"Professor, I beg of you," the first man's voice was quiet - nearly a whisper, but compared to the dark and empty street it almost seemed loud. The gentle breeze made his long black cloak ripple slightly.
The second man flicked what looked like a lighter and one by one, all the street lamps flickered out. His thick blue cloak embroidered with gold stars was too heavy to be bothered by the breeze. "It is simply too dangerous, Severus," he replied in a quiet tone. "I do agree that to keep the Potter children together is unsafe, but-"
"The girl is my child, you know that, Albus," Severus said. "Wouldn't she… wouldn't Lily want her daughter to know who her father is?"
Albus stopped walking and turned to face Severus. "I understand that you have suffered a great loss tonight, as have I. James and Lily were, and are, very dear to my heart. But now, this is much bigger than you and I, and much bigger than them. This is about Harry and Cathryn Potter. About giving them a chance to have a normal life, before they are thrust into a world where every witch and wizard knows their name."
"Please," Severus whispered once more. "I want to know my child. I would cut off contact with the Dark Lord's followers if it meant that-"
"No, Severus. No, you must carry out the job that I have given you and trust that this family will raise her well. The Dark Lord is not truly gone. Not yet. And these children are the only way to ensure that one day he will be defeated once and for all. To do that, we must keep one far away and one very close," Albus told him. "You will know her as she grows up, but you must swear not to reveal it to her that you are her father."
"Will they know?" Severus asked.
"That they defeated the most powerful Dark Wizard of all time? Or that they are only half related to each other? There is so much that they don't know or understand right now. But in time, they will. I will make sure of that," Albus said.
"If you reconsider," said Severus coldly. "I will not change my mind. I would raise her well. She would know how much her mother loved her. How much I loved Lily."
Albus looked at Severus, whose face was twisted in pain as he mourned the loss of the woman he loved and the daughter that wouldn't know him.
"After all this time?" Albus asked softly.
"Always," Severus replied in barely more than a whisper. With an impressive whirl of his black cloak, he disappeared into thin air.
Albus was left alone on the dark quiet street, waiting in front of a small flat. The distant sound of a motor caught his attention and as he looked to the sky, he could see something flying towards him.
It was a giant man on a flying motorbike. To any common person, this would scare them half to death. But nothing could possibly surprise a wizard as great as Albus Dumbledore. Not now, anyways.
The man stepped off the motorbike and held out a tiny, squirming bundle with one massive hand.
"Cathryn Potter," Albus whispered, cradling her gently in his arms.
"Is it true, Professor Dumbledore, sir?" the giant man asked, sniffling and wiping his nose with a kerchief the size of a tablecloth. "Is Severus Snape really her father?"
"Yes, Hagrid," Albus replied gravely.
"Did - did James know?" Hagrid asked hesitantly.
Albus paused for a moment. "Not to my knowledge," he answered.
Hagrid shook his head. "I jus' can't believe it… They've already done so much and they can't talk or nothing. And to think they won't even know that the other one exists…"
"It's for the best," Albus said. "It's for their own good, and for the good of the world too."
"Of course," Hagrid sniffed. "I trust yer choice."
Albus carried Cathryn to the doorstep of the house he had been waiting at. He knocked very gently on the door.
Almost as if they had been waiting for his arrival, a man and a woman opened the door, anxious looks on their faces.
"Lucius and Narcissa," he said to them. "This is Cathryn Potter. But you will raise her as Cathryn Malfoy."
Narcissa took the baby in her arms, her face breaking into a smile and tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You have sworn your loyalty to me, and I assure you that it is of utmost importance that you keep your oath to abide by the plan I have set out," Albus said seriously.
"Of course, Albus," Lucius replied. "We took a vow. Cathryn is safe with us."
Albus nodded and turned around, taking out the lighter from his pocket and flicking it, causing the light to return in the street lamps.
Hagrid was still sniffing.
Albus reached up to put a hand on his shoulder, thought it only reached his elbow. "There, there Hagrid. Although we have lost many great witches and wizards to the hand of the Dark Lord, today marks the start of a new era. Everything will be different now."
