Hoping everyone had a happy New Year. I did, cooked more for the friends and family and blew their minds with another fantastic feast. And I got cook books for Christmas as gifts so I have a whole new repertoire for meals!

Also may have tried beef heart at the insistence of a keto friend, though I told my mother I did it to gain the beast's power XD

So quick note about the last chapter. A reviewer pointed out something very important to me. Someone with skills in Legilimency or Occulmency would probably be difficult to oblivate without proper training, especially by someone like Simone who has never done it before in her life. It would be near impossible for her to successfully erase Roman's memories. So for the sake of the story, I made a minor change to the previous chapter, switching the method used by Roman to be truth serum instead.

So to be clear, I've made it to Roman has no skills in the mental arts.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter Eighty-Eight: Gossip of the Century

It was a quiet evening in the Evans household until it wasn't.

The start of the evening had been normal enough, a peaceful dinner, pleasant comfortable silence broken only by the occasional complaint that they couldn't visit their youngest child at school. That seemed to be the one little issue niggling at the back of all their minds; how were Lily and Severus doing?

When they'd received the Headmaster's owl concerning the state of their daughter and ward, Hank and Willow were understandably besides themselves with worry. How were they supposed to take comfort in Dumbledore's assurances that the matter was resolve when they couldn't actually come to see for themselves that their kids were okay? It was times like these that the pair could relate to Petunia's own hang ups about the wizarding world; the muggle exclusion made things frustrating beyond belief.

They were supposed to receive another owl carrying the details of Lily and Severus's injuries, filled out by the mediwitch of Hogwarts whom, Dumbledore assured them was the best in her field. However, it would still be a days time before they got that letter, and Madam Pomfey's expertise could only soothe their worries so much. A parent needs to see their child when the worst has happened, not hear some admittedly cryptic Headmaster tell them the danger has passed.

And so much of the dinner conversation between the Evan's parents and their eldest daughter focus mostly on their overall frustration with the statue of secrecy keeping them from their loved ones during a time they were sure their kids needed them most.

Petunia was besides herself with worry. Having already a rather extreme aversion to snakes, she was too scared to picture the monstrosity Simone had described in her letter—which had been covertly delivered by Minks. Simone wrote that they weren't really supposed to talk about the actual event, so Petunia kept the letter to herself. Her parents were already frazzled by the idea of some loony attacking the children inside Hogwarts; if she revealed they'd actually faced down a monstrous, building-sized snake on top of that, both her folks would have conniptions.

It was after dinner when everyone retired to the sitting room that their quiet evening became decidedly not so quiet.

While Hank and Willow compiled a list of things they'd need to care for Lily and Severus upon their return for the summer, Petunia had taken up a spot on the sitting room floor, sprawled out with a periodical that was thoroughly uninteresting, despite the cover's claim of fascinating topics.

It was in the this cozy setting that a loud crack went off and a pair of feet stomped down just shy of Petunia's fingers, making her shriek with alarm.

Simone stood in the middle of the room in a disheveled state. Clothes mussed, hair frizzy and matted with sweat to her brow, her eyes scanned the room frantically.

Crouched behind her legs was an aged house elf Petunia didn't recognize.

"Sorry," Simone said in lieu of a greeting. She gestured to her appearance with a sheepish shrug, "Long story."

"I need to borrow you," Simone said to Petunia, reaching down to pulled her friend to her feet.

"Have her back safe and sound in a few days," was all Simone said before she, Petunia, and the little house elf popped into nothing, leaving Hank and Willow struck dumbfounded in their cozy little sitting room.

{page break}

"Is it true then?" Davis asked when Severus finally made it down to breakfast, "Are Simone and Thea really missing?"

Severus raised a hand to stall any further questions, preferring to get his baring before he did anything else. It took a great deal of convincing for Pomfey to let him out of the Hospital Wing to join the others. She didn't seem too sure of letting him loose given the extent of his injuries; apparently even in a world that could magically re-grow missing bones, brain damage was no laughing matter.

