Hello All! Thanks for coming back! Sorry about posting late. Last week my sister came in for a visit and it was mid term exams. I didn't have time.

I will say thanks to my one beta reader who did proofread and send it back! Thanks Juryu!

Thanks to Jade for reviewing.

Hello to acree!

Special thanks to the Big J and the Big C

Here goes!

***



Ch 3-Homecoming



Delia and Severus went back into the school looking a little guilty. Luckily, no one was about to see them. It was after midnight when they finally came in. Delia had fallen asleep while wrapped in Severus's robe. She wasn't really tired. But she knew she had practice in the afternoon.

Delia flopped down on the couch in the bedchamber. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. Her eyes opened when Nell landed on Delia's stomach. Delia held out her hand and Nell stepped up. Delia sat up and set the raven on her shoulder. Nell started grooming Delia's hair. Severus joined Delia on the couch. He put his arm around Delia. Nell started throwing a fit. He removed his arm.

"Nell is quite the boss, isn't she?" he said offended.

"Yes, I don't know what's gotten into her."

"Ravens are protective of their mistresses," he said. "The day we had our fight Nell wouldn't eat. She refused at first to send my letter to you. I'm amazed she stayed after she came back. Most ravens would have flown away."

"I wonder why she stayed?" Delia asked.

"I don't know. My guess is she knew you would come back for her. She knew you couldn't stay away. I think she knew you and I couldn't be without one another. Ravens are smart. Anyway, I was thinking that you would need a flat when you go to Oxford. We should start looking sometime this week. Also, you will need a room with a fireplace. There will be some nights you have to study at the library and other things. I should know. You know I went to Oxford and got a graduate degree in Chemistry. I went to school and taught at the same time. I do know what you will be going through. Also being a Quidditch idol will add some more to the mix."

"I know. I hope I don't lose my mind!"

"I know you well enough to know that will not happen!"



***





The next morning Delia and Severus set out for Oxford. After looking at three flats and ruling them out due to the lack of a fireplace they found a room in boarding house. The room had a fireplace. But it was a bit bijou. It had a desk, small bookcase, wardrobe, basin and small chest of drawers. The bed was small. Severus smiled when he thought of how close he would have to sleep to Delia when he did stay. Delia said thanks and that they would consider it and let the owner know within the hour.

After looking at three more boarding house Delia settled on the room at Rosemary's Boarding House. She was informed she could move in the middle of August. Severus gave Rosemary the down payment. Rosemary thought the manwho had introduced himself as Professor Snape was a man having an affair on his wife. He had the most wonderful accent that ran in men who had been educated well. She knew she would be seeing more of that man in black.

Delia looked at her watch. She still had two hours before practice. Delia and Severus decided to go back to Hogwarts. Severus still had to clean out the wardrobe so Delia could hang some clothes. Severus finished just as Delia was heading off for practice. She had already changed into her Puddlemere United robes. She grabbed her Nimbus and kissed Severus. Severus said he would come along and watch for a while.

Delia made it on time and walked out onto the field. Severus took a seat in the stands and watched. The main team would be playing the reserve team. Coach Slade wanted to see how the new players acted with the team. They were going to play a short game of Quidditch. Coach Slade at anytime could call it off. He would be acting as referee. The Quaffel was at large. Josh got a hold of it first. He then passed it over to Nicola. With speed Nicola thrust herself downward and passed the Quaffel onto Delia. Delia rose and flew towards the goal. She had to duck a Buldger that threw her off. One of the reserve Chasers was coming up in front of Delia. Delia quickly did the move that made her famous at Hogwarts. She hung upside down and thrust the ball towards Josh. She quickly swung herself up and rose just missing the reserve Chaser. Nicola scored. Delia hung back and waited. She saw the reserve Chasers passing the Quaffel back and forth. Delia noticed their rhythm and went after them she found the weak spot and intercepted the Quaffel. She threw it upwards to Nicola. Josh saw this and Delia and Josh began what they called The Zing Zingers also know as the Woollongong Shimmy. They would change positions all over the field passing the Quaffel to one another. Delia was the last to get the Quaffel. She put it through the hoop.

The game went on for an hour. The Three, as Delia, Josh and Nicola were called did every move mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages. They also did the ones they invented at Hogwarts. The new team was playing brilliantly together. The reserve Chasers was wondering if they could keep up. The Three were brilliant. Coach Slade called the game to a halt. So far The Three had scored one hundred and ten points. The reserve Chasers only had forty. Coach Slade was overjoyed. He could feel they would win the European Cup title again and the League title. Puddlemere United was once again a better team then the Wilbourne Wasps who currently held the League Title.

