A/N: Just a short interlude before we get back to Snape. Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate all the favorites, alerts, and reviews. I live on reviews. :D

Waiting Game

Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she paced in the lobby area of St. Mungo's. Severus had been there for at least an hour by her estimate. Didn't they know anything yet? She drummed her fingers against her side, her eyes darting about the room wildly for any sign of movement.

At the sight of her in-laws walking into the lobby with her daughter, Aurora kneeled down, picking her daughter up instantly and holding the crying five-year-old against her. She didn't recall asking anyone to bring Angel to St. Mungo's, but then again her mind was focused on her husband.

"Shh, love. It's okay," Aurora whispered, brushing her daughter's long blond curls back as Angel buried her tiny face into the crook of her mother's neck.

"What happened?" her mother-in-law asked, her dark calculating eyes fixed on Aurora. Everything about the woman screamed unpleasantness, not to mention a 'come hell or high water' attitude. She clearly seemed to be a woman who had lived a hard life, sunken cheeks and all.

"I don't know," Aurora answered quickly. A bit too quickly for her mother-in-law's liking, it seemed, when the older witch took a threatening step towards her.

"You have to know something, girl! You were with him, weren't you?" her mother-in-law snapped, glaring at her.

"El," her father-in-law softly said, touching the older witch's arm gently. He, too, had an air about him that stated his life wasn't ideal either, difficult and hard. His blue eyes held a bitter warmth to them that contrasted his long hooked nose, which had clear signs of being broken more than a few times over his life.

"Don't you 'El' me, Tobias Snape," his wife barked sharply. "This is our son we're discussing here." Her eyes darted back to Aurora. "What. Happened?"

"He went to the restroom and was attacked. That's all I know, Eileen. That's all anyone's told me so far." Aurora kissed her daughter's cheek as she felt her daughter's soft cries intensify.

"Excuse me?" A tall man with short brown hair in his early twenties walked up to them quietly. He cleared his throat softly. "I apologize for intruding, but I'm Auror Daniels." His light grey eyes darted to Aurora. "Mrs. Snape, I assume?"

"Yes." She frowned, rubbing her daughter's back gently.

Auror Daniels shifted his weight slightly as he glanced towards Tobias and Eileen Snape for a moment before returning to look at her. "Do you mind if we talk privately for a few moments, Mrs. Snape? There are a few questions I'd like to ask you about tonight."

Aurora sighed. She opened her mouth to protest, but promptly closed it. "Sure." She gently pulled herself back from her daughter. "Love, Mummy has to speak with this Auror for a few moments. About Daddy. Will you stay with Grandmum and Grandpa, and be a good girl for me?"

The little girl sniffled, staring at her with tear-filled black eyes. Rubbing her nose into her sleeve, she nodded slowly. She took a few steps back to her grandfather before wrapping her arms around him.

Aurora followed the Auror a few moments later to the other side of the room. She made sure that she stayed in Angel's line of sight, though. It hurt seeing her daughter cry.

"You were at the restaurant, Sheer, with your husband tonight?"

"Yes. It was our anniversary," she answered quietly.

"Did anyone know that you two were going to be there tonight?"

"Not that I'm aware. Severus made the plans." She then sighed, frowning. "I mean, his parents knew of course. They were watching Angel for us. But nobody else knew that, I think." She watched Auror Daniels nod slowly as the quill wrote down his notes for him.

"Does your husband have any enemies?"

She couldn't help but laugh sharply. "Do you know who he is, Daniels?" She shook her head slowly. "Of course he has enemies. Every living Death Eater wants him dead. And any former student of his for that matter." She caught his eyes narrowing and frowned. "He betrayed Voldemort and helped Harry Potter to defeat that monster. I take it that you weren't around here for that, though?"

"No, ma'am. I was attached to the Americas division during those years," he answered quietly.

"Lucky you. It's safe to say, though, my husband pissed off a lot of people, Daniels."

"Anyone in particular stand out in your mind?"

She shook her head. "No. It's been quiet lately. Since we're at peace finally."

"Did you notice anything unusual tonight? A person watching you two closely maybe?"

She glanced down, thinking for a moment before shaking her head again. "Nothing I can think of. I was just with my husband, trying to enjoy our anniversary."

"All right." Daniels sighed. "Now, I apologize for asking this, ma'am, but I spoke with a waiter at the restaurant earlier, and he mentioned that it seemed like you two were fighting."

"No. He was mistaken." She rubbed her silver wedding ring. "Severus was worried that it wouldn't be good enough for me. Our anniversary dinner. So, he was rather snarky and combative. He just wanted it to be perfect, Daniels. He gets a bit . . . obsessive at times over these things." She watched the Auror nod slowly.

"Has he ever assaulted you? Your daughter? During these 'combative' times, I mean?"

"No. Never. He'd rather die than hurt us." Aurora noticed his eyes narrow on her arm and quickly re-covered it with the shawl. "Do you have any more questions?"

"May I see your arm, ma'am?" he asked quietly.

She sighed heavily. "I'd rather you didn't, Daniels, but I suppose I have no choice. Do I?" She slowly lifted her arm away from the wrap and held her bruised and cut forearm out.

"Mind explaining those injuries to me, ma'am?" He glanced up at her face.

"I was brewing a potion when I added the wrong ingredient, resulting in a very powerful explosion. You can speak with Madam Pomfrey about it. She's put it into my medical file."

"What potion?"

"A mild sleeping draught." She shrugged. "A potion that my husband would say any second-year could brew." She laughed softly. "Now, was there anything else?"

Daniels shook his head. "No, ma'am. I'll be in touch, however." He bowed his head. "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Snape." He turned on his heels and silently walked away.

Her eyes followed him for a few moments before she drew in a slow breath. She then headed back to her daughter and in-laws to wait for a healer to speak with them.