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"Dear Diary,

Today is the 30th of June and I've just finished graduation from Hogwarts. It was especially HARD these last two years with the extra responsibilities waiting at home on the weekends. But I can't bring myself to regret it. My little girl is getting so big and smart. She's definitely Severus', I can see it in her eyes every time she figures out something new. Her Birthday was earlier this month, though I couldn't do anything big because of all the studying and preparing. It sure made me laugh to watch her actually TRY and catch her Chocolate Frog that escaped upon opening the package. Her little fingers were just smeared with the treat but Lucy just licked them off without a care in the world. There are times when I envy her innocence but I know life is not that way. James Potter and I broke up… I seriously hadn't PLANNED on dating him. But there was something this last year and a half that made me start to think and hope things could be different between us? His manner seemed to have changed. Instead of being an Arrogant Toehagged Bully that picked on people with different views (mainly Slytherins). James looked like he'd actually developed a true interest in helping other people. We were both assigned Head Boy and Girl. So, we naturally began spending time together. Sure, he was still a prankster at heart, as were his friends "the Marauders". But these current tricks were more or less played for fun which I appreciated. Making Gryffindor laugh as one last hurrah! I was SO stupid to have fallen for it. All this time I thought James genially liked me and was turning over a new leaf. When in reality, James Potter was USING me in his ongoing feud with Severus! I thought last night would finally be a good chance to meet up with Severus and tell him the truth about Lucy. Since we weren't going to be in school anymore, I thought it might be a last incentive on my part to warn him away from the dark side. I know I'd originally planned to go at parenthood alone but I was seriously considering another chance, if only for our daughter's sake. So, I sent my Patronus with a message for him to meet me at local pub. Of Course! James Potter and his friends just HAD to be there. And practically, just as I entered, the Marauders had goaded him into a dual. Using ME as the winner's prize! I will spare you the gory details, but Severus has indeed proven himself to be a dangerous DEADLY opponent. In fact, I'm sure if I hadn't stepped in there would've been FOUR graves and NONE of them would have been my daughter's father. He's grown that powerful! It ended about as well as you could expect with everyone going our separate ways. But once James and I were alone, I really laid into him, both with my sharp tongue and my hands! I slapped him so hard across the face, his glasses were almost knocked off! And he actually had the NERVE to stare at me SHOCKED before asking WHY?! That boy seriously doesn't even THINK before he opens his mouth! Never the less, I told him "WHY" "I AM NOT A PRIZE TO BE WON! The game is OVER!" I am a Woman with her OWN thoughts and feelings that are NOT to be taken lightly. And Most importantly, I AM A MOTHER to Severus Snape's Child. So, he will always be a part of my life WHETHER James Potter likes it or NOT. There is NO room in my life for jealous PETTY BOYS! If anything, I want a MAN. A Kind, UNDERSTANDING lifelong PARTNER, who knows that the NEEDS of my child come BEFORE him! Lucy and I are a package deal!" If James doesn't accept that, then he's not the one and I don't expect to hear from him again…

Dear Diary,

Nov 23rd. Well it's finally happened; I NOW know what happened the night I got Lucy. And it came from the most unlikely source: JAMES POTTER! It was at the muggle Park where I first met Severus. Lucy and I were playing as usual…

(FLASHBACK TO EARLIER THAT DAY…)

"Wheee!" Lucy laughed as she slid down the slide and was caught at the bottom by her mother. "Again!" her little high voice pleaded.

"Alright Pumpkin, one more time" Lily said with a smile as her daughter scrambled back around to the steps. "Be careful,"

Just as Lucy slid, her eyes caught movement in the bushes. "Mommy is that doggie?" she asked excitedly.

Her mother's eyes widened; it was indeed a dog. A very BIG dog: Sirius Black!

"Come on Honey, we're leaving" she said, urgently picking up her daughter and starting to run back in the direction of her parents' car that she borrowed. But Padfoot chased them and began to herd her in a different direction. Finally cornering them against a tree while Lucy screamed and Lily cast off a powerful "Protego" with her wand.