The team was given a pep talk and dismissed to the locker room. Once in the Lounge Zee was there handing out the official photos and posters along with Nimbus posters. Delia didn't even bother to open hers. She would open them with Severus. She went to her dressing room and showered and changed.



***

Delia and Severus were in his classroom opening her posters. They had sent several of each. The first one was the team shot. Delia was smiling, dreamy and looking as if she was in love. Nicola had a perplexed look and Josh looked like a lady-killer with his smile.

Delia finally found the poster she had wanted to see. It was the one where her hand with the engagement ring was resting delicately on her right shoulder.

"I think that is the best picture I have seen of you Delia," Severus said taken back. Delia did look romantic and lost in a wistful gaze. It looked as if she was thinking about her man. The caption on the poster read:

Puddlemere United Chaser Delia P. Wheelrite.

Part of the crew since this season.

Favourite food: Baklava.

Favourite colour: Lavender.

Favourite holiday: Valentines Day.

Favourite Hobby: Taking champagne bubble baths.

Favourite flower: Red Roses

Martial Status: Taken fellas. See ring.

Beat Back those Buldgers, Ladies, and Chuck That Quaffel Here!

"Wow, I look that good?" Delia asked.

"I am afraid you do. I didn't know your favoruite holiday was Valentines Day! I thought it was that holiday you called the Fourth of July and New Years Eve."

"They are. Zee must have come up with it. They are trying to make me look all sweet!"

"I knew about baklava and lavender. I know roses aren't your flower. Tulips are! But these champagne bubble baths I knew nothing about! Hmmmmmmmm…"

"What is wrong it?" she asked defensively.

"Nothing. Do you by chance take these baths alone?" he asked pulling her into an embrace and kissed her.

"Well it kinda depends. If my fiancée is with me and he goes and draws me a nice warm bath and happens to be there when I get there and already in the water -"

Before she could say anymore Severus ran out of the classroom. Delia walked into their bedchambers. She heard running water. She had to smile. Severus was trying. She also noticed he had pitched out his silk dressing gown onto the bed. Delia undressed and slipped it on. She was going to take her time going to the bathroom. She finally gave in and opened the door. Delia walked over to the bath and stuck her toe in the bubbles and warmth. She deemed the water warm enough. She disrobed and slowly lowered herself into the tub. She leaned back against Severus. He handed her a glass of champagne.

"Where do you come up with all this champagne?" she asked.

"I keep a few bottles around. This is my last one though. I need to buy more. Also, we need to go to Muggle London. We are going to pick up our…what do you call those things I sent off for a week ago?"

"Airline tickets. I hope you have a passport!"

"I do. The Ministry took care of it. I went to Paris once. I was in college at the time. Other then that I haven't been to the Muggle World much. Truthfully, I'm scared to travel on one of those contraptions. I don't see how you can do it! If anything happens we are apperating off! Licensed be damned!"

"Oh the plane won't crash. Once when I was going home for Christmas something went wrong with an engine-"

"I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it! Stop it! Stop it! This is supposed to be romantic. I have candlelight, bubbles, a nice warm bath, champagne, I even went as far as to bring out some strawberries."

A smile crossed Delia's face. She knew the strawberries were left over from breakfast. But she wouldn't tell him that! She took one of the strawberries he thrust in her face. "This was very sweet of you."

"Anything for my little fiancée."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Delia took a drink of her champagne. Severus bought the expensive stuff. Then Delia thought eh, I'm a Quidditch star. I can afford to! Then it finally hit her how much she would be making. She drained the glass.

"Go easy on that stuff Delia! It's the only bottle I have left! You look as if you just discovered something," he said pouring her more from the bottle.

"It just sunk in how much I'll be making playing for Puddlemere United. I think I'm going to need a bigger vault until we get married then we may have to get two or three!"

Severus laughed, "Delia, I'm not worried. I did see in the contract how much you would be getting. The only thing I ask is that you remember who you are and don't get a big head. But with you I'm not worried."

"Thanks. I'm more worried about telling Dad we've shacked up. That is going to be fun!"

