Chapter Twenty-four: Away In The Night

The Death Eaters watched their Dark Lord with almost visible trepidation. He had been staring into the fireplace for nearly an hour, hands clasped before him. Finally, he lifted a hand and waved to the door. "Out. All of you."

They gratefully exited the room, and only one man hesitated. "My lord?"

"Yes, Gavin," Voldemort said. "You stay."

Gavin approaching the Dark Lord's chair and knelt before it, bowing his head.

Voldemort ignored him, still staring into the fire. "Slytherin's brat, she called me…"

"M-my lord?"

"Something—is not as expected, Gavin," Voldemort murmured. "When we performed the spell which created Raven, we thought the use of the bones would simply give the child the link to raw power that all Mages had. I believe…we did something else in creating her."

"My lord, are you thinking of the words she spoke while in your dungeon below?"

"I am," Voldemort replied. "I am also thinking of the hatred and rage seething under her skin. I saw a flash of it when she came here to speak with you."

Gavin swallowed. "I imagine she would be quite angry with us, my lord."

"No, Gavin," Voldemort said. "Not with us. The look in her eyes when she spoke my ancestor's name…The one she despises the most seems to be him."

"Salazar Slytherin? But my lord—!"

"I no longer believe that what we heard in the dungeon were simply residual memories, Gavin. I no longer believe that in creating that child we created new life. No—" Voldemort said slowly, "perhaps all that I did… was rile an angry ghost."

"Does it change anything, my lord?" Gavin asked softly, trying to wrap his mind around the very idea.

"It changes nothing," Voldemort replied evenly. "Save how we approach the girl in the future." He fell silent, studying the fire again. "…Slytherin's brat, indeed." He seemed to be speaking to himself. "We're not finished with each other, my Mage."

Raven stood beside Snape as Dumbledore poured the second vial into the Pensieve. "Ready?" the Headmaster asked, smiling slightly.

"Yes," Raven murmured, taking Snape's hand and stepping closer. The three leaned over the Pensieve, staring into the luminescent liquid. Raven felt the room pitch her forward and she fell into the memory.

The three now stood in the living room of a small house. Christine was pacing in front of the fireplace, a worried look upon her face. She was twisting her wedding ring on her finger as she paced, casting troubled looks at the door now and then.

"I don't think it's been long since the wedding," Dumbledore said, watching her pace. "See how she worries the ring like that? She's not used to wearing it yet."

The door suddenly opened as Gavin strode in, his cloak damp with rain. Christine's face lit up and she rushed to him. "Dominic," she said, embracing him. He hugged her back, but lightly and only for a second. "I was worried," she said as he took of his cloak and hung it to dry. "You said you were going to be home an hour ago—"

"Christine, darling," Gavin said, an edge to his voice. "I do not set my schedule by you."

Christine's face fell and she hung her head. Gavin glanced at her and then kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "I'm just tired. I'm sorry I worried you."

Christine gave him a weak smile and started for the kitchen. "I'll re-heat dinner," she said. "You'll feel better once you've eaten."

Gavin nodded absentmindedly and ran a hand over his left forearm. Snape's eyes narrowed. "The Dark Mark," he murmured.

"What?" Raven turned to him.

"He's been marked," Snape told her. "Maybe even this night."

In the kitchen, Christine set a bowl of steaming soup in front of Gavin and a second on the table for herself. They sat and ate in silence, but Christine seemed happy enough with the quiet. Once he had finished eating, Gavin stood. He kissed Christine's cheek. "I have to go."

Christine blinked at him. "Dom, you just got home…"

"I'm sorry, Christine," Gavin said, throwing his cloak back over his shoulders. "It's important Ministry work, after all."

Christine followed him to the door, worrying the ring on her hand again. "When will you be home?" she asked softly.

"I'm not sure," Gavin said. Raven was shocked to see a flash of regret in his eyes as he looked down at his wife. He touched her cheek, lifting her face to his. "Not too late, I promise." He kissed her and then was out the door.

"He was called," Snape said. "I thought I saw him flinch at the table before. The Dark Lord called him away."

"He loved her."

Dumbledore and Snape looked at her in surprise. Raven looked at them and shrugged. "Or maybe he's just fond of her. But he was sorry that he had to leave her just then."

"Either way," Snape said. "He gave her to the Dark Lord."

