May 30, 1946 - Queens, New York

"What in the hell!" All three girls looked up at the high pitched shriek coming from the living room.

"Was that Howard?" Peggy questioned.

"He's the only one in the living room, Peg." Angie stated, confused. Flora quickly stood up from her seat from the kitchen table and headed towards the living room.

"Howard?" She called before freezing in place at the sight before her. Howard was pushed up against the couch as much as he could while he stared wide eyed at the large horn owl that was sitting on the coffee table. Flora homes in on the letter that was tied to the owl's leg.

"Doll face, what are you doing?" Howard asked as she walked over to the owl. "Careful, that thing could be dangerous." Flora let out a humourless chuckle as she unties the letter. The owl doesn't leave, it just sits there staring at her with its large yellow eyes.

"I guess you're not going to take no for answer, huh?" The owl let out woots and Flora sighed. "I thought not."

"Is that an owl?" Flora turned to see Peggy and Angie standing the archway that connected the kitchen and living room together.

"It is." Flora replied as she walked back into the kitchen, tossing the letter onto the counter while she fixed the owl something to eat and drink. She picks up the two bowls and places them in front of the owl.

"He won't hurt you. He'll leave as soon as I read and answer the letter." She told the group.

"Who uses owls to send letters, Maria?" Peggy inquired as she watched her friend pick up the cream coloured envelope. Flora's lips thinned into a tight line as she tapes the letter on the counter.

"I honestly can't tell you, Peggy." Flora answered after a moment. "It's against the law. That stupid owl shouldn't have even flown into the living room in the first place." she muttered darkly.

"What law?" Peggy questioned. Flora just sighed as she opened the envelope carelessly and pulled out the letter.

'My dearest daughter,

I miss you more than I can say. I do not know whether this letter will reach you or your resting place so I will continue to write in hopes you are well.'

Flora let out a soft gasp as she recognized the handwriting. She covered her mouth with a hand as tears began to well up in her eyes and her knees went slightly weak. 'He's alive!' Flora realised in wonder.

'Things have become so different since you've gone missing. People have died, gone to war and grow up. Draco has married, of all people, Hermione Granger. Lucius was absolutely livid but the two had what you would call a shotgun wedding before Draco left for the war.' Flora's eyes widen in shock at that information. 'How the hell did that happen?' She wondered, 'Especially to Draco and Miss. Bookworm. I'm actually glad I missed that shindig.'

'Neville was sent as well but he had the privilege of writing his family, Draco did not. He's so quiet now, who knows what he's seen. His mother said he was assigned to a special operations group. Neville and Hermione do their best for him but some days he's just not there.' Flora bites her lip in concern for her dear friend's health, wondering if she had a part in his unwelliness.

'I'm afraid there is more bad news, after Nymphadora and Remus Lupin died their child was left in his maternal grandmother care but Andromeda has fallen sick and can no longer take care of the boy. So the child has been in my care since then in place of your absence. Theodore is the main reason for this letter, I'm growing old and I cannot keep up with such a child, even with the help of your younger twin brothers and Mabel.' The letter drops from Flora's hand in shock.

"Oh, my god! I have twin brothers!" She exclaimed. "And a step-mother!" Peggy stared at her friend in concern.

"Maria, what are you talking about?" She asked her. Flora just waved her hand at her friend as she picked the letter back up to read the rest.

'The little imp is entertaining of course and has the best of manners thanks to me but he needs his godmother. For Merlin's sake and mine I hope this letter find you healthy and alive. I miss you dearest daughter and I love you more than I can explain. I hope and wish for your word back.

Sincerely yours,

Severus Snape'

Flora gripes the letter tightly in her hands as she rereads those last two lines again. She could feel her eyes start to water as the words sunk in. She couldn't believe it, her father was alive. She didn't fail like she thought she had all those years ago.

"He's alive," She whispered holding the letter close to her chest.

"Who's alive, Maria?" Peggy questioned, confused. Flora turned to her best friend.

"My father," She told her. "He's alive, Peggy! My father is actually alive!" Flora cheered as she shook her friend's shoulders. Peggy stared at her friend in concern.

"Maria," She started softly to gain her attention, "Dr. Erskine is dead. He has been for almost three years." Flora quickly shook her head.

"No, Papa was my adopted father. My actual father is still alive." She explain quickly. "I have to go see him." She races out of the kitchen but was stop when Peggy grabbed her arm.

"What are you talking about, Maria?" Flora groaned as the continued questioning. "What is going on here? What was with the owl and what was in that letter?"

