This chapter was a bitch and a half to write. Thanks for sticking with me and I'm sorry for any feels you experience as you read (no I'm not).

Henry is going to fall. He's seven years old, and he's riding a bike, and he's going to fall. If someone would just tell him to slow down, then maybe he wouldn't, but no one is going to tell him that and so he's going to fall.

Regina watches him through the mirror with bated breath, subconsciously squeezing her fist together as one would a hand brake on a bicycle.

Henry skitters around a corner, little legs pumping as he flies down the sidewalk. The bike is a bit too small for him, since it's his cousin's old one, and so his knees hit the handlebars every so often, but it does nothing to slow him down. Unfortunately.

At least he's wearing a helmet. He should be wearing elbow pads and knee pads too, but of course no one paid close enough attention to tell him that.

He skids around another corner, but too sharply and too quickly and his wheels skid as his bike turns over, knocking him to the concrete.

Regina inhales sharply, heart beating fast as she watches, fist clenched tight around the edge of the mirror. If his blasted aunt and uncle would only pay attention to him for once, maybe he wouldn't get hurt so often-

Henry sits up and inspects his hands, flexing them a few times before looking down at his knee. He has a bright red scrape on one of them, dirt flecking his skin.

Regina winces at the sight of it. That'll sting in the bathtub tonight.

Henry blows air on his wound, presumably to get the dirt out of it, but as he blows, the most remarkable- to Henry, anyway- thing happens. The scrape slowly shimmers away into nothing, leaving only unmarked skin behind.

Henry blinks at it in confusion, ducking his head to get a closer look and running his hand over his knee as if to prove that the scrape is really gone.

Regina allows herself a small smile. Daniel's boy has the makings of a great wizard already.

Seemingly satisfied with his now scrape-free knee, Henry stands and rights his bike, swinging a leg over the seat and pressing his feet to the pedals, pushing off at a noticeably slower pace.

Regina exhales and looks up at the clock. A class will be coming in soon. She waves her wand over the mirror and the image of Henry riding his bike shimmers away into a simple reflection. She places the mirror back in her desk drawer and then stands to gather the ingredients her students will need for class.

Regina never got detention in school. If she ever did, not even her worst nightmares would compare to how Mother would have reacted. Daniel and Robin, now, they were never not in detention, it seemed. Will would usually weasel his way out of punishment, but Daniel and Robin never managed to be so clever. They probably swept more corridors as punishment in their time at Hogwarts than Mr. Grump ever did.

Regina used to think detention was for bad students. But Henry Colter and Roland Knight get detention more than any of her other Gryffindors (with the exception of Mr. Booth) and she would never classify them as bad students. Misguided, yes. And overwhelmed, certainly. But not bad. Nothing good ever came of telling a child he or she is bad, and Dumbledore knows those two have lived the majority of their lives thinking they are bad.

So detention, as often as Colter and Knight get it, is not a punishment intended to shame or guilt. At least, not when Regina handles it. It's intention should be to make a student recognize what they did was wrong in order to stop the behavior from continuing in the future. And with that philosophy in mind, Regina believes she has come up with the perfect detention for Mr. Colter and Mr. Knight.

"Are you sure the Whomping Willow is mentioned in this book?" Roland asks, flipping through the several hundreds of pages he has yet to read of Hogwarts: A History.

"Oh, I'm quite sure, Mr. Knight," Regina answers without looking up from her paperwork. "You just have to keep reading."

Roland blows out an exasperated breath and drops his forehead down to the faded page in front of him.

Regina smiles to herself and looks to her right. "How are you coming along, Mr. Colter?"

Henry jumps slightly at his name and he hastily looks down at the open law book in front of him. "Uh, nothing yet, professor," he stammers. "There's, uh, a lot more magical law about invisibility spells than I thought."

"Mm, and it's quite riveting to read about, isn't it?"

Henry nods brightly. "Oh, yes, professor. It's, uh, fascinating."

Regina smiles. "Yes, I'm sure both your essays on the subjects will be just as fascinating."

