~Turnabout Is Fair-Play~

It was looking to be another beautiful day. Harry stared out the window for a little longer before he left the dorm and headed to the common room. He was met with cheers and whoops

"All right there, Harry?"

"Have a good game..."

"Chin up Harry!"

He smiled feebly at them and slipped away to find Ron and Hermione. They were waiting for him by the portrait hole. When he reached them they pushed their way out of the room.

"Well, Harry, how do you feel?" ventured Hermione as they headed towards the hall for breakfast.

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged "As ready as I am for any other game, I guess."

"You're going to be fine," Ron was glancing around as if he didn't quite believe it "I mean, with all the extra protections and people around, you talked to Professor Lupin didn't you?"

"Yeah" Harry mumbled. It was great to see Professor Lupin again and Harry felt better having him at the school. He wished that Sirius could've come along as well but he was busy doing some investigation for Professor Dumbledore.

When they reached the Hall it was already nearly full, everybody wanted to get an early start. Harry didn't talk much over breakfast. Truth was he was extremely nervous about the whole thing. No matter how much he was reassured about his safety he just felt wrong somehow. It was very hard to explain.

Vexus rolled over in the bed and yawned. She opened her eyes and let out a little surprised squeak when she saw Severus sitting in the chair watching her. She drawled sleepily "Good Morning. I would ask what you're doing or how you got in but I don't need to."

She stayed under the covers; she knew that the gown she was wearing would give her away the moment she stood up. She pulled the covers up a little further.

"Get up."

Vexus wasn't sure she heard him right "Excuse me?"

"Get up. I want to see you." Snape sat with his hands crossed in his lap, a look of suppressed rage flitted across his face. "I want to see you stand up, without your robes to hide under."

Vexus felt her face go hot and she knew she must have been blushing a deep red. "Severus, what are you going on about? You want to see me standing?" Somewhere in her mind she knew that she was only making it worse by not just getting up.

He flew out of the chair and grabbed her arms. Pulling hard, he yanked her out of the bed to stand in front of him. Vexus winced, fast movements hadn't been comfortable for a few weeks and it had hurt when he snatched her up.

"Severus, you're hurting me." She tried to not sound anxious but she couldn't keep it out of her eyes.

Snape let go of her arms. Vexus wore a thin satin gown, it hung down to mid-thigh length and it clung to every curve. She felt like she may as well have been naked. He took a step back and looked her up and down. When his eyes passed over her mid-section his lips tightened to a thin line.

Vexus hung her head and drew a ragged breath. 'He's going to leave I know it. He's going to hate me now.' she thought miserably. Her eyes stung as tears welled up. She whispered "Severus, I...I didn't know how to tell you...I was afraid of what you'd do...I'm sorry..."

Vexus looked up into his eyes, they were a black as ever but had acquired a strange expression. Snape sunk back into the chair and put his hand to his head. "This is it. This is why you didn't want to be around me."  

"Yes."

"Why didn't you just tell me? Wouldn't that have been better than putting me, both of us, through all this nonsense. What did you think I was going to do?" He sounded exasperated.

Vexus sank down onto the bed and spoke softly "I don't know. I... just didn't know. I was afraid that you'd hate me and…I don't know what I've been thinking Severus."

Snape stood up and started pacing the room "Well, are you going to tell me the details or am I going to have to shake it out of you?"

"You wouldn't!"

"I would."

Vexus clenched her teeth, and then took a breath "I am due on August the 12th. And there is not one baby there are two, twins: a boy and a girl. That's why you can tell already."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing you need to worry about." she grabbed a pillow and hugged it up against her body "I won't blame you if you turn around and walk out of this room right now and never look back. I was wrong to not tell you, but I won't make you be a part of a life that you don't want."

Snape stopped his pacing and leaned up against the wall "Thank you for that, because I should've been the first one to know. I didn't want it and I don't want it. I had no intention of starting a family, especially with you. That was the furthest thing from my mind and I will not be sucked into some fairy-tale life. It's not for me OR you, in case you had forgotten. " He spoke the words with such coldness Vexus shivered. It was so, well, downright mean she felt like she'd been struck. Steeling her resolve she stood up and assumed as much of an air of authority as she could assume under the circumstances.