***

A week and a half later Severus found himself walking off a plane into Wichita Mid Continent Airport. The plane they had been on was what Delia called a dinky puddle jumper. Whatever that was. It only seated fifty people. What scared Severus was the plane in London. Delia said it was a Boeing 747. She then told him they built parts for it in Wichita. He would just have to wait and see. It was a small airport Severus noticed. Delia took his hand and led him to the baggage claim. Delia looked around for her parents. She couldn't find them. Severus claimed the bags. Delia waited until the crowd thinned out. She still couldn't find Josie, Albert or Elle.

"I told them to be here on the phone!" Delia cried. "It's ten-thirty and no one is here! Where is everyone?"

"Don't get upset. We will just take a taxi to your mothers."

"HA! In Wichita to Derby? You are nuts. I'm going to get some change and call someone for a ride. This is nuts."

***

An hour later Severus was riding in Jake Hillsen's van. Delia had called a friend of hers to come pick her and Severus up. Her friends' father had heard Delia was home and insisted he come along too. Her friend was a small blonde girl with glasses who answered to the name of Danae. Severus was too tired to follow the girls' conversation. Severus was having trouble adjusting to the climate. Delia had warned him summer was warm in Kansas.

They finally reached the small town of Derby. They turned off onto a heavily traveled residential street. Severus looked out the window. The houses looked different then the ones in England. They seemed much bigger and the lawns were larger. Even though it was dark, Severus noticed it was quiet and no one was about. But what did baffle him was a farmhouse that looked as if suburbia had caught up with it. The horse, ponies and sheep looked out of place.

They reached the house on 2267 Briarwood Lane. The house was big, so Severus thought. The yard was neatly manicured. So were all the others around it. Jake dropped them off. Delia opened the front door of the house. He was hit by a cold blast of air. The Kansas summer evening was warm, which made the cold air feel like the artic. Delia turned on a light inside the living room.

Severus walked in carrying the bag Delia had loaned him. He was shocked to see the entire room was a shrine to Delia. It had all of her trophies and various photos from ice-skating. Delia shut the door and walked into the dining room and threw her bag down. She then went into the kitchen. Severus set his bag down and trailed after Delia. Muggle homes confused him. This one mystified him.

"I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," Delia said.

"Yes, I am too. I'm afraid to ask what is there to eat?"

"Me too. Let me open the fridge and see." Delia opened the door to a big white box. She pulled out a carton of eggs. "I can make us some scrambled eggs and toast!"

Severus nodded. He took a seat at the kitchen table. Delia banged around in the kitchen. She was looking for an omelet pan. She couldn't find one. Delia noticed most of the pans in the kitchen that had once been there were now gone. Delia in the end had to fry the eggs. There wasn't any bread. But there was some oatmeal. It looked as if no one had really used the kitchen. Delia felt strange in her own home. Delia mostly poked at her food. All of a sudden she wasn't hungry.

"What's wrong?" Severus asked.

"This kitchen!" she replied. "Can you believe at one point and time it had every bit and bob of gadgetry? Now, it has…nothing. I think dad took it all. I also noticed the dining room had changed. I'm wondering what now? Gee, talk about being a stranger in your own home. Well, I guess it's not my home anymore. I never thought I'd say this; the dungeons are more my home then here. Hello my name is Delia, my dwelling in a dungeon. Sounds kinda cool. Why is it you always turn out to be the person you never thought you would be?"

"Whoa! That's a loaded question for this hour and after a long journey. But I will say this to you. Your own mind is your worst enemy."

"I agree. Anyway I'm off to take bath or shower. Do you need one?"

"Yes, I think I would feel better. I smell like an air plane"

"First I had better go see if we even have a bathtub or shower. Mom said she was going to be doing a little redecorating. But a little in her words can mean a full teardown of the house."

Severus followed Delia upstairs carrying his luggage. Delia left hers because she said she had stuff in her room. Delia opened her bedroom door. The room was just how Delia had left it. Severus thought it looked as bare as the bedchamber he and Delia shared. The only nice thing was Delia had a balcony overlooking the backyard. The room was painted in what Delia said was butter cream. It gave it a soft yellowish appearance when Delia turned on the lamp next to her bed. Severus was looking at the computer on Delia's desk.

"That old thing is slower then molasses," she said. "You didn't understand it did you?"

"No, Muggle things confused me. I'm just lost here. Also being in America has completely baffled me. I miss my robes and potions. I can't wait to get back."

