A/N At first, this was just the beginning of a chapter, but it developed a mind of his own, and it just became...a lot longer than intended, and I realized that if I tried to add the other FOUR major events I had planned for this chapter, it would be faaaaaaaar too long.
So here it is! Coming Soon: Chapter 18!...VALENTINE'S DAY! Our favorite couples...and one of our favorite Marauders gets SOO drunk...but not who you think...
Chapter Seventeen
Of Professors, Potions, and Long-lost Family
Severus Snape hated going to the Death Eater meetings. They were cold and a bit scary in the least if you actually WERE a Death Eater, but as a spy for Dumbledore, they were absolutely terrifying.
Fortunately for the Potions master, he was very good at keeping his cool under pressure. Voldie and the gang had been convinced that he was on their side for the three years Severus had taken up spying again.
He was, of course very relieved when the grim crowd was released from the Dark Lord's company. Another meeting, and he still lived.
Maybe.
"Snape!" Voldemort hissed, just as he turned to disapperate.
"Yes, Master?" Severus replied, turning and lifting his masked face. Voldemort's lips curled, as if he knew this reference was bull. Severus prayed that he didn't.
"Stay." He commanded.
"Yes, Master," He replied, not betraying the growing panic and fear. There was a reason behind this statement, and Severus had a feeling he didn't want to know what it was.
And it didn't calm him that Lucius also remained.
"Did you really think you could fool us, Severus?" Voldemort hissed. Severus's eyes widened in the realization of the signifigance of this statement and the sudden attack of fear.
"What do you mean, Master?" Severus replied, trying desperately to keep up his act.
"You know perfectly well what I mean. Confession would be easier." Voldemort replied. Severus stared back. Well, at least he was going down a hero. Oh my God, I sound like my brother, Severus realized in horror. As if reading his thoughts, Voldie sneered and lifted his wand.
"Veritanuit!" He hissed, and the Dark Truth curse hit Severus like a locomotive. He could feel himself being ripped opened, and telling them everything.
But knowing it was over, Severus couldn't even feel the pain. He was watching, from a third person point of veiw. He briefly wondered if anyone would care of his death. He had no family to speak of...well, except for him, but he wouldn't notice...not that Severus could blame him.
Voldemort raised his wand and pointed it maliciously at him.
"Hello, Severus," A beautiful voice said. He looked up and saw a beautiful woman with long, wavy auburn hair and a smile. She extended a hand to him. "Come with me."
Suddenly the distant and dull pain and the weariness and depression and hatred of Severus's life left him in a flash of green light. He was happy now, as he hadn't been in years.
"I would've suspected something long and torturous, my Lord," Lucius said, looking at Voldemort questioningly.
"The last time I killed him that way, he lived." The Dark Lord hissed. Severus laughed, and put his arm around Julia Jenkins. They turned, and disappeared into the light and Lily and James's outstetched arms of greeting.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"It's not a bad idea." Shinra said, stroking his chin. Harmony allowed herself to expel the carbon dioxide that had been building in her lungs in relief. He agreed.
Ron was behaving in quite a peculiar fashion. He was looking down at the ground and didn't even stir when the king said this.
"It will take a lot of planning, of course." He said. "And we probably won't be able to get you there for a few months..."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Harmony interrupted, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Shinra's eyes widened in amazement. Ron looked up, and his weird mood seemed to pass as he began to laugh.
'You never know what a Slytherin's going to do.' Harry had said once. How right he was.
"C'mon, Ron!" She bubbled happily, taking Ron's hand and practically pulling him out of the Throne room. Ron looked back at the King. They exchanged an understanding look before Ron was pulled around the corner of the doorway.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry whooped for joy when he heard the noise. No Potions this afternoon, YES!
Hermione, however, was biting her lip nervously. For some reason this didn't sit with her. It wasn't just their class, all the Potions classes had been canceled, and it was quite obvious (to Hermione, at least) that Snape hadn't been seen lately. It didn't sit well with her that he had disappeared; after all, they knew he was working for Dumbledore.
At that moment, Albus Dumbledore was staring at the letter the Ministry had sent him, confirming the worst.
Severus was dead.
It was hard to believe, after all he had come through. He had been a trusted comrade of Albus's, if not one of his best students. He was sitting with his head bowed when Minerva came into the room.
"Yes, Minerva?" He said, trying smile at the Deputy Headmistress.
"Where is Severus, Albus?" Minerva said bluntly. She had never been one to beat around the bush. Dumbledore sighed.
"He's gone, Minerva." He looked up at her, and, though his face was wrinkled and his body was weary, his eyes showed how very upset he was.