"Then I suggest that you leave now Professor. If you think that and know that you don't want to be a part of this you need to leave right now." She walked to the door and flung it open. She stood by the door waiting for him to make a move.

"Fine. Good Day Professor. I regret that it has come to this..." Snape snarled as he crossed the room.

"I don't think you've ever regretted anything Professor." Vexus interrupted him "If you would hurry and get out, I need to get dressed."

After the door was closed and re-locked (with a new password) Vexus slid down the door into a heap on the floor.

'Serves me right. I should've KNOWN that bastard would do this.' she fumed. She placed a hand on her stomach "Guess it's just you and me kids" she whispered to the empty room.

When 3 o'clock rolled around the whole school was in such a state of excitement they could hardly be contained. The players had been secluded in a pair of empty classrooms so that they could gather their thoughts and prepare with out being harassed. There were a whole section of new stands erected to hold the visitors to the school. People "oohed" and "ahhed" at the players there for the try-outs. Ron had to be restrained by Hermione and Neville when he spotted the keeper for the Chudley Cannons sitting on the first row of seats.

Unnoticed by the general population of students, teachers and guests was a ring of well-placed wizards and witches surrounding the stadium. They were spaced out among the crowd and seemed to just be milling about. Ron and Hermione knew what they were there for, Remus Lupin was one of the ones in the ring and had told Harry (who had told the other two) that they were there to spot and counter any trouble.

Eventually the stands filled and the players swooshed out into the stadium. There were cheers from all the houses. As fate would have it the exhibition teams had been evenly split between the Hogwarts Houses. Each team had chosen a name for itself and there had been many arguments over them.

The Magnificent Seven (one of the players had seen a Muggle movie by the same name over the summer and had insisted that they use it) was comprised of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw players.

The Curses were Slytherin and Hufflepuff, which infuriated the Slytherin students but Professor Snape had approved it so there wasn't much they could say.

Madam Hooch took up her place at the center of the stadium and the players gathered around.

"I will not tolerate any foul play. I expect this to be a clean game. You are representatives of Hogwarts and no bad conduct will go unpunished." She scrutinized the teams and watched them all nod in agreement.

She blew her whistle, threw the quaffle into the air and released the bludger and the snitch before mounting her broom and taking off.

Harry sped straight up into the air and decided to circle the stadium once to look for the snitch. He saw Malfoy at the other end of the field go into a dive. Following his path Harry saw a flash of gold. Gritting his teeth he leaned forward and took off in that direction.

"There goes Malfoy after the snitch!" the announcer shouted. Since the match was a pretty big deal the same announcer from the World Cup was calling it.

"Oh wait! Potter is hot on his tail and OH MY! That was a close one, that well placed bludger nearly took Malfoy's head off!

Harry had lost sight of the snitch when he pulled back to keep from getting hit as Draco swerved to miss the bludger. Taking advantage of Draco's distraction Harry shot back up high in the air to scan for the snitch.

"And the Magnificent Seven score!! Ten points!" The announcer's shout filled the air and the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws cheered loudly.

Down in the stands Ron glanced over at Professor Lupin who was watching the game but stopped every couple minutes to survey the crowd and the area around him. Vexus was watching him as well from her seat with the rest of the staff. She was still looking in his direction when Remus looked up. He smiled at her and bowed his head. Vexus was aware of the blush that covered her cheeks; she smiled back and returned her gaze to the game. Her thoughts, however, were on the meeting she and Peregrine had been summoned to. They had laid out the final details of the plan. At exactly 4:05 p.m. Harry's broom would be summoned using the accio charm. The plan was so simple it was brilliant. When the broom was summoned it would take Harry with it and there was no way to block the spell. They decided to do it during the match, as the resulting confusion would make it harder to gather up a defense. Once Harry was in Voldemort's possession the key Death Eaters would be summoned to confirm Potter's capture. Then they would all leave, and take up their positions in Hogsmead for the next stage of the plan. That is, to capture Dumbledore (or try to anyway.)