"You know, I know what you mean. I've had to remove anything that looks like witchcraft. I think the only thing you'll recognize is that patch on the mirror. All my friends here think it was just my school patch."

"They don't know the truth do they?" Severus asked.

"No. I was told to keep it hush hush. They all think I went to a posh boarding school overseas. Danae is one of my friends who thinks that. I had to explain you were just a friend of mine who graduated years a head. I'm not ready to explain everything. I know I'm going to have to sooner or later. The more I think about the more this situation sounds weird. I quit trying to make sence of it all."

"That's a lot easier. I do have a question. I know you and I are living together now, but where am I sleeping tonight?"

"I have no idea when Mom and Elle are coming back. I don't even know where they are. They could be here in the morning or not. So I better see if there is a guest bedroom." She went out the door. Severus heard her walk down the hallway, open a door, sigh and come back. "The guest bedroom is storage."

"I can sleep on the couch downstairs."

"No, if mom finds us sleeping together-oh well. Her problem not mine. I'll be down the hall taking a bath. You can either join me or stay here."

***

The next morning there was still no sign of Josie or Elle. Severus found Delia on the phone down in the kitchen. She was talking to or rather yelling at Albert.

"Who was supposed to pick us up…Mom was…Uh-huh…you are in LA for a chef's thing…Danae's dad did…okay…no problem…you'll be back next week…cool…see you then…love you lots Daddy…bye-bye." Delia hung up the phone and turned to Severus. "Dad is in LA. He'll be back next week. Mom and Elle are somewhere. We still have no food. If you are hungry I can make you some oatmeal or we can go out to eat then go to the store."

"Oatmeal is fine. I could go for some coffee or is that asking for too much?"

"Mom has instant."

Severus looked at her blankly. "Do I want to know?"

"No, screw this. Get dressed we are going out."

***



Twenty minutes later Delia and Severus we seated in Josie's Ford Mustang. For some reason Delia's Honda was gone. She wasn't worried. The red Mustang was fun to drive. Delia reversed out of the garage. Severus looked as if he was going to be sick. It was scary enough Delia was driving. Delia backed out of the drive and honked at one of her neighbors. They took off down the road.

"When was the last time you drove?" he asked while gripping the edge of the seat.

"Spring holidays. I'm freaking you out aren't I?"

"Why would you think that," he replied nonchalantly. "Where are we going?"

"McDonalds. I can't think of anywhere else."

"Are you trying to poison me?"

"Why yes I am. Ever have it?"

"Once. I was with Dumbledore. We went to the one in Piccadilly Circus. Why are eating cheeseburgers for breakfast?"

"They don't serve burgers at this time of day. They have breakfast until ten-thirty." Delia said turning into the McDonalds parking lot. She parked and they got out. Severus had no idea what to order. He ordered what Delia ordered, an Egg McMuffin, hash browns and coffee. Severus got weird looks in the small town McDonalds. It was his accent and the fact he was wearing all black. Delia was dressed in shorts and tank top. She was wearing sandals. Severus thought they made quite a pair. He was in black slacks and a long sleeve shirt. They day was already heating up. Delia said it was going to get hotter.

Delia carried the tray over to table. She sat the tray down and asked if Severus wanted anything else. He shook his head. Delia sat down and handed him his breakfast wrapped up in a yellow paper. He figured out how to open it and took a bite. It had an out of the ordinary taste. He took a drink of the coffee and made a face.

"I know it's nasty. I promise tomorrow I'll cook something."

"This is fine. Like I said I'm just confused in the Muggle World."

"HEY THERE SHE IS!" cried out a girl running over to Delia followed by five other people. "I knew if you were up you'd be here! Dee, you are soooooo predictable! Hey, who's this?"

"Good morning Alice. This is Severus. Severus this is Alice, Elaine, Patrick, John, Frank and you know Danae."

"Nice to meet you all," he said in his silky voice.

"Oh Nae was right. Her man has a mouth-watering voice!" exclaimed Elaine. "Hey who's getting me breakfast? Alice you are my little sister go fetch. Hey all let's move you two lovebirds. Let's sit at that big table over there."

Severus put his breakfast back on the tray and they moved to the other side. Severus sat down next to Delia. Everyone but Alice took a seat.

"So Dee," the boy named Frank said. "Does your mom know about your boyfriend?"

"Yes-s-s-s-s. She's not stupid, duh. So any of you know where my mom is? I presume you all know what happened."

