Nimue looked back at Hogwarts one final time as they waited for the carriages. Unless Voldemort was defeated in the next two months she would not be returning for the next school year. And, truth be told, she wasn't sure if she would ever return to the school where she had spent her whole childhood. Fate had taken her down a road that she had never even dreamed of. It appeared that parentage and circumstances made her a witch, but destiny made her a priestess. It still took some getting used to.
"You ok kid?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Kamen graced her with a piercing gaze reminiscent of their father, "I think that's one way of saying things are pretty rough."
She sighed, "I know, but there's not much I can do about it."
"You're starting to sound about as cheerful as Dad."
Nimue gave him a tight smile, "sorry, things just seem to be crashing down around me."
"You'll be fine kid, you're a Gryffindor, remember?"
"I just wish I felt a bit braver."
"Just do me one favor," Kamen leaned down to her level, "let someone know if this gets to be too much for you. No one expects you to do this all on your own."
"When did you become so nice?"
"I've always been this nice."
"No you haven't."
"Well, if I wasn't it's because I was just fulfilling my big brotherly duties of plaguing you to death. Now I get to be the over- protective brother. Which reminds me..." his expression darkened into a scowl, "if any of those Greek boys so much as try to lay a hand on you..."
"Kaaammeeen," she dragged his name out into a whine, "I'm not a baby, even if the whole family treats me like I am. I don't need you to come beat up guys for me."
"Just remember, you are far too young for a boyfriend, and if I hear anything about you and some guy I'm coming straight to Greece to flatten him and put a chastity spell on you."
Nimue rolled her eyes, "you'd think I was leaving tomorrow, not in a few weeks with the way you're carrying on."
"I have a lot of lectures I intend to fit in before you go; I'm just getting a head start."
"Thanks Kamen."
"For what?"
"For treating me just like you always have. There have been so many people hovering over me... I'm not sure if I can stand it for much longer."
"It's the least I can do kid. And you'll just have to put up with the hovering for a little while longer. I can guarantee you that Mum and Dad won't give you so much as five minutes alone before you leave."
Morgan sank down into a chair in her and Severus' bedroom at home and buried her face in her hands. Her family was being torn apart, slowly but surely, and was about to be scattered. One daughter forced into an exile in Egypt, one to go to Greece to keep her from the hands of Voldemort, and her son moving out because he felt the need to assert his independence.
She wasn't sure if she could handle much more of this. Her mind unwillingly wondered to the grave in Hogsmeade of her infant daughter. Would there be another grave, or more, belonging to the Snape family before this was over? She shivered as fear gripped her heart. She tried to shake off the feeling of gloom that seemed to consume her, "this is ridiculous."
"What is ridiculous?"
Morgan worried her lower lip as she looked up at her husband, "nothing."
Severus raised an eyebrow, "you are not one to let life drag you down Morgan, what is wrong?"
She sighed and avoided his penetrating gaze, "I'm just worried, and feeling a bit helpless."
"I think we both know that is not a complete answer, but I trust you will tell me when you're ready."
"Why are you always so patient with me Sev?"
It was Severus' turn to sigh heavily as he removed Morgan from her chair and sat down in it, settling her on his lap, "we both know that I haven't always been patient with you."
Morgan leaned her head against his shoulder as she thought about that, it was certainly true. She remembered some of the early days of their marriage, there had been nights when she had been terrified of her husband's dark temper. There were days when she had cowered with fear from his harsh words and blistering criticisms.
She shifted uncomfortably as she recalled one time when she had actually feared he would beat her. Their early days of marriage had been during dark times, emotions and tempers ran high back then. She had surprised herself when she found herself right after graduation, barely even a woman, accepting the proposal of a man she didn't love. She had wanted a way to escape from her father, but there had been days she had regretted her decision.
It had taken them a few years, but they had finally gotten things right. She had learned to see past her husband's stony countenance and had learned to love him for the man he was. Given time, and the birth of several children, Severus had learned to share his emotions in return.
She glanced up at him, into black eyes filled with concern. Concern over her. And she felt guilty.
She wasn't the only one whose children were effectively being torn from her arms. She hadn't thought about how badly Severus must be feeling. She knew that although he would never admit it Nimue was his favorite of their children. And for him to have to be the one persuading her to send their daughter away... He was grieving just as much as her, he just hid it better.
"I'm sorry Sev, I've been so wrapped up in myself. I was hurting, but I didn't want you to know, I didn't want you to worry about me."
