Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing except my own character, Muirgeann le Fay (Merissa Lovey), and all else belongs to the esteemed Ms. Rowling, who I thank most heartily for creating such a universe for all of us to enjoy and explore.

...

I smothered my groan with the pillow and curled tightly into my side, trying to block out the visions that were trying so hard to return. …cold…bitter…wide, blank black eyes… As I threw myself onto my other side, strong arms surrounded me and pulled me against a warm chest.

"Visions?" Snape asked quietly, removing the pillow from my eyes. I nodded, burying my face in his shoulder to hide the weak tears streaming from my eyes. "Did you take a potion?"

"Should kick in soon." I replied with half a nod. He ran his hand down my back comfortingly, waiting out the visions with me.

"You can't keep going like this, Muirgeann. You need to take the potions sooner." he sighed as my tremors began to steady.

"I lost track of time. I haven't been watching the moon cycle like I should." I mumbled, unwilling to move out of his embrace despite the fact that I was still irritated with him. I felt him kiss the top of my head as he held me close, trying to comfort me from the horrors I had Seen. "When it all started, I could take one potion a month and be fine. Now, I've got to take the Sight-limiting potions weekly ordinarily and daily when it's bad. What if I don't need them at all and I'll just addicted? They are closely related to Dreamless Sleep Potions."

"You aren't addicted to them." he assured me. Although I couldn't see him, I knew he was rolling his eyes and the thought comforted me despite myself. "Morgana told me things would get worse as you grew older. I don't think she realised how quickly they would escalate, but I knew to expect your visions to grow more common."

"I wish I could get rid of them." I muttered, drawing strength from him.

"Perhaps we'll find a way, Muirgeann." he reasoned. "Muirgeann. Such a good name."

"What? Severus, my name isn't even a real name. Morgana liked Muireann and added the 'g' because she thought it would better link me to my heritage. At least your name is real, even if it is the Latin word for severe." I replied.

"You seem to think about names a lot." he commented, sitting up with me still in his arms. I drew my legs to my chest and looked toward the window.

"Names are a sensitive point with me. After all, my ancestors for who knows how long have all had names meaning 'of the sea' or 'from the sea.' We've had Morgans and Muirgeanns and Morgaynas and Merissas. How boring is that? Of course, I've always just accepted that. We Queens have no choice." I sighed. "I always thought it was possible for me to fall in love over a name. Although Severus is very nice, I don't think it was quite what drew me."

"Did you have any favourite names?" he asked.

"Oh, there were a few. I thought I'd fall in love with someone with a Marcus or Thaddeus or Valentin. I suppose, now that I think of it, they have Latin in common with yours. Perhaps I did fall in love with you because of your name." I said, smiling. "My favourite name—the one I always swore I would name my son, should I have one—was Tobias. It means 'the goodness of God' and I think that's beautiful."

"I'm afraid that name has negative connotations for me. It was my father's name." he informed me coolly. I smiled, though it was a bit sadly.

"Don't worry, Severus. We shan't have any little Tobiases running around any time soon. Once Tonks and Lupin decide to leave, we shan't have any little ones at all running under our feet." I assured him, wondering when I would bring up the subject of heirs. A knock on the door startled us both. "Come in."

"Hello. I hate to intrude, but…" the woman trailed off, her lips formed in a perfect pink pout.

"Narcissa, why are you here?" Snape asked, his voice bordering on rude. "How did you even get on this island?"

"She sent a note through Draco, Severus. I agreed to meet with her and allowed her a way through the mists." I informed him, standing up to offer her my hand. "I'm Muirgeann le Fay. Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Narcissa Malfoy. Pleasure's all mine. Is there somewhere we can talk or…?" she asked, giving Snape a pointed look where he sat stunned at the edge of the bed.

"Come with me. Severus, I'll be in the library if you need anything." I said, directing Narcissa to follow me. Once we were out of the room, I added, "He doesn't know where the library is yet. We shan't be disturbed."

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Queen le Fay. I know it's all very strange, but I was concerned about Draco and, well, a mother must do what she must." Narcissa told me apologetically. I smiled over my shoulder at her and led her to the seats in the library.

