Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He belongs to J.K. Rowling and no money is being made off this story.





An entry from the diary of Stacy Snape:

September 1, 1995

Dear Diary,

Well, I met him. My father, I mean. It was a very awkward situation and the twenty or so goggling students didn't improve anything. I could tell he really had missed mum and us, but still.He seemed so bitter. His eyes have a sad depth in them that I don't believe will ever go away. It must have been hell, teaching kids our age.

I heard some girls talking (at dinner) about how they pitied mum for being tied to "greasy, mean, nasty old Snape!" If only they knew the story.I met that Potter kid outside, just a few hours ago, down by the lake. I had gone out there for some peace of mind-with Damien and Scarlet constantly around I sometimes can't here myself think. I had slipped away from the two (which is no easy task) and then I wandered around until I reached the Entrance Hall. Something-and I swear this is true-was calling out to the lake.

As I said, when I got out there, Harry Potter-whom my father seems to despise above all others-was standing in the moonlight, contemplating life. I decided to say hello, though.

***

Harry stood by the lake, staring into its murky deepness. 'Did my parents know?' he wondered to himself.

After returning to Gryffindor Tower with Ron Harry had staid in the common room to "think", but after a mere five minutes his self contemplations had grown to big to be contained in the common room. Quickly, without even going up to his dormitory to grab his invisibility cloak, Harry had crept down to the lake in front of Hogwarts. He had stood there for the past hour, at peace in the moonlight, when someone crept up and whispered in his ear, "A penny for you thoughts."

"Stacy Snape?" Harry asked, staring at his housemate and frowning. Stacy nodded, and even in the pale moonlight Harry could tell she was laughing at him. "Where's your brother and Scarlet?" he asked, peering into the trees behind the female Snape.

Stacy shrugged. "Off being idiots, I suppose." She laughed at Harry's expression. "That Hermione has been poisoning your mind against me, hasn't she?" she asked. When Harry didn't answer she just smirked, and, for a moment, Harry saw a bit of her father in her. "I love Scarlet and Damien dearly, Harry," Stacy continued, plopping down onto the soft grass, "but I'm not completely oblivious to their flaws. Scarlet loves men and Damien loves women.Sometimes they go over the edge when it comes to them."

Harry sat down beside Stacy and, before the silence got too uncomfortable, Stacy repeated what she had first said. "A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Potter. Why are you out so late?"

Harry only shrugged. "I was thinking about what you told us. I mean, it's not the first time I've been told that I'm some sort of savior, but it is the first time that it's truly sunken in. You know, sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to give all this fame, all this money, and even my magic, just to have been adopted when my parents died. I wonder if I'd just be happier as a muggle kid with two parents.Maybe a sister or brother, and a dog too. I'd never come to Hogwarts, never have Voldemort find me.We could have picnics in the summer and I'd have a family to spend Christmas with.And I would've had a peaceful childhood. Sometimes I wish for that with all my soul."

Stacy stared at Harry for a few moments before shaking her head. "That was very deep, Harry, but I can't help but tell you that it's wrong. I've spent the past fourteen years of my life pretending to be someone I'm not. When I got my first wand at Ollivanders, and that first surge of magic rushed through my veins, I felt, for the first time, like I was whole. Magic is our birthright. It is what makes you and I complete. I believe that, if you had be adopted and never known about your powers that, as time wore on, you would feel different from your adopted family. You would know you were different from them."

"What about muggle-borns?" Harry asked. "I bet Hermione feels loads different from her parents. And what about witches and wizards who snap their wands and give up magic?"

Stacy looked up at the stars, a thoughtful look on her face. Finally she replied with, "But Harry, Hermione found out exactly how she was different from her parents, as do all muggle-born witches and wizards. They know what was missing from their lives and they can be at peace about it. It's the same with those who forsake their powers. They know that they have chosen to live as muggles. They know have the choice of returning to the magical world. But if you grew older-into a man, Harry-and could never quite place the odd feeling that you didn't quite belong, then you would never be satisfied. You'd always be searching for that missing piece that would complete the puzzle of your identity. Now, knowing that, do you still ponder a life with no magic?"

Harry shut his eyes away from Stacy, illuminated in the silvery light of the moon, and bent his head downwards. "No, Stacy," he replied. "Now I don't even want to think about it."

***

Well, Diary, after that we both stood and walked back to the common room in complete silence. I think that we had both frightened ourselves with how we talked tonight, as if we were grown and had already lived out our lives. I think we both got a glimpse of what we are to become in the next few years: mature, wise, weathered, and haunted by the choices we made and the dreams that never became.

Being one of the eight saviors-especially the leaders-is something I would never wish upon my worst enemy. Dumbledore didn't say it tonight, and neither did my parents-though it might be because they are still in denial. Damien, Scarlet, and perhaps the others have not guessed yet, but Harry and I both know.

It will be up to us-eight teenagers, most of us not friends-to save the magical world. It will be Harry who deals the final blow, but along the way any innocence we have ever possessed will be taken from us. I feel-and I sense-that though our group may grow to be great friends our relationship will be littered with pain, betrayal, and, most possibly, death. If there is a greater power then I pray that it will be with us. Goodnight, Diary. It is late and finally I am sleepy.

Yours Forever, Anastasia Corrine Delilah Snape

***

September 2, 1995



Dear Diary,

This has been my first school day at Hogwarts, and it's not even over! Where should I begin? The Fernell sisters? Or maybe Scarlet's new admirer.I suppose I'll just go in order. That means the Fernell sisters are first. Well, when I walked into the Great Hall today, Scarlet and Damien on either side, I found the atmosphere to be loud and rowdy. My father had taken to stalking through the mass of noisy students, taking points of every house but his own precious Slytherin. When he saw Scarlet, Damien, and I he strode over to us and continued out of the Great Hall, motioning for us to follow.

