Before returning to Uncle Jack's house, Livia prepared herself carefully for the interviews she would conduct on Thursday morning. When she arrived, she also took the time to tell Uncle Jack about her visit to Severus Snape's home and a tentative agreement to sell his property. Uncle Jack liked that she could walk away from it fairly quickly. Livia did, too. Still, she spent more time contemplating how she essentially needed to conduct her pending interviews to prove her worth as well as obtain the fullest testimony possible from the "material witnesses." If they forgot or evaded any point, she possessed inside knowledge to compel the fullest disclosure. Of course, Livia presumed they would comply. Livia learned that from her brief discussion with ministry official Percy Weasley, a former adherent/informant from the old guard. Narcissa Malfoy, the blonde and black haired mother of Draco, had spared her family by lying to the Dark Lord himself. She told him that Harry Potter had died, which, coupled with the secret Severus Snape expired protecting, had enabled young Potter to defeat him. The Malfoys possessed a moral compass somewhere; Livia just had to find it and use it – and not alienate this lady in the process.

Percy regained a position owing to his experience and knowledge, if being a late convert. He ardently strove to make amends for prior actions that perhaps unwittingly assisted the wrong people. Livia thought that he needed to evaluate her and thus would give her latitude. It also suited his preference to observe and suggest things, too. Before each gave testimony, Percy ensured the isolation of the witnesses. None knew what the others said until all gave statements and answered questions. Livia wanted each session to include as many common questions as possible, though some aspects would differ based on unique experiences or vantage points.

Everyone agreed to start with the patriarch, Lucius, who would still require a formal hearing afterward to resolve his standing. They set up an interview area in the library, a warm, comfortable paneled room with many shelves. It seemed like the easiest room to secure from any eavesdropping. Livia and Percy put up a rectangular table in front of an unlit fireplace. The witness could sit in a comfortable, high back floral-patterned overstuffed chair facing them. Livia disclosed nothing about her tie to him; Livia did not consider it relevant. Perhaps no one else alive knew beyond herself, the Malfoys, Uncle Jack and Ben, unless Harry Potter knew for sure. Percy Weasley disclosed the formalities, providing the purpose of the interview and the agreed-upon parameters. Livia wondered where he kept the tape recorder, since he seemed to discharge this role with the gravitas of someone preserving the moment for posterity. Lucius, rather regally dressed in a long jacket and sporting very long, straight blond hair, seemed anxious to start.

Livia let him make his opening remarks then led Lucius through a point-by-point account of what he had done since 1995. She had him detail who attended each event when as well as the contents of the discussion. Livia had him account for their allies in various positions, specifying who acted under coercion or who acted freely. When they got to the 30 December 1997 gathering, Livia told him that he need not disclose personal details that played no role in events of ministry interest; they held little importance. Both Lucius Malfoy and Percy Weasley seemed surprised. In fact, Livia merely said that the matter "possessed little importance beyond herself," since her employment had briefly come up and resulted in her temporary withdrawal from work. Livia moved on to the substantive issues covered that night. Percy Weasley seemed to accept her explanation, at least for the moment.

Livia was meticulous. She even got Lucius Malfoy to illustrate who attended what and where each person sat, even having him diagram some sessions. She got him to account for what became of a missing Hogwarts professor and detail what had happened to people chased down by various allies of the Death Eaters, as well as list everyone they recruited, by type or name. Livia knew about all of this from Sev'rus already, but she needed the Malfoys on the record disclosing these things. Indeed, Sev'rus had told her that it pained him to do nothing about the Hogwarts instructor, who considered him a friend. He also considered that he may have had to watch Livia's death, instead, had she not been discouraged to seek a teaching position.

Percy found himself impressed, in that Livia possessed a firm handle on what happened as if she had attended every meeting herself. With painstaking detail, she compelled Lucius Malfoy to lay out everything, even prodding him a few times to push his memory to its fullest. Livia had only held back on that one issue, the one which involved her. Percy Weasley pronounced the session over, nodded at the witness and briefly left the room. Livia then sat alone with the man she knew to be her father. She knew that he felt relieved about this session ending for several reasons.

