December 7th, 1996

A—

"Look at this! It's like a triple date," Ron grinned, looking first to Draco and Harry, then around Lavender to she and Neville.

It wasn't something Aurora wanted, but when the Hogsmeade weekend was announced, Ron had become so adamant that they all hang out together that Neville soon caught on with the fever of it. As had Harry, though Draco seemed to be on her side of things, which was the hope for privacy and time alone with their respective partner.

Neville held her hand, smiling proudly as Ron went on about how great it was to have friends who were also couples to hang out with.

"You realize that literally none of us were together last time," Aurora pointed out when he was becoming too much. "So, it wasn't like there was a lack in couples to hang around with. Not to mention that this technically ostracizes two of our friends. One because her boyfriend isn't here, and the other because she doesn't have a boyfriend at all."

"Gin and Luna have each other." Ron retorted.

"It's not really the point, Weasel." Draco scowled.

"Malfoy," Harry sighed.

"Won-won would never be mean to his friends." Lavender said in a cooing voice that made Aurora's skin crawl and her lip curl.

Won-won. Yuck.

Harry smirked. "Dra-Dra was just making a point, weren't you?" He teased.

"Say that again, and you'll find that precious broom of yours gone missing." Draco warned.

"What point were you making, Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"That maybe you should have not have put so much emphasis on this being a 'couples' thing. This may come as a surprise to you, Weasel, as it seems you and Brown can't exist without your tongue in each other's mouths, but we've been doing just fine hanging out with one another while there are couples among the lot of us."

That was certainly true.

She didn't have any intentions of making her and Neville a big deal, but the following day at breakfast when she arrived with Ginny and Luna, the sixth-year boys began to hoot and applaud, causing a few of the fifth and seventh years to join them despite not knowing precisely why they were doing so. Neville had turned red, half hiding his face, but he was smiling.

"Heard about your greenhouse venture, Snape." Seamus had teased when she sat down beside her new boyfriend.

"You make it sound illicit." She had countered.

"I swear, I told them we only kissed." Neville had quickly reassured, a touch of panic in his voice.

"Yeah, only brought him to a higher plain of existence." Dean had smirked.

"Only awakened his soul and had his heart singing." Seamus had added.

"Only thought he could face a thousand of his boggarts if his reward was your lips." Ron had added in, though Ginny had smacked him across the head for it.

It was awkward that morning, but thankfully by noon things normalized. And while she and Neville didn't exactly snog at every opportunity like Ron and Lavender, he wasn't precisely shy in that way any longer.

"Yeah, yeah, let's just enjoy it. 'Specially you, Neville. What luck, eh? Snape backing out of chaperoning at the last moment?" Ron said, clapping his friend on the arm.

"Still have Her-, er, Professor H hanging around."

Aurora snorted. "She's with my aunt. They aren't going to be doing much chaperoning."

"Either way, lucky us, right?"

—S—

"Repeat after me: ludere mortuis."

"Ludere Mortuis," Theo Nott repeated, pointing his wand at the rats in the cage. The boy jumped back when the green jet struck the rat, and he looked at the tip of his wand in horror before turning a glare on Severus.

"Calm yourself, you didn't kill it." He sneered. "Iterum Vivere," He pointed his wand at the rat, and after a moment, it sprung back to life, scurrying about.

Nott frowned. "I don't understand. Did I kill it, and you saved it?"

"No," Severus said. "Merely made it seem dead. Ludere Mortuis. I'd been playing with the spell for a couple months now, though the idea had always been simmering in the back of my mind. Translated, it means 'play dead'."

"You have got to be joking." Nott deadpanned.

"I could turn the spell on you, and you can find out." He asked, and when the boy didn't respond, he continued. "It will put the victim in the ultimate stasis. To everyone, the heart will appear to have stopped, their breathing ceased, and they would be weightless. You only have so long before the spell is irreversible, however. And even any length of time risks damage to the witch or wizard it is cast on. It looks, when cast, like an Avada. Therefore, you are going to practice this spell on these rats until you can cast it wordlessly. And once you can do so without fail, you will teach yourself how to say a slurred version of an Avada, while still casting this spell."