"You bet I told'em!" Danae said. "We dunno. Did ya get a hold of your dad?"

"Yep, he's in LA."

"So that leaves you and what's your name again?" Elaine said.

"Severus," he replied.

"And your mom left you two alone...whhhooooooooooo! Delia! I didn't you were that bad of a girl!" Elaine teased.

"You don't know me very well do you!" Delia said. "So how was graduation from Derby High?"

"BORING!" Patrick said. "You should have been there. Tell me again why you had to go all the way to England?"

Delia popped her British accent, "Because Mumsy and Daddy wanted me to do so. Wot's wrong with England?" Everyone at the table laughed. Alice returned with breakfast for everyone.

Delia looked around at her old childhood friends. She felt out of place and with Severus in Derby she felt even weirder. Derby, Kansas US of A wasn't home any longer. Home was the dungeon. Everything Delia had been missing wasn't worth missing anymore. She hadn't been homesick for Derby since her parents came to school to see what was exactly going on. She had realized everyone had picked their ways and taken them, her mother with Elle. Her father with whatever he had chosen. Delia had her life with Severus. She did kind of hint she wanted to be treated like an adult and she got it. She just hadn't realized it. Sometimes you grow up and you don't realize it, she thought. Also, the old saying goes true; you can leave but never come back. Her friends were expecting Delia to be like them, a small town Mid West folk with things in their proper places. Church every Wednesday and Sunday. Shopping at Wal-Mart. A family where nothing was out of the ordinary. Going to a near by college and allowing nothing out of the status quo.

Delia wasn't faithfully a child of the Derby system.

She was trained and schooled as a witch at Hogwarts. If her friends found out they would go barmy. What were they expecting out of Delia? Her to return to Kansas and pick up the Middle Western way of life where she left off? People around here resisted change. Delia had changed and wasn't Derbyish anymore. She wasn't Mom, Dad, Grandma and apple pie. She did have her accent, but even at that it was slightly tainted. She sounded funny in Derby and at Hogwarts. She was used to that. She was more homesick for the dungeon

than she ever was for Derby! Delia grabbed Severus's hand from under the table.

"Y'alls are gonna haffa get yer own pop." Alice said sitting down. "You all are leaving me! I have one year left at DHS!"

"Ah, Alice. You'll be fine. If I can go overseas for seven years you can stand a year at DHS." Alice shot Delia a look. Alice was never fond of Delia. She thought Delia was snob. Delia noticed Severus was getting bored. "Anyway guys, we have got to go to Dillions. We are outta food. I'll see you guys later this week, cool?"

***



Severus was leaning on the cart at the grocery store Delia called Dillions. He was having a hard time adjusting to Kansas. Everything was so different from Muggle Britain. Delia kept running into people she knew and had to stop and chat.

They finally got back to Delia's mothers. It was hot outside. Severus looked as if he was going to be sick. Delia took him inside and laid him down on the couch in the living room, she gave him a glass of cool water.

Once Delia was finished in the kitchen she came out to the living room. She sat in the large armchair. She noticed Severus had dozed off. Delia opened a magazine. Severus heard this and woke up. Delia went over and sat on the edge of couch. Severus held out his arms and motioned for Delia to lie down. Delia took the hint.

"I told you needed cooler clothing for around here. You should at least wear a short-sleeved shirt and some lighter pants."

"Delia, you know how I feel about the Mark on my arm. I haven't worn a short sleeved-shirt since I was nineteen. Speaking of that do your parents know I was once a Death Eater?"

"It never came up."

Severus sighed and left the couch. Delia heard a slam of the backdoor and saw Severus walk down the driveway. Delia opened the front door and ran down the driveway after him in the sweltering heat. He was halfway down the block when she caught up with him. "Do you know where you are going?"

"No, I don't. What am I going to tell your parents?"

"I don't know! Out in the street isn't the place to discuss it. As you can see my neighbors are peeking out the windows and opening doors to go get their mail. Let's go inside, ok?" She took his hand and let him to the house. They reached the front door. Delia tried to open it but it was locked. "Whoops! Looks as if we are going to have to go around to the back."

"I don't remember if the door was locked when I slammed it or not. Your neighbour is looking at us."