Fortunately Severus was able to convince her after a promise to take things easy for the following days. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done when he took into account the constant twitching of his limbs that made it harder to stay on his feet.

The majority of his friends had been forced to stay in the Hospital Wing well past what was considered normal due to their own exposure to Riddle's curses, particularly Lupin and Simone. Of course, they all were released sooner than Severus, but at least Lupin had been forced to stay almost as long.

No one was entirely sure at first just what sort of nerve damage a crucio could do to a werewolves' physiology. Lupin's nerves were already a mess from his constant painful transformations, adding this on top of that could have very well left him crippled after the next full moon. Thankfully, the full moon passed during the time Severus was unconscious and Lupin miraculously survived it with little more than a slight limp to his walk, one Pomfey feared would be permanent, but Lupin would take as a consolation over complete paralysis.

With a puncture lung and the full force of a crucio, Simone should have still been in the Hospital Wing just as long as Severus…if anyone could find her, that is.

"It's true," Severus said, after Lily got him into a seat, "Thea was summoned home by her parents and hasn't been back since. As for Simone, no one knows where she took off to after that."

Well, Dumbledore surely knew, but the old meddling coot wasn't talking.

"No professor can find her," Severus went on, "Her things have vanished from the dorm as well. It's like she dropped out of school."

"But that would be so unlike her," Lily insisted, "This is Simone's last year at Hogwarts; she'd been looking forward to completing it."

Davis nodded, "She's even going to miss graduation."

"Both of them are," Severus pointed out, "I don't think you all are fully grasping things. Thea's parents took her out of school; she isn't coming back."

Lily sighed forlornly, "What a thing to do to your child right before graduation."

"They did betroth her to a Lestrange," Severus stated, "Doing this hardly surprises me by comparison."

"Not much better than marrying her off to a cousin," Davis said, "Of course I wouldn't have been surprised if they had."

At the perplexed look on Lily's face, Davis cringed, not really looking forward to explaining that less favorable quality of old pureblood life, "Thea's parents are half siblings. Didn't it strike you as strange that they both have the same gift Thea has? It's only in the Mnemosyne family. An outsider wouldn't carry the gene; only way to ensure you have a kid with the gift would be to keep marriages between those of the family who possess it."

"That's sick!" Lily gagged, "Why would they have ever agreed to that?"

Davis shrugged, "That's how far some families will go to keep the bloodline untouched. Besides, it's not like they grew up seeing each other as siblings; Thea's mum was the child of a mistress, She and her brother were purposely raised separate to make marrying them to each other easier."

Nesme wrinkled her nose, "That's still gross."

"Would have been a better arrangement for Thea than a Lestrange," Davis said.

"And are we really going to sit back and let that happen?" Lily ask, horrified, "Thea deserves so much better than the likes of him. Can't we stop it somehow?"

"We faced something far worse than Thea's stuffy parents," Nesme added in agreement, "Taking them on should be a piece of cake."

Severus sighed, "In case it's escaped your notice, most of us are still injured," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder towards the Gryffindor table.

Lupin sat happily sandwiched between Potter and Black, the latter's arm thrown around Lupin's shoulder. His cane rested against the table, an expensive mahogany Potter had insisted on buying him. Potter himself was managing eating one handed while trapped in an animated conversation with Peter on his other side, the timid boy beaming ear to ear as Marlene draped herself over his shoulder with a fond smile.

"I see the Marauders are back together," Davis mused.

"Yes," Severus sneered, "How wonderful."

Lupin looked up, catching Severus eye. With a friendly smile, he waved at the dour boy, not seeming the least bothered that Severus didn't wave back.

Severus eyed Potter disdainfully, "I still can't believe that idiot has saved my life three times now. First the Willow, then on the train, and now in that blasted Chamber."

Davis pointed his spoon at Severus, "Technically, he only helped in those last two instances. Partially, minuscule even. Either way, I'm sure you'll have a splendid old grip fest with your therepis."

