This chapter edited as of April 2019.

Part One: Ten

Caledonia reached up to take hold of the Thestral's snout, patting its head. It was huge and ominous, yet it was docile and snorted under her hands. She felt no fear for the creature as she held reverence for it. She smiled as it nudged its head on her chest in affection. Glancing back to Hogwarts, the sun was setting, casting a coral glow upon the ancient castle. A lot had happened in the past two months.

There were changes in the faculty, Professor Trelawney had been sacked, but remained at the castle much to Umbridge's chagrin. Firenze took up her Divination class. The class became interesting with the centaur teaching.

Then there was Dumbledore's blazing exit from Hogwarts after the discovery of Dumbledore's Army. Draco had unwittingly followed the other Inquisitional Squad members and found the DA group's hideout, exposing them to Umbridge. In turn, Dumbledore told the Aurors that the group created before the ban for having a group, and he was responsible for the group. But as the Aurors came to arrest him, he disappeared in the flame of fire via Fawkes.

Caledonia and Draco had a fall out afterward. She became doubtful of Draco's devotion, unsure if he was truthful to her about his involvement in the war that was on the horizon. The student body became divided when Umbridge became the headmistress of Hogwarts. The rift deepened between herself and Draco when the entire Slytherin and half of Ravenclaw sided with Umbridge.

Umbridge had several more professors arrested and carted away, and the environment at Hogwarts became hostile and tense. The OWLS and NEWTS came around, and the Weasley twins decided to go out with a bang, with some help from fellow Gryffindor members, causing mayhem throughout the school, sending fireworks off and flying out of there. Even Hermione decided to let her hair down and get herself caught up in the spirit of rebellion.

During one of the exam, Caledonia suffered horrible headache. Her scar, despite under concealment charm, was throbbing and red. During the Transfiguration exam, she dropped her head, blacking out for a moment as vision swam in her head. She saw her godfather, Sirius, tortured and cursed, in the Department of Mysteries. Hermione poked her with her wand to wake her up. Caledonia woke, disoriented and struggled to finish her exam before leaving, staggering under stress, fatigue, and pain. She knew then that Voldemort had been trying to get in her head during the exam.

Hermione noticed this and took her to the infirmary, and the nurse had administered a pain potion. She called for Sirius via the mirror, relieved to see his face come across the surface. After a short conversation, she understood it was Voldemort's ploy to place the vision in her mind to draw her to the Department of Mysteries, and it left her very frustrated and angry.

In Fred and George's stellar exit, they turned a corridor into a swamp with their new invention. They told Caledonia that they were opening up Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze in Diagon Alley, using the money she had given to them from the Triwizard Tournament. Umbridge was beyond furious, losing control of the school as the students rebelled each day. In some part, the daily lives at Hogwarts remained normal, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had their last match, and in the end, Ron saved a goal, and the Gryffindor won the game.

Caledonia stroked the Thestral's snout. She decided to leave the school ground, just a few days shy of the end of the term. She had explained to Hermione and Ron that she needed to leave to find something in her vision before Voldemort did. They were very reluctant to let her go, but it took some convincing that she would be safe, going in and out in no time and she promised to return before anyone noticed she was gone.

Hermione and Ron came up with a plan to distract Umbridge, managing an excellent job, leading the woman to the Forbidden Forest, leading her to believe that Dumbledore hid powerful magic there. The plan had been set, and Caledonia could hear the woman scream, echoing from the forest. Smirking, knowing that they had come face to face with Gawap, Hagrid's half-brother, a full giant and a horde of angry centaurs. She couldn't feel sorry for the pink-clad toad.

She moved around to get upon the creature back but stopped by an invisible hand on her arm. "Wait, where are you going?" She heard the familiar voice, and her heart thudded.

She stepped back on the ground and turned to watch Draco appear from the invisibility spell. He stared at her, a hint of regrets and sorrow in his eyes. They had not been talking to one another since the Inquisitional Squad had discovered the DA's room. He knew she doubted his loyalty and wanted to tell her that he cared and stood by her side, but was never able to catch her alone until now. She kept herself away and was always surrounded by her other friends, not allowing him to talk to her. It had hurt, being so distant from her. And to make matter worse, he had to pretend to be loyal to Umbridge and the Slytherins.