"Why are you teaching me this?" Nott asked. "Why not just let me cast an unforgivable?"

"Because they will damage your soul."

"So?" Nott countered. "Does it make a difference with this thing on my skin?" He demanded, pushing up his sleeve and all but shoving his arm in Severus' face.

"Yes," Severus hissed. "It makes a difference because this burden should never have fallen to you. Your mother left your father, same as Draco's, and raised you without his aid. Had she not passed away, your father's parental rights would never have been reinstated. If Cecelia Zabini had been a decent witch, she'd have claimed you as her own the moment your father wound up back in Azkaban.

"It makes a difference, Mr Nott, because dark times lie ahead, but I assure you that they do not last forever. And every cast of an unforgivable, every fracture of your soul awakens a part of you that slowly turns you mad. Twists your features and bares what's within on the outside, showing the world precisely what sort of wizard you are."

"Is that what happened to you then?"

"Watch your words, Mr Nott."

"Fine. So, if every unforgivable twists your soul and the like, how do Aurors not become snake faced? Or insane?"

"A pure reason. An Avada may be cast to end a life that would have done anyhow, just much faster. Or it could be used to save a life, if it came down to a one or another situation. A crucio, I suppose, could be cast to hinder an assailant, slow them down so that one may escape in a non-lethal manner. Aurors would use an Imperious to send in someone undercover, to gather information if need be, but that likely hasn't been done since before the time of Grindelwald."

Nott nodded, seeming to think this over. "So, practice this spell you've made until I can truly make everyone believe that I can use the Avada, and then what?"

"Then, you and I will come up with a setting in which to carry this out."

"And the Headmaster?"

Severus sneered instead of sighing as he wished. "Leave him to me."

December 16th, 1996

A—

The notes did not flutter down with the owls but popped into existence over the cutlery beside every fourth through seventh year student. There was the hum of confusion, glances toward the head table where the Headmaster was missing, but all the other professors were in attendance and none of them looked as though anything was out of the ordinary.

The five Gryffindors looked to one another, then all reached for the folded parchment.

All second period classes are canceled for fourth through seventh years, and those students are asked to report to the great hall instead.

"Got right excited for a moment." Ron said, sounding quite down trodden.

"I wonder what's going on?" Harry said, turning around and glancing at the Slytherin table. Aurora looked over to see Draco frowning over his note.

"I suppose we'll find out during second period." She said.

"Do you think it has anything to do with Dumbledore missing?" Harry wondered out loud.

"I think it might." Luna said, sliding in between Harry and Ginny from her own table. "But, perhaps, maybe not in the way you think."

"Why d'ya gotta be so cryptic so early in the morning." Ron grumbled.

"Why must you speak with food in your mouth." Aurora sighed, returning to her toast and eggs.

"She has a point." Neville said.

"Oi, whose side you on?" Ron scowled.

"No one is on yours." Ginny countered. "It's disgusting."

"She's right, Won-won." Lavender said. "You're much more handsome when you have manners."

Aurora glanced up from her food in time to see the near unthinkable: Ronald Weasley closing his mouth to chew.

—A—

At second period, it felt as though the entirety of Hogwarts had flocked to the Great Hall. The fact that no one knew why they were there had made things seem that much more exciting. That there were professors monitoring the flow of students instead of waiting inside added to that.

"I don't think there's been an assembly quite like this since Sirius tried to get into Gryffindor tower." Ginny noted, clinging to Aurora's arm while Luna held her hand. They'd had charms and herbology respectively that morning and met up with Luna as she was coming from the greenhouses so that at least the three of them could stick together.

"It is quite the feat, isn't it?" Luna commented. "It's nice that all the professors went along, too. It's a show of unity for the students."

"And you really have no idea what's going on?" Ginny asked Aurora who shook her head.

"I hadn't heard it. Though, you know, now that you mention it Mom had mentioned people being around for a conversation around my birthday. Think it was for this?"

The inquiry was never answered as they made their way into the great hall and was temporarily stunned as all the before them momentarily were.

The tables were gone, and within the room, from what Aurora could see, were trees, grass, dirt, and rocks. There was also a barrier that prevented them from going anywhere except up a small set of stairs to the quidditch pitch like seating.