The Curses had scored and it was a tie game. There was a hum of wings and something flew by Harry's face. He saw the snitch take off towards the far end of the field Draco was right behind him as Harry sped away. The snitch wasn't diving, it was just zooming along and Draco and Harry were neck-in-neck. They bumped each other in their efforts to go faster. When they reached the end of the stadium the snitch turned and flew straight up.  Neither boy was willing to let the other win and in unison they shot up after the snitch. Just as Harry was drawing closer to the snitch his broom did the strangest thing. It turned sharply and flew out of the stadium, with Harry still hanging on for dear life.

'They're early' thought Vexus.

In the stands there was a collective gasp and the announcer was heard over it all shouting, "What the devil is Potter doing?"

Vexus looked towards Snape and stood up. She quickly made her way down the steps and to Lupin.

"Did you get to try to slow him down?" she shouted it over the din of the students who all seemed to be shouting.

"No he was moving too fast!"

Snape came up behind her and grabbed Vexus' elbow "We have to go. Now. He'll be expecting it." As soon as the words left Severus' mouth Vexus howled in pain. She clutched her arm to her stomach and looked a Snape. He had gone pale and was holding his own arm. She pushed up her sleeves to look at the Mark. It had turned completely black.

Suddenly Dumbledore was with them and one look at Vexus and Snape told him all he needed to know.

"Very well, go on, do all you can."

They took off at a run off the school grounds where they could disparate.

Lupin looked at Dumbledore "What now?"

Albus watched the rapidly shrinking figures running across the lawns. "We let the others know and gather together. Then we wait."

Vexus appeared first and started walking towards the house; Snape popped in behind her and quickly caught up. Together they entered the house. They were apparently the one first ones to arrive; there was only one other person in the room. It was the masked Death Eater Vexus knew to be Peregrine Wulf. Vexus controlled her expression to keep from registering her surprise.

The door swung open behind them and the others began filling the room. Vexus and Snape took their places and waited.

'Please let Harry be o.k. Please let Harry be O.K.' was all Vexus could think as they waited.

The door opened again and Peter Pettigrew entered the room dragging a gagged and bound Harry Potter, Voldemort followed them.

"I am sure you all remember Mr. Potter," Voldemort sneered. Several of the others smiled at the joke.

"Now here we are again and I have realized my prior error. I should've just killed you. No matter, there will be no mistakes this time."

Vexus saw Harry's eyes move around the room and widen when he saw her and Snape standing there. 'No Harry! It's not what you think!' she wanted to shout it at him. He knew about Snape but hadn't known about Vexus' involvement.

"I ask all of you to leave now. This will be handled by me and I want you all in your places for the next effort." The masked figures shuffled out of the room, Snape turned to go with them but Vexus just stood there.

Voldemort noticed and snapped at her "What?"

She fixed her face with an evil smile and stepped forward "Father I want to see this. I have had to put up with this brat for months and I would like to witness his demise."

"Very well" Voldemort's oily voice sounded pleased and he beckoned for her to come closer.

"Wormtail, leave us." Pettigrew looked from one to the other and scurried out of the room. Voldemort took out a wand and released Harry from his bondage.

"Professor Vexus! Why? What are you doing?" Harry shouted at her as he backed away from them. "You lied to me! You said that you were trying to protect me!"

Vexus crossed her arms and casually looked at her watch. It was 4:20 p.m. She looked back up at Harry.

"Stupid boy, after all these years and people NEVER being what they seem to be you should've realized that I was going to deliver you to my Father. After all, doesn't your scar ache when you get near me?" She approached him and reached out her hand to touch his forehead. Harry flinched back but didn't feel any burning. Vexus was standing in front of him, blocking him from Voldemort's view. Harry raised his eyes to her face and saw her mouth the word "SCREAM."

Harry let out an ear splitting scream that would've convinced even the most jaded onlooker that he was in some serious pain.

"Good," mouthed Vexus and she stepped back. "Father, may I have a go with him? I have wanted to for so long."

Voldemort nodded and Vexus pulled out her wand. She pointed it at Harry and spoke "Crucio!"

Harry went rigid but he didn't feel the pain, instead it was a warm soft sensation. He gaped at Vexus who looked strained. 'I need to scream again. She's countering it somehow.' He seized up and wailed. It wasn't hard to remember the pain from the first time he felt this curse.