Somehow, he got a note earlier, telling him to find Caledonia that night. He suspected Hermione had slipped him the note during one of their classes. He knew he had one tiny chance to make it right with her and went after her.

She watched his forlorn expression. She could see how much he loved her and felt the flutter in her heart. But she could not be with someone if she doubted him. "Go, go and tell someone that I am out here, leaving the ground, breaking the rules."

He stepped up to her, running his hand up her arm, "No. I am not going to do that. Caledonia, you're always my priority. I want to go with you, wherever you're going." He said, standing his ground.

She looked away. "That's what you said, yet you sided with the Slytherins. I don't know what to think of you anymore," she said.

He reached up and lightly grasped her arm, turning her to face him. "I am sorry you had to think that. I did what I had to do, to uphold the Malfoy reputation as a loyal Slytherin. It's my family that's at stake here. I had to pretend. My heart always belonged to you."

She shook her head, fighting back a tear. "I am going to get something, and I will be back before morning. I have to do this alone."

Draco frowned. "Something, you mean, something from your dreams?" He asked as she looked away and scowled, "That's in the Ministry of Magic, and you can't get in. Not without some help."

She looked up to him and said, "I have to. I have to get it before Voldemort get it. Whatever it is."

He felt his chest tightened and it hurts. He realized he was afraid for her. He went up to her, taking hold of her shoulders, "No, Caledonia, I am coming with you." He squeezed his eyes close, resolutely making a decision. He grounded out, "Screw the school, screw Umbridge." He scoffed and pulled the Inquisitional pin off his robe, "Fuck this." He threw it down on the ground and stomped on it. "Hell with the whole façade. If I have to come back and say I am a Hufflepuff, and I love Gryffindor, I will, just because I love you. You can't do this alone. I will not let you go alone."

She blinked, staring at the crushed pin in the ground before looking up into his stormy eyes. "What about your family?"

He grasped her and held her close, their faces so close that their breath fanned each other. "Now I know, I was wrong. It's not what my family's name that mattered. You matter to me the most."

She gave him a small smile and made a low sound like a laugh. "All right." She exhaled, relaxing in his arms and said, "We have to take the Thestrals to get there."

He looked behind her and asked bemusedly, "What Thestral?"

She inhaled sharply, realizing he couldn't see them because he had not witnessed someone die yet. She took his hands and held them close to the Thestral snout. It huffed, blowing warm air across his fingers and he gasped. "Come on. You can't see them because you have not witnessed someone die yet. They're invisible until you see someone die. They're harmless… if they're not that hungry." She said as an afterthought, and he snapped his hand back horrified.

He looked at her as if she was a nutter as she giggled, and asked, "Are you sure?"

Nodding, she climbed onto and held her hand out and grinned, "Do you trust me?" He nodded. "Come on, if you are coming with me."

"Can I ask you one question before we go?" He asked as he climbed on with her help, surprised that there was a solid body of a creature between his legs. He felt her nod as he wrapped his arms around her small waist. "Why didn't you list my father in that interview with Rita Skeeter a few months back?"

She blinked, having not expected the question. "Truth to be told; he was listed in the first draft." She said as the Thestral took to the sky. "But he's your father, and I didn't feel right about it." She said and became silent as she frowned. She remembered having an instinctual feeling to keep from naming Lucius Malfoy in the interview.

Draco didn't reply, holding on to her as they flew in the night. He was surprised that she had omitted his father's name from the list. He didn't want to press the issue any farther; he had no idea where his father stood. He suspected there was much more to his father than he let on. He had learned some time ago, with enough hints that Severus Snape was a spy and he knew his father and Severus was very close friends.

They reached the street in London where they would take the red phone booth to the Ministry of Magic below. He asked confused, "Why here? That would be like walking into the front door."