"There's the boys," Ginny noted, and Aurora allowed her to lead the way as she had no idea where in the already amassing crowd she was pointing. They made their way along the bottom row, and eventually Aurora had spotted Neville waving eagerly, a between he and Ron awaiting the girls.

"We had transfiguration," He said as they came closer. "Professor McGonagall dismissed us a bit early."

"Oh," Aurora said, noting that from above, the trees and rocks she'd seen were completely transparent, almost to the point of ghost-like. And in the center, Aurora had spotted her mother, watching the crowd and waiting for everyone to settle.

"Is she making a mass announcement?" Ron asked, brow furrowing. "Like, you know…?"

"She can't do that." Aurora replied.

"It would risk everything if she did," Harry added, looking around them to Ron. "She can't. Because of…."

"Yeah, I get it." Ron grumbled.

They waited until everyone who was supposed to be there settled down, and then the doors closed with a somewhat ominous thud. One could hear a quill drop within the room, it was so silent and still. Aurora could have sworn she'd seen her mother grin.

"Good morning," Professor H greeted the room at large.

There was a near in sync response of, "Good morning, Professor."

"Now, I'm sure you're all wondering why I would call you all out of class for this period. What would be so important that all your professors would agree to this, and allow their own subjects to fall to the wayside, even for an hour?" She paused, looking around the room once more, turning in a full circle. "It's a shame, really, because it would appear that not everyone believed they should be here for it.

"How many of you have seen a duel? A proper one, not what Professors Snape and Lockhart attempted a few years ago?"

There was a titter of laughter, nervous and honest, as a few people raised their hands, Harry, Draco, Ron, and Ginny included. Aurora slowly joined in, thinking back on the ministry, though she wasn't sure that's what it could be called.

"How many of you have seen battle?"

The seven of them immediately raised their hands, as well as a smattering of other students, possibly those in Diagon Alley when Olivander was taken.

"Today, your Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson is something… different. We'll set aside the 'Dark Arts' part for a while, because as we've talked about countless times, anyone can cast a spell and have it dark with intention alone. Today, we will focus of strictly defense.

"You may have noticed when you came through the doors that there appeared to be a simulation of a forest, yet when you went to find your seats, everything appeared less substantial. That would be a charm Professor Flitwick can teach you, should you ask. There will be a shield placed above our makeshift arena so that no stray spell will escape, keeping you all safe.

"Anyone you see enter this area has agreed to be here as a participant. A similar charm will be cast on all of us, making it so you can see who it down here, but those of us on the ground only see a cloaked figure in either purple or brown. What you will see, however, is a glow around us. The stronger the glow, the less we've been hit. That, I'm afraid, is a charm we have borrowed from the auror department and cannot be taught to you.

"Observe. Watch what we do, when we do it, how, and to whom. I will be the first to reluctantly admit you cannot learn everything from a textbook."

She turned away, and everyone looked up as the enchanted sky in the Great Hall suddenly became dark, as though a great storm had rolled in.

Aurora looked down, watching her mother as she weaved around trees and rocks.

"There," Harry said, and Aurora looked over to see someone entering from the main entrance. She knew that stride, but kept quiet about it, waiting and watching with the rest of them.

She did wonder, though, if it was her father's intention to wear his Death Eater's cloak, and if any of the other children of such company recognized as quickly as she had. A glance to Draco said yes, and while his eyes narrowed, his eyebrows rose, making him look surprised and terrified all at once.

Her mother had just ideally stepped out from behind a tree when her father's quick reflexes, shot a hex toward her, causing her mother to duck. Aurora covered her mouth to smother the gasp, and she felt Neville's hand slip into hers, gripping it tightly in support.

While Professor H shot spells toward her assailant, using the tree as cover, more hooded figures came in to the room, slowly making a semi-circle behind Aurora's father.

Aurora watched as her mother noted them, then sent off a Patronus, her raven soaring around the room before seeming to disappear altogether.

Her next hex hit hard, knocking her target back a step with enough force to knock the hood off. The room gasped when it was revealed to be Professor Snape battling the other Professor Snape. Aurora could feel the tension around her when her father curled his lip in a nasty sneer, shooting a spell back at his own wife strong enough to knock her off her feet. Before she could right herself, he had her up in the air, dangling like a limp puppet.

