'Dort am Klavier
stand ich bei ihr
es hatte den Schein
sie spielt für mich allein'


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Snape was devastated. Sadness was his state of mind. Utter devastation and angst were circulating his veins and burning his brain, changing the way he was thinking.
After dinner, he was taking a walk around the Hogwarts ground along Professor Snake. Professor Snake was not the most aimiable person to be around. He was rude, making all those unasked comments.
-"I told you Severus, I will be retiring soon from Hogwarts. I know you will be the best person to continue my teaching. But again, you say your wish is to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts... excellent choice, and I can't speak bad about Professor Landers, they didn't have better teacher in ages..." - Julius Snake was saying. Their steps were synchronised.
Snape decided to remain silent, not uttering what he had to say.
-"Will you be staying at Hogwarts for the whole summer? No one accept that old oaf Hagrid and Filch are here?"
-"Yes. That will be my chance to catch up with the way you teach."
-"You certainly don't need to. You are the best student I ever had" - Professor Snake looked at Severus.
Severus showed how delighted he was.
-"Thank you very much, Professor."
-"I'm not your professor anymore, Severus" - Snake reproached him.
-"Julius; I'm always forgetting" - Snape blinked his eyes.

James led Lily to a little café. People were sitting both inside and outside. They had hot chocolate and laughed at Vernon and Petunia.
-"If I could see them now... will they be able to find their way back home" - Lily wasn't worried at all.
-"Unfortunately they will" - James replied melancholically.
-"Why did you pull me out of the restaurant?"
-"I don't want her trashing your and my name by having a fight with you" - James took a sip from his cup.
-"That's a reason. You spent a lot of money, on that dinner though" - Lily placed her hand on his.
-"Money means nothing to me" - James smiled. -"I only care for you and I will do anything for you to be happy."

Petunia and Vernon had a quite blasting time finding their way back to Muggle world. Out of the restaurant, they went to Nocturn Alley (of course they didn't know how ominous place it was). They were scared by a warlock, selling little pixies in the cages. Than they circled the streets and passages until they realised they have been going around the same route.
Finally, they gathered some decency to ask a passer by for help. A kind old lady led them outside, and Vernon stiffly thanked her.

In next few days Petunia run away from both Lily and James. Her little anti-Christ spirit unable to take anything out of her reach was resentful on her sister and her fiancé.
One day, Lily and James were sitting in Lily's room, planning for their future life.
-"Tomorrow" - exclaimed James - "I'm going back to my guardians' house. Than I will buy a house, and you'll came to live with me. Than we'll marry."
-"I love you" - Lily said, and kissed him. -"When are you staring your new job?"
-"As soon as I buy us a house... I would daresay, in several days, perhaps." - James said gloomily.
-"Be careful, love" - Lily was sinister. -"I don't even like the sound of word Azkeban."
-"Don't worry... everything's gonna be fine." - James kissed her.

-"Finally" - Petunia muttered in undertone while James was saying goodbye to Lily's parents.
-"It was wonderful meeting you, Petunia" - James said, kissing Petunia on her cheek. Her body temperature raised on 41 degrees Celsius. She stood there, looking at him, bizarre stare.
Than he left. James used Floo Powder. How else was he going to carry all the luggage with him?
Next thing for him was that he arrived to his home. A spacious house, with all the furniture carrying rouge tone.
-"James, dear, is that you?" - Someone exclaimed through the house.
-"Yeah, it's me" - James replied.
-"Come and have lunch with us, we haven't even started."
-"Ok."
James headed to his kitchen. Inside, two elder people were sitting at the table. James joined in.
-"Hallo Nana, and hello Papa." - He smiled.
-"Oh James, good Lord, you should've told us that you are coming today" - man that was sitting at the head of the table said.
-"I forgot, sorry."

In next few days, James finished all the papers, and house in Godric's Hollow was his. It was small house, close to the main square of the town. It had a lovely lawn in front and private yard at the back.
He wrote to Lily, and she promised she's coming to their new home in fortnight. House was solemnly furnished, but he decided to carry about that matter after Lily comes.
A day after he moved into his new house he woke up early at the morning; first day of his new job. He pulled on one of his best robes after he took a shower. Than he shaved his face. He was ready for his first job.

James wasn't sure should he go straight to Azkeban. And even if he had to, he had no vague idea where is Azkeban and how to get there. Therefore, he went to the Ministry first. He talked to the Minister, and he gave him directions how to get to Azkeban. At Azkeban, James will have to find Governor herself. She will instruct him on everything else.
Way to get to Azkeban was easy. Inside the building of the Ministry there were several portals. There were guarded by ugly and unpleasant smelling trolls. The trolls attack no one if they are not told to. Than you just step of the portal board, and it carries you to the building of the Azkeban.

