lily's hand slapped over her mouth. "Hush, Meg." She poked the brunette in the side causing her to squeak. "Why don't you just ask him?" Lily suddenly jumped, touching her stomach. "I think the little tyke wants to go home and hear his dad complain of the wild twins."

The brunette smiled. "Have a great night, Lily. Please be safe in going home,"

"When will Beth get back?"

"Remus and Sirius are bringing her over in a little while,"

Lily kissed her on the cheek. "You'll be all right?"

"Of course, now scat; I'm sure James is worrying himself into a frenzy. He might think I ran away with you to keep the little brat in there as my own." Helen joked. Lily laughed before walking to the curb and making the Knightbus appear. She shut the door as soon as the Knightbus took off. Leaning against the comforting solid wood, Helen hugged herself, her thoughts turning over harshly. "Impossible," she whispered to herself walking back to the living room to tidy up. Seconds after she started there was a knock on her door. Inexplicably her heart clenched with fear as she turned sharply. "Who—who is it?" she called, fingering her wand.

"It's us, Helen," called Remus' soft voice.

She let out a relieved sigh, heading towards the door. Peeking out through the stained-glass window she confirmed that it was indeed her two friends, holding her sleeping daughter in their arms. "Hi," she whispered opening the door and stepping aside to let them in. "She looks pooped." Helen commented running her fingers through the brown mess of hair that was growing on her daughter.

"She's pooped, geeze, with her and those twins it was like having five kids, let alone the other three Weasley boys, I don't know how they do it." Sirius said shaking his head.

"I'll go put her in her crib," Remus said quietly.

Helen watched him walk towards the back room, leaving her alone with Sirius. Turning to face him she wasn't sure whether her pounding heart was fear or exhilaration. A blind man could see that she cared more for Sirius and enjoyed his company more than any of the other Marauders but men still particularly terrified her.

She cleared her throat. "I um…" he threw himself on the couch with his quirky grin. "I have something to ask you, Sirius,"

"Yes that outfit looks great?" he said jokingly.

She looked at the jeans and baggy sweater she was wearing. Snorting she busied herself with straightening up the living room. "Lily said something particular to me today,"

Sirius laughed. "Did she now? What does she want you to do, dye your hair red? I heard her trying to convert Mrs. Longbottom,"

Helen's face flushed slightly. "No. Um…she thinks I should start dating." Fiddling with the couch pillows she awaited his answer.

His guffaw hurt her ears. "Why would you go and do a thing like that?"

"Bethany needs a father, I don't want her having a negative impression of guys," Helen lied shifting around.

"How can she, she's got the Marauders as role models,"

"Exactly what I meant," she retorted sitting down, her knees pulled to her chest. "I just…I think I'm ready if the right guy is interested…" Helen couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her heart was pounding. Why was she doing this again?

"Are you serious, what guy wouldn't be interested in you?"

Her brow arched as she managed to meet his blue eyes. "A twenty-one-year-old woman, orphan no less, with a two-year-old child, yeah the guys will be lining around the block," she retorted, tightening her grip on her knees.

"Well…I actually know someone who is interested in you." Sirius said with a smile.

"You do?" Please be you, please be you, please be you, Helen found herself chanting in her head again and again.

Sirius ran his hand through his hair. "Actually yes, his name is Rodger, he was at the wedding."

Her heart sank. "Really?"

"Yeah, he loves kids, I could mention something to him if you want,"

She stood up and smiled, blinking back her tears rapidly. "Sure, I mean…it couldn't hurt." Giving him an even tighter smile she half rushed to the back room claiming a need to check-up on Bethany.

Remus was just tucking her in. "Someone woke up and needed a diaper change," he whispered. Nodding she peered over the crib. "Are you all right?"

"Disappointed, nothing more. Have a goodnight, Remus. Tell Sirius goodnight for me," Helen said winding the music box that was near Bethany's crib.

"You're not coming back out?" The brunette shook her head setting the box down, the melody filling the air. He leaned into hug her and she froze for a moment before hugging him back. "Goodnight, Helen."