She held her finger up to her lips and smirked. "Shh," She drew the invisibility cloak around her shoulder and held it out for him to duck under with her. "It's late; I don't know if there will be people around, but just follow my lead and we will see where it goes from here." She covered them up, ensuring that they were invisible from head to toes. Satisfied that they were, they went into the phone booth and dialed.

The phone booth took them down, and they found the guard dozing at his desk. They glided past him without a sound and made their way across the Artium. It was dark, with few lights illuminating the place and there was not a single soul. They reached the lifts and boarded one and went down. They made their way below the hall of Ministry of Magic.

They found the hall where she kept seeing in her dream, the hall of doors and she knew it was the door at the end. She gestured to the door, and Draco nodded. Once they reached the door, she opened to find a large circular room with shelves going from floor to the ceiling, filled with blue orbs that seemed to hold glowing blue light from them. The room lit in an ominous glow from the globes.

"The Hall of Prophecy," Draco whispered in awe as he slid out from the invisibility cloak. He glanced around and yelped as he saw few other figures behind them, appearing out of the dark. Immediately recognizing them, he asked with a scowl in his voice, "What the hell you guys are doing here?"

Caledonia turned to see Hermione taking the lead with some of the DA members, Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville. "Yeah, why are you here?"

Hermione smiled at her, "We can't leave you alone. We've been through enough. Don't worry, they know too. We told them." She gestured to the others.

Neville stepped up nervously, "Hi Harry… boy, it is a shocker." He peered into her eyes, and he has confirmed it was Harry. "Weird." He muttered as he stepped back.

Luna gave a dreamy smile, "Now you know of both worlds, of the woman and man… how fun would that be, be a guy for a bit…" She trailed off, staring off around the room dreamily.

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Great, with you all here, probably set off some alarm somewhere and alerted the Aurors."

Caledonia patted his shoulder, turning to her friends, "I suppose we can't do much about it now." She smiled at her friends, "Well, let's find the orb. Whatever Voldemort wants has to be here… look for something with Harry Potter or Voldemort, or even Tom Riddle on it." She said, and they scattered looking around, but not straying far from each other.

She frowned as she recognized a familiar shelf with the number from her dream. She glanced on the shelf and saw an orb with 'Harry Potter, 1981' on it. "I got it." She called out and took it down from the shelf, she held it up for the others to see as they came back to her.

"So, what are you going to do with it?" Ron asked as he poked the name tag on it.

Draco shook his head and frowned. "Put it in your bag. We have to get it out of here before the Death Eaters arrive."

Caledonia slipped it into her purse and turned to Draco. "Death Eaters? I thought you said Aurors earlier." She snapped her wand up, pointing to his throat. "The truth, now."

Draco looked wide-eyed at her, and the others held up their wands to him backing her up. He held up his hands up in surrender, "Uh, guys. Trust me; we got to get out of here."

"Not until you tell me what's going on," Caledonia demanded in a low voice, her chest tightening from the betrayal.

Draco looked around a bit frantically before sighing in resignation, "All right. After I found out that you were leaving Hogwarts, I came along to make sure you got the orb and got out of here as soon as possible. The thing is, after the note I got, Father wrote to me this morning to find out if Harry Potter was coming here tonight to get the orb. He and the others will be showing up to catch him."

"You're with them!" Ron spat, his face turning red.

Hermione looked furious, "And after all, she was this close to loving and trusting you! I shouldn't have told you."

Draco looked frantic, "Caledonia, please!" He gestured to the door, "We have to go. I knew the moment you were coming here when I found you gone from your room. I don't want you to be in their hands. I'd rather you have this orb, not them! Let's go!"

"I'll deal with you later," She said as she grabbed his arm and ran, heading for the door. They were suddenly stopped as six Death Eaters loomed out of the shadows in front of them.

"Well, well, this is unexpected." Lucius' voice came from the leading Death Eater's mask. He waved his hand, and the mask disappeared in black smoke, revealing his cold face. He glanced pointedly to his son, "Draco, why are you here?"