Still screaming he saw Vexus whip around and point the wand at Voldemort "Crucio!"

She shouted it at him and Harry saw Voldemort's face contort briefly.

"Fool! What are you doing?" Voldemort was able to shake off the effects quickly and Vexus moved to shield Harry.

"I am finally doing the right thing. Stupefy!" She yelled at him. Voldemort was hit by the spell and was stunned.

They had been making a lot of noise and the door flew open, Snape stood there trying to take in the scene. Voldemort hissed at him "Don't just stand there, curse her!"

Snape whipped out his wand and leveled it at Vexus.

"Severus, don't make me! Expelliarmus!" His wand flew out of his hand and she grabbed it.  "Crucio!"

Snape felt the same sensation Harry had and remembered the conversation he'd had with Vexus so many months ago. He fell to the floor writhing in mock pain.

"Severus you will be punished for your involvement here! It' Azkaban for you!"  Vexus growled at him.

Snape pulled himself up off the floor and laughed inwardly 'She should've been an actress.'

Vexus bared her teeth and added one more thing "Pertificus Totalus!" 

Snape felt himself go rigid and he toppled back onto the floor. He heard the rest while staring at the ceiling.

Vexus felt Harry stand up behind her and she addressed Voldemort again "You can't kill me."

Voldemort laughed his cold laugh and aimed his wand at her "I can't?"

Vexus pushed open the front of her robes to reveal her stomach "I have your heir. Face it, you're not going to have another chance, I'm it. This child is your legacy and the only chance you're gonna get."

Keeping his wand pointed at her Voldemort sneered, "What do you mean, my only chance?"

Vexus took a step backwards and put her hands behind her back. She grabbed Harry by the hips and pulled him up against her. Snape would've glared at them, if he could've turned his head to see it

"If you want me to explain it I don't mind. I'd wager that you aren't even capable of having another child. Pity I wasn't born a boy. The child I carry is though." Vexus let her eyes flick to the clock on the wall. "This is your one and only shot at creating a legacy, a line of the purest wizards."

Looking at Snape Voldemort hissed, "You are the Father?"

Severus lay there mutely so Voldemort returned his attention to Vexus. "What makes you think I need that child?"

Still holding on to Harry Vexus spoke "I know that you can die. You wouldn't want to kill Potter here so badly if you weren't afraid of him."

Vexus laughed "You hate Harry for what happened to you and I'll admit that revenge is a great motivator, but I know something even better: the survival instinct. You want him dead because you know that he's the one who is going to finally stop you forever."

Voldemort screamed at her "I should've killed you the first time I laid eyes on you. He raised his wand, but Vexus was faster.

"Expelliarmus!" The wand flew out of his hand and for a moment Voldemort seemed stunned. Then he rushed at them.

"Stupefy!" A new voice rang out from across the room.  Voldemort turned to look at the second door leading into the room.

"STUPEFY!" came the curse again and Voldemort stumbled slightly.

"PEREGRINE! Get over here right now!" Vexus shouted and took her hand off Harry to reach out.

Wulf aimed her wand at Voldemort again "Stupefy!"

Vexus looked over her shoulder "Harry, hold on to my robes!" she turned her attention to helping Peregrine. Voldemort was a very powerful wizard but after being hit by five curses he was slowed down. Peregrine jumped out of his reach and threw over a chair. She dove behind Vexus. Harry whispered to her, "Grab onto her robes!"

Voldemort had recovered his wand and looked at Vexus with a demented gleam in his eye "You first, you're more trouble than you were ever worth. The others will watch you and Potter die. Then they'll join you."

Vexus grinned at him "Fine, see you in hell Father."

The clock on the wall clicked over and it was 4:30 p.m.

There was a loud popping sound.

Voldemort shouted out "Avada Kedavra!"

He lowered his wand and screamed.

They popped back into existence on the front lawn of Hogwarts. Vexus turned to Harry and grabbed him in a hug. "Are you all right? They didn't do anything to you before we got there did they?"

Harry hugged her back and shook his head no 'This must be what it's like to have a mother.' He thought sadly.  She stepped back and looked him up and down.

