Medusa woke up from a nightmare. She sat on her bed, hyperventilating. Someone knocked at the door. She looked to the alarm clock. It was 3 a.m. She got up combing her hair with her fingers and dressing her silk dressing gown.
She opened the door and saw Hugo.
- Mr. Fletcher? What in Earth are you doing here?
- I am sorry to disturb you at this late hour, Professor, but Athena is not well. Professor Flitwick asked me to come... – Medusa didn't stay to hear the rest. She walked out of the room and entered quickly in her office, taking a Calming Drought from the shelf.
- Follow me, Mr. Fletcher. Lumus! – The tip of her wand emitted a strong light which illuminated her path to the Ravenclaw tower.
Mrs. Norris appeared before them and started to meow. Filtch appeared.
- Students out of bed! Students out of bed! – He shouted. Then he saw Medusa and her angry expression. – Oh, I am sorry Professor. Goodnight, Madam. – Filtch secretly feared Medusa. She could send chills down his spine. She wasn't like her brother. She wouldn't be his pal when it came to punish students. They continued their path, now without the bumbling Mr. Filtch around them.
Arriving at the entrance to the Ravenclaw Common Room, Medusa stood in front of the bronze knocker.
- I am released from my husband for three months.
For three months I bare his children.
My husband holds me captive for three months and they die.
Who am I? - Asked the knocker.
- You are Persephone. – The door opened and the Ravenclaw Common Room was before them. Medusa paced quickly and saw a group of people around someone who was sitting in the couch.
- Medusa, I am glad you came. – Said Flitwick. Athena was covered in blankets.
- What happened?
- It was just a nightmare! I don't know why you fussed so about it! – She said. Medusa approached and hugged her daughter.
- Tell me what happened.
- I had a nightmare; everyone says I was screaming like mad. I didn't scream! – Medusa caressed her hair and put her hand over her forehead.
- You don't have a temperature... but you are all wet, look at you!
- It was just a dream...
- Come on, everyone to the dormitories, now! – Filius Flitwick and all the students in the Common Room disappeared.
Medusa gave the Calming Drought to Athena, who drank every drop of it.
- Do you feel better?
- Yes, thank you, mum. You look scared too.
- Tell me what happened.
- I don't remember images. I just remember someone saying that he or she killed someone. – Medusa went pale yet she managed to control her surprise. She tried to smile and leaned her head to hers.
- It was just a bad dream. – She kissed her daughter and held her tight. – Give me a kiss and go back to bed. – Athena kissed her mother and received a kiss back. - Goodnight. - Medusa saw Athena go back to the dormitories.
Hugo and Daisy were waiting at the dormitory door.
- How are you feeling?
- I never been better! Why had you to call Professor Flitwick and my mother?
- You were screaming, tossing and turning in your bed! Everyone heard you! We thought that someone was attacking you...
- It was a dream, it's normal to be a little bit scared...
- A bit? You were sweating. And there are no normal dreams in Hogwarts. You should know that!
- You two are forbidden to call my mother up here unless I am sick or dying! I can survive to a nightmare without my mother being summoned here! And I don't want to worry her. She has more to think about, one thing for instance is to correct my disastrous Potions homework. – Athena was really mad with her friends and with herself.
In that precise moment, Medusa was wandering around the corridors, lost in her own thoughts. A lightening stroke the skies and illuminated everything and Medusa watched it through the window. The clouds were passing with the north wind. They were enormous and pitch black. She couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. She just sat in her bed watching the clouds go away in a furious sky which might have met angry gods above it.
Gregory entered the room and saw her still, not moving, breathing as if she didn't want to be noticed.
- Good morning. – He said. She looked at him. – Are you alright?
- Good morning. I am fine, thank you. – Medusa moved towards him and kissed his lips.
- You look as if you haven't slept. – She smiled.
- You read me like a book.
- Get dressed. After classes you'll meet me there again. We're going to visit my mother today, ok?
- Ok. – She grabbed his hand and kissed the tips of his fingers.
- I promise that after that you will rest. I will put you to bed myself... – Medusa laughed.
- Only you to make me laugh like this at this early hour of the morning. – He kissed her over and over again and she reattributed his passionate kisses.
- Someone missed me last night.
- That someone had a nasty nightmare.
- That's just it, Medusa, a nightmare, dearest. What scared you that much?
