Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters or the stories, but I do own Eileen Pierce and her pet kneazle Mephistopheles! I also own Lucas Beowulf, Page Beowulf, Cheryl Applegate, Winnifred Miller, and any other random characters that appear in the story that were not originally in the Harry Potter series, since it's no fun if I don't have my own characters to play with. Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve

Three weeks had passed since Snape was awarded guardianship over Eileen and she couldn't be happier, despite his constant reminders that he wasn't really her father. It was a cool Monday evening and once again the full moon was looming overhead, preparing to bring dementia to any werewolf that stepped foot into its light. Fortunately, Hogwarts' residents were quite safe from its affects, as long as they stayed together all night. But just to be on the safe side, Lupin suggested remaining outside until it was morning.

After dinner, the pair wandered out onto the grounds, strolling slowly across the grass hand in hand as the sun set over the mountains.

"You ready for a night of exploration and adventure?" Lupin asked, smiling down to her.

"Sure, if you are!" She beamed up to him before looking cautious and saying, "Oh um...is it okay if...Severus joins us tonight?"

"Severus?" Lupin blinked his eyes curiously, glancing over his shoulder.

"He said he had some stuff to take care of but he wanted to keep us company. Something about seeing how I handled it, I don't know...he's coming later, I said we'd meet him over by the lake. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure..." Lupin said, though she could tell he wasn't too excited about it.

Squeezing his hand, she said, "Perhaps you two can get along now, things are different now."

"I doubt it..." Lupin sighed, staring up at the sky at the full moon shining faintly from behind the stormy clouds.

"Wouldn't you be willing to try? Please?" She stared at him with her big blue eyes and he smiled sadly, saying, "It's not up to me, if it were I'd put it all behind us but he seems reluctant to forgive and forget."

"Maybe he'll be sociable while I'm around, wouldn't that be nice?"

"It's always nice to have dreams..." Lupin continued to watch the sky as they walked along. Falling silent, Eileen began to ponder how she could help them make up when they arrived at the lake, stopping along the shore and staring out at the choppy water. They stood there for quite a while, not speaking until a voice behind them said, "Well aren't we a cute couple..."

"I didn't hear you coming, you always were good at sneaking up on people, Snape." Lupin said without turning.

"Indeed...it's handy for catching people doing things they might not like to be caught doing..." Snape said as he took his place on Eileen's left, gazing out over the water.

"Oh really? Well, we were just waiting for you, did you have anything in mind to do tonight?" Lupin acted perfectly innocent as he spoke calmly to Snape.

"It's your night out, I assumed you had plans already." Snape shrugged with equal innocence yet a hint of snark in his voice.

"Not especially, I was just going to familiarize myself with the grounds again before it started to rain, the sky is about ready to fall on us." Lupin looked up at the sky again with a sigh.

"Have you ever walked in the rain? I love the way it feels, can we walk in the rain?" Eileen said, sounding absolutely ecstatic.

"You'll catch a cold again." Snape said simply.

"I haven't walked in the rain for the fun of it in a very long time, especially on a full moon." Lupin said, seeming to ignore Snape's warning.

"Lets go then! I suppose well have to wait for it though...come on, I want to show you something!" Eileen said cheerfully, dragging Lupin off across the field before stopping and staring back at Snape, holding out her hand and saying, "Come on, Severus!"

"I told you not to refer to me that way in public." Snape muttered as he caught up slowly.

"Were not in public, it's just Lupin!" Eileen corrected him.

He stopped next to her and stared at her hand warily before she scooped his up quickly, starting off and chirping, "Hurry, before it starts to rain!"

"You remember how to run, right, Snape?" Lupin grinned as he took off at a gallop with Eileen, Snape keeping up just fine, their cloaks billowing behind them on the wind. Light sprinkles of water misted them as they dawdled to a stop in front of one of the green houses used for the Herbology classes, strolling over to a patch outside where several potted plants stood on a table.

"They were planted yesterday, it's the most magical thing when the rain comes...oh, it's starting!" Eileen said, eagerly bouncing as the rain began to pour down over them, quickly soaking them to the bone.

Before their eyes, the tightly wound bloom on each twiggy bush began to unravel, revealing shimmering metallic blue petals that sparkled with diamonds that fell off them in mesmerizing cascades.