The memory around them shifted, but they found themselves in the same living room. Christine looked flustered, thin, and worried. She stood at the window, looking out, and waiting.

She practically leapt for the door when she saw Gavin Apparate at the gate. "Dominic," she called, rushing outside to him. "I have something to tell—" She cut off when she saw the dark smile on his face, "…D-Dominic?" She glanced down and saw the mask he held in his hand. Christine paled dangerously and swayed where she stood. She stepped backwards from him, shaking. "You—That's why you've been gone so much...what you've been hiding from me," she whispered, staring at him as though she had never seen him before.

"I'm sorry, Christine," Dominic said, but his voice held no remorse. His smile widened and he gestured to something behind her. "The Dark Lord has a task for you."

Christine's eyes widened and she turned to run. She shrieked when she saw the hooded figure that stood behind her. Voldemort lowered the hood of his cloak and smiled at Christine.

Raven inhaled sharply as Christine stared in horror at Voldemort, arms crossed over her stomach. The Dark Lord lifted his wand to point at Christine. The young woman, in a desperate, bold gesture took out her own wand and pointed it right back. With one hand still over her stomach, she glared at Voldemort in an unusual display of strength. She was shaking horribly, but the Dark Lord simply looked amused. With an angry and resigned sigh, Christine suddenly turned her wand to Gavin and sent a hex towards him. Gavin gave a surprised cry as the muscles of his legs gave out on him. He collapsed to the ground while Voldemort laughed.

Christine turned back to Voldemort. "What could you possibly want with me?"

Voldemort smiled and lifted his wand to her again. There was a red flash and Christine fell to the ground, Stunned. The scene before Raven went black.

When the blackness cleared away, the three watchers saw Christine sitting at the window of an opulent room. She had her arms crossed over a growing belly and there were tears in her eyes. Gavin stood in the doorway of the room, an impatient look upon his face. "You aren't actually intending to starve yourself, are you? Do you have any idea how foolish that would be?"

"Why on earth should you care?" Christine snapped, turning her head to him. When Gavin said nothing, Christine gave a watery laugh. "Tell me, husband, did your lord demand that you give me to him or did you volunteer me?"

Gavin smirked. "I volunteered you."

"I thought so," Christine said softly.

"It's because of your family, Christine," Gavin said, stepping forward. "The Roselyn family is the last, very distantly descended family of the Rosendraths. The Dark Lord wanted to take no chance with this child—"

"And here I was," Christine said, cutting him off. "So very convenient for your lord."

"Precisely."

Christine scoffed and turned another glare on her husband. "Get out."

Gavin remained where he was. "Will you eat?"

"So this child will be healthy?" Christine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Christine looked down at her stomach and sighed. "Fine."

"Then I will leave you in peace," Gavin said, relieved. He stepped out of the room, leaving Christine alone. He shut and locked the door behind him.

Christine did not watch him go.

The scene faded and melted into one of frenzied chaos. They stood in the same room, but now Christine lay on the bed, screaming in pain. Gavin stood off to one side and looked as though he didn't dare move closer to her. There was also an elderly woman with blank eyes. She wore the green robes of a St. Mungo's healer.

"She's in labor," Dumbledore said, his eyes narrowing. "Raven, would this be your birth?"

"No," Raven said with absolute certainty. "Voldemort himself told me that there was one failed attempt before me."

"I'd say the healer there is Imperiused," Snape said, obviously not comfortable being in a room with a woman about to give birth.

After what seemed like an eternity, Christine gave one final cry of pain and fear and the room was filled with the screaming cries of a baby. The healer passed the screaming child to Gavin, wrapped in a soft blanket. Gavin went to the door of the room, shushing the child as he went. "My lord," he called. Voldemort appeared at the doorway and looked down with distaste at the baby. "My lord," Gavin said hesitantly. "It's a boy."

"A boy?" Voldemort's eyes narrowed and he glanced at Christine, who lay on the bed. Her hazel eyes were wide with fear and longing as she gazed at Gavin and the baby.

"…Please," she begged, holding out her arms. "…Let me hold him…just once…"

Voldemort sneered and turned away from her. "Test it," he ordered Gavin harshly. "See if it is immune. It is useless if not a Mage."

Gavin nodded quickly and set the child on the table by the door. The baby stirred and began to cry with fervor again. Gavin lifted his wand and had only the slightest hesitation. "Avada Kedavra!"