***

"You'll be eating breakfast in my office," Severus said, leading the three, shiver fifth years down into the dungeons. After striding through what must have been his classroom and throwing open a large, paneled door, Severus pointed inwards and hissed, "Try not to kill each other!" before slamming the door shut behind them.

While Damon headed immediately for the food and Scarlet headed strait to Draco Malfoy, Stacy looked around her father's office. There was a fire blazing in a grand, stone fireplace, and on the mantle there was a picture of a pregnant woman, two small babies, and a smiling man. Stacy was amazed at how happy her father could look.

"Hey, there."

Stacy jumped and turned whirled around to find Harry Potter standing behind her. Ron and Hermione were sitting in the corner of the office, watching Harry and Stacy with suspicious eyes. Lisa was with them, though she was pointedly staring away from Stacy.

"Don't I get a hello?" Harry asked. He smiled kindly at her. "I mean, we are friends now, right? After last night?"

By now even Damien was interested. Setting down his fifth piece of bacon he sidled over to Harry and gave him the trademark Snape sneer. "What does he mean, last night?"

"Yeah Harry!" Ron was behind Harry now, glaring angrily at Draco and Scarlet, who stood behind Stacy. "Last night? I thought you said you just hung out at the lake and thought!"

"That's what you told us, Stacy!" Scarlet snapped, her eyes boring hatefully into Hermione's.

"And that's where we met, you two! My goodness! We only talked a little!" Stacy glared at her brother and best friend. "Now can I just eat a little breakfast?"

Scarlet and Damien backed off, though they both stomped into a corner and began muttering together. Ron and Hermione did the same, dragging Harry into another corner and whispering quietly with him. Draco and Lisa lounged together rather uncomfortably and all three parties seemed prone to staring at Stacy. It was rather unnerving. Luckily, though, she spotted The Daily Prophet on the desk and her gaze fell on the bold headlines: Ministry Official and Wife Murdered; Dark Mark Floating Over House!

"Dear lord." Stacy breathed, flopping down in her father's desk chair. Instantly all seven of the other occupants in the room were standing in front of the desk.

"What is it?" Ron asked, for a moment putting aside the fact that she was a Snape.

"Just look at this headline."

"Oh, Merlin's wand!" Hermione gasped. "Those poor people!"

"Read the article, Stace," Damien commanded. "Who exactly was murdered?"

Stacy looked down at the article and said, "Okay, here it goes. 'Ministry official John Fernell was a well respected and well known-"

"I know who he is! John Fernell!" Ron interrupted. "He's the Head of the Department of Dark Arts Attacks! Father and he talked often about things.I hear he was real nice." Ron trailed off and sighed.

After shooting a look at Ron Stacy continued to read. "Hmm. Yes, there I was.was a well known and well respected man; honest and kind with a lovely wife, Martha Fernell and four beautiful daughters, Tammi, 19, Lola, 18, Dana, 16, and Marcy, 15. These four were also known as 'The Flaming Four', a popular band that was just about to go on tour. Last night, at an estimated 12:30 PM, a group of Death Eaters broke into their suburban house and killed Martha and John, kidnapping their daughters for who knows what purpose.

"Ministry investigators wonder if the attack was meant for Fernell (who is in charge of capturing Dark Wizards such as themselves and helped organize the Elite) or if his daughters, all very good looking, were wanted for such purposes as mistresses. 'We're working as hard as we can to find those girls. God help them, wherever they are. Dear lord, we hope they're alight.' Says Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Because of the dark mark hovering over the Fernell's home, this attack has begun a whirlwind of rumors regarding You Know Who's return. Fudge, however, denies anything of the sort. 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone,' he told the Daily Prophet last night. 'If he returned then the people of Britain would be the first to know. This is just a band of drunken ex-Death Eaters, and they will be found."

Stacy lay down the newspaper. She looked as though she were about to speak but, at that moment, the door opened again and her father swept in. "Morning Stacy, Lisa," he said, receiving a peck on both cheeks from his daughters. "I see that you've all read the Fernell article?" When he received nods Severus sat down behind his desk. "Then you might have guessed that, well.You'll be asked to go in and rescue those four girls."

There were shocked and even-in Lisa's case-frightened gasps. "But professor!" Draco hissed. "I cannot-"

"Very well, Mr. Malfoy. Do not participate in the rescue, but do know that if you so much as think about owling your father about this then you'll be adequately dealt with." There was just enough venom in his voice to get across to Draco that he meant what he said. "Now that that's settled," Severus murmured, standing, "you all shall return here today right after your classes get out. Understood?"

When he received eight nods, Severus almost smiled. "You are dismissed, then!" he said, and everyone filed out of his office.

***

And so, Diary, that's what's happened up until now. But you know, I think my girl Scarlet is falling for that Malfoy character! We're all in Potions right now and she and he are making these totally flirtatious faces at each other! Hmm.Damien doesn't seem to approve of this at all! He considers Scarlet just as much a sister as he does Lisa and I, and Damien's terribly protective when he wants to be!

Scarlet asked me if I "wanted to snog" Harry Potter. She was quite serious about it too. When I just ignored her she asked me if we had snogged out t the lake last night! She was serious then, too. I can't believe that she thinks I like him! He's kind of cute, I suppose.But oh, I'll finish this thought later! Here comes my father nd he's telling me to put you away!

Yours Forever, Anastasia Corrine Delilah Snape