"Uh, yes father." He stammered, eyes wide like deer caught in the headlight. He glanced over to the others and realized he had put himself in a spot. He grabbed Caledonia aside and pointed to the other four and spat out, "We followed them here! You told me to make sure Harry Potter would show up here. He didn't." He gave Caledonia's quick look telling her to shut up.

Ron exploded, "You vile Slytherin!"

Hermione saw Draco's quick pleading look and grabbed his arm. "Shut up Ron!" She turned to Lucius and bravely told him, "You won't see Harry anywhere, he knew of the plan and won't fall for it, he sent us instead." She held up her wand, ready to fight. "You're gonna have to go through us first."

Lucius smirked while the other Death Eaters behind him snickered, "I see. Tell me, do you even know what you're looking for?"

Holding her head high with bravery worthy of a Gryffindor, "We came to get what we needed, and you won't get it!" She held up the orb to show him. Caledonia's eyes widened a miniscule, noticing the tag with Harry Potter's name on it. Her hand moved discreetly to her bag by her side, and she felt the familiar lump of the orb, it crept in her mind that Hermione was throwing them off with her brilliant quick thinking. The bushy-haired girl was holding a fake.

"Give it to me," Lucius growled, "little girl, and I promise I will not hurt you…" He said and then added as an afterthought, "much."

"No!" Hermione said as she took running off down the hallway and yelling at the other to scram. Draco and Caledonia watched wide-eyed as the other Death Eaters scrambled after the others while Lucius growled and waved his wand, sending the shelves down crashing.

He twirled toward them and snapped, "You two, get the hell out of here! I will deal with you, boy!" Lucius shot at Draco and went down waving his wand violently, sending curses as the DA members crossed his path.

Draco dragged Caledonia toward the door, "Come on, you heard him, we gotta get out of here!"

She shook free from him and turned around, slapping his face. "How dare you! They're my friends! I have to help them!"

He grasped his face where he was slapped. He gave a huff of exasperation, noting the resolve in her eyes. "Caledonia…" He felt like he was facing Harry Potter instead of Caledonia Snape. His voice low, but with steel, "You trained them; they can take care of themselves! You got what you needed. Let's go."

She glared at him, standing stock still as chaos exploded in the background, spells of different colors flashed, brilliant blue smokes rising as orbs crashed from their place on the shelves.

Draco stared at her and then finally nodded his head in defeat, "Come on." He took out his wand and drew the invisibility cloak around them. They began chasing after her friends and cursing at the Death Eaters.

The battle moved out of the Orb room and into several other rooms within the Department of Mysteries. They finally met up in a room that looked like a cave with the sunken ground. An ominous looking archway stood in the center, the tattered veil swaying in a non-existent wind. The DA members were finally caught by the Death Eaters and being held. Draco and Caledonia stood together, near the archway, still hidden in the invisibility cloak. They watched, unsure what to do next without exposing themselves.

Lucius looked furious as he stepped up to Hermione who was being held by Bellatrix, "You stupid girl! Where is the orb?"

"I don't have it; I believe you destroyed it by sending all the shelves down back there." She said defiantly, and Bellatrix jerked her, digging her claws into Hermione's arms.

Streaks of bright lights exploded in the room, and the Order of Phoenix showed up; Sirius, Dumbledore, Arthur, Remus, Tonks, and Shacklebolt. The Death Eaters threw the students aside and engaged with the Orders in a renewed battle around the room, streaking here and there, spells exploding.

Caledonia watched under the cloak as her friends were gathered one by one by Remus. She urged Draco to follow her, and they moved across the ground to get closer. A streak of hex flashed by her, and she whipped her head to find they have been caught between Bellatrix and Sirius. They were closer to Sirius and Bellatrix screamed, casing a terrible cutting curse their way. Pushing Draco out of the way from under the cloak, Caledonia yelped as she got caught on her side and fell.

Sirius heard the yelp, having seen the curse hit something in front of him. He moved and tripped over an invisible body and felt another body hit him. He grabbed and twisted, his back hitting the side of the archway, narrowly missing falling in between the arch, but fell sideway.