"Sir, thank you for your testimony today," Livia stated. "Your clarity and full rendering of everything shall go a long way in resolving any outstanding issues. Your own hearing should proceed rather straightforwardly, I would imagine." Livia extended her hand.

"Miss Woodcock, is that all you are going to say to me?" he asked. He took her hand. Livia felt he had disclosed all that he knew, though he seemed confused about Livia herself.

"I think, in this capacity, it's all I should say," she answered. "Anything else is either impertinent or unnecessary, sir."

"Why did you avoid my admission on 30 December last?" he inquired. "Are you making no claim to that? Do you really not know about it?"

"I have no reason to make any claim, sir," Livia replied. "I know. I wanted to know, but I don't seek anything from it. It is what it is. I asked for the truth here in terms of what the ministry needs to know. They don't need to know about my background. It's irrelevant here."

"You did not wish for me to acknowledge you today?" he queried.

"I had no plans for it," Livia responded. "I don't need your name or your money. The former I have. I will remain Livia Woodcock as long as I live. It ties me to the brother I love. As for money, I am my Uncle Jack's heir here, and I am already the trustee to the estate of Severus Snape. From what I understand, I will have twins in October, and they will have more than enough. Beyond that, my abilities can provide. I have plenty there as well, perhaps the best inheritance."

"You are a very confident young woman," he said. "And I finally see some resemblance. It's around your eyes and the shape of your face. I thought for sure you or the ministry would compel me to confess regarding events of long ago."

"That is up to you and your family," Livia maintained. "My mother used us both. I harbor no ill-will towards you regarding that. I seek no scandal. I only wanted what you have provided."

"Then I am glad to have met your expectations," he asserted. "You intrigue me, though. You have a brother?"

"Yes," Livia affirmed. "I was left by a parish door and found by the boy I call my brother. Everything I am traces back in some way to him. That is where my loyalty lies."

"Your mother abandoned you to muggles?" he asked.

"Indeed," Livia answered. "Not directly to the man who adopted me but to a friend who helped her. That friend left me in front of a church."

"Very unusual," he responded. "I hope I see you again in a better situation."

At that point, Lucius Malfoy bowed and departed and Percy Weasley had returned with Narcissa Malfoy, who wore a long, dark dress. Husband and wife used different routes so they had not even seen each other, which helped retain the independence of each session. Again, Livia took her statement and led her through all she had done, on behalf of her husband or her son. She showed her arms, proving that she bore no mark as a formal member of the group. She seemed well aware of the role she had played by lying about Harry Potter being dead in the forest, perhaps as something only a real mother might do, since the welfare of her own son motivated her behavior there. She also tried to insulate Draco previously. Livia again glossed over when the 30 December meeting concerned herself. Mrs. Malfoy wondered what it meant, though she had played little role there. She suspected that Livia had not spent time on the issue.

Because she hadn't formally joined the Dark Lord's cause, her knowledge of membership and inner workings did not include as much as her husband. Percy Weasley also figured she would know less versus her husband or son. Still, her grasp of what people said and where they sat or stood at various meetings or locations seemed encyclopedic. Very little escaped her notice. It supported what Livia had gotten from her husband. She did add personal touches in terms of relationships. For example, she gave color to the fact that those suspected of being Livia's father had continued to remain friends of the couple in some way – and thus loyal to the interests of blood purity. Livia helped bring out these social nuances, which likely would help in pursuit of the outstanding figures who escaped immediate capture or death.

Of course, the only unique thing she did was seek the support of Severus Snape in protecting her son when charged with killing his headmaster. Livia knew about it well. Livia, in fact, had contemplated if Sev'rus could have escaped death had that meeting not occurred or if Draco had never received that task. Livia concluded that Albus Dumbledore saw the events as necessary as they unfolded, if not "as it should be." Sev'rus eventually came to the same outlook, if with some reluctance when it came to executing what he committed himself to doing.

Percy Weasley again pronounced the interview over, shook her hand and left in order to usher in the final subject. Livia again faced a member of the Malfoy family alone. She began, as before, by thanking the woman for her forthright testimony and for allowing the love of her child to overrule the most perverse goals of the Dark Wizard. Livia extended her hand.

"Thank you," Mrs. Malfoy said, accepting her hand. Livia found her to be exactly what she thought, satisfied that she had recounted everything precisely. "Am I correct in presuming that you did not ask my husband about you?"