Harry shot forward, gripping the rail, his friend's name on his lips. Had it not been for Draco grabbing his shoulder, half wrapping an arm around him to stop him, Aurora knew her mother's identity would have been revealed. Harry still looked all but ready to jump the barrier despite the dangerous drop, when a flicker of light silenced the room. A spell from behind Professor H hit Professor Snape, knocking him backwards, and freeing her from his spell to land awkwardly on her feet.

As if popping into existence through apparition, and equal number of witches and wizards appeared opposite the cloaked bunch.

Professors McGonagall and Lupin had joined them, along with ….

"Mother?" Draco said under his breath.

Aurora squinted, noting that, although her hair was darker, curled, and her clothes were not quite as elegant and refined as normal, it was Aunt Cissy down there battling.

"That's Dad." Ron said, pointing to Arthur down below.

"Is … is that Fleur?" Ginny asked, squatting down as if the angle would make it easier.

"And George." Ron said.

Aurora darted her eyes to the cloaked figures just as one ripped his hood off and shot off a vicious looking curse.

She'd never once seen Fred in battle. Never once did she even see him angry. And while he still seemed to find the rush of fighting fun, there was a dark glint in his eye as he went toe to toe unknowingly with his younger twin.

"Wait," Draco said, watching as another cloak came off. "They really can't know who they're fighting. The twins? Uncle Severus and Aunt H? Now my mother and Nymphadora.

Another cloak. "Sirius and Dad." Ron said.

Another. "McGonagall and Moody?" Ginny frowned.

"Not so weird, is it?" Neville asked.

"Except that Moody is a family friend." Aurora said, watching another cloak come off. "Fleur and Bill?"

Ginny snorted. "Mum would pay to see that."

Harry smirked as the last cloak came off. "I could actually see Kingsley and Remus fighting."

"Really?" Ron asked.

"It's a long story." Harry said, and they continued to watch the battle play out.

Slowly, the light around everyone began to fade. Tonks knocked Aunt Cissy to the ground, and her glow flickering out. The next moment, Sirius found himself out after a direct hit from Arthur. Tonks and Moody were each outed, aid from Arthur removing the latter, and the former removed while trying to protect her Mentor. Fleur managed to hit her fiancé and taking him out before being hit herself from Kingsley. Arthur had countered managing, to take out the elegant wizard before a stray spell hit him as well, ceasing his glow. Professor Snape had been battling the last two witches standing, only just having hit his wife before a shot from professor McGonagall had his glow dimmed.

There was a stunned silence as the enchanted ceiling above them suddenly brightened as though it were the end of a play, and then the whole crowed applauded.

Those down below looked at one another, shaking their heads and blinking as though they were coming too. Most of them laughed, going over and ensuring the one they'd been battling was alright. Others checked on their own team, looking for any signs of distress though none of them seemed overly worse for wear.

Professor H stepped away from the rest, raising her hands and silencing the room.

"As you can see, even a powerful foe can be felled with enough determination. We can't-" She stopped to talking, her attention turned to the side of the room, and Aurora turned to see why.

Professor Dumbledore stood there, as imposing a figure as Aurora had ever seen, and he was looking at the lot of adults non-too-pleased.

Professor H smiled, turning back to the assembled students.

"A report of what you took away from today's demonstration, eighteen inches, on my desk by Thursday. Dismissed."

There was a different kind of buzz as the students began to file out, excitement with just a touch of disappointment at such a long essay. But for the most part, there was a knew found knowledge Aurora could note in the eyes of many, an understanding that the world outside would not be kind to them because they were still young.

"Why do I have a feeling the Hermione is about to get in trouble," Harry whispered when they were free of the throng, the cluster of them remaining still a moment before departing for their classes.

"Why d'ya say that?" Ron asked.

"Did you see the way the Headmaster looked?" Draco asked.

"I've never seen Dumbledore that angry," Harry agreed. "But why would he be mad? It's Hermione's job to teach us, now, isn't it? And considering that Umbridge allowed absolutely no practical."