"Oh my God." She replied, slumping into a chair. She had never been to fond of Severus, but she still was going to miss his sadistic comments and sarcastic attitude. The staff wouldn't be the same.
Speaking of the staff...
"Who's going to teach Potions?" She asked, looking up abruptly.
"I was just pondering that myself....maybe Remus, he's back in the country, you know..."
"Heavens no!" Minerva cried. "Remus was always hopeless at Potions! He only passed becuase he always partnered with Miranda Himalia--"
"That's it!" Remus said, standing up. "Minerva, Miranda is in the country too! SHE is a potions master if I've ever met one! Let's have her come to teach!"
"Miranda Himalia?" Minerva said doubtfully. "I don't know, Albus....she doesn't quite seem like, er, teaching material to me." And, though she didn't say it out loud, Himalia's attitude and behavoir was the exact opposite of Severus's, if Himalia hadn't changed since coming back from Australia. Of course, under the circumstace of which she had returned...but still, Himalia had never been one to let others know when she was really upset about something.
"I know Minerva. That's why I think she would be so perfect." Dumbledore said laughing, and Minerva got the uneasy feeling he was reading her mind.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The occupants of the Slytherin castle in Marigold were preparing for Valentines Day. Sirius, Remus, Ron, Mindy, and Harmony could be seen every step of the way, supervising and making a few...adjustments, so to speak. Valentine's Day was going to be interesting this year...
They were sitting in one of the parlours, laughing at Sirius's latest plan.
"Okay wait..." Mindy said, before collapsing into another fit of laughter. Sirius just watched, smiling proudly. He almost felt like a Maurader again...almost.
"You heard me!" He said. "The first person to drink from that goblet will grow a 3 foot, 7 1/2 inch long pink beard!" Again, the others began laughing so hard they couldn't breath, until....
"Ouch!" Mindy said, rubbing her head where the owl had dropped the letter.
"Yes dear, letters are sooo heavy." Harmony said, teasing the blonde. Ron laughed.
"Not 'ouch' as in 'ouch', 'ouch' as in....um....a surprised 'ouch'? Wait, I'm confused..." Mindy looked around, confused, as the others began to laugh. Then she took the letter from the floor where it had fallen, and flipped it over to open it. She gasped.
"What?" Ron asked through gasps for air. He began to calm as he realized that her puzzled expression was over the letter, not the 'ouch'.
"It's...the Hogwarts seal." She said, staring down at it in disbelief. The others stopped laughing immediately. Harmony gaped.
"But...that's impossible!" She exclaimed.
"No, I don't think so," Remus replied thoughtfully. "I think Dumbledore's owl could get anywhere."
"Well, open it!" Sirius said. They all watched as she tore the letter and scanned it.
"Read it!" Ron said, curious. Mindy seemed to snap out of a daze before clearing her throat importantly, and reading:
~~~
Dear Ms. Himalia:
I would like to inform you that the position of Potions Master is now open at Hogwarts.
You're previous record and outstanding abilities in the feild have led me to ask you to take the position.
Please send your acception or rejection of this offer as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Professor Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster, Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry
P.S. I don't know if you've been in contact with Sirius, but if you have and you see him before I do, please send him the eclosed envelope.
~~~
She finished reading and looked up at Sirius quizzically.
"Are you expecting something from Dumbledore?" She asked, not even recognizing the statement of the rest of the letter.
"No," Sirius replied, a bemused look on his face. From here, it was obvious that the man had spent years in Azkaban, he had that haunted look about him. "I haven't been in contact with Dumbledore in years." He frowned. Something about the letter seemed to be troubling him.
Mindy fished around in the envelope for a moment before producing another small, square envelope, which Sirius tore open and began to read aloud immediately.
~~~
Sirius,
I'm not sure if you shall ever receive this, or if you're even alive. If you are, and you got this through Mindy, I'm sure she's told you about the Potions position at Hogwarts being open, and I'm sure you're curious of why. There is no real way to put this bluntly, Sirius, but Severus...
~~~
Suddenly Sirius stopped reading, his eyes opened wide in shock. He held the parchment closer to his eyes, rereading what was there. He did this again...and again. The tension in the room was growing. It took a lot to surprise Sirius like that.
"But Severus is dead." He said faintly, finally letting the others know. Remus's eyes widened, and Mindy gasped. Ron was slightly stunned, becuase he had known Snape, and even if he was evil he had saved Harry's life in the past. Harmony looked around, confused, and a little upset that everyone but her knew what was going on. She was not used to being the only one left out of the loop.