"Not relevant – so I didn't discuss it," Livia disclosed. "This hearing is not about a personal agenda. Any remaining legal issues with either of you should get resolved quickly."

"Thank you. May I ask why you lack one?"

"I like who I am," Livia stated. "I don't need more. I don't need to complicate your lives. I have no need for your name or a claim to anything. All I wanted is right here." Livia held up her ring. "Nothing else can substitute for that."

Narcissa Malfoy looked at Livia's ring. "It's very striking. Where is your husband?"

"Sadly deceased. All I have is the ring. In October, I will have twins as his legacy."

"Oh," Mrs. Malfoy said. "My sincere condolences. How will you care for them?"

"Between what I earn and the estates of my Uncle Jack and Severus Snape, I'll do just fine," Livia answered. "Therefore, you need not be concerned about Draco's inheritance."

"Severus left you money?" Mrs. Malfoy asked.

"As trustee for the only relations he will have in this world, yes," Livia answered. "Though they didn't get everything, he left plenty, as I understand this. He lived rather simply. He was buried last Sunday after I cleaned and dressed his body."

"That does not surprise me – that is, material things did not interest him." Narcissa Malfoy nodded respectfully to Livia. "Preparing Severus was a touching gesture. That tells me he chose the right person." She then rose and left the same way as her husband.

Livia looked at her ring. She had to get used to saying that about her ring. It represented a truth, if not the truth. One must stand for the other, she believed. Though Harry Potter knew, he said nothing. Perhaps he realized the complexity, or he dismissed it as having no bearing on the bottom line of Severus Snape's love and loyalty. Part of Livia wanted to ask Harry but only part. She could not flatter herself because Harry likely would not. She wondered if she knew how he would answer, but she was not ready to hear it. Neither flattery nor an honest assessment would help her. She needed something that she could live with saying. Maybe a truthiness to it would work best because the truth would likely do neither her nor her children any good.

Draco Malfoy came in last, with Percy Weasley trailing him. Pale, thin and wearing a dark suit, the toll of recent events showed on his face. This session, especially his statement, would give him some relief. Since his timeline after 1995 somewhat differed from that of his parents, Livia adjusted accordingly. Her recollections of the night Albus Dumbledore died matched up with his, though he provided more detail. After all, he facilitated the entry of various assailants to the school that night, even though only he had received the task of killing the headmaster. Livia got a full list of names and none, including the Carrows, surprised her. The only detail mildly new to either interviewer was that the Carrows enjoyed a longstanding family friendship with Rodrick Spence and, to a lesser extent, Aldrick. Rodrick helped them via attacks on Glorianna Gardenia's offices and home. Livia thus figured she would need to make a statement on them herself. Draco Malfoy knew a great deal about them as both a ministry school spy and a Death Eater.

Presently, he regretted this, as he contributed to putting a target on Livia's back. Livia knew that. He had not solely been responsible; indeed, the memory of another, more concealed spy caused the Carrows to become concerned about Livia. Still, Livia could milk his remorse to gain more unique insight or expose minutiae his parents may have missed. Through Draco, Livia was able to connect spies to parents or other relatives involved in some way with the Dark Wizard, since he attended meetings of his inner circle and had numerous school contacts.

Once more, Livia did not dwell on the early portion of the 30 December meeting where her parentage had become a topic of discussion, as well as her position. Given how detailed Livia examined her subject's knowledge and precisely captured every detail, it stood out. Draco Malfoy reached the same conclusion as his parents. He studied her carefully, trying to perceive where they bore any resemblance. Though he thought it courteous that he and his parents gave evidence from their home, he had expected Livia Woodcock would compel them to disclose something. Against the rest, it constituted a small issue, but she had not overlooked anything else. Why would she spare them? He supposed the fact that he and his father discouraged action against her may have negated the matter or gave her a reason to cast the matter aside.

Percy Weasley stood up and shook Draco's hand, then withdrew to tell his parents they had completed the interviews. He gave Draco Malfoy the same opportunity to speak alone with Livia. As with his parents, she thanked him for his time and thorough testimony and extended her hand. He took it, which for Livia verified that he had honestly spoken and did not evade or suppress any subject he could have discussed. He seemed only uncertain about Livia's motives.