With the flash of green light, the baby's cries abruptly ceased.

Christine gave a strangled cry.

Voldemort looked down at the silent baby and scowled. "All these months—for nothing." He swept out the door without a backwards glance. "Dispose of that, Gavin."

"Yes, my lord."

Gavin scooped up the tiny body and forced himself not to look at Christine. As Gavin walked out of the room, the Imperiused healer followed as though on a leash.

Christine was alone.

Raven didn't realize she was crying until Dumbledore touched her cheek to wipe away the tears. She looked up at him, horror in her broken eyes. There were tears on the Headmaster's face as well. Snape came up behind Raven and put his hands on her shoulders. She turned to him and buried her face in his robes.

Snape turned dark eyes to Dumbledore. Though his face was dry, there was a terrible sadness to his black eyes. "It's inhuman. I expected it of the Dark Lord—but of a man like Gavin—"

"Horrible," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes on Christine.

The woman was sitting on the bed, her eyes empty and staring. "…My son…my baby…"

"I think it's time we left," Dumbledore said. Snape nodded in agreement and took Raven's hand as they lifted up from the memories.

When they stood in Dumbledore's office again, Raven dropped down into the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. The tears were gone and pure rage seethed in her eyes. Snape stood beside the chair, uncertain of what to say to her. Dumbledore sat behind his desk and buried his face in his hands a moment. He sighed deeply and looked at Raven and Snape. "Why didn't it work?" he asked of them, speculating himself. "Did Voldemort have any clue?"

"No," Raven said sharply. "He didn't. But I do."

Snape looked at her in surprise. "What?"

Raven lifted her eyes to Dumbledore's and behind the rage, there was fresh horror.

"…She was already pregnant."

Dumbledore closed his eyes and Snape inhaled sharply at that. "How can you be so sure?" Snape demanded.

"The night that Gavin gave her to Voldemort—when she saw Voldemort, she covered her stomach…she was protecting her child." Raven stood abruptly and went to the window. "…You know what that means don't you?"

"What are you talking about, Raven?" Dumbledore asked.

Slowly, Raven turned back to them. "…Gavin killed his own son…and he has no idea."

A dark and heavy silence fell upon them. Each could almost hear the frantic cries of the baby and the way they had suddenly stopped.

Raven sat at the window in her little room and watched as the sun set, casting shadows across the grounds. In her hand she held the envelope left to her by Christine. She had yet to open it—a part of her did not want to see what was written. Would they be words of kindness? Of motherly love and affection?

Or would they be bitter words? From a woman who watched her own son die at the hands of his father? From a woman who was given a child not her own as a poor replacement?

How could she have loved me as I thought? She lost her child simply because Voldemort wanted my birth instead. How is that she didn't hate me?

A gentle knock came to her door. "Come in, Severus," she called immediately.

Snape entered the room slowly, hesitantly. "Are you alright, child?"

"I don't know," Raven replied, turning to look at him in the doorway. "I feel sick inside—I want so badly to make it all go away. I wish I had never seen it." She looked out the window again, a few cold tears running down her cheeks. "I knew that it had happened—I heard from Voldemort himself that there was a child before me—He even told me that he had Gavin test the baby to see if it was a Mage. He told me when the baby died—they just tried again—as though it had never happened…"

Snape felt saddened and sickened himself, seeing the girl before him tremble with grief as she spoke, sitting pale and horrified in the window. "Raven," he spoke softly as he sat with her at the window. "It wasn't your doing."

She didn't look at him. "But it was all for my birth, Severus. Everything done to her—everything that she faced alone—the murder of her son just moments after she'd give birth to him…Severus, it was all done so that I would be born."

Snape touched her shoulder and she leaned against him, gratefully. "Child," he told her gently, "I have seen horrible things done in the name of the Dark Lord, done as he bids…You have no fault here, my child. Blame Voldemort, blame Gavin—never blame yourself for the crimes committed before you were born."

"I want to kill him," Raven murmured darkly. "As much I wanted to before—now I long for it. I want him to suffer as she suffered at his hands. I want to look him in the eyes and tell him that he killed his own son. I want to see him destroyed by it."

Snape placed firm hands on her shoulders and made her look him in the eye. "Raven," he said sharply, "would your mother thank you for that?"

