Two Chapters in One night...may I just say that I feel extremely accomplished right now. Next week you can expect the 2nd Book. I am getting my tonsils removed so that means I will have plenty of time on my hands. Please Read and Review!

Thank you!

Chapter 35

"I knew it was you." Aurora said, her voice reverberating off the stone walls. "I always knew it was you."

"Heh," Quirrell laughed. "You and your dear daddy both did…"

"You tried to kill me!" Aurora snarled taking another step forward. "You tried to kill me during a Quidditch match! Are you too much of a coward to take me with your wand, only a coward curses someone while their back is turned!"

Quirrell shot around to face Aurora who didn't even flinch. It was not Quirrell she feared, and at the moment she didn't feel fear for Voldemort either. Now she felt pain, her scar felt like someone had jabbed a hot poker to her forehead.

"Potter, you are to bold…to brazen…too much like your damn father…"

"I'm a Snape you coward." Aurora snarled. "You don't scare me Quirrell…I know that in all reality it's Voldemort's power you rely on…you can't do anything!"

"Shut up, you insolent whelp!"

"You only want the stone because you are too weak to find real power on your own!"

Quirrell turned his back on her and turned to face the mirror. Aurora's eyes widened slightly and she felt a small smile tug at her face. Dumbledore would make something like this. Something that would test a person's true heart and make sure they were deserving. So all she needed to do was want the stone, want it more than anything in the world.

And it happened, the stone was in her jean pocket…she could feel it against her leg.

"Do I break the mirror…my Lord what should I do?"

"Use the girl."

Her head throbbed and sent a pain straight to the back of her skull.

"Come here Potter, now!"

"I told you…" she gasped. "I'm a Snape."

"NOW!"

Hesitantly she stumbled forward in front of the mirror.

"Tell me what you see."

"Your death." Aurora snarled.

"Tell me what you see!"

"I told you," Aurora growled. "I see the thing I want the most and that is you being killed."

"Let me speak with her, face to face."

Aurora's head throbbed and she felt a nauseating feeling arise in her gullet.

"But master-

-silence, I am strong enough for this."

Aurora watched as Quirrell turned his back and began unwrapping the purple turban that had wound itself around his head. Aurora wanted to scream or make some kind of disgusted shriek, but nothing came out. Quirrell had no back to his head…it was a face! An evil, grotesque face with two red eyes and slits for a nose…he was a human snake!

"Aurora…Potter…or would you prefer Snape?"

"Snape…" Aurora whispered.

"You are beautiful…just like your mother…" he breathed, kindly. "Ah I remember your mother well, as a matter of fact your present guardian had a somewhat irritating obsession with her…but I digress."

Aurora wanted to move back and race out of the chamber, but she found her feet plastered to the ground.

"Do you see what you have made me child?" he snarled. "Do you not have pity for me, a mere vapor force to inhabit the same body as an incompetent moron?"

"Show pity for you?" Aurora repeated. "You killed my parents and tried to kill me!"

"Well there is that," Voldemort cackled. "Unicorn blood can sustain but it cannot give me a body of my own…but you can help me child."

"I would rather die!"

"Ah bravery…and a Slytherin I hear?"

"Does this speech have a point?"

"Hmm…you are very snide…just like dear Severus…very well Ms. Snape…give me the stone and I will reward you with the one thing no one can."

Aurora sneered.

"I will return your parents to you…do you not miss them child?" Voldemort continued. "Would you not like to see them again?"

"You must take me for an idiot." Aurora whispered. "If you think that I do not know my mum and dad than you are horribly misinformed."

Aurora looked up and watched as Quirrell stepped back so that Voldemort was a few feet closer to her.

"Why let your mother's sacrifice be in vain?" he sighed. "She died for you…when she really didn't need to. All she had to do was step to the side and everything would have just ended peacefully, but no…she insisted that you live…ah, a fools mistake."

"My mum loved me and so did my blood father! You can't grasp that concept because you are too dense to understand!"

Apparently Aurora had touched a nerve because Voldemort's face contorted into a most undesirable expression. Aurora glanced back and without a second thought she turned to race towards the flame door!

"STOP HER YOU FOOL!"

Aurora felt a cold hand latch to her wrist and pull her backwards. Her hand smacked against the hard ground and Quirrell's hands latched around her neck, and while her scar burned into her brain she could hear Quirrell screaming out in agony as well! She looked up to see him holding his hands up in the air and that they were turning to ash right in front of him.

"WHAT MAGIC IS THIS?"

"KILL HER YOU FOOL, KILL HER!"

Her touch burned him…her touch hurt him! Sitting up Aurora grabbed his face in her palms as well and squeezed to the point that she was sure his bones would crumble. Aurora's eyes watered as voices screamed in her ears.

"AURORA…AURORA!"

"Mum…mummy…" she gasped. "I'm sorry mummy…I'm sorry you died for me…"

…………………………………..

Aurora couldn't feel anything anymore…had she died?

"Oh, James…she's so beautiful!"

"Mummy?"

"Hello baby!"

"Am I dreaming?"

"In a sense."

"Why can't I see you?"

"I do not know my love."

"I want to see you mummy!"

"Hush now my love," Lily hummed. "Do not cry."