"I only wanted your full cooperation regarding what you know that assists the new ministry," Livia said. "I lack a personal agenda. I don't need one."

"Both my father and I resisted taking action against you," he stated. "Is that why you left the issue alone?"

"I suppose," Livia answered. "I fail to see why I should complicate this inquiry by bringing the topic up. The ministry doesn't need it, I don't need it – nor does your family."

"Do you think it would compromise your role?" he inquired.

"I'm not worried about that, actually," Livia replied. "I don't think it affects me positively or negatively. I will stand on my own merits. To me, that is how it should be. You take care of yourself. This should help." Livia extended her hand and touched his arm. He remained a little perplexed, even rattled. Livia attempted to calm him down whilst wishing him well.

He thanked her, also wished her well and expressed a hope of seeing her again in a different situation. He, too, was struck by her understated certainty and confidence. He realized that people had overlooked her, but they would not do so anymore. He wondered if his family would benefit by acknowledging her more than the scandal it would create and figured he should ask his parents.

Draco Malfoy left with his parents, who all nodded at her before withdrawing. As Livia and Percy Weasley packed up, he noted that at least two of the subjects seemed a little stressed at a similar period of the interview, but nothing materialized. Did Livia miss anything or bypass something? What had they expected from her?

"Percy, my name came up at that meeting owing to a confrontation I had at the school," Livia stated. "That was the catalyst for me withdrawing, then being concealed. There's a personal aspect to this – for me – and I let it alone because it has no bearing on what we had to do today."

"Personal?" he questioned, puzzled.

"Yes," Livia affirmed. "The Carrows wanted to make an example of me, through Death Eaters or their ministry. Because the post required some affirmation of my blood status, Professor Snape uncovered information about my family background. They wondered why I left that alone."

"Why did you?" he asked.

"I don't see its relevance," Livia answered. "Christopher's demise could be more useful, but I know they had nothing to do with that. That's a dead end in more ways than one."

Percy Weasley thought this summation oddly gave credit to Livia for not letting personal issues cloud her pursuit of the most valuable information. She had, indeed, extracted everything possible regarding all three – both confirming what she apparently knew and extending it as far as possible. He would tell the ministry that she proved a skilled interviewer – persistent, detailed and thorough. Of course, he hadn't evaluated her other talents. He asked her about these.

"I have a truth serum waiting to mature in the potion closet at Hogwarts," Livia said. "I took lessons in both Legilimency and Occlumency and am highly skilled in both. If anyone needs proof, they should try me. I'm also what muggles call an empath. Shaking hands with all three subjects was more than a courtesy for me. I verified their testimony through it. All wanted to be cooperative, and though their preoccupations and particularities of memories can vary, I ensured each matched up and gave as complete a picture of their recollections as possible."

Percy Weasley asked Livia to accompany him back to the ministry. He thought her skills should be tested then registered to reflect the confidence level they should have. Livia expressed a desire to project her recovered memories from someone else, using her brain waves as viewable electrical impulses. Jurors, jurists and spectators would know what she saw. Several additional people put in important positions regarding the pursuit and imprisonment of collaborators or allies of the Death Eaters and its fallen ministry came under her examination, from Percy's sister-in-law Fleur to an official working to prosecute Dolores Umbridge, the older, once overlooked, graying Hadrian Stone. Stone's career had suffered from innuendos and conniving by Umbridge. He saw the chance to prove himself hugely satisfying and volunteered for a leading role.

The mock examination of others by Livia took place in an empty hearing room set aside for trials or interrogations. A few officials sat in bench rows of seating for gallery onlookers. People took varying vantage points to get a full view of Livia's conduct or a sense of how a "defendant" reacted as well as what memories Livia could uncover. Livia stood on the marbled floor with a quasi-secured person standing in as a defendant. Livia asked about issues regarding parents, schooling or conduct and extracted memories both trivial and significant. She followed a script of questions for what they wanted her to uncover.