"Padfoot..." Mindy said awkardly, standing and advancing toward Sirius, who stood and dropped the note. He turned on heel and sped from the room. Mindy sighed and plopped into the seat he had been sitting in, putting her face into her hands in what seemed to be frustration. Ron was confused now also; he knew Sirius and Snape had always hated each other....why should he react like that to his death?
Sirius strided along the halls of the castle at an impossible rate. He wasn't in a state of shocked denial and rage as he had been when James died, nor the wild depression of his mother's death.
He simply felt confused. And more than a little bit guilty.
He should be upset, shouldn't he? This should be a blow. He should be sad. This should be the time he regretted everything he ever did to Severus, when he wished they wouldn't have been enemies. But, quite frankly, he wasn't. He didn't feel any of those things. This wasn't right! How could he not even care?
Sirius found he was in his own room. He immediately went to his closet, dug under a pile of dirty laundry well hidden from the house elves, and pulled out an old shoe box. Striding over to his desk, he sat and opened it, carefulling looking at it's precious contents; he pictures.
James; himself and Crystal; the Maruaders; his mother; Remus and Julia; just Julia; James, Peter and himself in their animagus forms on the first successful transformation; Harry as a baby; his mom and him at a baseball game; Peter running as Remus chased him with a quill; Sirius dropping Harry on his head; Lily and James's wedding, Mindy's good bye party; Willow looking ready to kill; James's bachelor party...
Sirius dug through them all, searching desperately to see it he still had it.
The it was, at the very bottom of the box. That one, single picture. The picture that he had been running from for longer than he had been running from the law.
It showed a man with straight black hair and dark eyes, with a face that could be jolly with laughter or sour with a smirk. He was standing outside a magical ice cream parlour with two children, each about five years of age, both with the man's black hair and dark eyes, but with distinct characteristics. The three were laughing together, teasing and eating their half-melted ice cream cones.
Sirius smiled, and finally felt it, though it wasn't as strong as he expected it to be.
The pain of losing his only brother. Severus.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Gryffindors were unsure of how they should react. Their least favorite teacher, Snape, was dead. Killed in the line of duty while working for Dumbledore. An unusually noble death for a Slytherin.
Many were not even claiming to care. But some, like Harry and Hermione, felt somewhat guilty about all that had happened. And so, when the date of his funurel was announced, they decided that they would go.
However, the whole thing turned out to be incredibly boring. It was just an open showing. There was one woman who was crying, but more becuase of the simple fact that is was a funeral than the fact that it was Snape's. Harry was shocked.
Didn't anyone care about this man's death?
Sirius slipped in through the open double doors. This was dangerous, far too dangerous, but Sirius wasn't going to miss his own brother's funeral.
He wasn't sure what to do now that he was there. Even though he was pretty sure no one would recognize him, especially under the thick hooded cloak, he was increasingly nervous.
He sat down on one of the benches near the open casket, carefully choosing a secluded seat. He didn't trust himself to actually go up and look at the body, which the Ministry had returned from the place they had found it dumped.
As he sat, lost in thought, he felt someone sit down next to him. Sirius turned to face...
Harry.
"Hello!" Harry said warmly. Sirius quickly turned away. He couldn't believe it...HARRY?!
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I bothering you...?" Harry asked uneasily. Incredible, Harry didn't recognize him. When the mysterious man didn't reply, Harry stood to leave. Sirius couldn't bring himself to just let Harry leave.
"No, you're fine." He said hoarsley. Whoa, maybe Severus's death was taking a larger tole on him than he thought it had. Or maybe it was the presence of James's son...
"If you're sure..." Harry, still unsure, said, sitting down again gingerly.
"I'm sure...I think I need some company." Sirius replied. He was surprised to find that this was true.
"Did you know him?" Harry asked, nodding to the open casket. Of course Harry wouldn't really care if Snape died, who could blame him?
"Yeah...you could say that." Sirius replied uneasily. Harry automatically sensed that there was something more to that statement than was being said. However Harry (rather unwisely) decided not to press the subject.
"So....where you from?" Harry asked. He was very curious about the only stranger at Snape's funeral.
"Not far away." Sirius replied, closing the subject. What was he supposed to say? 'Gee Harry, I'm from Marigold, the Hidden City of Salazar Slytherin just in the forest there. By the way, I'm you're godfather, and also hiding out there is your dead best friend.' I think not.
"So, um--"
"Harry? Harry? Where did he get to?" A girl's voice was softly calling, interrupting Harry before he could come up with another way to interrigate the stranger.