"That's therapist," Severus corrected with a groan, "and don't remind me. Marcus is apparently having conniptions over me throwing myself head long into—and I quote—"self-destructive tendencies.' Apparently he thinks we should have left the giant serpent to the Professor to handle."

"Imagine that," Lily teased with a grin, "That aside, I sort of miss Remus hanging out with us."

"Remus still wants to be friends with us though," Nesme said cheerfully, "I think his friends are even going to listen to him this time."

Severus watched Lupin elbow Black when the boy made faces at Severus, a chagrined expression taking over Sirius's face as he grimaced out a fake smile and waved in a show of good will.

"Here's hoping," Severus murmured, "Anyway, as I was saying—"

"Uh-oh," Nesme cut him off, "That looks like trouble."

Jessica was storming her way down the Gryffindor table, fire in her eyes. Meldonna was hot on her heels.

"This can't be good," Davis muttered.

"I guess she dropped by to visit James while he was sleeping in the Hospital wing," Lily explained as they all watched Jess rant and rave across the room, "She saw Mary using James's cloak as a blanket and jumped to her own conclusions."

All the students watched as Jess screamed and cried at James, only stopping herself when she spied McGonagall coming down from the staff table. Picking up a jug of pumpkin juice, Jess furiously upended it over James's head before storming out of the room in tears, followed closely by Meldonna and an admonishing McGonagall.

"Is he just going to let her go?" Nesme asked in surprise.

"Can't say I blame him," Davis admitted, "She seems like a right little harpy most days."

Lily hummed in thought, "I'd like to say I feel bad for her, but that's hard to do these days. I didn't exactly appreciate how eager she was to stir the pot between Mary and I just to entertain herself."

Severus snorted, "Girl would sell her own mother for a bit of gossip."

"But enough of this," he added, "What I was trying to say before is that most of us are in no condition to be taking on anyone. We don't actually know what sort of skills Thea's parents have and for that matter we don't even know where Thea lives. She's kept that secret rather close to heart."

"Simone would know," Nesme said, "if any of us could actually find her to ask…"

"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason Simone is missing is because she's already handling this?" Severus asked just as the owls arrived with the morning paper, "She's been the most determined out of anyone to stop that wedding."

Davis scratched his chin, "She did seem rather worried when she heard Thea went home."

"Simone's got money and connections," Severus stated, "She far more equipped to handle this situation than us."

"But she's injured too," Lily pointed out, ducking out of the way of an owl, "What could she do?"

An excited squeal rang up from down the table, several first year Hufflepuff girls devolving into a fit of giggles. Around them whispers and frantic chatter sprung up.

"What in Merlin's name…?" Severus said in puzzlement.

"Haven't you read the paper yet," asked a wide eyed Hufflepuff boy nearby.

Severus cocked an eyebrow, "Considering I just got it, no…"

"It's the front page," the boy explained in excited exasperation, "Serapeum and Mnemosyne; they've eloped!"

"What?" Squawked Severus's group as a whole.

Nesme snatched up one of the Daily Prophets sitting on the table, knocking over a jug of juice and sending pastries flying.

"Oh…my goodness," she gasped out, hands shaking, "It's true!"

"Let me see that," Severus demanded, yanking the paper from her grasp. Slamming it flat on the table, Severus and the others crowded around it to stare in shock at the image of a stately manor cautioned off with tape and barricades, several aurors running frantically around the photo or taking statements from house elves.

'Scandal of the Century,' read the headline.

"It was late Thursday morning," Read Severus, "That aurors were called to the Mnemosyne manor by the estate's doorman, who reported having not seen nor heard from his employers, Mister and Madam Mnemosyne, since his arrival in the early am and having found the sitting room in a state of disarray."

"Aurors quickly flocked to the scene and performed a thorough search of the property," Lily picked up for Severus, "And eventually found Roman and Appollonia Mnemosyne magically locked in a shed a mile out on the property with no recollection of how they got there. Stranger still, when questioned about the whereabouts of their missing daughter, they could not recall having had one…"

"You don't think…" Davis breathed.