Some guarded memories well, others only gave cursory protection in part or on the whole. Livia used all of her intuitive capabilities to place herself in scenes or to shift focal points or to solve puzzles or riddles. Every intuitive or trained aspect of her abilities came to bear at some point. She could employ techniques to crack codes, find passwords or forge passkeys. Some people protected the most ridiculous things, like "what did you have for dinner yesterday?" or "my favorite memory from school." Stone heavily protected a rumor Umbridge started about him because the truth of an unrequited love caused almost as much pain and humiliation versus the lie that he had started an affair with a friend's wife, who Umbridge deemed a thief and a muggle. The substantive accusations Umbridge made regarding his competence he felt he would disprove, so these only attracted a semblance of protection. Stone wanted to make sure people knew about these and had no idea how successful Livia would be in uncovering the memories of others.

Livia considered the random scattering of importance as vital to judging her, to see if she let anything go because it seemed trivial. They judged her thoroughness and her ability to follow up anything unusual. Indeed, in that sense, Livia managed to uncover even more than they ideally thought she would. She even got Fleur Weasley to evaluate her wedding presents and home and had Percy admit to fancying a colleague who was delighted to know that he harbored an interest in her. When Livia finished examining the last mock defendant, she sat in the gallery passively whilst various officials convened to consider her performance. A few wondered about how strong her truth serum would become, but others noted that Livia hardly needed it, given what she had uncovered via her demonstration. The group collectively deemed Livia vital to the pursuit of any vestiges of the previous ministry or of any residual Death Eaters. A few wanted to know if she should join future raids to capture those in hiding, or if that task would misuse her skills and perhaps endanger her, especially in her state. They opted to let the prime minister resolve the issue. They gave her complete confidence as a prosecution interrogator of hostile prisoners or defendants.

After giving a statement on the Carrows and promising to turn over Severus Snape's letter regarding the dementor he found in her room, Livia waited for her appointment with the new prime minister. She ate a snack in a cafeteria area tiled and spacious – it looked like a hotel ballroom. She had met the minister before, so she did not feel intimidated. She tried to figure out what he might ask her, deciding it must pertain to things she did not as yet show. Still, she wondered if he held any doubts about her. She thought she had performed well, though no one had told her how they would make the best use of her or if she had met their expectations.

Late in the afternoon, Livia got her chance to meet the new prime minister, named Kingsley Shacklebolt, a man with medium dark brown skin, medium height, and a firm, imposing yet rich and deep voice. Livia mused about the engaging sound of his voice. His dress reminded her some of Professor Dumbledore, though he lacked any facial hair. In fact, she could not see much hair. When Livia shook his hand, she knew he did have questions about her, but she could not entirely see how they mattered to her usefulness. They sat close in a high, domed conference room at a large circular, wooden table. Only these two used the room. After an exchange of initial pleasantries, she wanted to cut right to the heart of what concerned him.

"I get the sense you have concerns about me," Livia asserted. "I am not sure how they tie to my useful service to the ministry."

"I do have a few things I want to ask you," he admitted. "These have little to do with your demonstration earlier."

"So that was satisfactory, I take it?" Livia asked.

"Definitely," he answered. "I would say you impressed everyone. You even found out a few things beyond our questions. First, I understand you went easy with the Malfoys over only one point having to do with yourself. Why?"

"Personal reasons irrelevant to the inquiry," Livia responded. "Among the things that came up then, Severus Snape disclosed information regarding my parentage. As you may recall, I was adopted. My parents never married. In fact, I resulted from a fairly short affair. I believe only the Malfoys fully know what he said that night, given the deaths of many others."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, unless you think I should tell you what Uncle Severus stated," Livia maintained. "If I divulge this, I do not want it to become public record because it doesn't involve just me."

"You can tell me, and I will never inform anyone else – I would like to know if a conflict of interest potentially impedes your ability to uncover factual information," he said.

"Do you have any issue thus far?" Livia queried.

"No, your interviews and your demonstration showed exactly why Professor Dumbledore wanted you here and ready to help us now," he replied.

"Then you will never see a conflict," Livia began, "Severus Snape narrated how he had narrowed down a list from seven names until he confirmed the last one to eliminate. He hesitated to name someone because he wanted to tell that man in private. Nonetheless, the man who's my father identified himself that night – Lucius Malfoy."

"He's your father?" Shacklebolt asked, stunned.