He looked up to see the archway and exhaled in relief realizing if he fell in, he would have been gone forever. He felt something warm and sticky coat his hand and looked down to pull the cloth away to reveal Caledonia wounded in his arms. "Caledonia!" He cried and saw Draco lying on the ground, injured as well. The curse had hit them both, her more than him.

Lucius shouted for the other Death Eaters to retreat, but they were suddenly captured and bound. Bellatrix saw the girl in Sirius' arm and frowned, not recognizing her. She looked down to see a bag lying open with the orb peeking out. She let out a loud crackle and grabbed the orb.

Caledonia groaned and looked up to find Sirius helping her up. She looked to see her arm nearly slashed open and grimaced. She turned to search for her bag. "My bag!"

"Come on. You're hurt, we gotta get you and Draco help," Sirius said as he tugged onto her, helping her up.

"No!" Caledonia said as grasped her bag and searched in it. "It's gone…" She looked up in time to see Bellatrix leaving with the orb in her hand. "You!" She scrambled after the wild-haired Death Eater.

She chased the older witch into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic and casting a jinx to the other witch, sending her to the floor. The orb fell out of her hand, and it shattered onto the ground, disappearing in hazy blue smoke. Caledonia gasped and yelled, "you stupid bitch!"

Bellatrix turned to face Caledonia standing above her. She asked bewildered, "Who the hell are you?"

Caledonia opened her mouth to answer, but a loud resounding crack appeared behind her. Hairs stood up on her arms. She turned, and her eyes widened, her face going pale as she came face to face with the serpentine face of Lord Voldemort. All she could think was, "Oh shit."

"Must I do everything myself?" Voldemort asked as he approached them. His eyes went to the shattered glass on the ground. He narrowed his crimson eyes and turned to the two of them, asking in a deadly tone as if speaking to troublesome children, "Why is it broken?"

Bellatrix stood up and pointed to Caledonia, "I had it, but she made me drop it! It was her fault."

Voldemort turned to Caledonia and roved his eyes on her, "I do not know you." He studied her, taking in her appearance and her clothes, "Ah, a Slytherin, a fifth year, I presume?"

Caledonia swallowed hard; he did not recognize her. She was wondering when the others would show up and decided to play along. She nodded shakily, "Yes."

Voldemort smirked and stepped up her, taking her chin with his long pale finger, attempting to get into her mind. He was amazed by how green her eyes seem to shine in the dim light of the room, green like the light of the killing curse. He found no deception or anything in her mind and withdrew. "What is your name?" He asked softly hissing.

She bit back a shudder as he left her mind. It felt like a cold snake slithering out. She was grateful for having been able to snap up the barrier in her mind, leaving only thoughts she would allow him to see, keeping the truth and secrets locked away. It was inevitable to give him a false name since she was supposed to meet him in a few months and replied softly, "Caledonia Snape."

The Dark Lord's red eyes widened as he stepped back and replied with a pleased tone, "Ah, the daughter of Severus Snape."

Bellatrix spat, "What?" She hissed as Voldemort gave her a look and waved his wand. She stepped back into the fire and crackled as the green flame consumed her, taking her somewhere else.

"I have not expected to meet you until summer," He said as he walked around her, "What brings you here?"

"Shite." She thought to herself, she quickly blurted out, "I learned that you were looking for something and decided to come here and gets it so I can give it to you personally." She said, bowing down to give him respect. Inside, she was cringing and biting the side of her cheek from the pain her scar was giving her in his presence. It was almost as if something in her head was trying to burst out.

Dumbledore showed up at last and shouted, "Tom Riddle!" Voldemort hissed in annoyance and turned, pushing Caledonia behind him as if protecting her.

"Dumbledore," He said smirking at the Headmaster and held up his wand. Soon, they went into a furious fit of battle clashing at each other, the magic sparking up the place. Caledonia slipped away, feeling lightheaded as she found herself into Sirius' arms. She had forgotten she was bleeding profusely from her arm and was feeling drained.

"Come on, let's go," Sirius said as he held Caledonia.