- Let's not think of that, shall we? Let's think that we're together. Besides, we don't want to look sad when we get near your mother, do we? – Gregory smiled to her. – We have to look our best. Mrs. Aria Lious would be rather disappointed.
- Yes, she would. – He said caressing her face. – I love you.
- And I love you. – They held each other tight, smiling. He breathed her perfume. She smelled like English roses and lavender.
He caressed her neck with the tip of the fingers she kissed.
- Enough hugging and kissing. I have to get ready. Oh, look at the time! – Gregory laughed seeing her running around the room.
Medusa managed to get ready before going to the classroom and lecture.
In the break between classes she ate an apple and received an unexpected owl.
It was Gregory's. She found it strange. As she opened, you could see the surprise in her eyes. It was a love letter. It started "My darling Medusa" and ended with "From the one that loved, loves and always will love you, Gregory". Medusa couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't receive a love letter for ages! She smiled and buried the letter in her pocket to keep it from the other people's eyes. At the lunch hour, Medusa was in the Great Hall. Gregory arrived a little bit after. Medusa stood seeing him, he smiled and joined her.
- I loved the letter even if it was not very appropriate you writing it in the middle of a class. – He caressed her face with the knot of his index finger. She lowered her eyes and head to hide how much her eyes really shined and how blushed her face was.
- You're blushing! – He said laughing slightly.
- That's because you're caressing me in front of the whole school.
- Do you want me to kiss you instead? – She grabbed his head and lightly pushed it away from her.
- Don't you dare! – Gregory laughed.
- Just a small kiss...
- No, you crazy man! – Gregory grabbed her hands and sat with her.
- Your hair is growing fast! I like it that way. You look less like your brother.
- My brother had a fine hair; he was careless with his appearance. I am not.
- No doubt, my dear, yet you look more...dashing. – Medusa laughed. – Well, enough talking. Let's eat. – He said taking his fork and helping himself.
After lunch Medusa had just one more class left and then she would be meeting Gregory down the Great Hall to accompany him to his parents' house on a visit. And it was so. Medusa apparated with Gregory in a big house filled with light and warmth. Everything was calm and silent.
Medusa felt at home. She remembers coming there for lunch parties with the whole family gathered. Gregory's family loved her as a daughter and were looking forward to see them married and with children.
It was a big family, they were always thirty at the table, without counting with the children of each brother Gregory had. He was the youngest of fifteen brothers and sisters. They were all tall and strong, Gregory was the only red headed male brother. He had an older sister who lived in Denmark who was red headed like him but he barely saw her. He seemed glad to be home. The portraits in the corridor seemed surprised to see Medusa there but she wasn't worried about them. She was worried about Gregory's family reaction. Gregory held her hand and they both stopped at the door at the end of the corridor.
He knocked at the door. Medusa was trembling.
The doors opened themselves and a sad picture painted itself before them.
There was a bed and in it was laying a sad old woman, whose features were light and her smile was too compassioned to refuse forgiveness even to her worst enemy. At her side there was an old man, with a long white beard and round glasses who was holding her hand with such love and dedication. "No wonder they have fifteen children", Medusa thought. She swallowed in dry seeing his pale expression when he acknowledged her presence. Around the bed, there were fourteen couples – some with children in their arms, or young men and women nearby - and they all turned their head to observe the woman as if they saw her coming back from the dead, who stood by the door, incapable of moving.
The twins, who used to have a crush on her back in their youth smiled seeing her, however it was a faint one. They looked immensely sad. Gregory's older sister didn't like her presence at all. She hated her for crushing her little brother's heart. Medusa grasped Gregory's hand with fear. He saw it in her eyes. They were filled with doubts. Would they judge her?
- Gregory, my little one... – Whispered the sick woman, smiling widely.
- Mother. – Gregory approached the bed with Medusa. – Gregory sat on the bed by her side and inclined himself to kiss his loving mother.
- You're all grown up! Look at you... All those years without being able to see you...
- I am here, mother. I am here and I won't leave. – They hugged and Gregory's mother kissed him tenderly, caressing his face afterwards.
- How are you?
- I am fine, mum, I am fine. – Mrs. Lious looked at the black figure present in the room and recognised the woman she once knew as the young Medusa Snape.
- Medusa?
- Good afternoon, Mrs. Lious. – She said politely.