Lily continued on, "After a long inquiry it was deemed that the couple had no memories or recollections of their only daughter, Theadosia and had been probably oblivated. Obliviation is estimated to have occurred sometime the previous day, after they brought their daughter home from Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Severus massaged his brow, "Looks like she did it."

"An extensive investigation," Nesme carried on, "And questioning of the house elves revealed that after an argument with their daughter—described as violent by the house elves—Appollonia and Roman were accosted by Simone Serapeum. After a volatile altercation, Serapeum oblivated them both and left with Theadosia accompanied by two house elves."

Davis leaned over the Prophet, "Following lengthy interrogation of the family's house elves , the wands of both Roman and Appollonia were subjected to Priori Incantatem. Appollonia Mnemosyne was apprehended for the use of the Cruciatus curse, the victim of which was reported by the elves to be Appollonia's own daughter. Roman was also taken into custody after claims by the house elves that he had attempted to perform an imperius curse prior to being attacked by Serapeum."

Lily went a sickly shade of pale, "They used an unforgivable on their own daughter?"

"Looks like they haven't found Sim or Thea yet," Severus said scanning the paper, "A lead came in about the pair at a Goblin-run tavern, normally frequented only by the aforementioned race, but the girls were mysteriously absent by the time authorities arrived. The proprietor could confirm the two had recently given patronage, but held firm that he had no clue where they went thereafter."

"In the midst of the confusion, the Ministry received a very shocking document; a marriage certificate certifying the union of Simone Serapeum and Theadosia Mnemosyne in a Goblin sanctioned ceremony," Severus sat back stunned.

"They got married and we weren't invited?" Nesme pouted.

"That's the part that surprises you?" Davis gaped.

Nesme shrugged, "I thought everyone knew about them."

"No!" Davis stammered.

"Quiet," Severus ordered, still reading the paper, "As Theadosia was reported to have a contractual marriage arrangement between her family and that of the Lestrange, normally an elopement could be opposed. However, treaties with the Goblin clans ranks marriages within their community as unopposable by Ministry intervention. Usually only applicable to unions officiated by Goblins for Goblins, a long standing alliance between the Serapeums and Goblin patriarch Gritstone of the Gritstone Clan acknowledges Simone as 'kin', making any attempts to void the marriage impossible without violating the treaty. Furthermore, Gritstone has reportedly threatened to withdraw substantial backing to various wizarding proprieties should any attempts to contest the nuptials be made."

Severus crossed his arms smugly, "Told you; Simone's got connections."

"Wonder what Simone's folks think of this?" Nesme wondered.

"It says here that her father was quoted as saying they were 'Tickled pink'," Lily said with a grin.

"Homosexual marriages are uncommon and oftentimes opposed in many wizarding communities," Davis read, "But among Goblin folk it is a long establish occurrence, accepted and welcome. 'Marriages are made between those who make each other richer,' Gritstone was quoted as saying when questioned by aurors, 'be it through wealth, through strength, or through heart. That who makes you stronger, makes you richer in spirit'."

"That's so romantic," Nesme gushed, "What else does it say?"

"Just that they're currently looking for Simone and Thea," Lily said, giving the paper another once over, "Oblivation isn't exactly legal when done by civilians. Only Aurors are allowed to do it in special cases, like breach of the Statue of Secrecy."

"So Sim and Thea are on the lamb as newlyweds," Davis mused, "Not exactly what I expected to happen."

"You really didn't know how they felt about each other?" Nesme questioned skeptically.

"I thought they were just good friends," Davis blurted out, "I didn't know they were an item. I mean, did any of you know?"

"I did," Severus admitted.

Davis glared at him, "Well of course you'd figure it out, Mr. Know-it-all."

"I see you all already saw the paper," Mary observed as she approached, "Everyone's been buzzing about it my whole way down here."

"Two pureblood heiresses," Severus said, "Running off to elope, ensuring their family names end with them. The biggest scandal of all pureblood society."

Lily tilted her head, "Technically, they could still have a child or two. They'd just need a willing male friend, right?"

"I'm positive a viper like Simone has teeth between her legs," Severus deadpanned, drawing snickers from everyone.