"Better hurry, you're girlfriend's calling." Sirius said. As soon as the words left his mouth he realized what he had said, and mentally kicked himself in the rear.
"How did you know she was my girlfriend?" Harry asked quizically, suddenly becoming suspicious. Sirius could've easily said that he had just assumed, and that a handsome guy like him must have girls swooning over him all the time. However, Sirius panicked.
"Uh...gotta go!" He said, rising a little bit too quickly and half running from the Great Hall and into the forest, feeling Harry's questioning stare following him.
"Who was that?" Hermione asked, finally coming up to Harry, who was also standing by now. She was shocked by the look on his face as he stared at the open doors.
"Harry, what's wrong?" She asked. Harry shook his head.
"It was this guy...I've never seen him before. He's certainly not from Hogwarts, he's not a teacher and he's too old to be a student. He knew you were my girlfriend just by hearing you're voice...it was like he knew me."
"That's not good, Harry," Hermione replied, biting her lip nervously. "Someone at Snape's funeral, we knew he was spying as a Death Eater you know, and he KNOWS you? Harry that only means one thing!" She was frantically searching Harry's face when she realized he had reached the same conclusion before it had even occured to her. He smiled grimly.
"A Death Eater."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mindy, who had magically summoned all of her belongings to Marigold less than a week before, found herself packing it all up again. She was muttering a long and very colorful stream of cuss words under her breath as she tried to find the missing half of the pair of shoes she had worn yesterday.
"Well this looks interesting." Remus said, causing her to jump and utter one of her words much louder than intended. He laughed. He had been watching her for nearly ten minutes, and she hadn't even noticed.
"It is NOT funny, Remus Lupin!" She scolded, then, after looking around the room desperately, she flopped onto the bed and leaned over so that her head was upside down and her hair was flying everywhere. With a few more swear words and a couple of seconds, she was quite sure that it wasn't uner her bed and she whipped up again so fast that she fell backward onto the bed with dizziness. Remus laughed again.
"What are you looking for?" He asked, his eyes twinkling. Mindy sighed.
"My other high healed leather boot." She said. Remus laughed loudly at this, and Mindy sat straight up.
"And what, may I ask, is so funny, Mr. Lupin?" She asked, aggitated over losing one of her favorite shoes.
"That boot?" Remus said, mentioning to a tall leather shoe poking up from her underwear drawer, where she had thrown it while desperately looking for her favorite bikini not three minutes earlier.
"I hate it when you're right." Mindy said, sticking her tongue out at him and walking over to the boot. However, the closer she got, the slower she went. That statement had more meaning than she thought it would have. She closed her eyes for just a few seconds, but it was long enough for the memories to flash through her mind.
~~~~~
It was the end of her seventh year. Mindy had been troubled for quite some time. Her parents were dead, as was her best friend. But she had to move past that and think of the future.
She had always been good in Potions, and she was a favorite of the professor. She fully intended to go to a magical university to receive excessive training in the field.
Her Aunt and Uncle had given her the chance of a lifetime. They would house her, and help her pay her way into a very expensive university. It was recognized as the best for Potions in the world. There was just one problem.
It was in Australia.
She was walking now, walking to her secret place that she shared only with Remus. She was going to tell him, and she was going to tell him today. She had already arranged to meet him. She was going to Australia. She was leaving him here.
And she didn't intend on coming back.
Remus looked nervous when she arrived. They both went to speak, and Mindy insisted that he go first. He gulped, and took her hand with his, slipping the other into his pocket. She was watching him curiously, when he pulled out a small black box, and opened it slowly. Mindy gasped as she stared at the beautiful diamond ring.
"Mindy, you know I love you. Will you marry me?" Remus whispered, looking up hopefully into her eyes. Mindy was rendered speechless for a moment. A wild part of her screamed 'YES MIRANDA, YOU DOLT! MARRY HIM! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!"
And then she made the biggest mistake of her life.
She pushed the ring away.
"I can't, Remus." She whispered, not crying or even getting emotional. She was perfectly calm, though somewhat distant. "I can't. I'm moving to Australia. I'm giong to a university. I can't marry you."
She turned and tried to leave when Remus took her hand and forced her to turn and look back at him.
"You'll regret it later, Mindy," He said in a strangled voice, trying desperately to make her change her mind. "You'll regret leaving."
"No, I won't." She said, twisting out of his grasp and running back outside to the banks of the lake where she could be alone.
~~~~~
It only took a few seconds for this to pass through her mind, and as it released her she quickly grabbed her boot and threw it into her bag. Remus had sensed what she was remembering, and said nothing.