"Solus Inorbus, this is a very ancient and rare plant...I thought I heard Spout say she found some." Snape muttered in awe, the glistening blossoms entrancing him.

"The Weeping Beauty? I thought they died out in the late 18th century..." Lupin mused.

"Only in the wild..." Snape answered vaguely.

Taking in a deep breath, Eileen began to sing in her delicate voice, making the magic of the night complete.

"Twas just a garden in the rain

Close to a little leafy lane

A touch of color neath skies of gray

The raindrops kissed the flowerbeds

The blossoms raised their leafy heads

A perfumed thank you

They seemed to say

Surely here was charm beyond

Compare to view

Maybe it was just that

I was there with you

Twas just a garden in the rain

But then the sun came out again

And sent us happily on our way."

"That was beautiful." Lupin smiled down to Eileen when she finished.

"My mother used to sing to me all the time, every night before bed she'd sing me to sleep. That was one of her favorites, she said her mum used to sing it to her when she was a little girl..." Eileen said, staring distantly at the flowers with a vague smile.

"Is that so? Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman..."

"She was..." Eileen whispered, holding in a sigh. She felt her left hand get squeezed and looked up to see Snape glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. With a smile, she returned to her admiration of the flowers in joyful silence. They stayed staring at the flowers for a while until the rain began to beat down harder, whipping on the wind like needles.

"We should get out of the rain, the winds picking up!" Snape shouted over the drum of the downpour, shielding his eyes from the onslaught.

"Let's go to the shack for the night, we can explore next month!" Lupin said to Eileen, turning to go.

"Why don't we hide out in the forest until the storm passes? Come on, it's just right over there!" Eileen pulled at his hand.

"It's dangerous in there, you know you're not allowed!" Lupin argued.

"Are you afraid of it, professor Lupin? Being the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, I'd assume you could defend yourself against the unknown!" Snape taunted with a sneer.

"I was only thinking about Eileen's safety, Snape!" Lupin replied, frowning through the haze.

"I can do a perfectly good job protecting her from the meager threats this forest has to offer, you should be more concerned about your own safety." Snape snarled back, starting off toward the forest with Eileen in tow and Lupin close behind, seeing as he couldn't let go of her hand.

They ducked into the closure of the trees and began to slowly wander into the denser areas of the trees, seeking dry shelter from the storm. Coming upon a particularly thick mass of trees, they stopped and took in the scenery curiously.

"I'd forgotten how quiet it gets in here during storms, most of the creatures have gone into hibernation for the winter so we should be reasonably safe for the time being." Lupin mused, letting out a sigh as he shook his cloak out with his free hand.

"Let me." Eileen said, pulling her hand free of Snape's grip and waving it over Lupin's clothes. They dried magically and so did Snape's and her own when she turned her attention to them.

"That's amazing, and without a wand too!" Lupin praised her, examining her handiwork.

"She isn't as confined by such things as normal witches and wizards are, it's a double edged sword." Snape commented, straightening his jacket idly.

"I imagine so." Lupin muttered, "Switch!" Eileen jumped around to his right side and held his other hand, giving him a chance to shake the numb feeling out of his left.

"It sounds like the rain's coming down even harder, we may be in here for a while." Eileen said, looking up into the trees.

"Well then, shall we strike up a conversation? No point in standing around in silence." Lupin said cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"We're in the Forbidden Forest, there're many reasons why we should be silent." Snape remarked snidely.

"We can talk quietly, I'm sure you're capable of whispering." Lupin replied.

"Are you insinuating something, Lupin?" Snape glared at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Snape." Lupin frowned.

"Naturally..." Snape glared at him with a sarcastic sneer.

"Stop it, both of you! Why must you constantly fight? Why can't you just grow up and be mature adults like you're suppose to be!" Eileen shouted louder than any of them would have liked.

"Be quiet, you're attracting attention to us!" Snape hissed.

"He's right, Eileen, don't talk so loud in this place." Lupin agreed.

Looking embarrassed and indignant, Eileen said, "How can you reprimand me when you two are being so childish?"

"She does have a point..." Lupin mumbled.

"Because were older, that's how." Snape said before realizing how incredibly juvenile that sounded.

"Older doesn't equal wiser." She grumbled, looking away.

"Another good point! I do believe you're wiser than the both of us combined, Eileen." Lupin said with a chuckle.