James was taken in front of the Azkeban. Enormous chateau, on a tiny island. Position of that island was invisible to Muggles with their satellites and gadgets. And it would always keep moving, laid on the shell of a tortoise whose head never dived out.
James entered the chateau, getting on a stone bridge over an abyss. Steel door that divided the extroverted part from the introverted raised by itself, letting James in. Inside, an oval chamber had three ways out. First one was where James just came from, outside world. The other one was sinister looking passage; shrieks were heard from there. James assumed that it must be way to the prisoners. Chill started taking over him. Cold sweat run down the back of his neck.
Third choice was an entrance, guarded by two perpetual patronus, in the shape of two unicorns. Naturally, James picked that door. Patronus' eyes blazed him as he passed them. Corridor after was total opposite of what could anyone imagine the most ferocious and vicious jail would look like. Walls and everything had a façade of riche Baroque. It all seemed bizarre to him, all the gold and ornaments, knowing that not far away people die most unpleasant death.
He passed the doors with all kinds of writings, James didn't care to comprehend what they were saying. On the end of the hall were the door with carved gold letters "Governor". Without knocking, he opened the door, and entered it.

-"You remembered to show up for work, Potter" - Ancilla commented sardonically, after glancing at James. She was sitting at her table, writing something. Her office was in the same style as the hallway outside.
-"Unfortunately" - he said, sitting down.
-"What took you so long?" - Ancilla finished writing, throwing the parchment aside.
-"I was over Lily's house... than it took some time, you know... afterwards, I was buying a house" - James started.
-"Good for you" - Ancilla replied shortly.
-"You don't seem happy at all, darling" - James got up, standing over her table.
-"Hah! No. Happiness is too abstract that I could fathom it" - she said, folding her arms.

Than, Ancilla shower him his office. It was the one beside hers. His office, beside the door to the hall, was linked to her office.
-"So, that's you're office... and I - er - daresay, you have some work to do" - she showed sulkily at his table. It held a large pile of files and work that was supposed to be done.
-"And you expect me to do all this" - James tried to provoke her. She just shot him a stare of annoyance, and beckoned him to follow.
-"Do you honestly think to do anything in your life" - she asked when they were out, heading out of the hall.
-"Well isn't it impeccable?" - James caught up with her. Her long and quick steps fathomed the distance.
She repeated her stare of annoyance to him. James replied to her with a puppy smile.
-"Now I will show you the less attractive part of your job" - they passed the patronus, and James felt that slimy chill again.
-"Welcome to Azkeban, Potter" - she said, getting into the small passage towards the prisoners. Yelling and cries were all over the place.
-"I will be greatly obliged if you would let me stay inside the other part of the building" - James went pale as they reached the stairs.
-"You will have to be working with Dementors, from time to time. When I'm unable to, you're the one that will give them orders" - Ancilla said in serious voice.
-"How can I talk to them, just growl... what if they try to suck my brain out?" - James followed her up the stone staircase.
-"They don't suck out your brain, they suck out your soul. And even if they did, trust me, you would have nothing to fear of..." - Ancilla replied sarcastically.
They finally reached the first floor.
-"I'll teach you after how to communicate to Dementors; it's hard, and if you don't have talent, you will never learn."
-"Well, talented one, would you please inform me why did you take me here?" - James looked around. Some of the cells were empty, the other ones had lifeless corps. They passed a Dementor looking over the cells.
-"The worst convicts are on this floor. The security is greatest here. All sentenced to spend the rest of their poor life here. Pathétique..." - Ancilla said, sadistically.
-"Neat. What if anyone gets away from here?" - James asked curiously.
-"They can't." - Replied Ancilla shortly.
-"But lets assume they did" - James didn't stop.
-"They would rot at the island. Accept... if they island is not close to the solid ground, so they can swim than." - Ancilla replied gloomily.
-"But, can't they just go to the portal in front of the chateau, and get to the Ministry?"
-"Anyone who was ever convinced to Azkeban can't be transported by that portal."
-"But" - James raised his finger, as they climber one more staircase, - "they can go to your office, and castrate both of us."
Ancilla stopped, one step above James, and turned around, facing him. She was slightly taller than him.
-"No one ever convinced to Azkeban can pass the patronus. They will castrate them, leaving them alive, until the Dementors come... and than the Dementors will suck their brain out, because when they tried to suck out your brain, they found nothing, and they are hungry. And don't ask anymore stupid questions." - Ancilla hissed at him.
-"You're so dangerous, aren't you?" - James teased her.
-"You're so immature, James Potter" - she looked straight into his eyes. Her eagle stare was obvious. It did give you creeps, but James knew her just too well to let that steel shield stop him from her sensitive inner self.
-"Like Lucius is nothing less immature than I" - James said seriously.
-"Oh, thanks on reminding me. You know, sometimes I just finally stop thinking about him, but asses like you have to remind me on... on him" - Ancilla break down. She slapped James, and he grabbed her hand pulling her to him.
-"Com'ere" - they got off the stairs onto the solid floor. -"Listen, Lucius loves you, and no matter how much time is waster, you two'll be together."
-"It's easy for you to say" - Ancilla said slowly.
-"C'mon, darling, cheer up, you'll turn this story to a fromage romance book" - James smiled his amicable puppy smile.
-"I guess you're right, James... of God, you always cheer me up..." - she said; he kept holding her hand, and he didn't let it even though she hugged him.

