Note from the author: Thanks for all the nice reviews. error is still on, so I cannnot change properties! :( Next chapter will be the last one! Enjoy!

Cheerio

Weeks passed by and before the students realized it, the exam period was about to start. Miranda and Lily both were confident that they would succeed in their final year. Through the school year their points had been great and every professor they had, had assured them that they would have no problem with their exams. Miranda was glad she didn't throw up anymore in the morning. The other girls of their year had been concerned, but Lily had told them that Miranda had lots of stress with the upcoming final exams. Everyone had believed it, to the relief of both Miranda and Lily.

Lily wanted Miranda to go to the infirmary so she could be examined properly, but Miranda refused. If she would go, the school would know she was pregnant and that wasn't really something to look up to. She ignored Lily's wishes, but made sure she only ate healthy food. She went to bed in time and took care of herself. Luckily for her, she hadn't thickened much. She could hide it under her school uniform. Even Severus had no idea she was pregnant. She had tried to tell him, but every time they had met, she had to think about the conversation she had heard earlier. She just couldn't put them in danger like that. When the school year was over, she would find a way to tell him. He had to know that he was a father now.

She had thought about the journey she was going to make next year and eventually had decided to put the journey on hold for a year. She had sent the necessary letters and had given as an excuse the fact that she and her mother were in great danger. The responses were good. She would be able to travel a year later. When she told this to Lily, her friend was relieved. She had been terrified of the fact that Miranda would investigate dragons and other dangerous creatures while she was pregnant. Now, Miranda could give birth to the child and make sure it was safe, before heading off on her dangerous trip.

When Sirius heard that Miranda had put her journey off for another year, he had been curious why. When she had told him she wanted to protect her mother for a while, he had been proud of her. Miranda realized that Sirius thought she would enter the Order now. She didn't tell him the truth, but neither agreed with it. He was happy and he didn't ask more details and that was all she cared about right now.

When exams started, Miranda didn't see Severus much. She spent lots of time with the marauders and Lily. She then realized that they all have become close friends to her and that she would miss them a lot next year. During their exams, more and more bad news was heard about the outside world. People were missing and some of them turned out dead when they found them weeks later. Some people came home and saw their house burned down, with a symbol of a green skull above it. Everybody now knew that this dark wizard was more dangerous than they had expected. The name Voldemort was heard more and more and more people started calling him you-know-who, in fear that they would be discovered by his followers, the death eaters.

Miranda had heard nothing of her mother, but hadn't expected anything else. After all, it was too dangerous to send letters. If they would fall in the wrong hands, her mother would be in far more danger than she was now.

When the last exam was done, the six of them spend some time together at the lake. Miranda and Lily were discussing their future, while the other four were playing with the snitch. Well, Sirius and James were, while Remus was lying against a tree, obviously not feeling well, and Peter was staring at the other two.

"Have you spoken to Severus yet?" Lily asked, while she watched James catching the snitch.

"No, not yet. I haven't seen him in a week. He had to study hard for potions, just like you," Miranda answered, while she closed her eyes and let the warmth of the sun wash over her.

"Mmm," Lily paused and Miranda could feel that she had stopped watching James and now was looking at her, "He needs to know, Miranda."

"I know that," Miranda said, slightly annoyed, "You've been telling me that for days now. I will tell him when the right moment is here."

"And when would that be?" Lily asked, sarcastic, "You've been waiting for that since April and it still hasn't arrived. You're just afraid he would tell you he doesn't want to take up his responsibility."

"You do not know what I am afraid of," Miranda replied harsh. She immediately felt sorry and placed her hand on top of Lily's arm.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "But… really. I can't tell you why I can't tell him. Just trust me on this one. I will tell him, I promise."

Lily sighed and then smiled softly.

"Alright, I'll stop nagging about it."

They went silent as watched the four boys. Sirius jumped to catch the snitch, missed and fell straight into the lake. They all started laughing, but when Sirius got out of the lake, he went straight after them, which resulted in all of them eventually falling into the lake as well. Completely soaked, they went to the common room, to take a shower and to put on some dry clothes. While they were walking, Sirius laid his arm around Miranda's shoulders and said:

"If you ever need me, Miranda, just send a letter, I'll be there."

"Thanks, Sirius. I'll keep you to that," Miranda answered while she smiled.

Sirius just nodded and let her go. He walked back to James and Miranda watched him while he tried to get James even more wet. With a smile she shook her head at their antics.

"I'm glad I met you, Sirius Black," she thought happily.

