Iris sat down in the drawing-room next to her Grandmother awaiting the arrival of the returning travellers. Walburga had admitted defeat. The young girl would only sneak in undercover anyway. Dumbledore, Andromeda and Bella sat with them with curious expressions on their faces. Hayley sat next to Iris. Severus had arrived back the day before and had promptly retired to his quarters with the promise of this meeting the next evening. He said he needed some time to collect himself. Coming from one of the most composed Wizards they all knew this was disturbing.

Severus arrived. He looked sallow and perplexed. Even Dumbledore felt nervous. Not much got to this young man, but he definitely looked overwhelmed. The black-haired man took his seat at the table where he took out a large folder. Fawkes flashed in and brightened the room up. Iris merely called out for Gabriel. She was getting stronger. Gabriel need not even visit the doorway and hold her hand out now so the Angel could visit earth properly. He said he could sense her magic and hear her voice and could feel himself being pulled near to her. He could stay near her for hours now and move further away when required without getting pulled back. Hayley could still visit the Astral plane, but only in her sleep. She didn't have the magical strength that Iris did.

Gabriel stood to the side. His eyes were golden and still. He had agreed to talk when they were all together. He greeted Fawkes warmly who flew to his shoulder as they rubbed their heads together as Fawkes crooned. Everyone settled into the chairs and looked expectantly at Dumbledore.

'Right then,' Dumbledore spoke in his soothing manner which settled those in the room, 'Welcome to you all. Due to the circumstances, we thought it best to have a smaller gathering. I can inform the others in due course of the relevant information that this mission accumulated and what our next steps will be. Now, Severus. Can you talk us through your experience? Gabriel, your knowledge will be vital too.'

Severus did not object. He began in his low, soft voice. The room was quiet as each of them focused.

'I'll be as brief as possible. I'm sure Riddle doubts my allegiance, but I think he sees me as a useful idiot. He wants to keep me close to gain inside information on Harry and Albus. I doubt very much I will be able to gain entry into his inner circle at this stage. Even they will not have access to his long term plans. Although from what little I witnessed it is obvious what they are. I was kept for a long time as Riddle required my potion experience. Hitler is old. Certain potions put a stopper in death,' he paused, I expect Riddle will find a way to extend his life. Many rituals can ensure this. If not there are plenty of willing replacements to act as a figurehead.'

There were sombre faces to this.

'They have relocated to Argentina. They are currently in a town called La Reforma. Apt, I suppose. That is merely one of their bases. They have bought up thousands of acres of land in just that one area. From what I understand the entire government in this area is implicated. They infiltrated years ago. Their military condones this. Anyone opposing this was executed. If you didn't support the fascist regime, then you were hunted down. Thousands were slaughtered. The propaganda went into overdrive. They own the newspapers. Journalists were shot dead. Entire families were wiped out. Some of them went underground. People who had tried to report these atrocities in other cities were targeted. It was blamed by the authorities on gang wars. Drug wars. People overseas thought the information was coming from a proper government. They didn't question it. It was an everyday occurrence to see people swinging by their neck on bridges with their innards cut out.'

'Severus!' Andromeda admonished. We have a child here.'

'Yes. I understand,' sighed Severus, 'A child who needs to know this. We can't hide this from them. Amongst many of those people executed were children. Hundreds of them. Many of them younger than Iris is now. Babies.'

Silence.

'They have camps for their workers. The Nazis destroyed the local companies in the beginning. They lured them into work in return for room and board. Before they knew it, they were trapped. They don't even bother with the pretence anymore. They pick people off in the street. Go into people's homes in the middle of the night. Once in the camp, you cannot get out. Men and women separated from their children. There are soldiers on the gates. They work with the local authorities. The police, for want of a better word. They are Muggle Aurors. If they escape they are ordered to shoot on sight. If they get to the borders they are to shoot on sight. In the rare cases a runner gets through, the next South American country simply picks up the baton. The soldiers who work at the camps are sadistic. They enjoy their jobs immensely. I watched a little girl get beaten to death in front of me because they were bored. Five of these inadequate creatures kicked and beat her. She wasn't even as tall as Iris. When they had finished, when her tiny body gave up they laughed. Then spat at her and kicked her to the side of the path. Lucius and the rat were amongst them. I never thought that they would be capable of that,' Severus stopped talking for a moment. He looked around the room with his eyes dark.