Peregrine spotted the forms of Dumbledore, Lupin, Hagrid, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and a host of others running towards them. "The cavalry has arrived" she quipped. Vexus looked at Peregrine and then grabbed her in a hug as well.

Vexus pulled back and motioned for Peregrine to step forward. "We had a meeting last night about a change in the plan. They decided that since there were so many extra people around, especially people who were against Voldemort it was too dangerous. So it was decided that they would use the summoning charm."

Peregrine took over "The idea was that they would summon the broom during the match. There would be no way for Harry to stay behind, if he let go of the broom he'd surely fall and being the player that he is he'd hold on and be brought along." She finished and looked back at Vexus.  Cornelius Fudge stepped around to stand next to Dumbledore.

"You were one of them and never told us." He looked at Vexus "And you knew it too. Explain yourself."

"I think that the only person here who matters knows why I did what I did," growled Wulf "I had, what I though were three good reasons but in the end it turned out I had been wrong. I saw the error of my ways and tried to help."

The muscles in Fudge's jaw tightened and released several times but he didn't say anything.

Remus Lupin looked at Vexus who had started swaying slightly. She noticed him watching and regained control.

"I think that we should take this inside," Lupin said "everyone's been through enough and standing out here is probably not a good idea anyway."

"Ah yes, good idea Remus." Dumbledore took Peregrine's hand and started towards the doors of the school. Vexus took a step forward and stopped. Lupin was still watching her and saw that she'd gone a very pasty white "Vexus, do you need some help?"

Vexus felt rather odd. She was weak all of a sudden and lightheaded. Her vision was slightly blurry and it seemed like there were two Lupins in front of her. But when Remus touched her she pulled back from him "I don't need help from either one of you. I can make it in all by myself." She straightened her robes and lifted her chin. Vexus took two steps forward and hit the ground.

Remus was standing at the end of Vexus' bed talking quietly to Dumbledore several hours later "So you think it was her countering the Cruciatus curse?"

Dumbledore nodded "Yes, from what Harry has told us, instead of the pain somehow she was able to reduce it to a warm tingly sensation."

"That must've really taken it out of her then. To speak the curse and try to focus enough to counter it at the same time." He shook his head, "And she did it twice too."

Dumbledore smiled "I must admit it was a brilliant idea to make her own robes into a port-key."

"Yes, that was a stroke of genius, I wondered how she managed it at first, but that just makes so much sense when you think about it. That way she could be sure to get herself, Harry and Peregrine back to the school. It must have been tricky figuring out the timing"

The doors to the Hospital Wing were flung open making both men jump.

Severus stood in the doorway looking like he had just been through hell. He limped over to the nearest bed and leaned against it. "Is she all right?"

Albus rushed to him and helped lead him over to the bed. "She's fine, just very tired. Apparently by countering those curses she, well, drained herself somehow. In other words she's exhausted."

"Glad to see you made it Severus." Remus' voice was sincere but Snape didn't hear that.

"You get back. She's my responsibility."

Lupin glared at Snape "Well then you should act like it."

"You got nerve telling me how to act!"

Lupin lowered his voice "Severus, I don't really care how much it hurts your pride, but you need to at least treat her with some consideration."

Lupin strode away from the bed. Snape grabbed Lupin's shoulder as he passed by, "She didn't even tell me!"

Remus turned around and fixed Snape with a look of pity "Probably because she was afraid you'd turn your back on her. You don't think about other people very much do you Severus?"

He shook lose of Snape's grasp and left.

Albus watched the scene play out without comment. When Lupin had left he turned to Snape. "What happened after they left?"

Snape winced as he leaned back against the pillows on the bed "The Dark Lord was enraged. Since there wasn't much for me to do other than lay there" he spat out the words "I waited until he had calmed down enough to remember I was there. He performed the counter curse and took his anger out on me."

"I suppose you realize why she did that."

"I have no idea." Snape shooed Madam Pomfrey away, she had come over and was trying to size up how injured he was. "Leave me be woman!"

Dumbledore nodded at Poppy and she went back into her office. "She did it to protect you. She knew that if she brought you back with her and Harry, there was no way you could continue helping us, by spying for us. Vexus knew that he would kill her no matter what, and Peregrine was the same, but you, you were still one of his own. She did it to protect you Severus."