Henry musters a half-grin that falls into a grimace as he turns back to his book.

Regina laughs internally as she turns back to her work- an inventory list that she really should have gone over before the start of the year. She knows what ingredients are in her cabinets and how much of everything she has, so she hadn't bothered to update her inventories, but if she's going to be handing over her stores to someone else, she wants to make sure they know what they're getting.

She frowns at the '10' written next to Lacewing flies. She definitely has more than ten vials of Lacewing flies. She made sure to stock up for her NEWT students since they will be attempting to brew Polyjuice Potion over the course of the semester and they will most likely mess up a few times before getting it right-

"May I be excused to the lavatory, professor?" Henry asks.

"Yes, Mr. Colter, you may," Regina permits. "If Grump gives you any trouble, direct him to me."

Henry nods and pushes back from his desk, chair legs scraping against the stone floor. He scampers out of the room and Roland watches longingly after him, eyes lingering on the open door.

"Wishing for the time to pass quicker won't make it so, Mr. Knight," Regina quips without looking up.

Another exasperated sigh is the answer she receives.

Regina fights a smile. One of the things she likes about Roland Knight is his spirited attitude. Despite his hard life, he's managed to go through it with a smile. He might be little, but his spunk is big and never has she seen him back down from something. A month's detention has apparently done little to dampen his feistiness.

A knock draws Regina's attention and she looks up to see Robin standing in the doorway, smile on his face. Her stomach turns over. "Robin," she says, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in for a second?" he asks, eyes shifting to Roland. "If I'm not interrupting, of course."

"Oh, no, you're not interrupting," Regina insists, waving him in, like an idiot. Why is she letting him in? "Mr. Knight is just serving detention with me."

Robin looks at Roland in exaggerated shock as he enters the room. "Roland Knight in detention?" he exclaims. "Well, who would have thought? And here I was under the impression you were a model student." He winks in the boy's direction.

Roland looks over at Regina, unsure about his place in the conversation.

"Oh, Mr. Knight is a fine student," Regina replies, looking at her student sideways. "He just makes some… misguided decisions from time to time. Isn't that right, Mr. Knight?"

"Uh… yes, professor," Roland agrees with a nod, curls flopping in his face.

Robin smirks. "I'm just messing with you, lad. I spent a bit of time in detention myself."

"A bit?" Regina echoes. "I'd say that is an understatement."

"Okay, quite a bit," Robin amends. He winks at Regina. "Professor Mills here never helped me get out of it, either."

"You deserved what you got," Regina returns, eyebrows arching. "Some of the stunts you pulled-"

"I liked to keep things interesting here at old Hogwarts," Robin explains to Roland. "Something Professor Mills never approved of."

"You were friends in school?" Roland asks, eyes wide as he looks between his two professors.

"Yes, we were," Regina says. "Does that surprise you?"

Roland looks down, a little sheepish. "Well… kinda, professor."

"Why?"

"It's just… you don't really seem like you would be friends," Roland answers carefully. "Ma'am."

Robin chuckles. "I'll give you that. But Professor Mills is the only reason I passed any of my classes, if we're being honest." He leans toward Roland, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "She was a bit of a nerd."

"Now that I believe," Roland laughs.

Regina raises an eyebrow as she looks down at him, lips pursing. "I think that's quite enough from you tonight, Mr. Knight. You are excused."

Roland closes his book enthusiastically. "Thank you, professor." He moves to put his book away, but Regina stops him.

"I'll take care of your books. If you see your co-pilot on your way back to your dormitory, you may tell him he is excused as well. I'll see you both tomorrow."

Roland nods and stands, pushing in his chair. "Yes, Professor Mills. Good night, Professor Locksley."

"Good night, lad," Robin calls after him as Roland leaves the room. He waits a second and then turns back to Regina. "Co-pilot?"

She scoffs. "Oh, you haven't heard about the car incident?"

Robin furrows his brow. "Car incident… you mean that flying car that was spotted over London the other day?"

Regina nods. "Yep. That one."