"Look, Remus..." She said, looking at him expectantly. He stood and nodded.
"I'll see you at dinner." He said, pecking her on the cheek. He strode out of the room. He knew, without seeing, the tears that were falling slowly down her face.
As he collapsed into the bed in his own room, he also had a memory. A memory that had haunted him for years. He had thought he would die when she rejected his proposal and moved to Australia. But then....
~~~~~
Remus was having a good time. He, James, Peter, Sirius, Crystal, Willow, Lily, Kitty, and Rhainnon were all at a reunion at Hogwarts three years after graduation. Everyone was there, from all four houses. They were having fun, catching up on old times and kidding around, when he heard a familiar voice, and turned in shock.
Mindy.
She had hardly changed since the last time he had seen her. Her hair was still silky and golden, and her eyes were still a soft, inviting green that would change slowly to blue as she angered. She was dressed nicely in a long blue dress that wasn't overly fancy, but made her look beautiful. Remus felt himself choking on his punch. Crystal scoffed, and after a few tart words between them, she left. Mindy, however, smiled warmly at the remaining Marauders, who welcomed her gladly, for they had missed her bubbly personality greatly.
But none so much as Remus.
"Moony!" She smiled at him, and his heart lifted. Maybe she was finished at that accursed university on the other side of the world. Maybe she had come back. Maybe they could still be together. Maybe she still loved him.
"Mindy," He forced himself to say. He opened his mouth to ask if she was back to stay, when He came.
'He' was a tall rusty haired man, good looking in a rugged sort of way. His shoulders were broad and strong, and his eyes twinkled in a way that made you trust him. He had a friendly look about him, like a good natured neighbor.
He slipped an arm around Mindy's waist without a second thought, and she smiled up at him. All of Remus's hopes popped inside him faster than a child who has awoken from a dream of Christmas to discover that it's only September.
"G'day mates!" He said cheerfully with a thick Australion accent. Remus cringed as Mindy giggled.
"They're not very familiar with that phrase up here." She said, smiling up at him lovingly. He laughed, and so did everyone else.
Everyone but Remus.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" He asked, rasing his eyebrows.
"Of course, hold you horses. All right, here we go. This is Lily Evans, and that's her boyfriend, James Potter."
"Fiance!" Lily replied, and Mindy gasped.
"No way!" She said. Lily nodded.
"All righty then, well, that's Sirius Black, and this is Willow Weeping. That's Topanga Topingside, but call her Kitty. Trust me, call her Kitty.
"Amen," A few of Kitty's friends muttered, earning a stuck-out tongue from Kitty herself.
"That's Peter Pettigrew and Rhiannon Romandle, no they're not together. And this is Remus Lupin." Remus forced a smile upon the stranger, who smiled easily at him. It was hard to hate him.
"Everyone," Mindy continued, not realizing Remus's torture. "This is Wes Ravine," She looked up at him excitedly and he squeazed her hand, then she turned back to her school friends and finished, "My husband."
Remus stared in shock at the handsome Australian who was now married to the woman that he had loved for so long.
"Yep, we're the Ravines!" He said, smiling down upon his wife. "Us and little Raina, our daughter."
Remus turned from the scene as his friends congratulated them. Mindy was married and she had a daughter.
It was no longer hard to hate Wes Ravine.
~~~~~
The dinner bell sounded and Remus pulled himself out of that particular memory gladly.
So here it is! Coming Soon: Chapter 18!...VALENTINE'S DAY! Our favorite couples...and one of our favorite Marauders gets SOO drunk...but not who you think...
Chapter Seventeen
Of Professors, Potions, and Long-lost Family
Severus Snape hated going to the Death Eater meetings. They were cold and a bit scary in the least if you actually WERE a Death Eater, but as a spy for Dumbledore, they were absolutely terrifying.
Fortunately for the Potions master, he was very good at keeping his cool under pressure. Voldie and the gang had been convinced that he was on their side for the three years Severus had taken up spying again.
He was, of course very relieved when the grim crowd was released from the Dark Lord's company. Another meeting, and he still lived.
Maybe.
"Snape!" Voldemort hissed, just as he turned to disapperate.
"Yes, Master?" Severus replied, turning and lifting his masked face. Voldemort's lips curled, as if he knew this reference was bull. Severus prayed that he didn't.
"Stay." He commanded.
"Yes, Master," He replied, not betraying the growing panic and fear. There was a reason behind this statement, and Severus had a feeling he didn't want to know what it was.
And it didn't calm him that Lucius also remained.
