Not quite finished moving but writing this help take away some of the stress. Thank you to everyone who reads this. I'm surprised you exist. ;) If you have any comment, questions, or concerns please let me know. Please review to let me know what you think, everything is better with audience participation. Real action next chapter coming soon. I'm almost finished with it now. Sadly if I write anymore tonight all you get is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.


Lilah moved out of the kitchen to stand just outside the door of the kitchen. She didn't mind leaving the room; she really didn't need to be around that man. Sadly, the ice was located in the kitchen and that she still needed. Looking at the damage to her hand she smiled. If she looked like this she could only imagine how his face would look later.

Looking up she focused on the voices coming from kitchen. It sounds like Lucius was not taking it so well. Not that she minded, her mother may not be her favorite person but that was for her and her alone to say out loud.

"That little bi" Lucius began.

"Well Lucius what did you expect? She would just laugh about you insulting the mother she just buried," Snape managed a voice almost as uppity as the one Mr. Albino had earlier. Lilah found respect building for the man. "Honestly, think about her genetics. Nothing about them would sit back and take your shit."

"Watch yourself Snape and watch her while you're at it. I haven't quite figured out that forgiveness thing your boss goes on about," Lucius managed at a dull roar before a loud pop echoed out the door into the hall. Lilah was still trying to figure out what to do about the ice wishing she could magic up some when Snape appeared in the hall.

Snape paused as he saw her standing holding her hand. It looked quite nasty which didn't surprise him after the sound it made when it connected. With a nod of his head they both headed into the kitchen and he moved to the freezer.

"Well isn't he charming," Lilah managed a smile until the ice hit her hand. Then it was enough to keep from wincing. "He must be mister popularity".

"He is actually very popular in the wizarding community, though from his showing here you wouldn't know it. If I may," Snape turned to face her, his face at eye level with hers. "While this may anger you I would refrain from mentioning it to your father lest you wish a death on your conscience. You father is an amazing leader and he doesn't take insult well".

"He would kill him for insulting me? A bit extreme," she meant to laugh but the look in Snape's eyes stopped her. A shiver raced down her back.


The next few days were spent reading chapters and passages from what Lilah believed to be at least half the library. A rather large library at least the size of the pub she had been in not long ago. When things were normal she though. Bookshelves lined the wall, all a deep mahogany in color and holding books on every inch. Some of the books looked old enough to fall apart when opened. In the center of the room a large red suede couch sat. It was her favorite place in the whole house, it was just as dusty and disused but she had had a couch like this in the New York apartment her mother and her had lived at while she was in elementary school.

As she stepped into the room the candles floating around the room flickered to life. Snape had told her how he had set them up when he first arrived at the house. He had also stocked the library with books from his own collection to replace the muggle books that her father used as target practice.

"Why do you call them muggles," she had been wondering since she heard Lucius use the word a week ago.

"Why do you call it a cobra," was her tutors answer. Never very helpful but at least he had yet to insult her. Everyone else she had met had said something or another; though never as outright as Lucius. "Does it matter why so long as you know it to be?"

"Well now I want an egg role," she laughed at the look on Snape's face. "Fortune cookies come with egg roles in America. But seriously, food that isn't here wouldn't hurt. I miss the outside world".

Snape looked at the girl who sat next to him. She was obviously not the type who spent much time sequestered in a library. Even though she would probably only see death eaters she had still curled her dark hair and done her make-up, nothing heavy, a slightly darker shade on the lips and a light purple around her eyes. It suited her olive skill and blue eyes, a slightly disconcerting but beautiful face.

"Go get your jacket, I will go speak to your father," he got up to leave making it out the door before being pushed by a running Lilah. Walking into the backyard he found Voldemort speaking with Bellatrix and Lucius. She was looking particularly crazy which didn't bode well. Thus far he had kept Lilah away from the small woman but she would find her soon enough.

"My Lord," he made sure his voice carried the ten feet to him not wanting to get closer to the woman who distrusted him and he her.

"Clearly I am busy Snape, what is it that you find so important to interrupt me. Has someone died?" he answered without even turning his head from its position on Lucius. Bellatrix let loose a smile Snape feared would break any mirror to receive it.

"I just wanted you to know Lilah and I are going shopping. We will be back soon," he knew that wasn't the right way to go about this but the smile on Bella's face made him reckless.

"Lucius, Bella leave. Now," turning to face Snape with a hard look on his face both disapparated after just a moment's hesitation. "What is it you plan to do now Severus?"

"Take her shopping," he kept his tone light but focused to help keep the situation calm. "She will need a wand as well as supplies. I believe it is time that she begin actually using magic".

"Wasn't it just last week convincing me she didn't need a wand yet. I believe you said you were going to go over the basics. A crash course if you will".

"Yes," Snape nodded. If there was one thing he hated it was first years who insisted on cursing themselves attempting to use magic beyond them. He firmly believed they shouldn't receive wands until at least after Christmas break. "Lilith did a better job than I had though in that area. She made sure that Lilah spoke Latin, as well as teaching her most of the subtler bits needed for accurate magic workings while she was alive".

"I knew she wouldn't neglect her education completely. Lilith was never a stupid woman," Voldemort made what Snape believed to be a smile. "So she is learning quickly, obviously faster than other would."

Snape was never comfortable when Voldemort spoke of Lilah. He did it with pride, but not that of a parent. More like the owner of a prize racehorse. A gleam would shine in his eyes that in anyone else could be considered love, but not quite right.

"She does seem to be quite bright. She possesses the gift of parselmouth. She is also nearly perfect at Occlumency. Presumably so she could hide should she run into a wizard," Snape began to regret entering into the conversation as he really did wish to leave before everything closed. "We will get food while we are out so Wormtail need not worry".

He began to back towards the house leaving Voldemort to his not quite smile and obvious planning. When he was sure Voldemort would not ask him anything else he picked up his pace finding Lilah dressed and ready in the hall.

"Let's do this," she spoke with conviction but her eyes held nerves.

"What is exactly you fear? Getting to the shopping or what you will find when we arrive," he looked at her as the smile began to form. It was the one aspect she had that was solely her own and not connectible to either parent. Neither Voldemort nor Lilith smile just because they were happy. Though he doubted either had ever been happy.

"C," she replied, "All of the above".

"I won't let you get hurt, now take my hand" grabbing hands he disapparated to Diagon Alley.