"And no one but us really has an understanding of what it's like to be in a fight." Ginny added.

"And think how that turned out," Draco said, absently rubbing his chest where his scar was. Aurora knew the pain in her ankle was all in her head, but the reminder of the battle of the ministry brought the idea of it to the forefront.

"So, it would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Having everyone up to speed, as it were?"

"One would think," Draco said, and a chime reminded them all that there were other places they had to be.

—H—

She couldn't lie, even to herself, and say that she didn't feel the least bit triumphant in pulling one over on the supposed omnipresent Dumbledore. She knew he would be away, and arithmancy only had a little to do with it. She noticed his absence for the morning at least once a week, and then deduced that he would be away from the castle. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Wednesday, Monday, repeat. Where he went, she didn't rightly care, but once a week, he would vanish until lunch, missing the morning meal on those days.

It didn't take much to orchestrate the whole thing. Asking the castle was surprisingly easy, something she hadn't thought expected given that Hogwarts: A History had said these things were usually only able to be done by the headmaster. Maybe the castle could sense her desperation, despite how mild it was. Either way, when the castle allowed its temporary alteration, she called on Filius who gladly charmed the transfigurations she made from the benches and tables.

When it came to who to extend the invitation to aside from what Severus had dubbed the inner-Order, that was only a slight bit trickier. Nymphadora was the easiest simply because she wasn't just Remus' new love, but also Alastor's protege. Kingsley was a bit trickier simply because Hermione had no idea why he was brought to the order in the first place. He had no connections to any of them prior to his budding relationship with Sirius, aside from a short time of working with Alastor, and even he couldn't vouch for why Kingsley would risk his career to work with a group of vigilantes. The Weasleys was where things were truly complicated. Hermione knew that Molly would never go behind Albus' back, the man having been a sort of comfort to her when her brothers died, reminding her that they did so for…. Well, Hermione was truly getting sick of that phrase. Albus was also against, for the most part, letting any of her children in the order. At least not until they were of age.

But that was something Hermione thought a bit manipulative: withhold permission and inclusion to the point that, when they did become of age, they were chomping to join up and be included because it was something that had been seen as unattainable. And wasn't that a trait of Gryffindors? Daring? Nerve? And what would be more so than to join in with a clandestine group of people working above the lie to stop Dark Wizards? Molly wouldn't do anything that may hurt Albus, but Arthur had often questioned things. And since his close encounter with Nagini, Hermione was sure he was starting to wonder if maybe there should be more transparency, more training, more of anything, after all, it could have been Bill who had been there that night, and while he was the oldest and a curse breaker, it could have very well been that he had chosen a different career path and had nothing more than his scattered Hogwarts training to defend himself. It was all Arthur had, and he already saw the results.

Bill, Fleur, and the twins had been an unexpected bonus. Bill wanted to help in whatever way he could, and Fleur was more than willing to do so after what had happened to her in the tri-wizard tournament. It was, after all, her close encounter with an imperiused Krum that had her changing her career path from charms mastery to curse breaker. The twins had been floating nearby when Hermione approached Arthur, and both were eager to participate.

She knew as she stood tall before the scowling headmaster that she at least had the majority on her side, but it did allow her to be curious about where the others would place themselves when everything came out.

"Miss Granger," He began.

"Professor Snape, actually." She corrected without hesitation. "Or Mrs Snape, you would prefer."

He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes. May I ask what you were doing?"

"Teaching," She replied. "As I was hired to do."

"Yes," He said, bowing his head, bringing his hands together in front of him. "Except, I don't recall the practical needing to be quite so… theatrical."

"Well, it's all well in good to teach them a spell, one that can't be too harmful at that, and then have them practice on one another. And since it's near impossible to conjure enough practice dummies outside the room of requirement, I thought them witnessing a battle, a proper one, would do some good."

"While I would agree with that when it comes to Harry, perhaps. Maybe even his friends as it seems that they will stay by his side. But teaching all of the students…."

"Is what she's meant to do." Minerva stated firmly.

"Not this." Albus said in a warning tone, darting his eyes briefly to Minerva. "I'm afraid I've seen a few too many green and gray-"

"We are not going to shun the Slytherins." Severus said, almost sounding bored.