"My mother is dead," she reminded him lightly. "Both of them—Christine Rose and Jessamine Rosendrath: They both died so that another could have my power. Voldemort is as much a fool as his 'honored´ ancestor. I would happily give them all the powers of a Mage and laugh in delight as they killed themselves—one spell at a time."

Snape looked at her in silence—and then wrapped his arms around her shoulder, drawing her near. She leaned against him again, burying her face in his shoulder. He ran a hand over her silvered black hair. "I wish you wouldn't speak like this," he told her.

"Is it so hard to hear?"

"Yes," Snape replied in a whisper. "Because when I hear you speak like this—I can hear myself from years ago—and I don't like how it sounds."

Raven fell silent and then she began to laugh quietly. Only Snape could have told when the laughter turned into sobs.

Later in the night, Raven was less and, yet at the same time, more eager to see what else Christine had left her. But however she felt about it, she took Snape's hand and together with Dumbledore, they plunged into the last vial of memories.

They stood in the same room as before, but it was obvious that some time had passed. Christine was sitting at the window, but there was no fight to her hazel eyes now. No, in fact her eyes seemed to be those of a corpse. She did not even look up when Gavin entered her room.

"Christine?" Gavin called lightly, approaching her slowly. When he came to her side, he knelt and touched her entwined hands that lay upon her lap. She still stared out the window as though he were not there. "My dear wife, can you hear me?"

Slowly, as though dazed, she turned to him. Her eyes looked down at his face without a trace of emotion. Gavin stood and her eyes followed his face. "Christine," he said again, a touch of sadness to his tone. He touched her face and then leaned over to kiss her cheek. She did not stop him, gave no protest. When he stepped back from her, she simply turned back to the window as before.

Gavin blinked at her and then turned away, a flash of regret crossed his face. He went to the door, but when he opened it to leave, Voldemort swept in. "Well?"

"She is the same, my lord," Gavin said, resigned to remain there. Voldemort studied the woman with narrowed eyes.

"And the pregnancy?" he asked of Gavin.

"She is barely five months along, my lord," Gavin replied. "The healer says that the baby is so far healthy and she should carry it to term."

"It had better not fail a second time, Gavin," Voldemort said, his tone betraying nothing.

Gavin paled dangerously and bowed quickly. "I understand, my lord. I have every confidence that the spell will succeed this time."

"Confidence is nothing until the child is in our hands," Voldemort told him harshly.

Gavin swallowed his fear. "Yes, my lord."

Voldemort approached the catatonic Christine then. He stood beside her and lifted a lock of her hair in his thin hand. "And you wondered what use you could be to me," he murmured. "Should you succeed in bringing forth a Mage child, you alone will be responsible for my victory in this war, dear Roselyn girl. You will give me power beyond measure." He leaned over and hissed in her ear. "But know this, woman, if this child you carry is as before—you will not live to carry another."

Christine gave no sign that she heard him.

Voldemort turned away from her and left the room without another word. Gavin glanced at Christine, a touch of fear in his eyes, but he too left the room.

As soon as the door was closed and locked, Christine turned her head. Raven was thrilled to see the anger and triumph in Christine's hazel eyes. The young woman stood—and held up a wand, smiling darkly as she did so.

"My god," Snape said with a small smile. "She nicked it from Gavin…when he leaned to kiss her cheek most likely. Clever girl."

Raven shared a smile with him as they watched Christine undo the spell locking the windows. She quietly slipped out of the window and closed it behind her. Raven, Snape, and Dumbledore followed her, watching as she quickly ran through what looked like a townhouse garden and over a tall wooden fence.

"They were keeping her in London," Dumbledore realized when they reached the deserted street, "Right in the heart of the city—incredulous."

They hurried down the street with Christine, her eyes wide with fear, glancing back over her shoulder every few feet. After a long and hurried walk, she reached the Leaky Cauldron—and then she paused. She looked back down the direction that she'd come and then back at the bar.

And she continued walking past it.

She kept going until she reached a Muggle hotel and Confunded the owner into giving her a room. Once she was in the small and dingy room, she sealed the door shut and rushed to draw the blinds on the little window. It was only after this that she collapsed onto the bed and sobbed with both relief and anxious fear.

Raven moved over to the bed and longed to run a hand over Christine's hair as the woman sobbed. "It wouldn't take long for Voldemort and Gavin to realize that she's gone," she said to Snape and Dumbledore.