'I have never seen such defeated people. That little girl was one of many children and people I saw being treated like they were nothing. They were utterly defenceless. Many of them have been born in these places. What resistance there was has been utterly destroyed. It is all they know. I know my orders were to not get involved whatever the circumstances. I was to protect my mind and pretend I committed entirely to this ideology. Albus,' Severus looked directly to his old headmaster, 'I cannot go back under those same circumstances. I almost drew my wand several times. It took every last bit of self-control I had not to attack them. I can't go undercover again. My cover would be blown immediately. It would be suicide. If I was ever to return it would only be to sabotage that damn place. I want to burn the place to the ground with those bastards in it. If Gabriel is willing he can be your eyes and ears instead.'

The air felt heavy as Albus took this on board. He had suspected as much when he had seen Severus' face. He sat in contemplation. 'Are you willing to bring yourself out of the shadows, Severus? The plan was to be a double agent.'

Severus ran his fingers through his hair, 'Riddle doesn't trust me. If the circumstances had been different. If it hadn't been for some diabolical spirit he wouldn't have undertaken the ritual so soon. If he hadn't merged with these bastards then I would have thought being a double agent for you would be the best way to utilise myself but,' he sighed, 'there are too many if's. What has happened has happened. This is too big to stand by and do nothing but watch.'

Iris leant over to him and patted his arm gently. She appeared to look to his side and then nodded, 'Aunt Lily says, be brave Sev. You're doing the right thing.'

Severus looked at her intently, 'Is she here?' he whispered. Hayley smiled and nodded. She could see visitors from Equilibrium as Iris could.

'Yes,' Hayley pointed to his left side, 'She's right there.'

Iris spoke, 'I don't have to go through the doorway anymore to see them. They visit me here. Although, Gran and Bella can't see them yet. Aunt Lily and I have done some experiments. Lily, shall we show them?' Iris looked to his side again,' Lily says yes. She says it's safe. Just, don't get too close to her. We're not sure of the effects. We were going to wait, but I think Lily needs to see you now. Look, we'll show you.'

Everyone in the room sat there in various states of disbelief or intrigue. Gabriel was fixated on Iris. They watched Iris stand up and move towards Severus's side. He turned in his chair as Iris put her hand out towards what looked to them all fresh air. They all gasped as the very real Lily Potter appeared before them and their eyes were drawn both to Lily and to Iris, whose grey eyes had turned the same golden as Gabriel's. Walburga clutched the table in amazement.

Albus was the first to compose himself enough to speak, 'Lily,' he stated in little more than a whisper.

'Hello, Albus,' Lily spoke gently with a soft smile on her face.

'You look real. You're breathing,' Bellatrix said in astonishment. Lily did indeed look very real, much more than a ghost. She looked the same as all the living, breathing people in the room.

Gabriel was beaming.

'It is early days. As long as Iris holds my hand I can become solid. I don't want to push her though. We can manage about ten minutes before she gets too tired. I dare not touch anything else in the room. Even the Angels don't know the repercussions. We are doing little tests.'

Andromeda was in tears, 'Hi Lily, I can't say how happy I am to see you. I've been helping with Harry.'

Lily smiled widely at her friend, 'I know my darling. I visit you both a lot. I've seen how much you have done for him. Thank you so much.'

'No,' sniffed Andromeda, 'Thank you. Both you and James. Your sacrifice made such a difference. If only Riddle could have stayed dead.'

Walburga was simply gazing in awe at this development.

'You can make dead people live again,' Bella whispered.

Iris shook her head, 'They are already living. Just not on Earth. If I hold Lily's hand, she can visit us. There's a whole other world they live in. I can visit them in my other body,' she bragged a little.