"No one is shunning anyone," Albus said, pretending to be placating. "But we are running a great risk showing the way of the order to future Death Eaters."

"You mean the children of Death Eaters?" Narcissa said, frowning.

"All children of Death Eaters are potential future Death Eaters." Albus replied.

"Well then, should I give my mask to Aurora or to Leonidas? Who is the one meant to take up my mantel?" Severus asked, looking to those standing with them as if it were a genuine inquiry."

"Oh, Rory, definitely." Fred said, and Hermione gaped at the cheeky bastard over his shoulder. When he noticed he shrugged. "Leonidas might be sharp and sarcastic, but Rory is a fierce one. If anyone can go in, toe to toe with those lot like you, it's her."

"Yes," Severus said slowly. "I suppose she is."

"And I suppose, Dumbledore, that you've forgotten that dear ol' Peter ended up being one of the top Death Eaters? A Gryffindor from a good family?" Sirius said, shrugging. "Or that I, a Gryffindor, actually came from a family of supporters. We can't base anyone's choices on how their family behaves."

"There is a lesson, headmaster, and when the essays come back I am certain a vast majority will have picked up on it." Hermione said, turning back to Dumbledore.

"And what lesson would that be, my dear?" He asked, and Hermione could tell he was already thinking of ways he could counter her.

"That sometimes we don't know who we will be fighting against in the end, and that those we love most, those we trust, might be found on the other side of the line. That there is a war, and not everyone we care about, family or otherwise, will be on the same side." She gestured behind her. "My past is not known to the vast of the student body. But they know Minerva and I are close. They would likely have figured I have a close acquaintance with Arthur and Remus, one for the fact his children and my daughter are friends, the later because he is the same age as I am, and both Gryffindor, true reasons aside. Yet I stood with them and not my husband. Family fought against one another, and it's not hard for anyone with any knowledge of the sacred twenty-eight to know that there were three members of the black family in this room, and two of them fought one another. The twins, who are inseparable, were separated. No, no one would believe for a second that this would actually happen, except that it has in other ways. It's leaving an impression, one that they may carry over. That, perhaps, just because they have family who believe and stand for one thing, that they don't have to as well. And that they may see their loved ones on the other side of the line."

"And if they don't?" He queried.

"Then perhaps, at the end of the day, they will simply see how to fight. And perhaps, when everything comes to blows, we'll have more youth make it out alive." She arched a brow, daring him to challenge her. "Or, at least, know if they probably aren't going to be able to stand against an adult and stay out of it."

She and Dumbledore had a stare down, and she nearly laughed aloud when she felt him attempt to niggle at her occlumency shields. The funny thing was, there was a difference in feel to it compared to what she recalled. It would seem as though, perhaps, he wasn't as powerful.

After a moment, though, he withdrew, and nodded slowly.

"Very well, Professor H." He said with a knowing twinkle in his eye. "I will concede to your theories. For now, at least."

—A—

"So, I know you spend Christmas with your parents." Aurora said as she and Neville took a stroll around the transfiguration courtyard, hand in hand. She chewed her lip a little, unsure if she should ask.

There were memories of the year before swimming in her head, of Mr Weasley in St Mungo's, of comforting Fred, that terribly awkward moment with Leo….

But she also remembered meeting Neville's parents, which made what she wanted to do a little less daunting. He'd already shared a part of his holidays with her, perhaps she could do the same.

"I do," Neville nodded, squeezing her hand. "I was hoping you would come with Gram and I to visit them again this year."

"I-I… yeah. Yes, absolutely, I will go with you. I'm sure Mum and Dad wouldn't mind, terribly, if I do. And that's, well, it's part of the reason I wanted to, umm, get you out here. See, I was hoping maybe you would come spend some time on Christmas eve with us."

Neville stopped and when nearly as white as the snow. "You mean… at your house? With your Dad?"

"Well, maybe for part of it." She frowned.

"I don't know if I can be in there." He mumbled, probably thinking she couldn't hear him.

'You've been there before, remember? Before the ministry?"

"Yeah, but, that was different. I was worried for Hermione, and there was already so much going on."