"Night Moony," Helen said before humming along with the music. "I was really stupid, you know that Beth? I actually thought he could care about me, little one, as more than a friend. I guess I was just being idealist. He's a friend nothing more," Bethany mumbled and shifted. Smiling she pulled the green blanket up around the girl. "Goodnight, little one. I love you,"

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

July 31, 1980

8:06pm

She rushed into the waiting room of St. Mungos; her heels clicking loudly on the tile. Sliding into the receptionist desk Helen brushed her falling hair off her shoulder. "A friend of mine, Lily Potter was brought in?" she questioned.

The petite blonde shook her head. "Another one, there is a waiting room down that way for the group. You're the fourth one for that group,"

Holding her purse in her hand, Helen hopped down the hall, trying to take the heels off. She was planning on going to the Muggle Theatre with Rodger on another date (ever since they had been introduced they had started going out—him understanding completely her need to go slowly) when they ran into Professor McGonagall in Hogsmeade telling them that 'Albus just flooed, telling her that the Potters are in labor.' The hearsay had been confusing at first but she knew that she had to get there.

The waiting room held four people, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and Headmaster Dumbledore. Remus was sitting in a chair watching Sirius pace up and down nervously while Peter sat, his legs bouncing up and down. She was about to announce her presence when Sirius looked up and noticed her.

"HELEN!" he exclaimed before stopping short and staring at her.

"We've been trying to get in touch with you for two hours," Peter said with a smile. "I can't believe that she's been in labor this long…"

"It could be longer," commented Remus shaking his head.

"You look…nice," Sirius said finally overcoming his muteness.

She blushed looking down at her black dress. The skirt was long and flowing that lead up to a smooth, form fitting shirt with a square-neck top and cap-sleeves. Her necklace was a black choker and her hair was up in an elegant French-knot but several strands had fallen when she found out what happened and attempted to run to the nearest floo while Rodger paid for their meal. There was a blue silk ribbon around her waist and she was now barefoot because her heels were in her hand.

Peter smirked. "Where were you off too looking like that?"

"I um…" she was saved from answering because James came running into the room.

"Prongs?" Sirius half launched himself towards the entryway.

The raven-haired man looked shocked but overjoyed. "It's a boy…it's a boy!" he exclaimed.

The Marauders cheered loudly. Sirius suddenly lifted Helen up in the air and spun her around in circle before planting a kiss on her lips. Her first reaction to him grabbing her was to fight but she stopped that instinct and was shocked when he pressed his lips to hers. Her jaw dropped open slightly when he pulled away, his blue eyes dancing with mirth.

"Is that the way we're celebrating tonight?" another voice asked from the doorway (James had stepped into the room and was staring along with Remus and Peter in shock at what Sirius did.)

Helen jumped away from Sirius, recognizing the voice. "Rodger," she said looking at him panicked. She didn't kiss Sirius…would Rodger be angry with her?

Her fear clearly showed on her face because the brown-haired man laugh and quirked a grin up. "Because I want some of that celebration too," he said playfully, taking her hand and spinning her towards him. He theatrically leaned her down into a kiss before pulling her back up. "Who wants to kiss her next?"

She hit him with her purse laughing. "Congratulations, James!" she threw her arms around his shoulders.

"Thanks Helen," James said. "You guys can't come in for another hour but you'll see little Harry in a while,"

"Harry?" Remus said smiling.

The raven haired man grinned broadly. "Harry James Potter," he boasted.

"Hate to interrupt," there was another voice at the door and Frank Longbottom was there with a broad grin on his face. "Frank!" exclaimed Helen. "Is Alice all right?"

"She's fine, the nurse at the front desk told me you might be here." He smirked. "Would you like to see our son?" he asked.

Helen's jaw dropped open. "He's born already?" she exclaimed.

"Yup, born last night, July 30 at 11:31pm,"

She squealed and hugged him as well. "Let me see, let me see!"

"Women," Peter joked.

Helen stuck her tongue out at him before turning to James. "I'll be back to see Harry too, okay?"

James nodded. "I will go back to my wife," he bowed out gracefully.

Helen tossed her shoes and purse on a chair and smiled at Rodger. "Mind terribly if you stayed here?"