Robin blinks. "Roland was the one responsible for that?"

"Unfortunately," Regina sighs. "Honestly, I don't know where he comes up with stuff like that."

"The creative minds of children," Robin says with a laugh. "Who knows how they think what they do."

"If only they would use their creative minds for schoolwork and not troublesome activities," Regina sighs.

"Grump didn't give me any problems, profess- oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," Henry says as he comes into the room, stopping when he sees Robin.

"No worries, Mr. Colter," Regina replies. "I already dismissed Mr. Knight. You are excused for the evening."

He nods and then eyes Robin up and down curiously. "Um, hi."

Regina frowns, thinking that was a bit rude, but then she looks over at Robin and understands Henry's discomfort. He's looking at Henry- gaping, more like it- with a mix of amazement and wonder, and Regina's stomach flips over again. Fuck. This is the first time they're seeing each other in eleven years, something that Henry won't even remember and something that Robin will remember with reverence. She should defuse this potential disaster before-

"Well, damn me," Robin breathes, shaking his head, laughing in disbelief. "Like father, like son, huh?"

Henry's eyes shoot back over to Regina in alarm. "Um… what-"

Robin shakes his head again, evidently collecting himself. "I beg your pardon," he says. "I don't mean to be crass, it's just…" He smiles and takes a step forward, holding out his hand. "Henry, I'm Robin Locksley. I can't believe it's been so long."

Henry looks to Regina again, eyes wide and uncertain. "Professor?"

Regina bristles on Henry's behalf. "I think you're scaring him, Professor Locksley," she says tersely.

Robin startles at that. "Oh, I'm sorry, Iad, I didn't mean to frighten you" He holds up a hand. "Let me start again. My name is Robin Locksley and your father and I, we were friends."

Henry tilts his head at that. "You were?" he asks, curiosity replacing his uncertainty.

Robin nods. "Best friends," he confirms. "We were in school together."

Henry looks over at Regina. "You were in school with my father too, weren't you, Professor Mills?"

Regina nods shortly, tongue suddenly weighed down with an unnamed irritation, an anger flaring up from somewhere old and buried.

"We were all friends," Robin continues. "And we all fought against You Know Who together."

"Really?" Henry marvels, regarding Robin with new fascination. He takes a few steps forward and holds out his own hand, a gesture that has Robin grinning from ear to ear as they shake. "How come I've never met you before?"

"Well, we have met. You just don't remember it because you were a baby. But I guess that doesn't really count, does it?"

Henry shakes his head. "I've met a lot of people who said they knew me when I was a baby. Or knew my parents. They all kind of blend together eventually."

"I bet," Robin agrees. "Your parents were quite famous when they died, and even more famous after. I'd imagine a lot of people suddenly remembered how good of friends they were with Daniel and Tink." He pauses and looks Henry over. "I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but you look exactly like your father. Except for your eyes. You have-"

"My mother's eyes," Henry finishes. "Yes, I know."

Robin smiles, small and sad. "I know they'd be proud of you. Incredibly proud."

Henry practically beams and Regina suddenly knows where her anger is coming from. What does Robin know about Henry? Other than the fact that he wears his father's hair and his mother's eyes, what could he possibly know about him? How would he know that Daniel would be proud of his son? He, of course, absolutely would be, but what gives Robin the sudden authority to make that judgement? He doesn't know that Henry earned an A- on his Potions final last term or that he is the leading Seeker among all the House teams or that he helped win the House Cup for Gryffindor last year. He doesn't know any of that and yet suddenly he gets to walk in here and act like he knows Daniel would be proud of him?

Regina knows all the things Henry has done. She knows Daniel would be proud of him because she's been here for all of it. Robin has not.

Regina clenches her jaw. The smile on Henry's face- such a rare sight, an expression she's only seen him wear on a few occasions- only inflames her further.

"I hear you're on the Gryffindor quidditch team?" Robin is saying, oblivious to Regina's mounting anger.

"Yeah, I'm the Seeker," Henry answers, looking over at Regina. "Professor Mills handpicked me for the spot."