"Did you really think you could fool us, Severus?" Voldemort hissed. Severus's eyes widened in the realization of the signifigance of this statement and the sudden attack of fear.
"What do you mean, Master?" Severus replied, trying desperately to keep up his act.
"You know perfectly well what I mean. Confession would be easier." Voldemort replied. Severus stared back. Well, at least he was going down a hero. Oh my God, I sound like my brother, Severus realized in horror. As if reading his thoughts, Voldie sneered and lifted his wand.
"Veritanuit!" He hissed, and the Dark Truth curse hit Severus like a locomotive. He could feel himself being ripped opened, and telling them everything.
But knowing it was over, Severus couldn't even feel the pain. He was watching, from a third person point of veiw. He briefly wondered if anyone would care of his death. He had no family to speak of...well, except for him, but he wouldn't notice...not that Severus could blame him.
Voldemort raised his wand and pointed it maliciously at him.
"Hello, Severus," A beautiful voice said. He looked up and saw a beautiful woman with long, wavy auburn hair and a smile. She extended a hand to him. "Come with me."
Suddenly the distant and dull pain and the weariness and depression and hatred of Severus's life left him in a flash of green light. He was happy now, as he hadn't been in years.
"I would've suspected something long and torturous, my Lord," Lucius said, looking at Voldemort questioningly.
"The last time I killed him that way, he lived." The Dark Lord hissed. Severus laughed, and put his arm around Julia Jenkins. They turned, and disappeared into the light and Lily and James's outstetched arms of greeting.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"It's not a bad idea." Shinra said, stroking his chin. Harmony allowed herself to expel the carbon dioxide that had been building in her lungs in relief. He agreed.
Ron was behaving in quite a peculiar fashion. He was looking down at the ground and didn't even stir when the king said this.
"It will take a lot of planning, of course." He said. "And we probably won't be able to get you there for a few months..."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Harmony interrupted, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. Shinra's eyes widened in amazement. Ron looked up, and his weird mood seemed to pass as he began to laugh.
'You never know what a Slytherin's going to do.' Harry had said once. How right he was.
"C'mon, Ron!" She bubbled happily, taking Ron's hand and practically pulling him out of the Throne room. Ron looked back at the King. They exchanged an understanding look before Ron was pulled around the corner of the doorway.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry whooped for joy when he heard the noise. No Potions this afternoon, YES!
Hermione, however, was biting her lip nervously. For some reason this didn't sit with her. It wasn't just their class, all the Potions classes had been canceled, and it was quite obvious (to Hermione, at least) that Snape hadn't been seen lately. It didn't sit well with her that he had disappeared; after all, they knew he was working for Dumbledore.
At that moment, Albus Dumbledore was staring at the letter the Ministry had sent him, confirming the worst.
Severus was dead.
It was hard to believe, after all he had come through. He had been a trusted comrade of Albus's, if not one of his best students. He was sitting with his head bowed when Minerva came into the room.
"Yes, Minerva?" He said, trying smile at the Deputy Headmistress.
"Where is Severus, Albus?" Minerva said bluntly. She had never been one to beat around the bush. Dumbledore sighed.
"He's gone, Minerva." He looked up at her, and, though his face was wrinkled and his body was weary, his eyes showed how very upset he was.
"Oh my God." She replied, slumping into a chair. She had never been to fond of Severus, but she still was going to miss his sadistic comments and sarcastic attitude. The staff wouldn't be the same.
Speaking of the staff...
"Who's going to teach Potions?" She asked, looking up abruptly.
"I was just pondering that myself....maybe Remus, he's back in the country, you know..."
"Heavens no!" Minerva cried. "Remus was always hopeless at Potions! He only passed becuase he always partnered with Miranda Himalia--"
"That's it!" Remus said, standing up. "Minerva, Miranda is in the country too! SHE is a potions master if I've ever met one! Let's have her come to teach!"
"Miranda Himalia?" Minerva said doubtfully. "I don't know, Albus....she doesn't quite seem like, er, teaching material to me." And, though she didn't say it out loud, Himalia's attitude and behavoir was the exact opposite of Severus's, if Himalia hadn't changed since coming back from Australia. Of course, under the circumstace of which she had returned...but still, Himalia had never been one to let others know when she was really upset about something.
"I know Minerva. That's why I think she would be so perfect." Dumbledore said laughing, and Minerva got the uneasy feeling he was reading her mind.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The occupants of the Slytherin castle in Marigold were preparing for Valentines Day. Sirius, Remus, Ron, Mindy, and Harmony could be seen every step of the way, supervising and making a few...adjustments, so to speak. Valentine's Day was going to be interesting this year...
