JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. I'm borrowing, but I don't make any money from this and just do it for the genuine love of writing.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Summary: Of all the mysteries of the Wizarding World, perhaps none is more enigmatic than the Vampire. This is the story of one such soul. It is a story about love, life, loss, and choices – and not having any regrets.

Features: Pairings: Snape/OFC, Diggory/OFC, OMC/OFC. + GWeasley, HGranger, Malfoys, New Original Characters

Author's Notes: "LIVE FOREVER" is the PREQUEL to "SALVATION". I've had several variations of this story that I've tried to work with since 2008 and somehow it just never quite came together the way I wanted it to – and needed it to link back to "SALVATION"; the characters seemed to have other ideas. (I found out by accident that someone has uploaded TWO of the older versions I've had here [but deleted], one a mish-mash of several versions and both posted WITHOUT MY PERMISSION at fictionhunt. At least they linked back to my account here.) Also – I realised that elements of my last rewrite, though well-received, actually suits "The Girl With The Haunted Eyes - ORIG STORY" much better. ((The perils of thinking TOO MUCH about a story and second-guessing myself)).

If you read the first 9 chapters of "SALVATION" you will have a good grounding for the story of the Severus & the only STUDENT he ever loved – but with many surprises yet to be revealed in this part of their story. I've found my own gift of a character in Vampire Andrea Slitheen, an old Housemate & nemesis of Severus Snape and his coven family. Hope you enjoy. This is the first of what I hope will be several stories of an underworld within the world of Harry Potter.

I'm playing with ages & School Years for the sake of this AU story. Hogwarts is close to the equivalent of British Muggle Key Stage 4 (Years 1-3: ages 14-16 – O.W.L.s) & Key Stage 5 (Years 4-7: ages 16-19+ N.E.W.T.S.) High School & Junior College.

WARNING: Slightly Underage Student through Adult OFC, Student/Teacher relationship, Older Men/Younger Woman. If that's not your thing, cool. It's my life experience so… *shrugs*. Dark, Violence.

Rated M/R for language, situations, themes

Live Forever (REWRITE 2018)

By NativeMoon

Chapter 001: And so it begins…

Fall – Year One

'Nana! Grampa! What are you doing here?' 14 year-old Nina Angeni shrieked as she ran to her grandparents on the concourse of King's Cross Railway Station.

'You didn't seriously think we weren't going to come see you off on your big day now did you Lass?!' Grampa answered, clearly bursting with pride at the only of one of his grandchildren to have been awarded a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.

'Oh, look at you Petal!' Nana said emotionally. 'Hard to believe this day is finally here! We always knew you would make it somehow!'

'Look at you two – all decked out like you're going to The Ritz for High Tea!'

Grampa looked around as Nana laughed.

'Uh – where are they?'

'Not here of course,' Nina said idly. 'Well, except for Mama and I have no idea where she's got to.'

'What's the excuse to not support you this time?' Nana asked.

'Dunno – Papa had some big To-Do or something with the Ministry and their precious boys need their beauty sleep.'

'A Ministry Do on a Sunday morning?!'

Nina shrugged as she looked around.

'Useless father and damn jealous assholes for sons!' Grampa barked.

Just then Nina's mother ran across to them, looking very irritated as she spilled her cup of tea.

'This awful place is just PACKED with filthy Muggles,' she said tightly. 'It makes my skin crawl just having to be here!'

Nina started to comment but was stopped short by both of her grandparents giving her pointed looks.

'Why don't we get you settled on the train Petal and then your mother can get back to whatever it is that she needs to get back to,' Nana suggested.

'Good idea,' Nina mumbled as she aimed her cart of trunks at the barrier wall between platforms
9 and 10.

She didn't even think about it as she rushed through – and smashed into something which sent
her flying. A group of boys went tearing down the platform, leaving just one to deal with the consequences of their recklessness.

'Holy Merlin – are you alright?!' a decidedly tall, burly, and very good-looking dark-haired stranger asked, leaning down to help her up.

'I think I ran for it too hard,' she spluttered her large brown eyes meeting his bright grey ones.

Her eyes reminded him of the cognac his father liked to have after dinner or perhaps his mother's lightly steeped Lady Grey tea. Her gaze was intense; it felt like she could see right through him.

'Here, lean on me,' he said, as he tried not to stare. 'Oh, my name's Cedric, Cedric Diggory. I'm in Hufflepuff, Third Year.'

'Oh!' Nina said yelping as he helped her up. 'Um… Nina… Nina Angeni. I'm a First Year. No idea about a House yet although my family are Hufflepuffs on my mother's side and Gryffindors on my fathers (bizarrely enough).'

'Really? You look older than the average First Year, that's for sure. I was thinking you were a Transfer for the Senior School.'