"Indeed," Livia affirmed. "That discussion could only detract from more important items and specific memories recounted today. I saw nothing to be gained by either goading or shaming anyone or whatever I could have done with that particular fact. The witnesses, in my view, felt more confident and forthcoming because that issue played no role. None of us came there to discuss that issue or even much of anything related specifically to me. They never posed a threat to me. I don't think anyone should complain about my priorities."

"I had no idea we already tested you in terms of the situation where your skills stood the greatest chance of being compromised," he asserted. "I looked over the information you gathered. It should help Glorianna Gardenia as well as me, but as you likely know that Lucius at least still needs to undergo a hearing to adjudicate everything. Our side should be able to proceed without more from you, though, so no one will think your absence odd. Percy Weasley had no complaint. In fact, I concluded that he had so little to say because you covered everything he could have asked and more. I understand you await the maturation of a batch of Veritaserum you made."

"Yes, I created the serum late on 2 May after re-dressing Severus Snape's corpse," Livia affirmed. "I liked having my Potions Master in a way supervising my last task there. He would not have complained about my execution in making it, even had he the ability to do so. That much I know. I scored perfectly on his N.E.W.T. exam for a reason."

"Good to know," he stated. "Do you feel capable of assisting us in rounding up some of the more recalcitrant former officials? Some are negotiating already; Umbridge and a few others want trials, at least right now. Others hide, like some of the Spence and Wayne families, who move around. We may have to subdue at least a few groups forcefully, but the bulk of them may give up depending on how our first raids go. For example, we track a group called the Sons of Slytherin."

"I have no problem performing in any capacity you may request," Livia responded. "I wear this defensive necklace but may not need it, since I actually got plenty of practice dueling most of the time I spent at Hogwarts. Unfortunately right now, you cannot ask the prior two headmasters about my skills, though I probably practiced with them as an adult more than with anyone else."

"You practiced with Albus?" he asked, amazed.

"Yes," Livia answered. "I didn't do so as much during the last year of his life, owing to his illness, but for about five years I did it weekly. It may seem strange that he emphasized this so much with me, but my relationship with a wand needed developing. He was coy with me, but he seemed to be training me to replace him. In any case, he wanted me ready for this, as you know."

"I remember," he stated. "It seemed odd at the time, but he did think long term. If he prized your skills as useful, be it in Veritaserum making, Legilimency or interrogating, he did us a favor. Today he looks like a genius. I don't know if I could have said that a week ago."

"I know," Livia agreed. "You can't feel the same level of regret or survivor's guilt than I do because you fought and lived. I perched as a Screech Owl overlooking the mayhem. But I take very seriously the duties that you'll assign me because I feel a deep responsibility and am committed to making those sacrifices meaningful. I owe them that much, at the very least."

"Has Percy discussed with you how the ministry will compensate you for your contributions here?"

"Not really," Livia replied. "I presumed I would be something of a consultant or auxiliary employee, basically an independently-contracted person. I accept whatever your scale is, be it by billable hour or by case. If I use the Veritaserum and the school is reimbursed for using its inventory, I'm content. At the moment, I'm unconcerned about money, despite my condition."

"You are expecting, I take it?"

"I believe twins, in October," Livia revealed. "This shouldn't pose a problem for some weeks if not months, I would think."

"I will keep that in mind," he said. "Should your health change, just tell us."

"Of course," Livia agreed.

"How is it you are so undemanding regarding your pay if you'll have two more mouths to feed?" Shacklebolt inquired. "You have a ring, but I've heard nothing about your spouse."

"I have no husband now," Livia replied. "This ring is all I have. Unfortunately, I can't locate any surviving attackers, if any lived, or who sent them. I'm the trustee of the majority of Severus Snape's estate, though, and I'll inherit whatever my Uncle Jack leaves me."

"You don't need to work?" he asked.

"You need my skills," Livia answered. "And I need to honor those who sacrificed."

"I understand," he responded. "Our trial of Dolores Umbridge will begin around the time your serum has matured. We'll let you know when to come with it and let you prepare."

"Good," Livia stated. "My brother is a barrister. I understand common law traditions, even if you somewhat alter them in practice."