- Good Lord! You didn't change a bit! – Medusa smiled kindly.
- Neither did you, Mrs. Lious.
- Sit, my child. – Medusa sat by Gregory's side in bed.
- How are you feeling, mother? – Asked Gregory.
- I have all my dear family with me, nothing compares to that feeling, Gregory. – Gregory smiled with some secret tears in his eyes.
- I have something to tell you, mum. I think you will like the news. – Gregory paused and smiled.
- You know I love good news. – Gregory held Medusa's hand tightly in his.
– Medusa and I, we are back together. – All brother's and respective wives glanced at each other and surprise filled their faces. Mr. Angus Lious swallowed in dry. Aria smiled and caressed both Medusa and Gregory's hands.
- I always knew you would be together again. If not in this life, you'd be in other. We always thought the best of her, even after you broke up. She's beautiful, loving, kind, smart and headstrong... five good qualities in a woman. – Medusa smiled.
- You should rest for now, dearest. You are too weak... – Said Angus.
- I will after I have a chat with Medusa alone. – Every single person except Medusa got out of the room. Medusa didn't move. – I am sorry for your loss, Medusa. Severus was a good boy and proved himself a greater man. You did a darn good job taking care of him. Your mother would be proud. Who would think you were his sister when you used to come here to spend the weekends in the summer? You were always behind him, ready to correct or praise his attitude. I remember everything, my child. What happened to you? Why did you break up with Gregory? Tell me the truth. – Medusa tried to talk but she felt a knot around her throat.
- I-I-I... I didn't meant to hurt him, Mrs. Lious, I never wanted it...
- I know you didn't. Tell me what happened, please. Be one hundred percent sincere.
- I am cursed with something beyond your imagination, Mrs. Lious, and the time is coming for the curse to have its way. I will lose everything I hold dear to me. I knew some days before I broke up with Gregory. I did it because I loved him too much to bear the burden of being responsible for his death. I couldn't bear imagine him... I thought I was protecting him. Actually, it was silly of me, to think such a thing. I can't protect anyone when something happens. Some years after I broke up with Gregory I started seeing someone, who loved me more than anything in the world. A muggle and I loved him in return. We decided to live together and after a bunch of years with him, behaving like his wife, I became pregnant. We were happy. He knew I was a witch and didn't care a bit. He even loved me more for that. He even wanted our daughter to attend Hogwarts. He insisted on it. Two weeks before I had the baby, this man died a sudden and violent death and I couldn't do anything to reverse it or stop it. I had a little girl, my bundle of joy. The only joy I had in years. I became a farmer and hid from the magical world. Athena grew up happy, I hope. She was entirely raised by me. We used to live in a farm until this last spring, when Death Eaters came and ravaged everything I worked hard to have. They even ripped off my right eye. I managed to secure my house but not without paying the price. I lost my brother, as you know. Few days after I received the news and I started working in Hogwarts as the Potions teacher, like my brother once did. And in the day I saw Gregory again, I felt my heart tremble and I remembered the pain I caused him and the pain I caused you and your whole family. I feel guilty I left you all. – Aria smiled.
- My dear child, you did what you thought was best for Gregory and I must say that it was rather unselfish and noble of you. But now I must tell you, I shan't live much longer...
- Oh, don't say such things, Mrs. Lious...
- Shush, my darling. Let me finish... You are the only woman who made him happy; he wanted you more than anything in the world. He remained faithful to you. Whilst he was in Ireland he sent me so many letters and there wasn't one where he asked me to tell him how you were doing. I could never answer his questions because never saw you anymore until this day. He still loves you and you obviously love him and want to be with him, even if you think it is dangerous and that you are unworthy. You didn't break just Gregory's heart when you left him. The whole family was crushed. Altea was one of the most affected. The twins wanted to send you letters.
- I got them all.
- And you kept answering the same thing. You told them you had your reasons. We're not here for a long time but for a good time. And it's time to pick up the little remains and build something new and strong. It's time you bare our name and be part of our family. For this I must ask you to promise me... that you will marry Gregory while you can for your sake.
- But...
- Don't rip his heart again, Medusa, my child. You may have little to live as I do or you might kill him one day, but he would die happy if he could just have the victory of having you by his side. You are unprotected, a single mother. Promise, please... Do it for him. – Medusa let her tears fall and swallowed in dry.