"She's clever for not going to the Leaky Cauldron," Snape said. "The first place the Dark Lord will search is the Wizarding world. The Roselyn family is pure-blood; he'd expect Christine to run to wizards for help."

The three watched as Christine cried herself out. When she finally calmed, she sat up in the bed and put her hands over her stomach. She looked frightened again, as though she wasn't sure what to do next or where to go.

Christine stood and went to the window and Raven couldn't help but follow, keeping her eyes on Christine's face.

"What could be going through her mind?" Raven murmured, her own broken eyes sad. "She knows that she is pregnant and she knows that the baby—that I could not possibly be hers…what is she thinking of at this moment?"

"I will love you," Christine said suddenly, clasping her hand over her belly. Raven blinked in surprise, for it felt as though Christine had heard her and now answered. "I've decided," the young woman continued, looking out the window with a smile. "I will care for you…I will raise you…far away from the likes of them." Her smile widened as she glanced down at her belly, as though she were smiling at the child within. "We will run away, you and I. And we will be happy, I think." She nodded to herself. "We two can be happy."

Raven made a small noise, like she was in pain, and she lifted a hand to touch Christine's cheek. But the memory faded around her and Christine no longer stood in front of her.

She looked around quickly and saw Snape and Dumbledore. She went back to them as the next memory solidified before them. Without comment, Snape put an arm around Raven for a moment, to comfort her.

They now stood in another room, though it was much like the last; another motel room, in another town. Christine was sitting on the edge of the bed, breathing steadily, though heavily too. Her belly had grown and it was clear she was in the final month of her pregnancy. She wore a muggle dress rather than robes, and judging by the other clothing flung about the room, she had been living in this hotel for some time.

Christine looked up when she heard someone knocking at her door. "Come in," she called, a little breathless.

A little round man, with graying brown hair stood in the doorway. "Miss Rose, are you alright?" From the badge on his jacket, it was clear he was the owner of the little motel.

Christine nodded. "I—I think my baby's coming," she told him, a little bit of pain in her voice. "Please—could you—could you get me to the hospital?"

"Oh! Goodness—Miss Rose, are you sure there isn't someone we could call for you?"

"No," Christine told him firmly, closing her eyes. "I don't have anyone—except for my baby."

Another person came to the doorway, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile. "Of course we'll get you to the hospital," she said, touching a hand to the man's shoulder. "My husband will drive and I'll stay with you, if you need me."

Christine looked up at her gratefully. "Thank you—so much," she said. "You've both been so good to me—"

"Now, now, my dear," the woman said, smiling. "Gregory, go start the car."

The little man braved a smile of his own and ducked out of the room. The woman went in and patted Christine's shoulder. "I'll be right back, dearie," she said. "Will you be alright?"

Christine nodded, smiling too. "Thank you again," she said.

"As if I could do anything else," the woman said in reply. "Me being a mother too; I know what this is like, poor dear." She smiled again and left the room.

Christine carefully got to her feet, hands on her belly. "We're almost there, baby. Just hang on a little longer." She sighed deeply, an edge of pain still there. "I'll protect you, love. As long as I keep moving, they won't catch me…and they'll never have you."

The motel owner's wife appeared at the door again. "Miss Rose, dear, are you ready?"

"I'm ready," Christine replied, all of her hope clear in her voice.

The memory solidified once more and the three now stood in a Muggle hospital room. Snape cursed and turned away. "Oh god, not again."

Raven laughed and patted his shoulder in mock comfort. But the three seemed to have arrived after the fact, rather than during the birth itself. Christine lay on the hospital bed, her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat, and her face wet with tears. But her hazel eyes were bright as the nurse approached with a bundle of blankets in her arms.

"A healthy baby girl," the nurse told her happily. "Do you want to hold her?"

"Yes," Christine said, more tears escaping her eyes. "Oh, yes. Let me hold her."

The nurse beamed and gently passed the tiny bundle to Christine.

Fascinated, Raven moved over to look at the baby that had been her. There was a little patch of raven-black hair, her skin was reddened, and she was crying at the top of her little lungs. But after Christine took her into her arms, the crying slowly ceased and the baby's eyes opened. And Raven saw her own crystal blue eyes looking up at Christine.