Snape looked at Vexus who had been sleeping soundly through the conversations 'Why did I ever let myself get drawn into this' he thought bitterly. Snape stood up "I am going to my chambers. Is there anything else Headmaster?"

"No, Severus. Nothing that I have any say over."

Vexus opened her eyes and blinked to focus, there was someone sitting at the side of the bed and she turned her head to see who it was.

"Hello Remus."

He stood up and moved closer to the bed "How are you feeling?"

"Ah, better, I guess…" She yawned and stretched. Vexus glanced around the hospital wing.

Lupin saw it and his voice was soft when he spoke "He's not here."

Vexus leaned back and closed her eyes, "I knew it. I knew he would do this.' She wanted to cry but Vexus wasn't going to do that in front of Remus. So she bit her lip and looked up at the ceiling.

"I knew he wouldn't be here." She murmured.

Lupin reached over and took her hand "He's not, but I am."

She looked at him and laughed, "You barley know me, Remus."

"I'd like to change that, if I could."

The carriage was ready go and Vexus was standing outside waiting. She leaned her head back to look up at the castle. "Good bye again, I'll miss you." She spoke softly to the stone walls.

It was a beautiful day in late May and she was more than ready to go. It had been four weeks since the events with Voldemort. Vexus was leaving the school as her pregnancy was getting harder and the stress of seeing Severus was making life miserable for all concerned. He was stubbornly holding to the position that he didn't want anything approaching a family. They had many heated arguments, the last of which the prior night. It didn't help that she had grown very close to Remus who had told her that he'd gladly do what Severus would not, but Vexus decided that it would be too awkward for all three.

She heard footsteps behind her and looked to see Harry, Hermione, and Ron approaching. "Come to see me off?" she called out to them

Harry replied first "I wish you could stay."

Vexus hugged him and whispered, "I wish I could too. But you'll be fine. Professor Lupin is taking over for me. You're in good hands Harry."

She hugged Hermione next "Take care 'Mione. You'll be head girl one day."

Ron blushed furiously but let her hug him too "I think out of all the Weasley's you're my favorite," she laughed as he turned a deeper shade of red.

There were a few moments of awkward silence before Vexus shooed them back into the school "Don't watch. Never watch someone you care about leave. That just makes it worse."

The three turned to go back into the school and ran into Professor Lupin and Professor Wulf coming out.

"Are you ready Peregrine?" Vexus asked her friend.

Peregrine shrugged, "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's get going, I want to get there before sunset."

Vexus nodded and watched Peregrine climb up into the carriage. Lupin had approached and spoke, "It's a good thing, you going with her like this."

"It's the right thing to do. And it's for me too. I knew Rotorus and I want to say my own goodbyes."

Lupin took her hands "Why won't you come back with her then?"

Vexus pulled back and smiled ruefully at him "It's time for me to leave."

Remus helped her get up into the carriage "You don't need to leave."

"Yes I do. No matter how much I want to stay it's just not right for me to be here anymore." She smiled at him "I did what I was here to do, now I need to go."

She leaned over to give him a peck on the cheek; Remus turned his head and caught her mouth with his own in a soft kiss.

When she broke away there were tears in Vexus' eyes "I'm so sorry Remus." She wiped her face with her sleeve and smiled sadly at him "Next lifetime."

He nodded "Next lifetime, Vexus." 

He spoke a few words and the carriage pulled away; soon it was a speck in the distance.

Lupin started back towards the school just as the doors were flung open.

Severus stood there, chest heaving, his hair more disheveled than usual; he looked about quickly, "Has she left already?" he panted.

Lupin approached and put a hand on the other wizards shoulder "It's too late for good-bye, Severus."

He left Snape standing outside the school with no sound other than the wind blowing across the lawn.

As they bounced along in the carriage Peregrine studied Vexus' face "He's right you know. You don't need to leave. If Severus wants to act like a jackass it's not your fault."

"I know that. It's just not fair to expect the rest of you to put up with it. Besides the twins are due right before the start of the next term, I'd have to miss half the year anyway." Eager to change the subject Vexus asked, "So what will you be doing this summer Peregrine?"