"I find nothing amusing about this situation." Snape growled, pulling his robes around himself sharply.

"You're welcome to leave, last time I checked you weren't a werewolf and have no cause to stay out here with us outcasts." Lupin noted.

"She doesn't have to stay out here either, she has control over it, unlike you." Snape pointed out.

"But I would rather keep Lupin from suffering any more than he has to!" Eileen commented in a strained voice, fighting hard not to scream again.

"That's not necessary, he's quite used to being a werewolf by now." Snape said.

"Just because someone suffers something for a long time doesn't mean that they don't deserve freedom from it. How would you feel if you were in his shoes and someone told you that you couldn't be helped because you were used to it or it wasn't necessary? If I can help someone find some peace and happiness in their life I will do my best to do so, no matter who they are and no matter how much everyone else criticizes me about it. I know what it feels like to suffer, I wouldn't wish it on anyone..." She said passionately.

Snape's face began to flush and he turned away, hesitating before muttering, "Alright."

"Alright?" Eileen blinked.

"I will not argue with you, if this is what you want." Snape muttered, "And...if you wish me to leave..."

"No please, stay...just...no more fighting..." Eileen reached out to him, touching his back and staring pleadingly at the back of his head.

"As you wish." Snape said, turning back around and freezing upon seeing they were no longer alone.

Standing a couple feet away, several centaurs posed with their bows drawn, waiting for them to make a false move.

"The little one is loud, we heard her far off." A red haired centaur declared, "You are not welcome in our forest."

"We did not mean to trespass on your land, centaurs. We apologize." Lupin bowed slightly.

"You are different, I sense something savage about you." Another centaur spoke.

"Yes, I am a werewolf." Lupin admitted openly.

"The full moon rises high over us now, yet you are still human. How can this be?" The redhead asked.

"The girl, she is gifted far beyond comprehension, her power radiates strongly. The stars have told of her coming, we must act now if we are to save the future - " A younger centaur with white-blond hair spoke up but a black haired centaur stomped his hoof loudly, bellowing, "We do not interfere in human affairs, Firenze, hold your tongue!"

"But the prophecy!" Firenze persisted.

"It will not be spoken of before the intruders, remember the laws of our kind or suffer the consequences!"

"Please excuse us, we did not mean to intrude on your land. If you will be gracious enough to honor us with our lives, we will leave immediately and not bother you further with our trivialities." Eileen took a low curtsy, bowing her head.

"The young one seems to know her place, for that I will honor her request." The redhead spoke again, holding his head high.

"Ronan, the full growns should be punished for their trespasses!" The black haired one exclaimed.

"Do not tell me what to do, Bane! The humans will leave and not return again, or suffer punishment upon their further infringement of my orders! Leave now, humans, and pray we do not catch you in our forest again." Ronan spoke loudly and precisely, like a true leader might. Bowing again, Eileen turned quickly and began to drag the men with her out of the forest and into the cascading rain.

They did not speak again until they were inside the shrieking shack and dried off, sitting around the fireplace to warm up.

"Have you met Firenze before, Eileen?" Lupin asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, I have...he's a very reasonable centaur." Eileen confessed.

"He made it sound like your existence would mean the ruin of the world. What do you suppose this prophecy is?"

"I don't know...but the way he looked at me didn't make me feel like a savior." Eileen muttered, curling up in her chair and staring into the fire intensely.

"Perhaps we should bring this to the attention of the headmaster." Lupin suggested.

"No." Snape said simply.

"If there's some sort of impending danger, he needs to know." Lupin argued.

"She is not a threat to anyone, or at least she won't be once I have begun training her to control her powers." Snape explained calmly, also staring into the fire.

"When exactly will that be, if you don't mind me asking?" Lupin inquired.

"Tomorrow evening." Snape resolved.

"Really? Thank you!" Eileen jumped out of her chair preparing to tackle Snape in a hug before remembering that she couldn't let go of Lupin's hand and sitting down again.

Chuckling, Lupin said, "That's good to know."

"I do as I'm ordered," Snape explained plainly, "I take my work seriously."

"Yes...you do...for that I'm extremely grateful." Lupin added.

Snape did not respond and together they stared into the flickering flames filling the room and their bodies with warmth, spending the rest of the night in silence.