"We have to coordinate plans to move on the Wayne and Spence families first, given our intelligence," he maintained. "This should take place before the trial. We may move on them as soon as Saturday. I'll put you among the group that conducts raids. We also need to seek evidence from another material witness who has volunteered information in exchange for a sentence of a fine and a form of house arrest. We'll notify you about that, too. The plans regarding these things need to be set up but should take place shortly."

"I'll be ready when called," Livia assured him. "If you need to familiarize me with charges or documents or anything else, right now you can forward them to me via my Uncle Jack. If I'm not in my cottage, I'm likely to be found there."

"Cottage?" he asked.

"Indeed," Livia began, "I have my own little place adjacent to my brother's house in Cambridge. My Uncle Jack is working on having it tied to the Floo network currently being fixed and expanded, so he can reach my dwelling from his. I'm sure you'll be able to use it once everything works and I equip it with the appropriate powder."

"Yes, I'll see that this service gets addressed quickly," he affirmed. "Welcome aboard. Good to work with you." They shook hands and nodded. Livia found him most honorable and the right man for this great responsibility. No one could have handpicked a better person for the position. He would say nothing about her parentage, either.

Livia first returned to Uncle Jack's residence after completing a long day. First, she checked on her avian friends who all seemed in good spirits. Ardith loved living there, and both Barn Owl pairs busily nested in anticipation of owlets. Sydney and Mel would have five eggs whilst Brontë and Sevy would have four. They requested access to more mice later to show how to catch and eat them. Livia nodded and informed Uncle Jack about their concerns.

Livia also told him about the interviews and her time at the ministry, including having revealed to the prime minister the only thing she didn't compel any of the Malfoys to discuss. He thought it prudent of her to keep her parentage from becoming a distraction – to them or to her. He also agreed that Livia had no need for their name or their money, though he had no idea about the exact amount that she would inherit as trustee for the bulk of Severus Snape's estate.

"I'll learn that tomorrow," Livia said. "Baldur Bodlington claimed I could visit the bank then. I'm to receive an insurance payout. But why did he have a policy? Who did he expect to inherit the proceeds?"

"The school offers it to faculty as part of its compensation," Uncle Jack disclosed. "Maybe he would have left all of it to Harry Potter – or maybe he intended it to go towards the school's endowment so students like you could go or a student like him, with a bad home life, could remain there during term breaks. Maybe both."

"Speaking of Harry, I'll see him tomorrow afternoon," Livia stated. "My avian friends recovered something of his, I believe. If it is his item, we'll see if it works. I'll tell you more if all goes well and he lets me borrow it. I don't want to promise something incorrectly."

"Then I look forward to it," Uncle Jack informed her. "What time?"

"He should arrive about three," Livia responded. "I hope to also ask him about a keepsake I want. I've no idea if he recovered it. I should also tell you that the prime minister expressed an interest in getting your connection as well as my application for one processed as soon as possible, since they serve his interests. He made it a priority, since they'll want my services. If you need to speak to someone about it, tell them that – it should get the quill pushers moving."

"So noted," Uncle Jack said. "Good to hear."

Livia stayed for a time to catch up on local matters. The area slowly got back to a form of normalcy. Already, many repairs had taken place and the board fixed the date of Monday, 25 May, to resume the spring schedule. Compressing everything, the year would end only two weeks late, except for students sitting for formal exams, including graduates. Livia received and sent back a note that she would agree to return and fill in for one of the imprisoned Carrows. Livia didn't request her title back, since she asked for a more flexible schedule in order to handle ministry duties. She also wrote to Glorianna Gardenia to inquire if the woman required help with anything school-related. The existing tutors, happy to have her back in any capacity, endorsed her terms, since they looked at it as a way to promote their own kind as capable instructors. Few ever mentioned Livia's condition, though most knew. Most merely expressed condolences regarding Livia's widowhood, owing to Livia's new penchant to wear black.

Professor McGonagall insisted on finishing her own classes, with tutors grading for her or performing minor duties to enable her to serve as acting headmistress, too. She didn't want to give up teaching, though she liked overseeing the school. Since she had to fill two or three posts for the following year, Professor Slughorn agreed to continue teaching. He indicated to Uncle Jack that he would retire for good when Livia pronounced herself ready to succeed him, asserting his view that no one else could match her abilities. He found it impressive that Livia had prepared a fairly difficult potion as well as cleaned and dressed her former Potions Master's corpse on the same day. That took focus and dedication. Curious, he reached that conclusion by verifying the quality of her potion. He predicted that it would become extremely powerful when it matured. If she stumbled in lecturing or grading even slightly, he would fix it himself before he left.