Severus had sat there in mute silence as he gazed at Lily in wonder as she caught his eyes.

She looked at him with a look in her eyes that Andromeda had only ever seen Lily direct at James.

'Hi, Sev. It's good to be able to see you properly,' Lily said softly.

He barely nodded. Walburga noticed the tears in his eyes and she shifted uncomfortably.

'I think it best if we give these two some privacy. Well, except for you Iris. Come on everybody.'

They were all hustled out the room, even Gabriel, who seemed quite amused at being shooed out.

Severus and Lily were staring at each other nervously. Iris shifted a little uncomfortably. She had an idea, 'Kreacher,' she called. He popped in.

'Yes, mistress?' he asked.

'Could you grab me my walkman, Kreacher?'

A moment later Iris was popping them over her ears, 'Thank you, Kreacher,' He smiled back at her and looked at the scene in front of him. He, like the others, recognised Lily. Her photograph had been over all the newspapers.

'How?' Kreacher asked in wonder.

'I'll tell you later. I promise,' Iris told him. He nodded, then popped away.

Iris turned away from Lily and Severus. Her own natural magic could power the little music device. She had begged Walburga to take her to the shop around the street corner for this. Walburga had taken in just how confident Iris had been in the Muggle music shop. Buying cassettes and records. Iris pressed play and in her head started singing the latest Beastie Boys song, 'You got to fight, for your right, to party,' she was humming the chorus.

Lily looked down amused at the little girl, 'We reunited the same night Hayley came into our world. She was this tiny little girl at the veil. She was yelling for her mum. We had gone to meet Hayley. Even the Angels who guard our world were shocked at what was happening. Hayley's body was still alive and yet her spirit was in Equilibrium. Hayley had bought a part of Tom with her. It was grotesque, Sev. Deformed. Gabriel and Michael took it somewhere. Greta had said that there were a few times when Hayley would appear in our world, but they couldn't really hear each other. She ended up just sitting with her. Since that ritual things changed. Hayley can still visit us, but she can't bring the Angels or us through as Iris can. That is unprecedented in itself. That Iris can just go back and forth between us whenever she likes defies the laws of nature. Tom has broken so many laws of magic. I feel that a higher power is redressing the balance. Every day she grows stronger.'

Severus was still staring at her with a strange look in his eyes.

'Do you know?' his voice cracked a little.

Lily looked at him with a thoughtful look, 'I've never lied to you before. I'm not about to start now. Yes. I know. I know it was you who heard the first part of a prophecy. I know you told Riddle. I know you didn't know it was about me and you tried to move heaven and earth to stop it when you found out. I am disappointed in you that it could have been some other family torn apart by that information you gave him. I also know what Riddle and his influence did to you. I know the Dark Arts had consumed you and you had fought against it because of me. I have spoken with your mother on numerous occasions. I knew it hadn't been good, but I hadn't known just how brutal your upbringing was. I understand you much better than I did. I was with you that night you almost drank that poison because of your self-loathing. Then I watched you realise that fighting against Riddle would be a better path to redemption

'I can only say how sorry I am,' Severus whispered to her, 'When I heard him speak your name, I have never felt terror like it. It made me come to my senses. What I had turned into. I hate myself. I love you. I always have.'

Lily looked at Severus with a mixture of expressions on her face, 'Always. I do to Sev. I love you too. Why do you think I was so angry with you all those years? That doesn't change. The feelings you have. You take them with you. I love James too. I just wondered if there hadn't been a war…,' she trailed off.

He looked at her with a helpless expression.

'I understand, Severus. I truly do. I have seen your regret. I forgive you. Just promise me you will help keep my son safe and help him get the bastard who did kill us. The prophecy says it will be Harry who will defeat him in the end.'

Severus gave a sort of smile and grimace at the same time.

'I already vowed that to myself, Lily. A long time ago. You didn't need to ask.'

Lily gazed at him, 'Most importantly, you need to forgive yourself.'