"But…" She gestured to the two powerful beings battling each other. It became too much for her; she had lost a lot of blood and fainted. Sirius quietly held her and saw Dumbledore and Voldemort coming into draw than with a final blast, Voldemort disappeared. He then apparated, taking Caledonia back to Hogwarts.

Caledonia opened her eyes, seeing the familiar cracked ceiling of the Hospital Wing. She laid there, allowing her eyes clear up and then turned her head to her side. Draco sat on the bed next to her, his arm wrapped up in a bandage and held to his chest while he whispered quietly with Hermione and Ginny. They looked worse to wear, having received some injury from the Death Eaters, but alive and well.

She groaned slightly as she tried to sit up and found her arm severely sore and couldn't move it. Draco looked over at her and went to her side immediately, helping her to sit up the best he could with one arm. "Hey." He said softly.

"Hey." She replied and eyed him warily.

He saw the look in her eyes. "You think I've betrayed you." It wasn't a question, and he withdrew his hand from her arm, "I am sorry if I let you think that, I am sorry that I didn't tell you that my father and the others were coming." He said softly as he gazed down to the blanket, studying the pattern of the weaves.

She stared at him for a long moment and then said, "I believe you that you chose to stand by my side. I wish you told me in the first place too. Next time, please do tell me." He looked up to her, the surprise was evident in his eyes even it didn't show on his face.

He nodded slowly and said, "Well, I am leaving this afternoon on the train home. I will see you this fall." He stood there, gripping the metal frame of the bed as if he was going to say more.

Caledonia felt the cold creeping in her heart at his words, "Draco?" She asked.

He looked at her with sad eyes, "I need time to think. A lot of things had happened, and I am starting to doubt myself." He stepped up and kissed Caledonia on the forehead, "Goodbye." He said and then walked out.

A tear fell out of her eyes as she watched Draco leave the Hospital wing. It felt as if he was leaving forever. She looked over to the others with a confused and hurt look on her face. Hermione shook her head and handed the Daily Prophet to her. She read it and saw that the five Death Eaters except for Bellatrix Lestrange had captured and the Ministry of Magic had finally declared that Voldemort had indeed returned. It hit her then; Lucius Malfoy had been the one of the Death Eaters arrested. She folded the papers and placed it aside, turning over to lie down, and her back to her friends, showing that she wanted to be left alone.

Caledonia had given goodbyes to her friends and promised to see them that summer before school starts again at Grimmauld Place. After they left, she was escorted to Dumbledore's office and discussed with the Headmaster about the recent event. From the conversation with the headmaster, she learned the reason why she had to go back to the Dursley every summer in the past due to the magic protection by blood family member. But she no longer needed to, now she has her father to go home with.

"As you have already figured, your father and I have been discussing your meeting with Voldemort this summer," Dumbledore told her over his half-moon spectacles.

"Yes." She somberly replied. "Father said it was something of a rite of passage for the Death Eaters children when they turn sixteen." She looked down to her hands. "And being a daughter of a Death Eater, it's unavoidable."

"That's right. But as you know Severus is a spy for the Order. We intend to make you one as well." There were no sparkles in the wizened wizard's eyes.

Her eyes widened as she looked up. "What?"

The Headmaster stood and went around his desk, approaching her. He laid a hand on her shoulder. "We will discuss more later on when the times comes to it."

"I suppose." She muttered disdainfully and glanced to the desk, studying the assorted items on it. Her eyes fell on a crystal globe. "The orb," She started and looked up to the headmaster. "Why did Voldemort want the orb?"

Dumbledore nodded in resignation. "I was wondering when you would ask. It's a prophecy. The orbs in the Department of Mysteries are records of every prophecy made."

"Oh. Then, mine got destroyed." She murmured.