"I think I'm going to go home. I haven't been back in years and I have always wanted to paint a few landscapes of our family home. Might even get a new dragon."

Vexus grinned, "Why Professor Wulf, you know it's illegal to keep dragons as pets!"

"So I've been told!"

They went on in silence for a while longer. Before Vexus spoke again "I'm going to miss you Peregrine. I really am. Will you do something for me?"

"Just ask and it will be done."

"I'd like a paining."

Peregrine raised her eyebrows "Of what?"

"You decide," Vexus turned her head to look back out the window.

One Year Later…

"Morion, sweetie, take that out of your mouth!"

Vexus jumped to grab a fork out of the child's hand. "No, honey, you use the spoon!" She laughed as the baby instead stuck his hands into the bowl of potatoes. She turned her attention to the girl in the other high chair "That's it Mya, atta girl, you've figured it right out!"

They were eating lunch outside today. The ocean rolled onto the beach, and several gulls flew overhead.

Vexus looked up at the sky and smiled; she had the whole day to herself. She was still wearing the bathing suit from her morning swim and her skin held a healthy tan glow. Morion knocked over his cup but she was faster. A flick of the wand she always kept on hand and the cup was righted and the juice back where it belonged.

Both children laughed as she made several large bubbles float out of the wand.

Half and hour later both of them were fast asleep in their cribs and Vexus was sitting out on the veranda scribbling away in a notebook. She reached up to push her bangs out of her eyes. The long hair was gone, replaced by a short boys cut and the sun had lightened it to a golden-red color. When she cut her hair off she had sent it to Severus. She knew that it was hard to find hair that long and the potions suppliers always wanted ten times more than it was worth. She wrote him a note explaining that he should make whatever use of it he could, and she wouldn't even charge him for it.

There had been no response.

She stopped writing while thinking about that and shook her head before starting again. She had to get this volume finished. The publisher was getting antsy and she knew that if she delayed it any longer her agent would insist on coming to visit until she was done.

The sound of a truck made her look up. 'Who the hell is that?'

She could've sworn there were no appointments today; she squinted into the glare from the car's windshield. A tall figure was approaching carrying a wrapped package. A very large wrapped package.

"Hello! Can I help you?" she called out.

"Yeah, if you're Ms. Kline. Are you?" it was a deliveryman. He looked tired and she hopped down the steps to meet him.

"That's me, do I need to sign or something?"

He grinned "Nope just a tap of you wand here and we'll be set."

"Magical delivery…wonder what it is.' She mused as she ran back to get her wand. A tap and the package was hers. She used a levitating charm to get the thing back into the house.

 She pulled the heavy brown paper off and inhaled sharply. It took Vexus a moment to collect herself and open the small note that had fallen to the floor as she pulled away the paper. She opened the note and read:

Dear Vexus,

Finally! I hope that you like this, you DID tell me to decide what to paint after all. It took some doing (and a little artistic license) but I was very happy with how it turned out

We miss you so much and hope that you're doing well. I had a good laugh at everyone trying to make the pictures of the children that you sent to us move. It was rather entertaining.

Please consider my invitation again; I'd love for you to see the old place back home. Wales is beautiful in the summer! I think that the children would get a kick out of Cullain too (he's harmless I swear!)

Professor Lupin sends his best, as do Minerva and Poppy. Ron and Harry asked if you could send them a copy of the next book and Hermione wants one with the optional study guide.

I guess that's all. Write back and let me know what you think of this.

Much Love,

Peregrine

Vexus stepped back to sit on the little footstool in the living room. She propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin in her hand. She sat that way for a long time looking at the painting.


From the canvas the people smiled back at her. They were all standing in front of the castle doors. Harry, Ron and Hermione on the front row, arms around each other's shoulders; next to them Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hooch. On the second row stood Professor Lupin, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Trelawney and Hagrid (who looked even bigger standing next to the bunch of them.)

On one side she saw Severus, who wasn't waving or smiling. Vexus laughed at his expression and the figure in the painting scowled at her.

On the other side of group were Morion, Nikkor, and Rotorus Wulf, flanked by Peregrine herself. They were all smiling and waving.