"Letter? What letter?" Howard inquired as he and Angie walked over to them. Flora stared at her three friends before sighing in defeat. 'I'm going to have to tell them. Otherwise, they won't let me leave.' She realized as they looked at her expectantly.

"You all might want to have a seat," she said gesturing to the couch. The three friends took a seat in unison and stared at her expectantly. Flora paced restlessly in front of them for a few moments before stopping and running a hand through her hair and turned to face them.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you is in fact illegal for you to know and if you tell anyone, not only will I be in a heap of trouble, but your memories will be erased as well. Do you understand?" Flora asked. The three people in front of her shared confused and slightly frightened looks before nodding in agreement.

"Agreed," the three of them said in unison.

"Before I was born there was a war. It wasn't a war that most people knew about. Only select people knew what was going on. It was a war for the future of the wizarding world. Magic is real and I can use it. Before I was born a woman made a prophecy about the man who was leading one side of the war and about me. At the time we didn't know that the prophecy made was about me, there was another child who could have been the child mentioned. Because of that my parents went into hiding." Flora began to explained. She then went into great detail about her secret life as Maria Potter, The-Girl-Who-Lived. By the end of it, the three sitting in front of her stared at her in astonishment.

"Good Lord, Maria. How are you still breathing?" Peggy questioned, concern for her friend's wellbeing.

"Sheer dumb luck." Flora chuckled slightly as she repeated what McGonagall had told Draco and Neville when they saved her from that troll. "And stubbornness." She added on.

"I'd say," Angie replied. Flora turned to Howard, knowing this would affect him the most. He was watching her with his calculating brown eyes as if he was trying to figure out a difficult puzzle.

"Howard?" She watched him, warily. He stood up and grabbed her left hand, inspecting the top carefully. "What are you looking for?"

"You should be covered in scars from everything you said, yet there's not a single one in sight." He replied to her questioned. She could tell by his tone that he was seething in rage but keeping it underwraps for her shake.

"It's a glamour charm." She told him. "I'm not exactly proud of them and they make me self-conscious."

"You should wear them with pride, love." Peggy said. "They tell your story of how you survived everything."

"It's just how I was raised." Flora shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Angie asked.

"I was raised Pureblood. You know, be the perfect housewife and do what I was told by my husband." She explained. "That part really didn't stick apparently."

"Thank God, it didn't." Howard replied. "It would of taken a lot longer to win the war if we didn't have you to save our asses." Flora smiled gratefully at him then edged towards the stairs.

"So, I'm going to go start packing but I'll show you some magic when I'm done." She told them before racing up the stairs to her room.

~o~

June 3, 1946

"Alright, I'm leaving now." Flora told Angie and Peggy as she placed her trunk next to the door.

"You sure you want to do this, English number two?" Angie asked in concern. "Anything could have happen in the year that letter was written."

"I have to know, Angie." She replied, "Beside, Teddy needs me and I made a promise to Professor Lupin." Peggy sighed and brought her small friend into her arms and held her tight.

"At least this time you're going about this properly." Peggy muttered, fondly. Flora chuckled as she stepped out of her friends arms.

"I'm just not good at these kind of things. Goodbyes never went well for me." She said as she hugged Angie. "I'll make sure to send you letters during my stay."

"The muggle way if you don't mind." Peggy replied causing Angie to slap her on the shoulder.

"No way, Peg! She definitely has to do it the magical way. Maybe, we should get an owl!" Angie exclaimed.

"No," Peggy and Flora answered in unison causing her to pout.

"You two are no fun." She whined. They all laughed as Flora opened the door before falling silent as they stare at their resident genius, who was leaning against the stair railing.

"Howard?" Flora questioned, confused on what he was doing here.

"Hey, doll face." He instantly perked up at the sight of his girl. "So, you need a ride to the airport?"

"Um, I actually called for a taxi." She told him. Howard faltered slightly at the reply.

"Oh, uh," He scratches the back of his neck. "Well, since I'm here anyway I'll give you a ride." Howard stepped into the house and grabs her trunk. "Ladies."

"Howard, you don't have to do that." Flora said as she watched him struggle with the trunk. "Hello, Mr. Jarvis." She greeted him as he hops out of the car.

"Good morning, Miss. Erskine." He replied as he helped Howard with the trunk. Flora sighed and turned back to her roommates.

"I'll send you a update as soon as I can." She told them before hugging them one last time. Flora wasn't sure if she'd be returning back to the States. There really wasn't anything holding her down here. She had a feeling that's what really worried her friends the most.

"Be safe and take care of yourself." Peggy said as she slowly released her.