"I was there when the prophecy made so; it's not entirely forgotten." Her eyes widened in surprise, and he smiled. "Professor Trelawney recited it years ago, right here in the office." He twirled his finger, and the spark of magic came out, to cast the office in shadow. Caledonia gasped as she listened to him recite the prophecy:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…

born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh months dies…

and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but she* will have power the Dark Lord knows not…

And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…

the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"

Caledonia felt as if someone had punched her in the chest. She was the key to defeating the Dark Lord all along, a literal target painted on her forehead since she was a babe. She reached up to the lightning bolt scar, tracing it, "Mark him as equal." Her hand fell to her lap. "So, it was foretold that I would be like this?" She gestured to herself, looking up to the old wizard.

Dumbledore gave a single nod. "I must admit; I was puzzled for years to come after I heard the prophecy. You see, the pronoun of him and she in the prophecy, which at first I thought referred to your parents; your father, and your mother. However, as they had died when you were a child, I was at a loss too until the day you became a girl, and it became clear."

"So, what kind of power do I have that he doesn't know of?"

"That remains to be said," He told her.

Rubbing her sore arm, she looked away from the headmaster and studied the odd things in his office. "I see."

"Go on, child, you need more rest. I believe Severus is finally taking you home." He gave a small smile.

She nodded and stood up, turning to leave the office.

Severus held the door open to his humble but small mansion, Prince Manor that lay deep in the highland of Scotland. Caledonia looked around, the field in the front of the mansion was lush emerald green, and there was the forest to the side and the cliff half a mile away to the ocean. It was beautiful and peaceful, almost out in nowhere, not far from Hogwarts, but instead, an hour train ride from Hogsmeade.

"Welcome home." He said softly, smiling at her as she stepped in. Two house elves appeared in the foyer, taking Caledonia's trunk. "This is Maddy and Moddy, if you need anything, ask for them."

The two young house elves smiled wide, happy to have them home. They bowed and said at the same time, "Master and little Miss, welcome home!" Then they were gone with a crack.

Severus shook his head, knowing the elves were thrilled to return to the manor. Ever since Harry turned fifteen and became his son officially, or rather, his daughter, he had sent the two house elves to open up the manner in the past year, preparing it and cleaning it up. The place once belonged to his mother's family, and when she had married Tobias Snape, she had left and lived with him. She never had the heart to return to the manor and eventually died when Severus was young. When his grandparents passed, the manor was passed to him, but he never found any use for it. At one time, he thought he would use it once he and Lily married and had their children but fate had another plan for him, and it was the first time Prince Manor opened up in over forty some years.

Caledonia looked around and asked, "This was your mother's home?"

"Yes."

"Then, where have you been living all this time?"

"Spinner's End, my father's home, a rather sad little shack but it was just enough for me. I had no use for a large home until now." Severus said with a hint of sadness. He led her to the stairs, giving her a brief tour, showing her bedrooms, bathrooms, and several sitting rooms. He showed her where his room was and led her to a room with beautiful soft golden wood furniture, decorated with green and blue. "This was my mother's room in her youth. It's yours if you wish."

She looked around the room and gave a small nod, smiling. "Thank you," She breathed the word, "Home." After nearly sixteen years, she was finally home. Looking to the window, she saw her owl, Hedwig fly in and take perch on an owl perch that was connected to the wall by the window near the desk — waving her wand at the bowl attached to the perch, filling with water.

Severus watched his daughter explore the room. He had seen the sadness in her eyes and the heavy burden that she bore on her shoulders. He had learned what had transpired in the Department of Mysteries, Caledonia's conversation with Dumbledore, and what had passed between Draco and her. To say at the least, he was upset. However, he couldn't save her from the heartaches she was going through, and it was all part of growing pain. Granted, it wasn't the type of growing pains he wished for his daughter, but it was what fate had decided for her.

He hoped Draco would come around to his senses and be there for Caledonia. Grindingly, he admits seeing the kind of love the two had for one another, reminding him of himself and Lily. It was a time of war, and things are getting critical. He believed sincerely that the two needed each other now more than ever despite how much he abhorred the idea of his daughter dating a Malfoy.

She returned to the door where her father stood and hugged him, "Thank you, father. I am home now."

He smiled and hugged her back, resting his cheek on the top of her head, "Yes, you are."

End of Part One

*modified from original "he" to "she" for this story's purpose.