- I will, Mrs. Lious, I will. – Aria smiled, grabbed her head with both her hands and disposed a kiss in her forehead.
- You couldn't make me happier. I won another daughter... – Medusa smiled caressing Aria's hands, trying to warm them. - It was about time you to get along...and be happy together. What a relief...
- I am so sorry...
- Don't be, sweetheart. I lived long and well, I had a loving husband, fifteen adorable children, and fifteen lovely daughters-in-law. You're the fifteenth. What's your daughter's name?
- Athena. She's twelve now.
- Were you alone when you delivered her?
- No. Severus was with me all along. He even took care of us both for three months after Athena's father's death. I was a mess. She's the only one I have now.
- Wrong, my dear... You have us. – Medusa smiled.
- I know. I know, Mrs. Lious. I missed you all. I missed Fergus and Charles and their pranks and jokes, I missed Altea and her "can do" attitude, and I missed Rob, Marc, Joseph, Loch, Doug, Kirk, Bartholomew, our sweet Jean, George, Alaster and Cullen. – She laughed. – I remember all their names! - Medusa dried her tears and Aria smiled. - I missed you and Mr. Lious. You were incredibly kind with me, my second parents. I always felt enormously loved in this family and I feel certain that Severus did too.
- I read all those awful thinks Rita Skeeter said about him. None of them are true. I am even sure, not even his birthday is correct. You were very close. I imagine you feel alone without him.
- Yes, constantly. – Aria smiled again.
- You won't be alone much longer. Gregory will take care of you, rather well. I have a gift for you. - Aria grabbed her wand and pointed it to a chest at her feet. A white dress came out of it and came flying though the room landing on Medusa's lap. The dress was in simple, white, straight silk. On top of it, there was a long sleeved light coat made of transparent tissue embroidered with golden and white lace. – There it is. My mother-in-law made it for me has a wedding gift. Do you like it?
- It's beautiful, Mrs. Lious.
- This is my wedding gift for you since I won't be able to attend the party. I would like you to wear my wedding dress in your wedding. I made some arrangements on it before, because I thought that you would accept when Gregory decided to propose. I kept it in the hopes you would change your mind. Will you wear it?
- Certainly I will if it fits me... You forget I had a child.
- Yes, but I don't think that will be a problem. Could you please call Gregory? – Medusa got up, dried her tears, hid the dress in her cloak and opened the door, delicately. She moved towards Gregory and grabbed his hand, pulled him to her and made him follow her.
They both entered the room. Gregory sat by his mother's side.
- I missed you terribly, Gregory, my son.
- And I missed you, mother. I am sorry for not being here for you.
- You had to work. I don't want you to feel guilty in any circumstance. You gave me the most wonderful gift of all: seeing the man you became, that kind, honest, hardworking and funny man. I am proud of you, Greg, my wonderful boy. Dark days are ahead but you must be strong and try not to go down at the slightest earthquake. You have someone to keep you from falling, now. Don't be afraid to grab her hand. She'll have her hand ready in my absence.
- Don't say that, mum.
- Lying wouldn't do any good, not for you and not for me, Gregory. – Medusa was drowning in her own tears but still she kept the sigh of her crying eyes from her lover and kept caressing his shoulder. He too, was too devastated and didn't even bother to hide it. Aria kept smiled to them both and observing their eyes and their tears. They would miss her, no doubt they would.
- It's time for you to go, my children. Someone might need you. Thank you, Gregory, my little one. And thank you Medusa, for coming back. You don't know how much this visit and this news meant to me. Remember your promise and fulfil it, for both your sakes. – Medusa kissed the woman's forehead and joined Gregory, caressing his red hair.
- I will, Mrs. Lious, with all my heart. Never fear. – Aria smiled to both of them. Gregory kissed his mother and smiled lightly. Then they apparated back in Hogwarts. Gregory wanted to be alone that night. She understood him completely. He didn't even kiss her goodnight and left her in the Dungeons, alone.
Medusa tried the wedding dress and it magically fit every inch of her body. Looking to the mirror she thought long and hard about the things Aria said. She saw her ambitions change drastically. It was about time she had a little quietness in her life. She wanted a home where she could spend quality time with a family, where she could simply spend an afternoon having tea or gardening; a family to love and keep, a life to live the best way she could.
That was what that wedding dress meant to her: a soft version of what she could have had twenty years ago and so foolishly refused.