"I will, I promise." Flora replied as she stepped into the car, waving to the girls as they slowly grew smaller. Once, Angie and Peggy disappeared from her sight, she turned to Howard. "What are you planning, Howard?"

"Me planning something? What would ever make you think that, doll face?" Howard asked, innocently. Flora raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms.

"You do realise that the airport is in the opposite direction, correct?" She inquired slyly as Howard begins to stutter out a answer. She shares a smirk with Jarvis in the rearview mirror.

"I'm coming with you." Howard suddenly blurted out. Flora stared at him with slightly wide eyes.

"I beg your pardon?" Howard took a deep breath and turned to Flora.

"I'm coming with you to England." He said much more calmly this time.

"Howard, I don't think that's a good idea." Flora told him. "This is personal family matters, not some ritzy vacation for you to fool around."

"I'm going no matter what you say, Maria." Howard replied. Flora glared at him before turning away from him and gave him the cold shoulder for the rest of the trip, the eight hour plane ride included.

~o~

Spinner's End

Flora stares at the house in front of them. It looked just like how she remembered it. Though it definitely aged quite a bit in the last decade she'd seen it. She wondered idly how her garden was, if her father had kept it and took care of it in her absence. She stared for a moment longer then turned to face forward.

"This was a mistake." She said cause the other two passengers to stare at her in shock.

"What do you mean, doll face?" Howard asked, confused. He knows she'd been excited and looking forward to this, why the sudden change of heart now? Flora turned to him and looked him dead straight in the eye.

"Because I just remembered you have the worst case of foot to mouth syndrome I have ever come across." She told him, seriously. Flora rolled her eyes as Howard stared at her with an offended look.

"I do not!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"You sounded like a woman being insulted." Flora replied with a teasing smirk. Howard huffed and turned his attention back to the house. It was quite quaint he thought, he could definitely picture Flora growing up here.

"So this is your childhood home?" He inquired as he took in the black metal fencing lining the property.

"Yes," She answered still not looking back at the house she once called home. Howard placed his hand on the door handle and opened it. "Howard, what are you doing?"

"Going to meet your family." He said, turning back to look at her. "That's what we're here to do, isn't it?" He steps out of the car and held a hand out for her.

"Howard, get back in the car." She told him, ignoring the hand as she slid back into the shadows. Howard frowned at the action before shrugging and started to walk down the walkway. "Howard, get back here!"

"Come on, doll face. We've come this far, you're going to turn tail and run now? That isn't like you at all." Howard called back.

"Howard, this isn't a game! Get back in the car!" Flora reframed from shouting when she noticed the curtains being open and four familiar faces peered out the window. "Howard!"

~o~

"Do you think the muggles are lost, dear?" Narcissa asked her husband as they watched the young man shout back to whoever was in the car.

"I don't know, my love." Lucius replied as he watched the scene slightly confused.

"Well, whoever they are, they're definitely newlyweds." Mabel said in her Southern drawl. "They're awfully sweet, don't you think Sev?"

"That's one way of putting it." He muttered, distastefully. He watched the man with narrow eyes, the stranger reminded him too much of James Potter for his liking. The man continued walking towards the door while calling back to the person in the car.

"I swear to God, Howard. If you don't get your ass back in this car there will be hell to pay!" Narcissa frowned at the foul language coming from the person in the car, who she now realised from the voice was a woman.

"Girly sure does have a mouth on her, don't she?" Mabel chuckled.

"It would seem so." She replied.

"What are you going to do from the car, doll face? Glare me to death?" The man asked with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"That young man is playing with fire." Lucius commented with a small smirk forming on his lips. "Though I do believe that is the point at the moment."

"He's antagonising her to get her to come out of the car." Severus said. "Very Slytherin of him to do."

"Howard! Get in the fucking car!" The woman finally shouted at the man while causing the row of street lamps to flicker violently. The two older couples stared at the woman in shock.

"No, Maria!" The man shouted back and everyone in the house froze.

"It couldn't be, could it?" Severus whispered, his onyx eyes glossing over with unshed tears.

~o~

Flora growled in frustration as she stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her. She stomped her way up the walkway and stopped in front of Howard's grinning face.

"I don't know why your grinning." She told him. "You better sleep with one eye open tonight, Stark."

"It's a price I'm willing to pay." He chuckled. "Now, shall we?" Howard motions to the door. Flora glances over to the door and freezes. There standing in the doorway was her father.

"Daddy." She whispered, her eyes filling with tears. Howard frowned and stepped towards her in concern.