"Wow, what an honor," Robin praises, smiling at Regina.

She manages something of a half-grimace in return.

"I guess I'll be seeing you on the pitch, then?" Robin continues, looking back to Henry.

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I look forward to it." Robin holds out his hand. "It was wonderful seeing you again, Henry. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

Henry shakes his hand. "Thank you, professor. It was nice meeting you." He turns back to Regina. "Good night, Professor Mills. I'll see you tomorrow."

Regina gathers herself enough to nod once. "Good night, Mr. Colter."

Henry turns and leaves, and Regina takes a few deep breaths, trying to keep her boiling blood at bay.

"Well, damn me," Robin marvels, shaking his head. "I didn't know he looked so much like Dan."

Regina bites down on her tongue. If you had been here to watch him grow up, you would have known. "Yes, well, he certainly has his father's personality as well," she manages, standing up from her chair. She walks over to Roland's vacated desk and picks up his book.

Robin chuckles. "A scoundrel, huh?"

Regina breathes deeply again and hums a noncommittal response.

After a moment, Robin sighs. "I imagine it can't be easy for him."

Regina shakes her head, turning away to reshelve Henry and Roland's books before Robin notices her scowl. Imagine how much easier it would be for him if he had someone to guide him. "He's a remarkable boy," she says. "He handles it very well."

Robin nods. "I'm sure living with his horrid aunt and uncle doesn't help."

He wouldn't have to live with his horrid aunt and uncle if you hadn't run away to the other side of Europe, Regina wants to snap, but she bites her tongue. "Yes, well, they were the only ones left who could care for him," she settles on, taking a bit longer than necessary to find the books' rightful places.

There's a weighted pause and she can practically feel the implication of her words settle over Robin. "Right," he says after a long moment.

She waits a second longer before turning back around, letting the silence linger, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction at showing even a lick of her irritation. "Did you need something?" she asks, blowing out a breath, shaking off whatever funk they were about to fall into.

Robin quirks his eyebrows and shakes his head once, regrouping. "Yeah. I finally found the quidditch practice schedules," he says, reaching into his robes pocket. He pulls out a folded piece of paper and holds it out toward her. "Merida had said you'd like a copy."

"I would, yes," Regina replies, reaching out and taking the page. "Thank you."

"No problem."

Another silence falls between them and it stretches out, growing thinner and thinner, threatening to snap. Regina looks down at the paper and then over at her desk, back to her cabinets, down to her shoes, at the fire crackling in the fireplace.

Robin shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at his feet for a moment before looking back up. "Why is this suddenly weird?" he asks.

Regina glances up at him. "What do you mean?" she evades.

He gestures between them. "This. Us," he explains. "I know it's been awhile, but I'm getting the impression you haven't exactly been thrilled to see me."

Regina shakes her head. "That's not… I mean, I was just wasn't expecting-"

"Regina," he interrupts with a look. "I always knew when you were lying. Eleven years hasn't changed that."

Regina purses her lips. "But it's changed pretty much everything else, hasn't it?" she snaps before she can stop herself.

Robin tilts his head, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Regina closes her eyes and blows out a slow breath. "Eleven years," she says. "That's how long it's been. Do you know how much happens in eleven years? A whole hell of a lot." She pauses, and Robin stays silent, watching her. She looks away. "Where did you go? After we buried Daniel and Tink, where did you go?"

"Regina, what-"

"Where. Did. You. Go," she repeats.

Robin stares at her for a long moment, expression unreadable. "I went to France," he finally answers. "I had to get away-"

"And after that?" Regina interrupts. "Where did you go after that?"

"Spain."

"And then?"

"Germany."

"Germany," Regina echoes. "And you've been there ever since, haven't you?"

Robin doesn't answer.

"And all the while, I've been here," she continues, gesturing around her room. "I've been here. Alone. Without Daniel, without Will, without you. Daniel is dead. Will is dead. And you left. You left me."