"Mummy…daddy….I mean…Professor Snape loves you!"

"I know, and tell Severus that I am so grateful that he loves you as much as James and I do!"

"Mummy…are you leaving me….mummy?"

….

"Mummy!"

"Wake up now love…wake up…"

"Mummy, please!"

"Wake up now love….wake up."

"Mummy!"

"Wake up Aurora, please wake up."

Aurora's eyes slowly opened to the soft voice of her beloved mentor and father. Severus was sitting next to her with his hand intertwined with her own.

"D-daddy…" Aurora croaked. "Daddy."

Severus's head whipped up and his eyes locked with hers. Aurora had never felt guiltier in all her life; she had never felt like such a horrible person. She made her daddy cry…she made her daddy cry.

"No, no." Severus cooed. "No tears love…no tears."

"I'm sorry daddy…" she wailed. "I'm so sorry, I'm…s-s-so sorry…"

"Darling-

-mum…mummy said thank you…she is happy you…you're taking me…d-d-daddy…I love you!"

Severus bit his lip, he wasn't going to weep anymore and cause Aurora more worry. Not with the mental and physical state she was in. He placed his palm to her cheek and tried his best to smile as gently as possible.

"I love you too, darling."

Aurora flung herself into Severus's arms and closed her eyes as more and more tears streamed down her cheeks. She was so happy to see Severus again that she almost forgot why she had been brought to the hospital wing in the first place. Taking a very shaky breath Aurora pulled back and swiped at her eyes.

"What happened to Quirrell…the stone?"

"Quirrell is dead darling," Severus whispered. "And the stone is in Dumbledore's possession…waiting to be destroyed."

"How did you-

-Draco and Mr. Blake were able to contact me with your owl and I was able to get Albus just as he returned from London."

Aurora smiled at the thought of her friends working together.

"Is Ashley okay?"

"He had a mild concussion…which is something you share at the moment…I swear the two of you must share absolutely everything!"

"I don't try to." Aurora whispered. "Daddy, if the stone is to be destroyed…won't Nicholas Flamel die?"

"Yes…yes Rory, he will die."

Aurora bowed her head; she hoped that Mr. Flamel had enough time to sort out his life. She really hoped that he was dying painfully…she did not want to be responsible for another death.

"Ah, I see our little patient is awake."

"Good afternoon Albus." Severus said, warmly.

"Severus I know you want to spend some time with your daughter, but I would like a few minutes alone with her."

Severus turned to Aurora who nodded.

"Very well." He said, promptly placing a kiss to her forehead before exiting. "Don't get too excited or Madam Dragon will throw Papa Albus out of the Hospital Wing."

Aurora chuckled and turned to face the Headmaster.

"I am so relieved to see that you are awake Rory," Dumbledore said standing at the foot of her bed. "I must say Severus was working himself into quite a lather…as was Mr. Diggory, Mr. Blake, and Mr. Malfoy."

Aurora felt her cheeks flush, had she really caused that much of a commotion?

"My dear child you have so many admirers, who felt the need to express their gratitude for you."

"I don't deserve any of it." Aurora whispered. "I killed a man…I killed someone."

"Who was going to kill you and many, many, more my dear." Dumbledore said gently stroking her auburn curls. "You deserve this and so much more child."

Aurora said nothing and looked at the various packages and boxes of candy her friends and classmates had brought her.

"What happened between you and Quirrell was supposed to be a secret…so naturally the whole school knows-

-lovely." Aurora sighed. "Sir…is Voldemort really gone…?"

"I will not lie to you child, even though I desperately want to…no he is not gone…he can still try and find other ways to regain his human form."

"Can I ask you one more thing sir?"

"Just one more?"

"Well maybe not one more for the rest of my life, but for right now?"

"Of course."

"Why couldn't Quirrell touch me?" Aurora asked. "I heard my mum…was it her?"

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled and he smiled widely at her.

"You truly are a brilliant girl Aurora," he praised. "Yes, your mother's love for you protected you…that is why he cannot touch you. And I believe you already know this…Voldemort cannot grasp love, so he could not understand what was happening."

"Sir?"

"Yes Rory?"

"I lied; I have one more question for you."

"Ask away Aurora, but this will be the last one."

"Why…why does Voldemort want me dead?"

"Ah, I had a feeling this one would arise," Dumbledore sighed. "Unfortunately you are not ready to know just yet, but when you are older I promise to explain it all to you."

"Can I replace that question then?" Aurora smiled.

"No Aurora-

-please Papa Albus?" Aurora hummed. "Just one more?"

Dumbledore sighed and attempted to look away.

"Severus is right your eyes could melt an iceberg, very well one more question."

"Would you like some of my wizard candy?"

Dumbledore laughed and lifted a random box of candy from the table.

"Ah, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," he sighed. "I must admit I have rather loss my liking for them."

"Why?"

"I had the misfortune of coming across a vomit flavored one," the Headmaster said humorously. "But I suppose one would be safe with a nice toffee don't you?"

Aurora watched with a large smile as Dumbledore pulled a random brown colored bean from the box and popped it into his mouth.

"Alas," the Headmaster coughed. "Earwax!"

(no flames please)