"Doll face?" He questioned before turning to see what she was staring at. Behind him in the now open doorway was a much older man. The man was probably twenty or so years older than him, his black hair was streaked with silver and his pale skin had a few too many worried lines and wrinkles. What really stood out to Howard was the scars on the man's face and neck. That and he sort of looked like a bat in his black clothing. The man took a few steps towards them.

"Flora, is that really you?" The man inquired, Howard could see the hope in the man's eyes but also wariness. Flora let out a light sob as she nods her head, a small smile on her lips. "Oh Merlin's beard!" The man rushed towards them and swept Flora into his arms. "My precious little flower, your alive. Your really alive."

"Daddy," Flora sobbed into the man's shoulder. "My daddy." Howard watched the touching scene with a sad smile. He could feel the pain and sadness radiating off the two. Ten years of thinking the other dead and that it was your fault was probably the worst kind of burden to be placed on one's shoulders.

"Where have you been, Flora? We looked everywhere for you." The man inquired as he pulled away from her slightly.

"It's a long story." She told him before looking back to Howard. "Oh, Howard!" Flora pulled herself out of her father's arms to grab his hand and place him in front of taller and older man. "Howard, this is my father, Severus Snape. Daddy, this is Howard Stark."
"Hello, sir." Howard held his hand out to Severus. "It's an honor to meet you."

"Pleasure." Severus looked down his nose at the man, who seemed familiar with his little girl. "And what is your relationship with my daughter?"

"Ah," Howard chuckled nervously. Flora rolled her eyes and turned to her father.

"Howard is courting me." She answered for him. "Now, I'd like to meet the newest additions to our family." Flora walked towards the house while Severus glares at Howard.

"We will be having a talk about your intentions with my little flower, Mr. Stark." He sneered before following after Flora, leaving a stunned Howard standing in the middle of the walkway.

"Now, I know where she gets her menacing looks from." He muttered then shuffles after the two.

~o~

July 4, 1946

The sun shining through the window seemed to mock Flora in the worst way possible. Flora wanted to rage at the sun and how happy it was. How dare the sun be shining when she was in such pain! It wasn't fair. Flora angirly wiped her tears away before anyone could see them. Howard would be the only person who would understand her tears, but she wasn't eager for him to see them either.

"Away you Nazi villain!" she heard Teddy yell to his friend, her heart squeezed when she saw him running around with a stick and chalked on trash can lid with a faded white star in it's center. The children squealed and chased each other and Flora descended further into her melancholy.

"Who's on your mind, flower?" she turned and saw her father walking towards her, two steaming tea cups in his hand.

"No one daddy, I was just wandering around in my thoughts," she lied, taking a warm tea cup from his hand. Severus raised an eyebrow at the lie.

"It may have been a few years since we last saw each other, but I know when it's a person you're thinking of," he sat down on the sofa and patted the space next to him, "Please tell me what's bothering you," Flora sighed and seated herself beside him.

"There was a man," she began softly.

"Do I need to have a chat with him?" Severus offered. Flora chuckled sadly.

"That was almost a joke, daddy. No, I am afraid he's long gone," she said softly. Severus glanced over at her sharply and felt his heart clench. He knew that look on his daughter's face, because it was a look he had often seen on his face when he looked in the mirror. It was a look he had never wanted to see on his child's face. She had deeply loved this man who was now gone.

"Who was he?" Severus asked almost hesitantly. A small smile tugged at her lips when she answered.

"Just a boy from Brooklyn." There was silence in the sitting room, the muffled sounds of laughter sunk against the glass of the sitting room windows.

"What do you mean just a boy from Brooklyn?" Severus asked, setting his cup on the coffee table.

"His name was Steve, Steve Rogers. He was a good man who saved a countless number of people. It's too bad one of those people wasn't himself," Flora felt the needle prick feeling of tears at the corners of her eyes. Severus nodded grimly, rubbing small soothing circles on his daughters arm, "He was kind, brave and had the brightest smile. He wasn't always the smartest though," she chuckled lightly. Severus chuckled.

"Men are like that. Even I am not above such follies," Flora sat up from where she had leaned against her father and gasped in fake shock.

"You? Acting stupid? What has the world come to?" Severus laughed, a real one. She loved her father's laugh it was a rare and beautiful thing. Severus thought for a long moment before deciding to impart a bit of advice to his daughter.

"The thing about loving someone as fiercely as you loved Steve is that he will be your Always, just as Lily was my Always. That person who we will always love and who stays with us always. That doesn't mean that we don't move on and find a new love. Steve will be with you in your heart, always." He explained to her. Flora tilts her head thoughtfully as she let's the information sink in. 'What a interesting notion.'