Mary shuffled her feet nervously, waiting for the laughter to subside, "So Lily, do you suppose I could talk to you for a moment?"

Lily blinked, "Oh, um…" she glanced around her at her friends, "…Sure, I guess."

Getting up from her seat, she spared Severus a questioning glance before following Mary out of the Great Hall.

"So," she began, when they were out of earshot of the hall, "What did you want to talk about?"

Mary took a deep breath turning around to face Lily, "I wanted to say…that I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Lily gaped.

"I shouldn't have acted the way I did," Mary plowed on, "I've been a really bad friend; expecting you and Severus to put my feelings first while having no disregard for your own. I can't exactly be made at you for reciprocating each others feelings just because I didn't get the guy."

"Now hold on," Lily said, raising her hands, "This is all water under the bridge now, isn't it. I mean, you risked your life for me and Severus down in the Chamber, that more than made up for everything. You don't have to apologize."

Mary shook her head, "That's wrong, because I do. I shouldn't have yelled at you, You can't help how you feel…or that Severus feels the same way. And truthfully, if you guys were already together for some time before this semester…then I pretty much weaseled in on Severus while he was hurt and took advantage of that."

Mary rubbed the back of her neck, "I mean…I guess I sort of knew at the time that he liked you—though I never knew you liked him back. I…was just sort of hoping that the hurt he felt at the time would be the incentive for him to move on from you…that wasn't exactly a fair tactic…"

"And then I blew up on you for getting back together with him," Mary added, covering her face with her hands in shame, "When you two were never truly over to begin with; he was never mine in the first place. I was hurt…and embarrassed, and in the end I ended up calling you out like that in front of the whole common room an-and vilifying you," she raked a hand through her hair, "I shouldn't have tried to humiliated you just because I was angry. It wasn't anyone else's business."

"It did sort of hurt to have you portray me as some heartless slag," Lily confessed sadly, "But you were hurting, Mary. That's understandable. You were in love."

Mary shrugged, "I guess I was…but then again, maybe I wasn't. I just…Severus was so nice to me after everything that happened on the train. But, it was like normal 'Severus' levels of nice. Everyone else, they either tiptoed around me or pitied me. I wasn't the same to anyone after what happened. All anyone saw was a victim."

"But I was still just plain old 'Mary' to Severus." Mary continued, "He didn't look at me and see the bruises on my neck…" she rubbed her eyes futilely, "Or the hand prints on my hips…With everyone else it was like this sign was hanging over my head reading 'damaged goods' or 'molested'. No one knew how to act around me. It was patronizing the level of niceness people gave me, like they saw me as fragile, something to be kept on a shelf as a reminder of what happened."

"I hated it," Mary admitted, "But whenever I was around Severus, he didn't change who he was or how he acted for me. Sure, he was nicer, but he was trying to be kinder and patient with everyone, to change for the better. How he treated me was like any of his other friends. I was 'me' again…I guess I wanted Severus because he let me be myself instead of acting like what happened changed who I was."

Mary took a breath, eyes downcast, "We aren't our trauma…that's what I heard Professor Sprout say to you once. We aren't defined by what hardships we suffer, but by how we move past them. Everyone is expecting me to be this damaged little thing the rest of my life or some beacon of strength and survival. But I just want to be me; I shouldn't have to change in order to move past this."

"And Severus wasn't expecting you to change," Lily surmised.

Mary nodded, "I think I fell in love with how he made me feel about myself, rather than with him. It was just…nice to have someone see me for me instead of what I've been through."

"It was wrong of me to demand you put my feelings first," Mary conceded, "Even after I knew just how deeply you cared for each other, I didn't want to give him up, when I never had him to begin with. I wasn't taking Severus's feelings into account either. I knew he loved you; I just wanted to ignore it because the truth hurt. I'm sorry, Lily…I should never have thrown away my best friend just for a crush."

"Can you…" she looked up a Lily, eyes swimming with tears, "Can you ever forgive me for how I treated you?"