The amount of love pouring forth from Christine's eyes dazed Raven and humbled her. Christine kissed her baby's cheek and rocked her gently. "My beautiful girl," she murmured. "You are mine," she whispered happily to the baby. "No matter what they did us both, you are my daughter. My beautiful, precious baby girl…my Emily Rose."

The memory faded around them and now the three stood on a dark and deserted street. Christine had her wand out and she clutched the baby to her heart. "I'm so sorry, Emily," she murmured to the whimpering child. "We have to keep moving—just for a little longer—just until I'm sure they won't follow."

"I think it's only been a few weeks since your birth, Raven," Dumbledore said.

"No, I haven't grown much, have I?" Raven felt distinctly odd, talking about herself like this. "What is she doing?" she asked, watching Christine lift her wand.

But before either man could answer, there was a loud BANG and a huge bus appeared on the street before Christine. The young woman hurried on and the three watchers quickly followed. Christine sat on one of the beds inside.

"It's the Knight Bus," Snape explained to Raven. "It travels all over, picking up witches and wizards who need transportation."

They watched as Christine slowly calmed and then finally slept as the Knight Bus drove on. There was a certain serenity to the young woman sleeping with her child kept close to her, protected by her arms.

Shortly before the Knight Bus came to a stop, the conductor shook Christine awake, telling her that they'd found an out of the way place for her. Christine stepped off the bus, thanking the driver and conductor. The town before them was tiny and quiet in the night. Raven was surprised when Christine gave her name to the young conductor. They parted, the Knight Bus disappearing again. "We're free now," Christine murmured to the sleeping baby in her arms.

They followed her down the street and Dumbledore pondered. "The conductor—he said his name was Milton?"

"Yes," Snape replied. Raven was a few steps ahead of them. "Why do you ask?" he added softly.

"A Milton Armsted disappeared well after Voldemort's downfall," Dumbledore explained. "It was odd, no one could link him to the Death Eaters or Voldemort—but he was gone without a trace."

"Gavin," Snape muttered darkly. "That's how he found Christine."

"Very likely," Dumbledore said.

The memory continued until Christine stopped in front of the little cottage that would become her home. "That's where we lived," Raven said to them, looking over her shoulder. "This tiny place. It's where I found the memories hidden away."

The memory faded around them and when it cleared, they now stood inside the little cottage. There was a fire going, casting warmth and light across the room. Snow was falling lightly outside the window. Christine was sitting in a rocking chair near the fire, the baby in her arms. She was smiling contently as she hummed a lullaby. The baby was awake, wide crystal eyes looking up at Christine sleepily.

Snape couldn't help himself. "Weren't you just adorable?"

"Oh shut it," Raven muttered, crossing her arms. But she liked the sight of Christine so happy with her. She crossed the room and knelt beside the rocking chair.

"You are my greatest gift," Christine murmured to the baby. "You were worth it…worth it all." She stared into the fire with an absentminded smile. "These past months have been so hard—from the moment your brother died, to moment before I held you, there was a hole in me." She smiled down at the baby. "But then you were in my arms, Emily. And I knew that it didn't matter what they did. I still loved you with all my heart." She kissed the baby's forehead and a single tear fell onto the blanket. "I will hide you from them—I will never let them use you."

Raven felt a surge of grief and guilt. "But I did," she murmured.

Snape touched Raven's shoulder, drew her closer. "Raven, it's alright."

"No, it's not," Raven told him. "I made her sacrifice worthless—I walked right in Voldemort's clutches."

"You didn't know, Raven," Snape reminded her gently. "You couldn't know."

Christine stood, baby in her arms, and walked back to her room. She gently placed the sleeping baby in the crib by her bed and remained there, smiling down at her daughter. "Goodnight, Emily," she whispered.

The memory faded to black. Raven felt Snape take her hand and then she was standing with him and Dumbledore, back in the Headmaster's office.

Raven immediately turned away from them. "My mother," she murmured as she sat in the chair in front of the desk. "She knew all along that I wasn't hers by blood…and she didn't care…" Tears fell from her eyes and she buried her face in her hands. Snape, as always, was not comfortable with the tears, but he stood beside the chair and ran a hand over her hair. Dumbledore gave him an understanding look and knelt in front of Raven's chair.

"Raven, child," he said gently, taking her hands into his. "Now you know for certain—Christine Rose was your mother, in every way that mattered. She loved you."

