October 31st
Glinda had just put the children to bed when the news came. Time seemed to stop. It just didn't see possible. Lily and James couldn't be dead. They just couldn't!
Where is Severus? She wondered, wiping a tear away. She needed him right now.
"Mommy," A small voice said. Glinda turned to see Ella standing in the hallway.
"What is it, sweetie?" She asked with a sniffle.
"What's wrong, mommy?" The four-year-old made toddled over to her mother. Glinda picked her daughter up and more tears fell from her eyes. She would have to tell them. They'd all meet Lily and James. "Do you remember Aunt Lily and Uncle James, Ellie?" She asked with a shaky voice.
"Yeah! They got me Teddy for my birthday!" Ella cried happily. Teddy was her stuffed dog.
"Yes, they did, didn't they….Sweetie, Aunt Lily and Uncle James are…gone." She breathed.
Ella gave her an odd look. "What do you mean gone?"
Just then the door opened and Severus walked in. "Ellie, we'll talk about this in the morning, go back to bed." Glinda said, setting Ella down.
"Ok." The girl disappeared into the hallway.
"Severus, where were you?" Glinda sobbed, flinging her arms around her husband.
"I'm sorry…I went to their house, Glinda." Tears fell down his face and Severus buried his face in his wife's hair. "It was horrible."
They just stayed like that for a few minutes, mourning their lost friends, until Severus pulled back.
"We should try to sleep." He said softly. Before Glinda could respond there was a soft knock on the door. Severus opened and standing in the doorway was Albus Dumbledore.
"Professor!" Glinda exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry for the hour," The old man said. "But I had to talk to you at once. May I come in?"
"Of course," Glinda said. Once the door was shut the three went over and sat down on the sofa.
"Can I get you anything?" Glinda asked, shakily.
"No," Dumbledore replied. "I'll only be a few minutes, and I'm sorry. I know this is a grave hour for you both."
A few more tears slid down Glinda's face before she wiped them off. "What is it you wanted, Professor?"
"Yes, I-"
"You said you would keep her safe!" Severus snapped.
"Severus!" Glinda exclaimed.
"Lily and James put their faith in the wrong person, Severus." Dumbledore stated. "Rather like you."
The younger wizard looked at the floor.
"What are you talking about?" Glinda demanded, looking at her husband.
"You haven't told her?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Told me what?"
"Oh, Severus, why didn't you listen to me?"
"What are you two going on about?!"
"I'll leave that for your husband to tell you, Glinda. I'm sorry for disturbing your evening." There was a crack and the old man was gone.
"Severus, what was he talking about?"
Severus looked up at his wife in shame. "Do you remember when we first bought this place?" He asked quietly.
"Yes…"
"Do you remember when I would go out to find a job and I always returned with no luck?"
"Yes…"
"I lied to you, Glinda."
"What do you mean?" Her heart was beginning to race.
"When I went looking for a job, I was lying. I was going to see the Dark Lord. I became a Death Eater."
Glinda's heart stopped. In a matter of minutes her world had come crashing down. Her best friends were dead and her husband had betrayed her.
For a moment she felt like crying again, and then surge of white-hot anger came over her.
"Get. Out." She said through gritted teeth.
"What?" Severus was shocked. "Glinda, please, let me explain-"
"Explain what? That you went behind my back? That you lied to me?"
"I know I did, I was wrong, I see that-"
"No! I don't want to hear it! I want you gone right now!"
"Glinda, please! Think of the children-"
"I am thinking of the children! They deserve a better father then you! You're a coward Severus Snape and I never want to see you again!"
For a moment there was complete silence, neither one of them dared to move…. Then there was another crack and Severus was gone.
A moment later, Glinda collapsed into a pile of sobs on the floor. Then everything went black.
The Next Morning
When Glinda woke up she was in bed.
"W-what happened?" She asked weakly.
"You fainted, I think." A familiar voice said.
Glinda sat up. "Elphie?"
"Who else?" Elphaba smiled, but then her face turned serious. "What happened to you, Glinda? And where's Severus?"
Glinda told her best friend everything. They talked for a few more minutes before the door to the bedroom opened and Fieyro came in.
"Ah! She's awake! Good thing too, Ella was just asking where you were."
The color drained from Glinda's face. "How do I tell the children?"
"Just tell them he left." Elphaba suggested.
"But what if they ask 'why'?"
"Say they'll understand when they're older." Fieyro added.
Glinda nodded. "I suppose I should just get it over with." She said, standing, a tear slid down her cheek.
"Hey," Elphaba hugged her best friend. "We're going to be here for you. We were actually talking about buying a house in Oz. The one next to it's also for sale. Would you like to move there? I know it's a big request, but we want to help in anyway we can."
"No, it's good idea." Glinda said, smiling for the first time in what seemed like ages. "I'll be back home, closer to my parents, closer to you two and the children will love it."