'Well I was stuck in France for the past couple years, but not at Beauxbatons… I'll be 15 in January.'

Cedric held onto her as she pushed her fringe and long mane of thick chestnut curls out of her oval face and winced. A few wayward tendrils still fell across her forehead despite her best efforts tame them.

'I definitely hurt myself,' she groaned, trying to get used to the pain shooting up her right side as she let go of him and shifted her weight to her left foot. 'Christ on a bike!'

'Nina!' her mother shouted irritably. 'What is this mess? Is possible to go one day without something going wrong because of you?!'

Nina sighed as she looked around at the contents of her trolley strewn across the platform where the Hogwarts Express was waiting to transport her to school along with the other students scrambling around franticly trying to get settled.

'It was my fault,' Cedric explained. 'My friends and I shouldn't have been larking about and especially so close to the entrance. She couldn't have stopped properly even if she'd have realised we were there.'

'And who are you?!' Mrs. Angeni demanded as her eyes narrowed unpleasantly.

'Cedric; Cedric Diggory.'

He fleetingly supposed that Nina looked like her father, wherever he was. She definitely didn't favour any of the adults with her tawny brown skin. They were all as fair as he was with pale blue eyes, though her mother's lanky hair was a murky brown and the old couples' wispy silvery grey.

'Right – well off you go then, Cedric Diggory,' Nina's mother said dismissively. 'Nina! I want
a word! NOW!'

'I'm sorry,' Nina said to Cedric quietly, clearly embarrassed. 'My mother's just a bit wound up having to get up so early to be here…'

'No problem, I wouldn't mind being back home having a lie-in myself,' Cedric replied with a nod.
'See you on the train.'

Nina Angeni struck him as a nice enough girl. Of course it was far too soon to know for sure, but he trusted his instincts. The fact that she wasn't doing any of the preening, simpering, and swooning too many of the Hogwarts girls still did even in his Year made a good impression. He could think of more than a few that would be clinging vines if they were in her situation.

He definitely wanted to get to know her better even though her mother seemed to be hostile.

'Oi, Ced!' someone shouted.

Cedric said goodbye to Nina's grandparents and mother with another heartfelt apology and then ran off to his friends.

Grampa aimed his wand and Nina's things righted themselves neatly on the trolley.

'Thanks Grampa,' Nina said feebly.

'You better see the Hogwarts Mediwitch as soon as you can,' Nana advised.

'Listen young lady,' her mother started. 'If I have one bad word about you from that school so help
me I'll…'

'Enough Natalie!' Grampa hissed. 'You've done enough damage embarrassing yourself and your daughter like that! Go back home to your husband and your precious sons since you obviously resent having to be here!'

'I'm sorry,' Mrs. Angeni said through gritted teeth.

Nina looked at her mother and shook her head resentfully.

'Not half as sorry as I am,' she said sullenly before limping away with her trolley.

Mrs Angeni left the station while Nina's grandparents followed her to the train and helped her get situated. At last, three warning blasts sounded and they said their final goodbyes.

'You need us for anything, anything at all, you just give us a shout Pet,' Nana said as she gave her granddaughter a big hug. "We'll send you a little something once you've found your bearings.'

'Oh but you don't have to…'

'I will not have my favourite grandchild sat there with nowt like she doesn't have family that cares about her!' Grampa said gruffly as he blinked his moist eyes rapidly. 'And please promise us you'll calm down and behave. Give the place and the people a chance, Petal. You don't have to fight for yourself anymore.'

Nina's only reply was a faint sniff.

She wasn't about to make promises she might not be able to keep.

A last round of hugs and her grandparents made their way to the platform.

Nina leaned out a window and screamed her goodbyes and Love Yous to the only people in the family that she had any real affection for as the train took off for Scotland.

XxxOOOxxX

Nina was in a private carriage by herself ignoring the shrieking from the corridor outside. She had stretched out across her seat and was holding her abdomen.

'Nina? Are you alright?' Cedric asked gently as he squatted down having chucked his rucksack on the seat opposite.

He placed a warm hand on hers and Nina found it comforting.

'It hurts when I breathe…' she gasped. 'And my head and my leg… they're bleeding.'

'This is my fault. Hang on – I'll go get the Trolley Lady!'

Five minutes later Cedric returned with the woman in tow carrying a First-Aid Kit.

'Ahhh it's not much; you've only gone and bruised your ribs and gotten a few scratches,' the lady said brightly. 'You kids will insist on messing around when there are signs all over the place telling you not to!'

'She wasn't messing around…' Cedric tried to explain as the woman dabbed at Nina's head.

It must have stung something fierce because Nina kept flinching and her eyes watered.