"Oh, Mr. Schmidt. He's lived next door since I can remember. He can be a bit nosy. His wife passed on five years ago." They walked off to the drive way and around back of the house. The back door was indeed locked. Delia looked around. She took he wand out of her back pocket. "Alohomora!" she whispered. Delia pushed open the door to the kitchen. "Handy little spell, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. What are we going to do the rest of the afternoon?"

"I don't know. We can do whatever you want. There isn't much to do in Derby. We can take the car and go to Wichita or we can just hang out here and recover from the jet lag."

"Hmm whatever I like," a grin crossed his face. "What would this pertain to Miss Wheelrite?" he kissed her gently. "We are after all, alone. No one around."

"That's right! Just Josie and Elle! Hey, guys sorry about that. Long story, I believe Elle can explain it better!" Josie Wheelrite said. "Hey somebody went grocery shopping!"

"Yes, I did Mom. When did you get back?"

"A few minutes ago. The car is halfway up the drive. We took your car because the AC in the Mustang isn't working. We just got back in from Kansas City. Let's get some Cokes and go to the living room. Elle got arrested in Paris!"

"No way!" Delia exclaimed. "I called down at the hair salon and all I got was tour of Europe. Severus and I have been back since yesterday night. Dad is in LA. Danae's dad brought us home." They walked out to the living room. Severus sat down next to Delia. Josie sat on the floor and Elle sat in the armchair.

"Well what happened to me was this," Elle said. "We were in Paris and this guy takes me and Josie to a club. Well, there was a raid and I got arrested. We were supposed to be back a week ago. I was in jail for a few days. We missed out flight. We rescheduled. Then Josie got a food poisoning! So we missed our rescheduled flight and didn't get back till last night. We went out of Kansas City. We got a hotel and drove back this morning. We took your car, hope you aren't upset."

"No, not at all. Severus and I got in to Wichita last night."

"Elle and I were going to pick up you two!" Josie said. "But we couldn't make it so we left word with your dad at the restaurant on the answering machine. But he is in LA! I completely forgot! I am so sorry!"

"It's fine, Josie." Severus said. "Delia's friend collected us."

"So my next question is since the guest bedroom is storage, where has Severus been sleeping" Elle asked.

"On the couch," Delia said lying.

"You expect me to believe that one Delia!" Josie said. "Why can't you just spit out the truth?"

"What truth? It is the truth!"

"Dee, you don't lie very well! If he's been with you, that's fine with me. You two are engaged. Besides, I saw the kiss from the kitchen. I love sneaking up on people!"

"MOM!"

"Don't MOM me. What are we doing for dinner? I was thinking we could go out, since I don't have a kitchen. Your father came just before we left and snagged everything. I'm surprised he didn't take all of the photos in here."

"For your information, those are mine. Not yours not his-mine!" Delia said in a voice unlike Delia. "If you two are still squabbling over them, I am going to take them back to England and burn'em. I really don't care about them. That was a past life. I'm not going to dwell, unlike you and Dad, about what I could have been as opposed to what I am now. Get over it. I didn't become your little ice-skating princess and win all the titles you wanted!"

"Delia Penelope Alex! Don't you use that tone with me!" Josie shouted. "You know better."

"Stop yelling at me as if I were a child! I'm not anymore. You only stayed with Dad so I could be the ice-skating princess! Don't lie to me about it, Mom. I knew Dad slept in the spare room when I left for school and you two only go together when I returned for breaks. If someone would have just told me what was going on, I'd have felt better. I have learned that lying about something is worse then 'fessing the truth. Keeping things behind closed doors is hard. Believe you me, I know. So why wasn't I just told. Flat out told."

"Do you want to know why? I'll tell you why. Elle, Sev leave the room," Josie commanded.

"Oh no, Elle has been her long enough and she knows. Severus can stay. He is after all part of this happy go lucky family."

"Fine, here goes," Josie said taking deep breath. "Your daddy has been having an affair for years and so have I with Elle. You don't know your father's mistress, but I do. The little wench has been coming into the hair salon for years. I found out all this right after you left for Hogwarts in August. It's been going on for ten years now. Then I find out a few days later you are in love with your Potions teacher. No offence Sev, but at the time it sounded flippin' creepy. Then you get engaged! I thought, God the kid is only eighteen. I took it all good in good nature. It is your life after all. There you know the truth. Anybody else have anything to confess since we are having a family chat?"

Severus crossed his legs and cleared his throat. He looked rather uncomfortable." Since we are on the subject," he cleared his throat again. "I…was previously a…Death Eater."