Severus gently cupped her face with his calloused palm, "I will always worry about you, especially when it is so clearly written on your face that you are hurting."
She leaned against him as several hot tears streamed down her face, "I can't bear to see my children sent away and forced into hiding. I feel so helpless knowing that I alone cannot protect them."
Severus didn't respond, he just wrapped his arm around Morgan a bit more tightly.
"Kamen I would have had to let go anyways, I knew he would want to move out. But Nimue... she's barely 14! And if she's not at Hogwarts she can't even use magic to protect herself. Anything could happen..."
"The Ministry has no control over the tribal peoples Morgan, be it the temples in Greece or here in Britain. She should be able to use magic."
"That doesn't mean she'll be safe."
"No," Severus agreed, "it doesn't mean she'll be safe. But it certainly makes me feel better knowing that she won't be completely defenseless. It is not much, but it is a small comfort."
Morgan nodded slowly, "I suppose. And I know I have to let her go if I want her to be safe."
"It's big," Olivia commented as she explored the living room.
"What did you expect kid?" Kamen asked as he hoisted her onto his back.
"I don't know... a house. But I think this is bigger than a house," she frowned in contemplation, "but still smaller than a castle."
Kamen chuckled at her serious response, "well, since Mum and Dad have disappeared," probably snogging or worse in their bedroom he added to himself, "I suppose I shall have to escort you to your room."
"I get my own room?"
"Of course. I'm pretty sure I can help you decorate it anyway you want too. Although it might be best if you didn't ask where I learned how to decorate a female-friendly bedroom."
"Why?"
Kamen grinned wickedly, although Olivia couldn't see it from her perch, "why don't you ask Dad sometime while I'm not at home, I bet that's a question he would love to answer." His conquests of the past had really tested his creative skill.
He smiled to himself as Olivia chatted away at him on the trip up the stairs. He had always thought of his other sisters as being more on the annoying than enjoyable side. But he truly enjoyed looking after his adopted sister. Maybe everyone was right and he had finally matured. Only he hoped he hadn't grown up too much, there was still a lot of fun to be had.
"Here we go," he said as he threw open a door at the top of the landing, "I think you'll like this one, right next to Mum and Dad's" thank Merlin they have silencing charms on their room he mentally added, "and right across from me... until I move out of course."
Olivia hopped down to the ground, "it's brown," she said, wrinkling her nose.
"It kinda feels weird to be home," Serena said as she worked at unpacking her trunk.
"I know," Dierna paused by the closet, a set of robes hanging from her arm, "do you realize that this is probably our last summer at home? That we'll be graduating in a year..."
"Hopefully graduating," Serena amended with a grin.
Dierna mirrored her smile, "I have every intention of graduating next year. Can you imagine Dad's face if either one of us got expelled or failed out?"
Serena giggled into her hand, "he would absolutely hit the roof! Although I bet we could sell tickets for that sort of show."
Dierna tossed a couple of things at her dresser, feeling that proximity was just as good as them actually making it into the piece of furniture. "How much freedom do you think we'll get this summer?"
"Well let's see..." Serena began ticking points off on her fingers, "there's the most evil wizard of all time running around on the lose, you nearly got yourself killed multiple times last year, Mum and Dad will already be near panic with Nimue going to Greece, oh... and in addition to an evil dark lord there are all of his minions, especially one who took a liking to stalking you, Dad already feels we're predisposed towards trouble, and Dad's just way overprotective in general."
"I suppose that equates to us being under house arrest all summer."
"Pretty much."
"Bloody hell... methinks we'll have to practice the fine art of sneaking out," Dierna grinned as another shoe made it almost to the closet, landing just short of it, on the floor.
"And if either one of you even tries to sneak out you'll find yourselves confined to your room for the rest of the summer," Severus said as he stuck his head in their room.
"You can't do that!" Serena protested.
"I can and I will. There are several very effective detaining spells that the two of you could find yourself experiencing if you don't keep in line."
Dierna snorted and muttered, "You'll have to catch us sneaking out first."
"I heard that. But you might want to think about that fact that I could very well have already placed tracking spells on both of you," he swept out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Can he do that?" Serena asked.
"I think we'll have to check the legality of detaining and tracking charms," Dierna tried to remember if there was a book lying around the house on detecting those type of charms.
"I have a feeling this summer could end up really being a drag."
"Not if I can help it."
"How much do you have to pack?"
Remus smiled, "relatively little, I don't have very much to start out with it, and I also won't need a whole lot at the temple."