Robin shakes his head. "Regina-"

"You left me to pick up the pieces," she goes on. "My entire life was shattered. Everything I knew was destroyed. I didn't have anyone, or anything, and I was alone." She blinks, frustrated that tears are burning behind her eyes. "Merlin offered me a job at Hogwarts and I didn't want to take it. I didn't think I deserved to take it. But I didn't have anything else and I didn't know what else to do, so I took it. And here I am, eleven years later. Still standing. Still here." She points to herself. "I put the pieces back together. Without you. And you don't get to come waltzing back in here and try to fit yourself back into the puzzle."

"Regina, I didn't know-"

"I know you didn't," she interjects. "And how could you? You weren't here." She pauses, breathing hard, and looks away for a moment before looking back. "Why did you leave?"

Robin exhales, looking down. "I needed… I needed time. Away from everything that happened and I couldn't stay here, not with Daniel and Will-"

"So you ran away," Regina fills in. "You ran away from me. From Henry. For Dumbledore's sake, he's your godson, Robin."

"I know-"

"Do you?" Regina asks, voice rising in pitch. "Do you know how much he needed you? How much he still needs you? The muggles he lives with, his family, they're horrible to him. For the first decade of his life, he lived in a cupboard under the stairs. Until he came to Hogwarts, he spent his whole life thinking he was unwanted. He was unloved." She looks away. "And take it from someone who knows- that feeling never goes away."

Robin looks up at that. "Regina, please, let me explain."

"You don't have to," she says. "You already have, haven't you? You needed time. Away from me and away from Henry, and that's what you got. You got your time and now you want to come back here and come back into my life, back into his, and think that everything will be fine. Well, it won't be fine. Nothing has been fine since the day Daniel died, and you suddenly appearing on a broomstick won't change that."

Robin shakes his head. "Regina, I didn't come back to Hogwarts because I thought I could come back into your life. I didn't even know you were here."

Regina's knuckles go white at that. "And where did you think I was?" she seethes. "Azkaban? Dead? Or did you just not care enough to find out?"

"I thought you left too," Robin explains, a spot of hurt flickering through his eyes. "I thought you would have needed to get away too."

"And leave Henry?" she nearly whispers, stricken at the mere thought. She shakes her head slowly. "Never. He'd already lost everyone else. I wasn't going to abandon him too."

"I didn't abandon him-"

"Then what would you call it?" Regina demands. "Abandonment, running away, leaving him to fend for himself? For Dumbledore's sake, Robin, he doesn't even know who you are! You were his father's best friend and the boy doesn't even know you!"

"I intend to fix that," Robin asserts passionately. "As soon as I found out Henry was here, I made a promise to myself and to Daniel that I would be in his life, in whatever capacity he wants." He looks away. "And the moment I saw you, I promised myself that I would try to do right by you this time. That I would be here for you, and that's what I'm trying to do."

He looks back up. "I know I wasn't here back then, but I'm trying to make up for it by being here now. For you and for Henry."

Regina studies him for a long moment, gaze flicking back and forth between his eyes. They're the same blue as they were eleven years ago, as they have been the entire time she's known him. So deep, so sincere, always searching for something. And what's he searching for now? Forgiveness? Acceptance? A second chance?

She's hit with a memory of him, of the two of them back when they were students, laughing in the Great Hall over something funny Daniel had said. The world had been so simple back then. No Dark Lords and Dark Marks. No mudbloods and purebloods. No Orders, no curses, no drops of blood spilt between them. Just friends, just them, just something good.

She's hit with another memory, of herself, by herself, standing alone in the rain in front of two fresh gravestones, the disturbed earth muddy beneath her feet. The world was different then. No Daniel and no Robin. No Will and no Henry. No family, no home, no light anywhere. Just her, just alone, just something broken.

And for years that what it was, and still is, because she was alone, and still is, and that's not something that can change overnight. That's not something that will ever change.

Regina shakes her head slowly and looks up at Robin sadly. "Too late," she whispers. She picks up her papers, and walks out of her classroom, ignoring Robin's call of her name as she goes.

Please review!