Later that evening, she left the common room in search of Severus. She was a bit early, but decided there couldn't be any harm since Severus was always in the dungeon before she was there. When she got there, he was nowhere to be found. With a sigh, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Tomorrow was the last day of school. She had to tell him today. She just couldn't stand the thought that Severus wouldn't know that he had a son or a daughter.

Miranda laid her hand on top of her stomach and tried to feel anything. It was too soon. You couldn't even see she was pregnant. She closed her eyes and dreamed about her future. Perhaps when you-know-who was defeated, she could marry Severus. They would form a happy family and she would be the luckiest person in the entire universe.

When she suddenly heard voices, she stepped away from the wall and searched a hiding place. She found one in a hidden corridor near the dungeon. When she tried to hear who it was, she suddenly realized that this was the second time in a couple of months that she was eavesdropping. She prayed that this time she wouldn't hear anything that would change her mind.

"So the plan is going as it should be?" someone asked.

It was a woman's voice and Miranda frowned. Who was she?

"Yes," a man answered his voice deep and strong, "He won't know what will happen to him. We first take his wife and son and then … then we take him as well."

There was a silence and then she heard someone, which made her stop breathing.

"How long do we have before he arrives?" Severus asked, with a cold voice.

Miranda felt tears coming up and fought them. She had to be strong. This was something she had pushed away but now, she couldn't. She had ignored the fact that he was a death eater. In her little world here in Hogwarts, she had forgotten that there was an evil side of sorcery. An evil side that he followed.

"You'll have to do this alone, Severus," the man answered, "He wants to test you, I think. To test your loyalty to him."

Severus didn't answer. Nervously Miranda tried to get closer to them. She wanted to hear everything they had said.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" the man continued, concern in his voice.

"Yes," Severus answered, "I've done this before you know."

"Then you made the plan. You didn't kill the man," the woman interjected, "His sister is hiding now. Perhaps you can kill her daughter after the school year. She's protected here in Hogwarts, but outside… in the real world, she will not be that lucky."

No one said anything and Miranda swallowed. This couldn't be true… It wasn't about her.

"You know her, don't you? Weren't you caught with her once? I sincerely hope you don't care for her," the woman mocked.

Miranda closed her eyes and tried to think of anything else. She slowly moved to the ground and clenched her hands into fists.

"Of course not," Severus answered firmly, "The dark Lord was very pleased about my plan that day. Her uncle was killed very easily."

Miranda started crying. This just couldn't be true. He had planned it. He had planned to kill her uncle. Uncle Dan... She bit her lip and tried to keep silent. If they would discover her here, she would surely be dead in an instant.

"That is true," the other man replied, "Now; we should get back to the common room. In two days, if everything works out the way it should be, the dark Lord will be even more pleased."

"I'll just go to the toilet," Severus said, "I'll see you in the common room."

The others seemed to agree with this, because Miranda heard them walk away. She heard one pair of footsteps getting closer to her position and she knew who it was.

She closed her eyes, gathered her strength and stepped out of her hiding place. Severus' eyes darkened when he saw her and she could see that he went even paler.

"So now I know what you truly are," she whispered, her voice cold, "I should have known. I tried to push it away. Stupid me."

Severus moistened his lips, but didn't say anything.

"It ends here, Snape," she said harsh, "I don't want to know you anymore. Lily left you first and I should have followed her. What a fool I have been!"

"Please, Miranda," Severus pleaded.

"Don't, "please Miranda" me," Miranda interjected, "You don't deserve me. You don't deserve Lily. You deserved to be killed."

"You don't understand," Severus said, despair clear in his voice.

"Oh, but I do," Miranda answered, her eyes were as cold as ice, "You killed my uncle. I'll never forgive you this. I loved him Severus, I loved you and this is your way of betraying my trust? I despise of you, Snape. James and Sirius and Lily… they were all right! They told me the truth but I was stupid enough to neglect it."

She moistened her lips and came closer.

"But now your plan has failed. It is over. You'll never see me again."

She turned around and left him. The more she moved away from him, the more her strength left her. When she finally was back in the hall, she started crying. She hid herself and tried to tell herself that this was the right thing to do. Only when it was past midnight, she dared to come out and walked back to the common room. Her decision was final. It was over, for good.

Severus kept staring at Miranda's back and felt a tear fall down from his face. He had thought he could have it all. But now, he had nothing.

"I love you, Miranda," he whispered.

Then he left the dungeon and went back to his friends. It was the only thing he had left and he would do anything now…