"I understand, Narcissa. I've played a very strange roll in your son's life, I know. Although it isn't quite an excuse, please know that I guided him as I did for the greater good. He and Miss Granger serve as symbols." I excused, taking my seat across from her.

"I know it isn't quite what you would expect from a mother, but I'm glad you did what you did. Hermione has been a godsend. Before you pushed them together, I feared he would follow in Lucius's footsteps and I was struggling to find a way to prevent that. Thank you for taking him away from such a fate." she thanked, hardly glancing up as one of the Shades glided into the room to my side. I listened to the Shade's song and replied rapidly before turning back to Narcissa.

"I am a healer, Narcissa. On Avalon, that means more than just a corrector of bodily ills." I assured her. She smiled.

"Yes, I remember hearing about the priestesses as a child. As I understand it, your people tend to be proficient in everything but cooking, Apparating, and being honest with men." she said. I smiled, hiding it behind my hand.

"Yes, that's something that never changes, especially for the Queen." I agreed. My smile soon soured on my lips. "Why are you here, Narcissa? What really brought you to my island?"

"Honestly, I wanted to meet you when you weren't half-dead from torture. When Severus brought you forward that day, I saw no fear in your eyes, no judgement or pain, and it intrigued me. What woman could not only survive as many Cruciatus curses as you did, but escape a place so thoroughly guarded as the Manor? Of the few that could successfully escape, as you did, how many would immediately put themselves in harm's way again? I knew you were the one acting as Snape's lover the second I heard he had one. After twenty years together, I felt I had the right to see who he'd chosen." she explained. "I think he chose wisely."

"Thank you, Narcissa. I must say that I'm very glad you aren't going to fight me for him. I was worried, when you contacted me." I told her. She smiled.

"No, no fighting. I liked him, of course, but he was never mine any more than I was his and even I can tell he's yours completely. Wasn't his expression comical when I came in the door?" she asked, laughing lightly.

"Perfectly." I agreed, smiling. "Of course, it's always entertaining to make him uncomfortable. He's hardly made of stone and it's good to remind him of that fact."

"You know, I think we may have more in common than I would have expected."

...

"Severus, is the Queen's chalice ready? The Shades are finishing the dormitories now. What else do we need to do?" Muirgeann asked, sounding as worried as she looked. I caught her wrist as she went by and pulled her toward me, tucking her hair back behind her ears.

"Breathe, Muirgeann. Everything will be fine." I assured her. She took a deep breath and let out the breath with a nod.

"Yes, you're right. Let's get ready to meet them, shall we?" she asked.

"Let's." I agreed, placing my hand on the small of her back. Today, I see her in white. I wonder what colour she sees her dress as. Strange material, the Lady's cloth, the Death cloth. Even The Daily Prophet was impressed by how many different reports were given of her appearance at the moment of our last stand. Although I doubt they believed her perfectly honest.

"What's that look mean, Merlin?" she asked quietly, giving me a sideways glance.

"Just admiring my Queen, Muirgeann." I replied. She rolled her eyes. "My conquered Queen."

"Say your innuendos now, Severus, but not once we meet the others. You're the Merlin, so you can be as eccentric as you please, but you can't say such things about your Queen in front of others." she reminded me.

"In private?" I asked. She rolled her eyes, but she indulgently nodded. "Good. Now, as to eccentricity—."

"You don't need to do anything differently than you usually would. You're awkward enough to pass as eccentric already." she assured me. I clutched my heart with my free hand, pretending to be injured.

"Flobberworms! I've been stricken!" I exclaimed. She gave me a blank expression before she burst out laughing.

"Flobberworms, Severus?" she asked breathlessly. I nodded.

"You said 'eccentric.' As I'm Merlin, I can't go around saying 'Merlin, this' or 'Merlin, that,' so I decided that I would use potions ingredients as interjections from now on." I explained. She rolled her eyes again, but leaned into my side affectionately.