Shortly after Lily moved into the petit house of Godric's Hollow, the school year at Hogwarts started.
Severus found it quite bizarre and estrange to teach students who were just last year his mates. Slytherin students thoughts it's pretty cool that a person that last year was sleeping at the same room is now their teacher. Snape behaved devoted to his Slytherin fellows. He didn't have to hide his favorism to them from Professor Snake, because Snake was also pretty fond of his own students, too. He was formulating with great right to treat Gryffindors in very bad way. Abducting the points all the time for even smallest mistakes, and awarding Slytherin. To Hufflepuff and Revenclaw he was neutral. How they behaved, and how much they knew was reflected on how many points they were given or taken away.
He especially hated Gryffindors because his nemesis went there. He blamed whole Gryffindor house for Lily loving James not him.
And his loved Lily was getting married... he received an invitation on a rainy October morning. He was having a breakfast at the mensa, along all the other teachers. The owls entered the Great Hall, swapping the air with their feathery wings.
That morning, he received two letters. One from his father, Ceacilius, cursing him for what he have done. The other one he couldn't instantly guess what was it about.
'Mr Severus Snape' was written at the envelope in neat black letters. Snape carefully took it, and opened. Inside was a neatly folded note. Snape opened it, and read.
'Dear Mr Snape,
We're obliged to inform you that on November the 20the James A. Potter and Lillian M. Evans will be taking a vow in ceremony of holy matrimonial service. It's held inside the Battelfield Chateau. We expect you at 7 o'clock.'
Angst... the room spanned around him, as he closed his eyes, and inclined his head backwards.
-"Severus..." - a voice pulled him out of the delirium -"Severus, are you all right?"
It was Professor Snake. Severus opened his eyes. No one else beside Professor Snake noticed what was happening to him.
-"Not really, if you may excuse me..." - he left with no other word.

-"So you never sent me invitation to your wedding."
Ancilla said sarcastically, finishing what she was doing. She leaned into her chair, looking at James.
They were inside her office. As usual, she was working, and James was just bidding his time by talking to her. He did almost no work. Ancilla had to finish all by herself. But it was fun to have him around.
-"Oh no, my darling; do not ever think that way. I shall use this opportunity to invite you with your loveable husband to be present." - James said. He tossed one of her pens high in the air, and caught it.
-"I'll be there... with my husband..." - she said slowly.
-"That's the right attitude, girl."
-"But!" - she exclaimed. -"I don't want Lucius Malfoy to be there."
-"Why? You don't like him anymore?" - James smirked.
-"Hell no... that's why I don't want to see him, I still love him, and I don't think I will ever stop. I just can't bear seeing him anymore. It's enough that I have to collaborate with him sometimes, you know he is the Executive Minister for Foreign Business, and on the other places..." - Ancilla was saying.
-"Does he still loves you?" - James asked eagerly.
-"Yes."
-"How can you be sure."
-"He writes to me. I don't feel like replaying him."

-"James finally" - Sirius said. He was waiting for him in one of the cafes in the Diagon Alley. He wore his smile, and was going over 'Transfiguration Today'.
-"I'm sorry I'm late" - James said, greeting his friend. He sat opposite of Sirius.
-"What will you order?" - A kind old lady asked them.
-"Give me some coffee, Helge" - said James, crossing his legs in guys' way.
-"What?" - Sirius went berserk. -"You're getting married, man. How can you drink coffee? Give us two vodkas... and make them double."
-"Sirius please, I have to go back to work. This is just my lunch pause" - James was saying.
-"Shut up. You're getting married for woman you love, and you expect me to let you drink coffee? You're insane James Potter" - Sirius snapped on him.
-"You know how low my tolerance is? I can't go back like this to the Ministry. Today, I have actually work to do."
-"That's weird. By your stories, you do nothing. Ancilla finishes all the work by herself." - Sirius eyed him suspiciously.
-"Yeah, in the normal circumstances, it is that way. But she is on a trip. God, how hard this job is. I have to attend four meetings in the afternoon" - James was saying as Helge came back, bringing them what they ordered.
-"Cheers" - Sirius raised his glass. -"James!"
-"Ok" - James sighed. -"Cheers."
They exed their vodka.
-"Don't you feel better now?" - Sirius smiled.
-"Everything's spinning around..." - James covered his eyes with his hand.
-"Oh c'mon, it can't be that bad. It's just double vodka. It's just like single 80% vodka. Nothing to worry about" - Sirius was saying cheerfully.
-"I hate you" - James said, looking at Sirius.



A/N: I had some delays lately, you know like school. I have to do literacy test pretty soon, so all this progress is going quite slower than I expected. I hope I'll finish this story in four to five more parts.
AB