'Here – drink this,' the Trolley Lady said, handing her a small blue bottle. 'That'll do you just fine; wouldn't hurt to get Madam Pomfrey to give you the once-over tonight though.'

Nina drank the potion she was handed and found it to be sickeningly sweet.

'I'll be along with the trolley soon and you can have a nice drink to cut the aftertaste, eh? Best thing for you is to rest now and then get a good night's sleep! That's a mighty strong potion there… that reminds me I need to check in with Professor Snape for some more remedies for the kit.'

The woman left, leaving Cedric and Nina alone.

'Here – you can be a lot more comfortable than that,' he commented as he reached overhead and took down a pillow and blanket.

'You don't have to go to any trouble,' Nina yawned.

'It's no trouble; not at all.'

The Hufflepuff tucked the pillow under Nina's head and then covered her with the blanket.

'Mmm much better thanks,' Nina mumbled sleepily.

Cedric watched for a moment as she fell asleep, and then settled down on the seat opposite her quietly reading.

XxxOOOxxX

'Nina,' Cedric said gently as he sat on the edge of her seat and shook her gently.

'Hmm, wha...?'

'We're almost at Hogsmeade; time to change into your school robes. There are a few bathrooms free at this end I think.'

'Have mercy – whatever that was really knocked me out!'

Nina sat up and wiped her eyes.

'I got you a bottle of lemonade from the trolley,' said Cedric. 'It was that or pumpkin juice – and I can't stand pumpkin juice myself!'

'Thanks – pumpkin juice is revolting isn't it? I chuck mine in Mother's plants when she's not looking. She thinks it's her Plant Miracle Gro stuff that's making them shiny!'

Cedric burst into laughter.

'I need to tell my mum about that one! She's crazy about her garden…'

'You weren't here the whole time, were you?'

'Oh it was nothing,' the Hufflepuff answered quickly. 'My friends are great, but sometimes you just want some peace and quiet.'

Nina smiled as she looked up at him through her lashes bashfully.

'Twenty minutes!' the conductor called out as he walked the length of the train. 'Hogsmeade in
20 minutes!'

'I guess that's us told,' Nina sighed as she stood and unlocked her carry-on trunk, removing a plain grey uniform and black students robe.

'Yeah… well good luck fellow Hufflepuff,' Cedric smiled.

'I don't know about that – could be end up being a Gryffindork heaven forbid!'

They both burst into laughter and then Cedric left to join some of his Housemates.

'Wow! Girl you seriously pulled!' someone cried as Nina stepped into the corridor.

'Huh?'

'Pulled… Got lucky… Scored!' said a very pretty blonde with navy blue eyes. 'I so definitely WOULD! Except Ced's too much like a brother to me and incest totally isn't my thing!'

'What?' Nina spluttered. 'It's nothing like that honestly! He was just being friendly!'

'Guys don't sit with girls on trains for six hours and behave themselves especially with the girl being unconscious if they don't like them if you get my drift? Not even very sweet nice ones like my good buddy there.'

The girl looked so hopeful for her to agree that Nina couldn't help but laugh.

'So he protected my virtue and didn't make a move on me – go figure. So you know him?'

'Tasha Lemieux,' the girl said sticking out her hand. 'He's not gay; that I can confirm! We grew up together and he home-schooled with us. Ced's a pretty cool guy, not full of himself at all like some of them are. Honestly I wish I had been unconscious myself! Anyway I was just messing with you, Ced's just Ced – being nice. He feels guilty as hell that you got hurt because of him and his mates.'

'Nina Angeni. I think people are doubling up for the bathrooms now… and he doesn't need to
feel guilty – I must have said that about a dozen times already. I'll heal.'

'I'm not shy if you don't mind. Might as well get used to it since we have to share a dorm and bathroom with a load of other girls once we're at school.'

Nina and Tasha headed for the nearest bathroom to change and comb their hair. They were just finishing as the train started to slow down.

'Holy Merlin – see you outside yeah?' Tasha called as she raced to her carriage. 'Gah – I have way too much stuff!'

'Sure,' Nina answered as she returned to hers with a big grin.

She'd found it hard to be excited about anything, but she was beginning to warm to this idea of boarding school beyond getting away from her creepy parents and brothers.

XxxOOOxxX

Nina and Tasha shared one of the little boats that would take them to Hogwarts. It was the most nerve-wracking thing to have to go through, sailing down Hogsmeade River and across a huge lake to the Hogwarts Castle boathouse. She wished she'd been awake long enough to have thought to ask Cedric about his take on it even thought she'd heard about it dozens of times from her Grandparents and their friends. As it was she'd also missed out on having a good look at Harry Potter, the only person alive known to have survived the Killing Curse. Speculation in the Wizarding tabloid The Daily Prophet had been proven to be fact – "The Boy Who Lived" was now a Hogwarts student.

The Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, met them at the top of the staircase leading to the Great Hall. She lined them up in twos according to height and mercifully she and Tasha were next to each other.

'When I call your name you will step forward and sit on the stool for your Sorting,' Professor McGonagall said crisply after explaining the House and Points systems.

She moved to the front of the two lines and then the large iron doors to the Great Hall opened with a flick of her hands. It was one thing to have heard of it but another to see it: hundreds of candles floating in mid-air and the ceiling bewitched to reflect the weather outside. The upper class students sat in their House uniforms and robes at the House tables, whispering and pointing. Straight ahead was a raised dais that was the Staff tables with seating according to rank.

Tasha nudged her.

'Just act casual… but a certain "friendly" person is looking this way!' she giggled under her breath.

Nina pretended to stretch and looked around. Cedric was at the Hufflepuff tables looking in her direction expectantly. There was an empty seat beside him.

'I know, I know,' Tasha muttered. 'He's just being "friendly"!'

Nina didn't reply and instead looked straight ahead. She was amongst the first to go as names were called in alphabetical order. Her name was called and she settled on the stool and took a deep breath as the Sorting Hat began its deliberation.

Let me guess – I'm going to end up Hufflepuff, right?' she muttered after few minutes and no result.

'Hufflepuff? Hmmm. You are very loyal to those who earn your trust; you value fairness and dedicate yourself to making sure that things are done right; and you most definitely are not afraid of hard work.
Very Hufflepuff indeed. But no, the House of the Badger is not really for you – you have already mastered everything you need to in that regard and that noble House would not serve you well in the long run,' the Hat mused.

There was a bit more muttering and it was all Nina could to not take off the Hat and throw it across
the room.

'Hmmm, I do believe it's a toss-up between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw,' the Hat announced loudly.

'Holy Merlin; she's a Hatstall!' someone crowed from the Gryffindor tables.

You could hear a pin drop as the Hat carried on with its deliberating.

'All things considered – I think it would serve you and others well to put you in Ravenclaw!' it announced at last.

The Ravens erupted with loud cheers, foot-stomping, and table-banging to Nina's shock and
undiluted disbelief at the final result while some Gryffindors complained. They almost always ended up with the most students in the new intake each year and didn't want their record broken. The more impressive the student, the better. Hatstalls were rare enough as it was and it would be nothing short of a miracle for there to be another one. Still – the big prize was Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived.

Nina was so gobsmacked Professor McGonagall had to give her a shake to get her off the stool. But she did so with a hearty congratulations just the same. The new Ravenclaw was greeted cheerfully by her Housemates and most of them made her feel welcome. It was a tense wait to see where Tasha would end up, but mercifully she was in Ravenclaw too after the Hat barely touched her head. She bounced over and gave Nina a high-five.

'My whole family has always been Ravenclaw,' she whooped as she sat next to Nina. 'But man what
a relief!'

'My grandparents are going to have massive coronaries,' Nina groaned. 'They were in Hufflepuff and swore I'd get sorted there but the Hat ruled that out first thing!'

'Hah – well don't look now but someone doesn't seem to be entirely happy with the Sortings,' Tasha whispered conspiratorially as the Hat announced that "Potter, Harry" had been sorted in Gryffindor.

'Ahh go on – stop messing,' Nina said loudly so that Tasha could hear her above the unearthly cheers erupting from the Gryffindor tables.

'I'm not messing actually; he looks like Christmas was just cancelled!'

Nina refused to look at Cedric and instead focused on the rest of the Sorting and the start-of-term speech by Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster. She wasn't going to let what happened with her mother get her down. Her family was just being pissy because she was the only child that had had their name down for Hogwarts and from birth no less. Her father had spent the better part of two years deliberately holding her back from attending Hogwarts and was finally forced to in the end thanks to the Wizarding Education Authority threatening to haul him and her mother before the Wizengamot. She was the odd one out in her immediate family and nowhere near to being a favourite of anyone as a result.

The whole saga still struck her as bizarre.

No amount of gold could secure her non-magical Squib brothers a place at Hogwarts and so they were bone idle, not even bothering with any type of home schooling. For elitist wizarding social climbers like her parents, this was quite a predicament.

And their only daughter was the one who suffered for it.

Nina tuned out the chatter of her Housemates, already checking out the action for possible hook-ups. She wasn't going to let the fact that she was a bit older than everyone else in her year bother her too much. She was determined to make something of herself and not waste this opportunity now that she was here.

The new Ravenclaw was finally on the road to freedom. Merlin only knew what the future held, but there was light at the end of the tunnel, as her grandparents had said.

She was only just beginning to understand what they meant.