Lily wasted no time in throwing her arms around Mary's neck, wrapping the crying girl up in a hug, "There's nothing to forgive. You came for us in the Chamber, Mary. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Mary hiccupped out a little laugh, burying her face in Lily's shoulder, "When James and Sirius caught me, they were so gung-ho about going down there; they were going to go whether I joined them or not. I know I should have still gone to find Dumbledore, but you all had been down there so long and I just…I just thought…what if that was the last time I'd see you, and—"

Lily shushed her, patting Mary back, "You were worried for us; no one can fault you for wanting to make sure we were okay."

Mary rubbed her eyes, "Still, we almost died because we had to face that thing alone without Dumbledore. Because I didn't go back to get him. If anyone had died, it would have been my fault."

"But no one did die," Lily assured her, "Well…except for Riddle, and honestly I'd consider that a plus."

Mary laughed, choked up with emotion, "I just…I never want the last thing we say to each other to be something we regret and can't take back."

She looked away, "Riddle was capable of terrible things as a mere teenager, I think that's pretty sure proof that his adult self out there is much, much worse, that we'll be facing just as much danger if not more. I don't want to be selfish or petty if there's a chance that will be the last interaction I might have with someone I care about."

"Never walk away angry, Lily," Mary cautioned, "Not from Severus, not from your family. Otherwise one day you might turn around and realize one of them is gone, and all you had for final moments were bitter memories."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lily agreed, holding her friend's hand, "I don't ever want to let someone walk away without knowing how much they mean to me. Especially not you or Severus."

"So," Mary said after a pause, "I should probably give Severus an apology at some point to, huh?"

Lily nodded, "I imagine that will be difficult. Do you still have feelings for him?"

Mary shrugged, "I suppose that won't go away overnight. I built up this image of him in my head and I think it'll take a while to accept that what I envisioned between us was never really there. Hurt, but…I would hate for him to have chosen me when I clearly wasn't who he wanted…"

"The summer a part will do me some good," Mary declared with confidence, "Give me a chance to clear my head, really focus on myself again. I'm sure by next year, this whole infatuation will seem like some silly, fleeting crush to me."

"A relationship isn't the be all, end all of everything anyway," she concluded, "I don't need a boyfriend to make me feel better about myself. All those things Severus saw in me are things I should see for myself, you know?"

Lily smiled, "I think you're going to be just fine, Mary."

Mary returned the smile with one of her own, "Yeah…I hope so."

Lily nudged her with an elbow, "In the meantime, you've got a fine reputation as a heart breaker now. Jess dumped James because of you, you little homewrecker."

"Oh my god," Mary groaned, eyes rolling towards the ceiling, "He just lent me his cloak because mine was soaked through with water from the tunnels. I didn't even know he'd done it; I fell asleep in the chair while he was waxing poetic about his 'heroic' scars. It looks more like one of Hagrid's chickens did a few rounds with him!"

Lily laughed, throwing an arm around Mary's shoulders as the pair walked back into the Great hall.

Several of you guessed long before now just how deep Simone and Thea's relationship goes. I bet you're feeling pretty damn smug right now.

Yay for other sentient races not being overly conservative! Given how long some of these mythical races live, it seems unlikely many of the would be hung up on the idea of marrying to have children. It would probably be something that was done by only a few of a clan just so the line didn't completely fizzle out, but not a requirement for every offspring of marry-able age. This whole "sex and marriage is only for reproduction" thing seems more like a human hang up, probably brought on by religious fanaticism and patriarchy (cause you know...some folks just can't wrap their heads around the idea of a woman NOT wanting to rent out her uterus to a fetus).

So fences have been mended between Mary and Lily. You know, its hard not to become overly attached to the first person who treats you like well...a person, instead of an extension of the trauma you endured. When I was in middle school, I convinced myself that I was in love with my best friend, when really, I was just fixating on her because she was the first person to not look at me with pity when she learned of my childhood. As I later learned, this wasn't love. I'm actually asexual and aromantic, but at the time, I truly thought my attachment to her was love.

Review please :)