"I know. But anyway, it's not really there that I was thinking of, or even just my family. See, Harry and Sirius have everyone over there for Christmas eve. And Mrs Weasley makes a meal, and she has help from the house elf, Kreacher. They usually send the lot of us upstairs, and such, but it's still fun and, well…."

"I'll ask my gram." He said, stopping them so he could turn to face her. "But when I say it's to spend some time with you, can't see why she wouldn't agree."

"Really?" Aurora asked, a bit relieved.

"Yeah." He said, blushing a bit. "I want to spend all the time I can with you."

Aurora grinned, pleased to hear it. Before she could say as much, Neville leaned forward and kissed her, cupping her head with his free hand. Aurora touched his shoulder, not to deter him but simply to touch him. It must have given him confidence, because he deepened the kiss, something that caught her a bit off guard, even though she wasn't truly complaining.

But something seemed off, making Aurora frown. Someone was watching them, the feeling of eyes on her a bit too strong to be coincidence. Someone in the castle, peeking through the window? Perhaps, but she didn't think she'd have such a sense of it if that were the case.

Gently pulling away, she ducked her head against Neville's chest and glanced around them. She saw no one, and sighed, thinking that maybe it was all in her head.

"Was that too much?" Neville asked breathlessly.

"No," She said, leaning back and smiling. "Not too much. Just… a bit out in the open."

"Right." He said, smiling until a realization hit him. "Blimey, I would hate to have had your dad see us."

She chuckled. "Then maybe next time be more careful about getting carried away?" She asked, and he chuckled and nodded. "Now, do you want to stay out here? Or would you rather go find the rest of the lot of them before our lunch break is done?"

Neville looked around, doing a double take at an empty bench. "How about we stay out here, and you can tell me more of what happens during these gatherings? So, I'm ready."

Aurora nodded and allowed Neville to lead her to the bench where they could spend the rest of their lunch break together.

December 20th, 1996

S—

He smirked at his wife sitting on the floor in front of the sofa, surrounded by parchment with only enough space to allow a tea cup and a path for him to the sofa. Her self-inking quill of red ink was in hand, and she chewed her lip as she read over yet another student's essay. This was the second night of this.

Severus moved along the path, reaching around her and setting a refreshed tea cup in the designated space, and then sat down on the sofa behind her. He smiled as she sighed heavily, frustration heavy in her tone, and set his own cup down on the table.

"How much are you regretting eighteen inches now, my little swot?" He asked knowingly. "Can you now understand why it was so painfully frustrating for you professors when you went over the set amount? Can you see now why we limited you to twelve?"

"And what makes you think I regret the assignment in anyway?" She asked absently, making a vicious strike through the page.

"Possibly your frustration and exhaustion, though the premature wrinkles only dunderheads could evoke it a good sign."

She turned and scowled at him over her shoulder. "Oddly I'm not regretting the length. I already knew most of them would merely expand their normal writing size, since I didn't set a maximum letter height. No, it's the atrocious spelling, the sentence structure."

He snorted. "You're correcting their grammar?"

"Well I can't very well tell them their opinion is wrong, can I? The essay was supposed to be about what they took away from the whole battle in the Great Hall."

Severus looked at her curiously. "And? Was the outcome as you hoped?"

Something near elation flooded him when she smiled at him over her shoulder. "For the most part, yes. Most didn't get the whole idea, but they got the majority. Especially the Slytherins. Oh, Severus, you should be so proud of them. Most of them outright stated that they learned the side they choose may not be that of their families. And those who didn't speak of that had stated that anyone who believed themselves sufficient to go against a grown, experienced wizard was fool hearty."

"That could very well be a snide remark against Potter." He noted.

"It could, of course. It absolutely could. But Severus, I think it also means that they may not be foolish enough to get into it."

"I want to believe you," He said gently. "And in most cases, I do. But know that there are likely those in every house that believe this, but that they are, perhaps, the exception."

"So, you actually agree with Albus?"

"I said no such thing. All I mean is that I wouldn't go storming the headmaster's office, waving around a bunch of essays claiming you had the right of it. And no, he certainly does not, but it's not the point."