They stared at each other then. Lily frowned a little, reaching to touch his face. Her finger couldn't feel anything. She looked down and took Iris's headphones off her. Iris pressed stop and looked expectantly at her with her golden eyes, 'Hi. I was wondering if we can try that little experiment?' Lily asked.

Iris nodded, 'Ok,' she turned to Severus, 'We thought this could work,' she held her hand out to him, 'Hold my hand. If I let go quickly don't reach out again. If I say stop, let go. We haven't done this before.'

Severus gently took Iris's hand. He felt a hum of magic resonate through him.

'Try it, Lily. I'm ready,' Iris said quietly, watching them intently.

Severus was watching Lily as she raised her hand to his face. Touching his cheek with her fingertips as he gave a sharp intake of breath, 'I can feel you,' Severus breathed out, 'Your fingers are warm,' he sounded amazed.

Lily's bottom lip was quivering. She started to sob. Tentatively, she moved forward and wrapped her arm around him. He moved closer to her as they embraced awkwardly. He put his free arm around her. Iris had enough sense to keep quiet at this sensitive time.

'You still smell like you, Lily,' he choked out. Iris peered up at him. His eyes were wet with tears. Even Iris was feeling a little emotional at this time. Severus was such a quiet, brooding person in her life. To see him so vulnerable made her see he was so much more than she had anticipated.

'How are you feeling, Iris?' Lily asked her.

'I feel fine,' Iris answered honestly, 'I can feel all our magic. It's lovely.'

They heard a knock on the door, 'Come in,' said Lily. Andromeda peered in and then walked slowly up to them.

'I couldn't keep away. Sorry,' she whispered. She looked at the embrace of Severus and Lily. Her eyes widened, 'Can I?' she asked.

Lily nodded as Severus slid away. He had a half-smile on his face as he sat down and quietly kept looking at his best friend. Andromeda took his place and was holding Iris's hand. She also started to cry when she hugged her old friend.

Iris was suddenly struck by how fortunate she was to have this gift. She realised that seeing people who had passed on like she could was not how it was for everyone else. She wondered how she would feel if she couldn't see her Gran whenever she liked. She really didn't like the sound of that.

Hayley walked in and stood beside Andromeda who had managed to pull herself together a little, 'You have to see Harry. I don't care what Sirius says. He may have guardianship, but you still outrank him.'

Lily smiled bitterly, 'I don't know whether to punch him or hug him. Probably both. My sister, and I use the term very loosely, put Harry into a bloody cupboard. I knew she was jealous of me. She used to call me a freak when I was little. I did not know she was deranged. Sirius saved my son from that hell hole. Her whale of a husband is even worse. Vernon. They thought they were perfectly normal in every way. They could not have been more wrong. But what he has done to you and Iris….'

Hayley looked at Lily, 'It will be his cross to bear Lily. You need to see your son. I won't cause a fuss. This is more important.'

Lily smiled gratefully.

'He won't listen to anyone. He is convinced Riddle has set this all up. He was heartbroken about you and James. Peter betraying you all. It did things to him. Twisted him. He lost part of himself that night,' Andromeda explained to both Lily and Hayley.

'Well, we will have to untwist him, then, won't we,' Lily said in an adamant sort of tone.

Dumbledore and the others had been making their way back inside. They were all reverently looking at Lily. Iris had started to tremble slightly, 'I'll have to let go soon. I can feel my magic straining, she said quietly.

'Oh, Merlin,' Lily gasped. Looking at the occupants of the room, she gave a brief smile, 'I'll be back. It was lovely to see you all properly. Later, Severus,' she smiled gently at him who looked back at her in a tender way. She let go of Iris and faded away from their view.

They watched as Iris's eyes returned to grey. The young girl waved to the corner of the room, 'See you later, Aunt Lily.'

Andromeda was so curious, 'Where does she go now?' she asked Iris.

'She goes home. Back through the Astral plane. You only go through the veil when you actually, you know, die. There are two big portals there. I have been told that under no circumstances am I to go through the other one.'

This sounded ominous, they all thought.