They were sitting in one of the parlours, laughing at Sirius's latest plan.
"Okay wait..." Mindy said, before collapsing into another fit of laughter. Sirius just watched, smiling proudly. He almost felt like a Maurader again...almost.
"You heard me!" He said. "The first person to drink from that goblet will grow a 3 foot, 7 1/2 inch long pink beard!" Again, the others began laughing so hard they couldn't breath, until....
"Ouch!" Mindy said, rubbing her head where the owl had dropped the letter.
"Yes dear, letters are sooo heavy." Harmony said, teasing the blonde. Ron laughed.
"Not 'ouch' as in 'ouch', 'ouch' as in....um....a surprised 'ouch'? Wait, I'm confused..." Mindy looked around, confused, as the others began to laugh. Then she took the letter from the floor where it had fallen, and flipped it over to open it. She gasped.
"What?" Ron asked through gasps for air. He began to calm as he realized that her puzzled expression was over the letter, not the 'ouch'.
"It's...the Hogwarts seal." She said, staring down at it in disbelief. The others stopped laughing immediately. Harmony gaped.
"But...that's impossible!" She exclaimed.
"No, I don't think so," Remus replied thoughtfully. "I think Dumbledore's owl could get anywhere."
"Well, open it!" Sirius said. They all watched as she tore the letter and scanned it.
"Read it!" Ron said, curious. Mindy seemed to snap out of a daze before clearing her throat importantly, and reading:
~~~
Dear Ms. Himalia:
I would like to inform you that the position of Potions Master is now open at Hogwarts.
You're previous record and outstanding abilities in the feild have led me to ask you to take the position.
Please send your acception or rejection of this offer as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Professor Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster, Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry
P.S. I don't know if you've been in contact with Sirius, but if you have and you see him before I do, please send him the eclosed envelope.
~~~
She finished reading and looked up at Sirius quizzically.
"Are you expecting something from Dumbledore?" She asked, not even recognizing the statement of the rest of the letter.
"No," Sirius replied, a bemused look on his face. From here, it was obvious that the man had spent years in Azkaban, he had that haunted look about him. "I haven't been in contact with Dumbledore in years." He frowned. Something about the letter seemed to be troubling him.
Mindy fished around in the envelope for a moment before producing another small, square envelope, which Sirius tore open and began to read aloud immediately.
~~~
Sirius,
I'm not sure if you shall ever receive this, or if you're even alive. If you are, and you got this through Mindy, I'm sure she's told you about the Potions position at Hogwarts being open, and I'm sure you're curious of why. There is no real way to put this bluntly, Sirius, but Severus...
~~~
Suddenly Sirius stopped reading, his eyes opened wide in shock. He held the parchment closer to his eyes, rereading what was there. He did this again...and again. The tension in the room was growing. It took a lot to surprise Sirius like that.
"But Severus is dead." He said faintly, finally letting the others know. Remus's eyes widened, and Mindy gasped. Ron was slightly stunned, becuase he had known Snape, and even if he was evil he had saved Harry's life in the past. Harmony looked around, confused, and a little upset that everyone but her knew what was going on. She was not used to being the only one left out of the loop.
"Padfoot..." Mindy said awkardly, standing and advancing toward Sirius, who stood and dropped the note. He turned on heel and sped from the room. Mindy sighed and plopped into the seat he had been sitting in, putting her face into her hands in what seemed to be frustration. Ron was confused now also; he knew Sirius and Snape had always hated each other....why should he react like that to his death?
Sirius strided along the halls of the castle at an impossible rate. He wasn't in a state of shocked denial and rage as he had been when James died, nor the wild depression of his mother's death.
He simply felt confused. And more than a little bit guilty.
He should be upset, shouldn't he? This should be a blow. He should be sad. This should be the time he regretted everything he ever did to Severus, when he wished they wouldn't have been enemies. But, quite frankly, he wasn't. He didn't feel any of those things. This wasn't right! How could he not even care?
Sirius found he was in his own room. He immediately went to his closet, dug under a pile of dirty laundry well hidden from the house elves, and pulled out an old shoe box. Striding over to his desk, he sat and opened it, carefulling looking at it's precious contents; he pictures.
James; himself and Crystal; the Maruaders; his mother; Remus and Julia; just Julia; James, Peter and himself in their animagus forms on the first successful transformation; Harry as a baby; his mom and him at a baseball game; Peter running as Remus chased him with a quill; Sirius dropping Harry on his head; Lily and James's wedding, Mindy's good bye party; Willow looking ready to kill; James's bachelor party...