"Let's go lead our new students through the mists before you get any more bright ideas." she suggested, looking toward the door. As she had hoped, the sun was setting as we stepped outside, the moonlight shining off the white stone beautifully. She left my side once we reached the professors we'd asked to stay, Lupin and Tonks among them, and headed into the mists.

"It was kind of her to agree to let us teach here. It'll give our little Teddy a good life, won't it?" Tonks asked quietly, looking between her husband and the baby in her arms.

"Yes, it will. Now we just need him to have some playmates." Lupin replied. I felt their eyes flick toward me as I stared determinedly into the mists, unsure how I felt on the subject. Before I could think about it much, two Shades issued from the mists, holding lanterns high above them.

"This way, everyone. Stay between the lantern lights if you wish to arrive safely." Muirgeann announced, walking out of the mists a moment later. Once she was back outside, she turned toward the crowd that slowly issued forth. Parents held onto their students nervously, awed by the grounds as they looked about the island. "Greetings, students and parents. Welcome to the Blessed Isles of Avalon. As you're all doubtless wearied by the journey, please accompany me into the school for refreshments."

"I will go first to ensure all is ready." I told her quietly, slipping off to enter by a different door. Once I was satisfied that the refreshments were prepared, I stood at the front of the room and watched Muirgeann lead them inside, the professors standing at the table to the side to await the Queen's instructions.

"Now that you've all joined me, please be seated. Partake of the refreshments while I explain a few things about the school." She instructed. "First, please note that this school is under direct control of the government of Avalon, so there is no higher authority than mine in this school. The Merlin and I decided to open this facility to you, as we knew Hogwarts was destroyed. This school, however, will not be like Hogwarts. There will be no Houses."

The crowd began murmuring wildly, but fell silent when she raised her hands.

"I understand that you are surprised. However, students will still be sorted. You will be separated into small cohorts for your classes. Girls and boys have separate dormitories, which will be shared between all cohorts. There will be no competition between these groups and there are only two dormitories, one for each gender. As to the rules, all students will be expected to follow the rules posted on the far wall. Lack of obedience will lead to expulsion from the school and removal from the island. Misbehaviour will not be tolerated. Merlin, would you care to add anything?"

"Yes, my Queen. The success of the students will be based on the traditional Avalonian model, based primarily off the personal recommendations of the professors. Status will be determined by success rather than age. Examinations will play a lesser role in the education given here. Parents, you will be permitted to visit on certain occasions and, if granted by myself or the Queen, when requested. That should be enough of the rules for now. Queen Muirgeann, would you care to begin the sorting?" I asked, offering her the chalice. She took it and held it in both hands before her reverently.

"This, my dear students, is the Queen's chalice. You will come forward one by one and take it from my hands. The colour it turns will determine your cohort. Those who were in their seventh year at Hogwarts, please step forward." she instructed. Draco stepped forward first, a determined expression hiding the anxiety he felt. When the chalice turned silver in his hands, Muirgeann smiled slightly. "Our first member of the school, Draco Malfoy, of the silver cohort!" she announced. By the time the rest of the students had been sorted, it was clear that the cohorts were made up of the oddest mixture of people. Each cohort contained only one individual of each major personality type and individuals of all ages, giving each group a distinctly diverse sense to it. "Merlin, if you would close this ceremony."

"Students, once more, we bid you welcome. Parents, feel free to say good-bye to your students. You will be escorted back through the mists in approximately one hour. For now, enjoy the celebration." I instructed. I saw Muirgeann slip over to Potter's group and glanced around the room instinctively, looking for Sirius. When Muirgeann left the room, I knew she was getting him and found myself watching Potter with a strange, almost reluctant feeling in my stomach. I've protected him for so long, but it's time to stop. It's his godfather's right. I have my own concerns now.

"Sirius!" Potter shouted as Muirgeann returned with the man. The hall fell silent as the boy and man embraced, a reunion none expected to happen in this life. Muirgeann quietly slipped to my side, desirous of avoiding the effusions of their happiness.

"That was a nice thing you did, my Queen." I commented quietly.

"I'm only vindictive and cruel to you, Merlin."

...