Raven closed her eyes and hung her head, her silvered hair hiding her face from sight. "I know," she whispered in reply. "I knew all along, really," she said, lifting her head again. "She protected me."

"She was happy in her life with you," Snape said. "For all that the time was criminally brief, she was happy."

"So was I," Raven told him, a weak smile coming to her face. But it faded quickly. "But then—I was a child. How was I to know better?"

"Raven—"

"Thank you," she said, cutting Snape off. "Thank you both," she added. "For helping me see those memories—for being there with me—but, I need to be alone for a bit." She stood and started for the door. "I'm just going to go to my room."

"We understand, child," Dumbledore said, putting a hand on Snape's shoulder to stop him from arguing. "We'll speak again tomorrow."

Raven nodded and disappeared through the door. It wasn't until she reached her room that she let herself cry again. She lay on her bed, burying her face in her pillow, and cried herself out. "You are my greatest gift— You were worth it…worth it all."

When no more tears would come Raven dried her face and sat up in her bed. She reached into the pocket of her robes and drew out the still unopened letter.

Emily,

Just the other day, when we were in town, the old wizard who lives on the other side of the village came up to me for the first time. He told me that there was news that Voldemort has disappeared. Maybe for good. Everyone seems to believe that he's been defeated. When I heard this, at first I felt that maybe we would be safe. Maybe I could send a letter to my friends from school, let them know I was still alive.

But my husband is still out there and that is why I'm writing this letter. Because part of me is afraid that he is still hunting for me and I fear that he may find me before I ever have a chance to explain this to you.

If we are ever separated, they may tell you that I am not your mother and that we share no blood between us. Well, the latter might be true, but never doubt that you are my daughter. I carried you, gave birth to you, and I loved you with all my heart. There is nothing else you have to know to understand that I am your mother.

They told me when I was pregnant that you would be something called a Mage. I don't know much about what this is, but I knew from birth that you were something different—something special. You are a miracle, Emily. Never let anyone tell you differently. Because you are my miracle. I lost my son and I know I will never fully heal from that loss. But then I became pregnant with you. I'm just glad I was brave enough (or stupid enough, I'm not quite sure,) to take you far from Voldemort's grasp and claim you as my own.

You are my gift, Emily. I will never regret protecting you or loving you, not for one moment. Even if my husband finds me, I would gladly die to protect you. My, even writing this, it sounds morbid.

I hope that you grow up to be stronger than me. I hope you never let anyone hurt you like I let my parents and husband hurt me. I hope you are happy and I hope you are loved all of your life.

And I hope, should the worst happen, that you remember me. Remember my lullabies, my bedtime stories, and remember my love.

Your mother,

Christine

Fresh tears hit the parchment, but Raven felt herself smiling anyhow.

I will always remember you, she promised silently. I will always love you. And I won't let them take that from me.

The next morning, Snape knocked at her door just after dawn. He knew that she would be awake. When he entered the room, she was sitting at the window again, the letter still in her hand.

She turned to him with a small smile. "Morning."

"Good morning," he said, crossing to her. "And how are you feeling this morning?"

"Better," she said after a moment. "Much better, actually. Sit, Sev."

He did as she said and sat with her at the window. "Is that the letter she left?" he asked, nodding to the parchment in her hand.

Raven nodded. "It is." She folded it in her lap, still smiling. "She told me that she would never regret protecting me or loving me. And you know what?" she added, smiling at him brightly. "I believe her."

Snape smiled slightly in return. "You had a very kind mother."

"That's right," Raven said, looking out the window. "I had a mother. It doesn't matter that my family actually died out a thousand years ago, it doesn't matter that I'm a recreation of another—I had a mother." She looked at him again. "And I have you."

Snape blinked, not knowing what to say. Raven laughed at his speechlessness and looked back out the window. "I have you, and I even have Dumbledore. I had Sirius." Her face sobered a little. "And I'm grateful to each of you."

Snape touched her hand. "Amazingly enough," he told her, "and as much as you irritate me half the time—I'm grateful to have you."

"Oh, admit it, Sev," Raven said with a half-grin. "If I didn't irritate you, I wouldn't be doing my job as your ward, now would I?"

"Whelp."

"Ingrate."

"Brat."

"Parent."

Raven laughed as Snape choked and went pale. She didn't even lose her smile when he went red in the face and cursed her under his breath.