Kalliope smiled at him, "it is a rather sparse life."
"A sparse life? When I have you by my side? Are you mad woman?"
Kalliope laughed as his arms snaked around her waist, "I have to admit, I'm worried that I might not be able to give my duties their full attention when I know you will be waiting in my bed."
Remus smiled and bent his head to pay attention to Kalliope's neck with his lips, his hands gripping her waist tightly.
"Are you going to do this all summer?"
Remus reluctantly loosened his hold on Kalliope, "Sophia, just because I get to be your father figure does not mean that I appreciate the attitude that seems to be so typical of teenagers towards their parents."
Sophia rolled her eyes, "as long as I have to watch that you're going to get plenty of attitude."
Remus arched an eyebrow and gave Kalliope a questioning look, "do I get any authority over her according to temple custom?"
"Technically no, but as head priestess I am granting you authority over her."
"I'm not sure if I like that idea," Sophia protested.
"Get used to it," Remus said as he reached out to ruffle her hair, "I think I'm going to like playing dad."
"You won't be playing for long," Kalliope said as her hand dropped to her stomach.
"Even better," he whispered as his eyes met hers.
"Kalliope?" Sophia looked apprehensive, "even though things have changed and you have to go back to Greece, can I still come to school here in the fall like we talked about?"
"I thought you didn't like the cold?" Kalliope smiled softly.
"I think I can handle it."
"I can't believe this," Morgan said in wonder as she looked around at the soft blue walls and the lacy curtains, "you really did this Kamen?"
"Of course. With the number of girlfriends I've had I think it was a given that I'd have to pick up on some aspects of what a woman likes."
"I'm not sure if I should be worried by that..." Morgan muttered.
"Come on Mum, doesn't it make you feel good to know that you've raised a son who knows how to please a woman?"
"No."
Olivia pulled on Morgan's sleeve, "I like my room now."
Morgan knelt down, "I'm glad you do sweetie, make sure you thank Kamen for helping you redecorate it."
Olivia nodded and ran to wrap her arms around Kamen's legs, "thank you."
"No problem kid. Maybe you'll have to come over and help me decorate my place."
"And what place is that?" Morgan asked as she stood up.
Kamen grinned, "The one I don't have yet. But Sirius said he'd take me and William to look at flats this week."
"Don't you think you should look for a job first so you can pay for that flat?"
Kamen shrugged, "I figured you and Dad wouldn't mind helping out a little until I found something."
"Hmmm... I think we'll have to discuss that."
Kamen rolled his eyes, "fine, if you want us living in an unsafe, wreck of a place just because you won't contribute..."
"I said we'll discuss it," Morgan's voice took on a sharp edge.
Kamen knew enough to hold his tongue and not try to push the matter further. He was counting on monetary help and did not want to tick his mother off to the point where he would get nothing.
"Where do out losses stand?"
"We lost five Death Eaters, Malfoy among them."
Voldemort stared into the fire without turning to acknowledge Macnair, "an insubstantial loss. Our allies increase with every month that passes, a few losses among our ranks from time to time does not concern me."
"Of course my lord, the loss does not matter."
"Nor would it matter if you were to be lost," Voldemort reminded his current second in command of his precarious position of power, one that could be swept away the moment he so chose.
"What would you have me do now my lord?"
Voldemort shifted his gaze to the blood red contents of the glass in his left hand, "return to the Ministry and do what you can to cover up any discussion of our activity. And see if you can figure out anything about the whereabouts of Snape's girl, the little seer. They have placed a number of charms on her to keep her from my grasp, but it will not matter in the end. I want her destroyed."
"Anything else my lord?"
"Yes, how are your son's diplomatic skills?"
"My lord?"
"Can he be persuasive when need be?"
"Of course my lord, and he will do anything asked of him to serve you. His loyalty is just as strong as mine."
Voldemort nodded slowly, "I will have a mission for him eventually, one that will take a great deal of skill."
"And how shall I instruct him to prepare for this mission?"
"Make sure that his knowledge of the north countries increases significantly, and hand pick a team of our followers who can be undeniably be trusted."
"Where exactly will he be going?"
"To recruit allies for our cause. Specifically, I shall be sending him to Muspelheim, Jutunheim, Svartalfheim, and Nidavellir."
Olivia snuggled under the blankets and held Tristan close. She was very thankful for the nightlight in the corner. She didn't like going to sleep in a new place.