Rodger shook his head. "Of course not, I haven't seen you this happy since Beth took her first step,"

With a chaste kiss on his cheek she skipped from the room, but not before spying the look of horror and shock on Sirius' face. Not wishing to figure that out, she followed Frank to the viewing room. "His name is Neville. Neville Algie Longbottom,"

"Neville, Nev…I love it." She said clapping her hands happily. "Why didn't you contact me when she went into labor?"

"Actually we were going to, but in the midst of flooing everyone else, meaning the whole Longbottom family," Frank rolled his eyes causing her to laugh. "He was born before we could get to you. And this was the first moment I could tear myself away…Neville…Neville almost didn't make it."

Her face paled, her eyes widening at the thought. "What do you mean?"

"The umbilical cord was tangled around his neck. According to the Healer he choked himself to death but then," tears shone in Frank's eyes. "They set him on a table but couldn't get the cord off. Suddenly it untwisted and he let out a huge wail."

"Magic?"

"My boy has a strong will to survive, he magicked it off himself," he said as they stepped into the elevator.

"I'm so happy for you,"

"Where's your little tyke?" he asked curiously.

Helen smiled at him. "At the Weasleys with the twins, I was supposed to see Macbeth with Rodger"

"You two getting serious?" Helen blushed shrugging. Frank shook his head. "You do know that Sirius is sweet on you right?"

She looked at him sharply. "What?"

"Maybe it's not my place but he likes you,"

Her jaw dropped. "But he introduced me to Rodger! He just as good as said he didn't like me in that way." She let out an irritated moan. "Why are men so hard to understand?"

"We say the same thing about women," Frank guided her to a window. She laughed weakly. "There he is," he pointed to a baby that was wrapped in a yellow blanket with the Longbottom-family crest on it. "There's our little Neville,"

Helen pressed against the glass staring at the little child. "He is beautiful." She whispered, remembering the day Bethany was born. "Thank you Frank for showing him to me,"

Frank grinned broadly. "Alice wanted to see you but the Healers will only let family members in right now."

"Give her my love and you three better drop by when you get out of this place. I have a few things that might be useful for the little tyke in there."

"Will do,"

They looked at each other awkwardly for a moment before she hugged him again. "I'm so happy for you…I must go back to see if they are ready to let us see Harry,"

"James' boy?"

She nodded. "Yup! Can you believe that you two have children only a day apart? What are the odds?" They shared a laugh. "Go! Go get back to your wife, give her a hug for me and tell her congratulations."

He smiled as he said goodbye and walked away. She turned back to the babe and her fingers lightly touched the glass. "You are a lucky little boy," she whispered before walking away slowly.

She was in the elevator and the doors were closing when someone put their hand in it and they opened once more. Stepping aside it took a moment for Helen to realize who had just got into the elevator next to her. They both were frozen staring at each other.

"Severus…" her voice was low and her heart started pounding. Helen half backed into a corner staring at him.

Worry etched his face as he glanced around. "Helen…are you ill? Why are you here?"

"No I'm not sick…Alice and Frank's boy was born yesterday." She whispered all the memories of where and how they had become friends were racing through her mind.

He had found her, after one of her many beatings in Rosier's "care" and healed her. This became a routine when she started going to him for help. He had put on a face around other Death Eaters but helped her when she needed it.

"What are you doing here?" she glanced to his left arm.

He pressed the button for his floor. "They needed a few potions their abysmal potions maker couldn't brew,"

For several moments they had fallen silent. She spoke first. "Isn't that dangerous?" He looked at her through an arched brow. "They do random security checks, what if they…I mean," she cleared her throat. He wasn't a good man, he was still a Death Eater but a part of her would always care about the man that helped her. "Never forget what I am, Helen," his voice echoed in her head. But it's not all you can be, she rebutted just as she had the night he had spoken those words.

"…immunity." His voice crashed her back into reality.

"Oh," she acted like she knew what he was saying. The doors opened on his floor and he stepped out, bidding her farewell as he did. The doors were about to close when she stopped them. "Severus," she called. He looked back with an impatient look. "I never got a chance to thank you…" she held the gaze for a moment before dropping it.

"Think nothing of it," his silky voice drifted her way.

The doors closed with a click and she slid down into a sitting position against the wall. Why was life so complicated?