The Lost Children
As the music began to play, Severus and Willow stood off to the side of the temporary dance floor, watching the population of Hogwarts dance under the beech trees that surrounded the Great Lake. It was Willow who saw them first, two children running through the trees. It wasn't until one of them – the little boy – passed through someone, that she realised she was seeing ghosts. She tugged Severus' hand, and pointed.
"Do you see them?" She whispered, feeling like this was something for the two of them. His eyes followed hers, and he tensed when he saw the children, now lying on the grass only feet from them.
"Jesus God…" He muttered, and Willow felt immediately on the alert.
"What is it, what's wrong?" She asked, gripping his hand.
"Look at the boy. Who does he remind you of?"
She looked at him, taking in the black hair that brushed narrow shoulders, the pale skin that glowed with laughter, and the deep dark eyes fixed on the little girl. Willow almost missed the connection until he looked her in the eye. When he did, the shock was immediate.
"He's you!" She exclaimed, still whispering. Severus nodded.
"He must be some sort of memory, echo even. That's what I looked like at eight. And the girl…"
Willow looked at her again. She was fair – peaches and cream – Willow's mum would say, with red hair that already reached her waist. The boy had caught her attention, and was even then pointing out the pair's audience. As the girl looked at them, Willow felt Severus freeze, and she felt her own heart stop. Those eyes… she saw those eyes every day, in the face of her best friend.
"Lily?" She murmured. The girl cocked her head, eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Who are you?" It was the image of eight year old Severus who asked, and Willow could hear the defensiveness that marked the demeanour of the man he would become. "Why do you look at us like that?"
"Look at that man, Sev." Lily's voice was like bells pealing. "He looks like a grown-up you!"
"I am…" Severus whispered. Willow glanced at him, and saw how bloodless his face was. She squeezed his hand gently.
"Wow… you're so tall Sev." Lily smiled, and in that moment Willow saw why Severus had fallen for her. "I told you so!"
"Aww, shush." The boy blushed, standing and edging closer. "So, who are you then?" He asked Willow.
"I'm someone you teach." She smiled at him. "You'll be one of the best teachers here one day."
His eyes lit up, and she felt the adult Severus squeeze her hand. She knew how much that meant to them.
"Come on, Sev." Called Lily, smiling. "It's time to go." She looked at Willow, and added "You're very pretty, you know."
"Not like you Lily." Willow answered. The child blushed, and reached out for her friend. They grasped hands, and dashed off among the beech trees. Just before they vanished from sight, they turned back
"Goodbye!" They called, and they were gone.
"Hey you two, why aren't you dancing?" Harry shouted from the dance floor. He had not yet extricated himself from Ginny Weasley.
"Are you alright, Professor?" Asked Hermione, always correct even though they were graduated. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Not a ghost," he managed to smile. "Just a pair of lost children."
"They're safe now." added Willow. "But I think we might turn in, it's getting late."
They linked hands, and wandered toward the school. They would speak of this night often through their marriage; but for now, it was time for one last mug of cocoa, and a restful night's sleep in each other's arms.