"Sirius Orion Black!" male voice scolded as James and Remus appeared. "I asked you to keep a watchful eye on them until the right moment. Not to scare Lily and her child."

"But they were leaving," the dog turned wizard whined. "So let them, Lily I'm so-! (SMACK)

"James Potter You were behind the this?!" shouted Lily with her face bright red and her wand now in his direction.

"It wasn't like that Lily! I just wanted to see you and-!" His hazel eyes now widened from behind his coke bottle glasses as he got an up-close look at Lucy. "She really is His?"

"I told you, I had her when I was fifteen"

He gulped, "Fifteen? So, the day he called you-?"

"I was seven months pregnant and trying to tell him. Like I wanted to all year but certain people kept getting in the way and pissing him off, both of us actually. He STILL doesn't know"

James Potter squeezed his eyes shut. The reality of the situation hitting him HARD. When he opened them again, there was self-loathing and guilt that could be seen. "Lily," he addressed her in a serious tone that she never heard him use before. "Please hear me out and if you never want to see and talk to me ever again after. I WILL abide by that, even going as far as to swear on my magic."

"James?" said the other guys shocked, (particularly Sirius).

"I give you my word, I only want to talk and I promise to listen to you"

Lily bit the inside of her lip as she swayed thinking it over. "Alright, but this is a conversation we need to have alone. Remus? Could you take her back over to the swings?" she asked, holding out her daughter to the surprised werewolf.

"Me?" he questioned,

"I know you would never deliberately hurt her. You've always taken my feelings into account in our later years at school. You even tried to talk Sirius and James out of that last row with Severus which could have been a lot worse. Prove that my instincts are not wrong"

He nodded as he shakily took the child from her. "We'll be at the playground Lily"

"What do you want me to do?" asked Sirius.

"Try treeing a squirrel, I don't want you anywhere near my daughter. Until you've passed obedience school and are a good dog" she answered, still a little bitter about what happened.

Black nodded reluctantly. James wasn't kidding about the Marauders being in the doghouse as far as Lily was concerned. Only Remus seemed to have a pass, probably Peter too if he'd have been here. The little rodent always seemed busy now with his new job. Resuming his dog form, he turned in the direction of the baseball field as his ears picked up some kids practicing. The discovery of muggle sports fascinated him.

"Well, you've got your wish" said the fiery redhead once they were alone. "Start talking,"

James rubbed the back of his neck, "You were right Lily, I have been very…selfish over the years when it came to you. Or rather the Idea of you, as you so eloquently put it last time, we saw each other. Ever since we met on the train. I could not for the life of me understand what you saw in Sn-Severus Snape, I still don't. But seeing that girl, makes it all the more real there was something. She's beautiful Lily,"

"Thank you,"

"At least she didn't inherit her father's nose-"

"James!"

"Right, sorry. The point is, I should not have been targeting Severus to get your attention. It was wrong, I know that now. Whatever my feelings against him and Slytherin house. I didn't see how much I was hurting you. I just…wanted you to chose me. I never set my sights on any other girl, I still haven't"

"Is that supposed to flatter me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

James shook his head, "No, but it is the truth." He paused before "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead,"

"You said she-"

"Lucy,"

"Lucy was born when you were 15, Do you- do you remember how it happened?"

"If you're talking about the delivery-"

"No, I mean- the night you got pregnant?"

Lily sighed shaking her head, "No, it's always been a mystery. I know she's his because of the paternity spell. But that night? It's a blackout, I just remember having a massive headache and hang over early September."

"Was it after the Hogwarts Homecoming Founders Anniversary Ball the first weekend we got back to school?"

"Yes… it was. WHY do you know something? James Potter if you do know something? Please Tell me!"