Uncle Jack also passed to Livia a letter that Ben Spence wanted him to give her to read at her leisure. He knew she had a lot of her mind and things to do, but he wanted her not to forget that she needed to live for herself, too. Livia put on some background music as she read it:

Dear Livia,

I wanted your Uncle Jack to hold this until you might have an opportune time to read it. I understand you are being asked to do many things. I am so proud of you. Still, the danger is that you may not have much time for yourself. I am concerned that you will neglect your health or some other part of you in the process of doing this important work.

Perhaps it is not my place to say anything, much less try to do anything about it. I do not discount the significance of pursuing any remnant of the malevolent forces in this world and am well aware that my father represents one such leftover. Please do not take me as discouraging you. Indeed, I think the very opposite – and that you will be more effective by not forgetting who you are as well as why you act.

So once again I ask for a little of your time, for yourself as much as me. I want you to take a break from your various duties to sit with me at the inn, maybe have some dinner or do something innocuous.

As much as I can say I want to see you, I am well aware of the stress you have started to put yourself under to do so much. I hope you consider the good it may do you not to devote your every waking moment to what easily may become obsessive, drain you of energy or take over your life. Your children will require more of you.

Sincerely,
Ben

Livia thought carefully about the letter. He did in writing it. She realized she very well might have said a similar thing herself to Sev'rus – and probably did. She easily could follow in his footsteps in more ways than one regarding this. Perhaps that alone accounted for the "gift" he left her. He wanted her not to follow his path too closely. Did Ben make a lucky guess to benefit himself, or did he actually perceive that she sounded or acted capable of such focus as to become that single-minded? She recalled that had not listened to music at all since the day she turned over Severus Snape's body to Basil Forrest. Ben had a point, even if she did not know yet how to answer him.

Livia showed the letter to Uncle Jack. He tended to agree with Ben, in that he wanted Livia to be mindful of herself. He worried about how she would balance various things over the next weeks, more than he felt concerned about any single raid or trial or class. He just wanted her to remain aware and strong. Livia reminded him that neither raids nor trials would go on indefinitely. He put back to her that he could say the same about her present condition. Okay, she conceded. She would keep the concept in her thoughts, whether it altered her behavior or not. She told him to let Ben know she would meet him for dinner at the tavern Sunday, 10 May at six.

Livia decided to spend the rest of the evening in Cambridge. She finally retrieved her bobcat and some of her belongings to keep there for the time being. She showed Tom and Alice the letter Ben wrote. They did think she looked a little worn, so they understood his concern. They both hoped he honestly meant what he wrote. Livia admitted that she might have said something akin to this to Christopher's uncle regarding the singularity of his focus to the exclusion of having left anything to himself. Tom thought that tallied with a man who lived in the past; resigned to live in his parents's home, he felt indifferent to his comfort or contentment. Tom thought Livia once may have said something about her uncle's focus, too. Tom asked Livia if she thought he had become obsessive. Livia agreed that the term fit him in several ways.

"Indirectly, then, Ben worries that you will become your uncle?" Tom queried.

"I think so," Livia replied.

"You won't be able to function as a parent that way," Alice asserted. "You'll either snap out of it or become a bad mother. Tom or I would not let you slide if you picked the latter."

"We'll see how singularly focused Uncle Sev'rus was tomorrow," Livia said. "I have to go to the main branch of his bank to see how much money I take on as trustee. I expect this to be more than the funds that will come from Phillip Beckford."

"This is a different bank?" Alice asked.

"Yes, it's in London," Livia answered. "It's an interesting place. What should I withdraw additionally for you? Tax money for the property? Additional mortgage funds? What?"

"What you said you would do last Sunday was fine," Tom responded. "We're good unless you want another conservatory for Abby, which you could build, too. We have no pressing need at present."

After retrieving the letter mentioning the dementors, which Uncle Jack had given them, Livia retired for the night. She still stared at the framed picture by her bed before finally closing her eyes.