Hermione sighed, looking at the papers, shoulders sagging. "Yes, you're right. It's just… we were lucky, in a way, that the war didn't truly effect anyone still in Hogwarts before, not unless they wanted to become a Death Eater."

"And with wise decisions, it won't this time either." He said and was glad when it seemed to end the conversation before it turned into an argument."

They were quiet for a time, each doing their own thing before Hermione spoke once more.

"Rory has invited Neville to Grimmauld place for the festivities." She'd said, and Severus couldn't physically resist the urge to groan. "Oh, stop." She said with a smirk. "You allowed him to ask to court her, you can't possibly dislike him as much as you pretend to."

"Oh, don't misunderstand me, wife. I would dislike anyone who attempts to court our daughter. I just have a special place for Longbottom in my ire."

"Because he explodes cauldrons and has you for a Boggart?"

"Because he's a numpty who can't follow instructions, and I fear he would need to rely on Aurora for protection. I'm sure he did swimmingly at the ministry and taking the cruiciatus is not an easy feat. But I would much rather our daughter be with someone nearer her equal than he is. He is brave, to be sure, I do not deny that. But…."

"Rory was also raised by you, a man who has subtly taught each of his children the ways in which to fight and excel, and I completely understand that, given your own early Hogwarts experiences. But Neville didn't have that. He was thought to be a squib for the vast majority of his youth. It was actually relief when he received his Hogwarts letter. You think Aurora needs her equal, but perhaps she needs her opposite."

"I'm not saying that they can't have different experiences in life. Look at us, one cannot be more different than a time-traveling London girl than a poor boy from Cokeworth that had to hide his magic. Our houses were different, our early friends were different. But you, Hermione Snape, are my equal, as I am yours. We are an intellectual match, which means we can converse or not, and never have to worry about the other's not understanding. Should I find myself unable to fight, I know that you can protect me as well as I can protect you. You followed me into the fray of Death Eaters and pretended to believe in them, just as I suffered through Lupin and Black."

"Are you really comparing them to Death Eaters?" She half scolded.

"I may be friendly with Black and tolerant of Lupin these days, but those early ones I was, rightly, unsure. They tormented me for years because I existed, a Death Eater would hate you for the same reason if they ever found out the truth."

"You know, I only meant to inform you that someone would need to be at the cottage to receive Neville and take him through the floo to Grimmauld. I hadn't expected a debate on our daughter's romantic choices."

As Severus opened his mouth, the door from his office opened, and caused both he and Hermione to frown in confusion. Turning to the door, they watched as Leonidas shyly came into the room, dressed in regular clothing instead of his uniform, his hair tied back. He shuffled a bit as he inched closer, and Severus watched as he looked between his parents nervously.

"Leo, Sweetheart?" Hermione asked.

"What can I get a muggleborn for the holidays?" He asked quietly.

"Would this be the Miss Brooks you've suddenly begun to partner with?" Severus asked his son, brow arching as he refrained from smirking.

"Yes," Leo said, lifting his chin. "And since I'm not in Slytherin, I don't have to hide our acquaintance."

"No," Severus conceded. "But you must still be careful."

"Yes," Leonidas agreed, though Severus wondered if he really understood the magnitude of it all. "But that being said, she's really the only friend I've made here so far. Besides Luna, I suppose."

"Well, what does she like?" Hermione said, waving her hand and sorting the essays between marked and not, making room for their son.

Severus went back to his book, trusting Hermione to help guide their son through this tricky bit of business, knowing that she was much better at subtle gift giving than he.


Hello everyone, and thanks for stopping by, reading, favoriting, following, and reviewing this fic. Bluewater5, Snaperipper, rlsa, argwyn2365, HGranger89, Smootsmokey, TheShipperOfTheCrystalBallroom, viola1701e, shiftingshadows963, Northmanlv, Kolbz, Artemis Decibal, nette91, TheGreenDooredBookshop, Lucyole, MissMegan24, Smallville Girl, Guest, thank you all so very much for your words.

For the duel in the Great Hall, I listened to Lindsey Stirling's "The Arena." I highly recommend giving it a listen, especially if you yourself are writing a fic that might have a sort of battle. It's amazing.

Fred fans, the next chapter is one you're going to want to look out for.

Until then.