James sighed as the guilty look came in his eyes again. "Lily… Peter, Remus, Sirius and I tried to liven up the party in typical Marauder fashion. I was still annoyed that you didn't come as my date. But instead chose to go as friends with Severus. I knew he liked you as probably more than friends. I saw an opportunity to humiliate him-"

"You didn't?!"

"I did, when Snape went to the punch bowl to get you both a drink. I spiked it with Fire Whisky the strongest one The Three Broomsticks had but I couldn't remember which one was yours and his-"

"JAMES!"

He looked down, "You both got quite-" he cringed. "Severus confessed his love for you, and you started making out with him before grabbing his hand and leading him out of the room. Sirius and I followed, you both ended up in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom…. Listening to the sounds, I became angry that I wasn't your first and wanted to pull him off of you but it was too late. And in my arrogance, my jealousy grew. I couldn't believe I had lost this time and was determined not to let it happen again.

I was Stupid Lily! It never EVEN occurred to me that you would get-! I hurt you, I hurt you ALL and I'm sorry, Truly. I-! I know that I don't have any right to ask you for your forgiveness but I felt I owed you the truth"

Lily was silent for a long time before she opened her mouth again "Thank you…"

(End of FLASHBACK)

It was dark, by the time the train pulled in and the students all clamored outside and got into their groups according to their year. Lucy watched Harry go with the other first years and was about to turn around to find her own group. When she heard Hagrid call her name.

"Lucy! You come with me an' the other first years. You haven't been sorted into yer house yet!"

Her brother smiled and waved beside Ron, inviting her over. As the elder sibling came to stand beside the groundskeeper, he smiled and took her hand.

"Hello Lucy! Great to see you here!" before raising his voice and the lantern in his other hand, giving instructions. "First years! Follow me ta the boats! No more than three to a boat!" "Lucy," he said in a softer tone. "You'll be sharing with me," she smiled as the half giant tried to be gentlemanly and help her inside though the bigger boat that wobbled a little.

"Thank you,"

"Not a problem, just glad to finally have ya here".

The ride across the lake to the magnificent castle was spectacular, with the exception of one small boy falling out of his boat and being spat back out of the water by a giant squid? Inside the castle was incredible as well. Lucy felt like she could just get lost exploring. So caught up, that she failed to notice the beginning of Harry's introduction to Draco Malfoy, she got the end though and was proud of her brother for sticking up for himself and his new friend.

Minerva or Professor McGonagall now, then made an appearance before going over the rules and leading them into the great hall. Lucy stayed behind the group watching the younger ones go first. The hat song was interesting, having never heard a hat sing before that didn't require batteries.

Hermione Granger went into Gryffindor, surprisingly. Lucy had pegged the girl as more of a Ravenclaw but who was she to judge? The name "Neville Longbottom" raised an eyebrow on Harry's part, having remembered Mary Jane.

"Is he?"

"Mary Jane's nephew, his father was her older brother. Neville probably doesn't know, because of how tight lipped his grandmother Augusta is about her daughter" Lucy whispered back as the damp boy sat on the stool before "Gryffindor!" was call out.

He nodded and listened for his turn. Her brother's sorting was one of the longest before the hat ended up choosing Gryffindor. Lucy clapped, smiling for him and his warm welcome to the lion house. Ron Weasley joined him thereafter. At least the friends could be together.

One by one all the first years were all sorted until it was finally her turn.

Professor McGonagall spoke again. "And now can we please welcome Hogwarts' first transfer student since the War: Lucinda Potter!"

At her name, one of the teachers at the head table spat out his drink and began coughing. He had shoulder length oily black hair and familiar dark eyes? None this less she walked over and sat on the stool before the hat was placed on her.

"Ahh! So, you're the older one the staff was getting excited about? Now let me see… Difficult, just like your brother. You do both your parents proud. You have the mind of a snake, never one to automatically rush into danger but you stand your ground with cunning. You also have the heart of a lion with your courage and loyalty to family and memory. "With that in mind. Better be... GRYFFINDOR!"