"Goodnight darling," Morgan kissed her youngest's forehead, "and remember, I'm right next door if you need anything during the night."
"G'night Mum," Olivia whispered, clutching Tristan a bit tighter.
Morgan smoothed the covers one last time before exiting the little girl's room and heading down the stairs. She was fairly certain that her husband would have already buried himself in his study to work on some project or another. The man never seemed to stop working.
True to form, she found him just as she expected to. Hunched over his desk, stacks of paper and books spread out around him, a glass of brandy close at hand.
"Care for some company?"
Severus looked up, "your company? Of course. If there are any children implied in that question, then the answer is no."
Morgan couldn't help but smile, "what have they done now that makes you so eager to avoid their company?"
Severus gestured his wife into a chair next to his while he answered, "I dropped a few threats to your darling daughters about what will happen to them should I catch them sneaking out this summer. They've spent the rest of the afternoon pestering me about it. I'm tired of hearing arguments in their defense."
Morgan clutched a pillow to her chest as she sank into the chair, and deposited her feet in her husband's lap, "so, were these empty threats or real ones?"
"Real."
"And what were these threats."
"That I would put a detaining charm on them should they be caught sneaking out and that I have a tracking charm on them so I know if they sneak out."
Morgan frowned, "I'm not sure if I like the idea of you putting a tracking charm on our children, it implies that we, or at least you, don't trust them."
"I don't trust them."
Morgan continued to frown at him, "I still don't like it."
Severus switched tactics, "and how do you know I have never placed similar spells on you?"
Morgan raised a delicate eyebrow, "such as what?"
"I'm a jealous man; there are spells that would insure that no man other than myself..."
"I get the point you insufferable git."
"I just think that being able to tell exactly where the children are is an excellent safety precaution given the current circumstances."
Morgan wiggled her feet, silently encouraging her husband to rub them, "I suppose I can live with that excuse."
"Good, because I was going to keep the spells in place with or without your consent."
"You do realize that you're near impossible to get along with?"
"Would you be happy if it was any other way?" His long tapered fingers obliged Morgan's wriggling by working up and down her small feet in a circular motion.
Morgan shook her head, "life would be very boring if you weren't so horrid all the time." She was amazed at the way they managed to keep interacting like this, to keep the light banter going back and forth, when the world seemed to be falling to pieces. How could things be so normal when nothing was going right?
It didn't take much effort for Severus to read the emotions that were flitting across his wife's face. She was covering her worry nicely, but he suspected that if she kept up the effort she would only end up exhausting herself and being more miserable than before. "I think perhaps Olivia is not the only one who would benefit from an early bedtime tonight."
Morgan smiled weakly, she had been found out. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't hide anything from her husband, "will you be joining me?"
Severus gestured at the stack of papers on his desk, but one look at his wife's face brought him up short. The need to simply be held and comforted was clearly written in her eyes, "of course, my work can wait until morning."
"Thank you."
A few hours later Morgan was awaken by a small body climbing into bed next to her, "Olivia darling, what's wrong?" she asked groggily.
"I got scared."
"What were you scared of?" Morgan was trying to stay awake long enough to comfort her daughter.
"I don't know."
"Is it because the room is different from your one at school?"
"Yes," Olivia mumbled as she cuddled closer to her mother. "Do I have to stay in there?" she asked miserably.
Morgan sighed, "Not tonight. Tomorrow we'll make your father put some special wards on your room so that you know there's nothing to be afraid of. You need to sleep in your own bed." Speaking of her husband... Morgan looked over to the other side of the bed and found it empty.
It didn't surprise her. Her husband managed to run on only a couple hours of sleep. On the few rare occasions she woke up during the night his spot was usually empty. He said it was a waste to spend hours sleeping that could be spent working. It was so typical of his nature.
Not feeling up to going in search of him, but longing for his presence, she settled for stealing one of his pillows and curling around it. She breathed deeply as she cuddled the pillow. It smelled like him. A tangy mixture of musty herbs that he picked up from his potions ingredients and strong soap. She liked it, and found it comforting.
She smiled to herself as she drifted back to sleep. Whenever she was feeling particularly vulnerable she stole one of his shirts to sleep in so that she could be wrapped in his scent. It was something that he absolutely hated, and it never failed to bring a scowl to his face when he found her thus attired. She had a feeling that in the days ahead there would be plenty of times when she would feel the need to raid his wardrobe. Perhaps the chance to annoy her husband in that fashion would be one of very few bright spots in her future.