Sirius dug through them all, searching desperately to see it he still had it.
The it was, at the very bottom of the box. That one, single picture. The picture that he had been running from for longer than he had been running from the law.
It showed a man with straight black hair and dark eyes, with a face that could be jolly with laughter or sour with a smirk. He was standing outside a magical ice cream parlour with two children, each about five years of age, both with the man's black hair and dark eyes, but with distinct characteristics. The three were laughing together, teasing and eating their half-melted ice cream cones.
Sirius smiled, and finally felt it, though it wasn't as strong as he expected it to be.
The pain of losing his only brother. Severus.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Gryffindors were unsure of how they should react. Their least favorite teacher, Snape, was dead. Killed in the line of duty while working for Dumbledore. An unusually noble death for a Slytherin.
Many were not even claiming to care. But some, like Harry and Hermione, felt somewhat guilty about all that had happened. And so, when the date of his funurel was announced, they decided that they would go.
However, the whole thing turned out to be incredibly boring. It was just an open showing. There was one woman who was crying, but more becuase of the simple fact that is was a funeral than the fact that it was Snape's. Harry was shocked.
Didn't anyone care about this man's death?
Sirius slipped in through the open double doors. This was dangerous, far too dangerous, but Sirius wasn't going to miss his own brother's funeral.
He wasn't sure what to do now that he was there. Even though he was pretty sure no one would recognize him, especially under the thick hooded cloak, he was increasingly nervous.
He sat down on one of the benches near the open casket, carefully choosing a secluded seat. He didn't trust himself to actually go up and look at the body, which the Ministry had returned from the place they had found it dumped.
As he sat, lost in thought, he felt someone sit down next to him. Sirius turned to face...
Harry.
"Hello!" Harry said warmly. Sirius quickly turned away. He couldn't believe it...HARRY?!
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I bothering you...?" Harry asked uneasily. Incredible, Harry didn't recognize him. When the mysterious man didn't reply, Harry stood to leave. Sirius couldn't bring himself to just let Harry leave.
"No, you're fine." He said hoarsley. Whoa, maybe Severus's death was taking a larger tole on him than he thought it had. Or maybe it was the presence of James's son...
"If you're sure..." Harry, still unsure, said, sitting down again gingerly.
"I'm sure...I think I need some company." Sirius replied. He was surprised to find that this was true.
"Did you know him?" Harry asked, nodding to the open casket. Of course Harry wouldn't really care if Snape died, who could blame him?
"Yeah...you could say that." Sirius replied uneasily. Harry automatically sensed that there was something more to that statement than was being said. However Harry (rather unwisely) decided not to press the subject.
"So....where you from?" Harry asked. He was very curious about the only stranger at Snape's funeral.
"Not far away." Sirius replied, closing the subject. What was he supposed to say? 'Gee Harry, I'm from Marigold, the Hidden City of Salazar Slytherin just in the forest there. By the way, I'm you're godfather, and also hiding out there is your dead best friend.' I think not.
"So, um--"
"Harry? Harry? Where did he get to?" A girl's voice was softly calling, interrupting Harry before he could come up with another way to interrigate the stranger.
"Better hurry, you're girlfriend's calling." Sirius said. As soon as the words left his mouth he realized what he had said, and mentally kicked himself in the rear.
"How did you know she was my girlfriend?" Harry asked quizically, suddenly becoming suspicious. Sirius could've easily said that he had just assumed, and that a handsome guy like him must have girls swooning over him all the time. However, Sirius panicked.
"Uh...gotta go!" He said, rising a little bit too quickly and half running from the Great Hall and into the forest, feeling Harry's questioning stare following him.
"Who was that?" Hermione asked, finally coming up to Harry, who was also standing by now. She was shocked by the look on his face as he stared at the open doors.
"Harry, what's wrong?" She asked. Harry shook his head.
"It was this guy...I've never seen him before. He's certainly not from Hogwarts, he's not a teacher and he's too old to be a student. He knew you were my girlfriend just by hearing you're voice...it was like he knew me."
"That's not good, Harry," Hermione replied, biting her lip nervously. "Someone at Snape's funeral, we knew he was spying as a Death Eater you know, and he KNOWS you? Harry that only means one thing!" She was frantically searching Harry's face when she realized he had reached the same conclusion before it had even occured to her. He smiled grimly.
"A Death Eater."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mindy, who had magically summoned all of her belongings to Marigold less than a week before, found herself packing it all up again. She was muttering a long and very colorful stream of cuss words under her breath as she tried to find the missing half of the pair of shoes she had worn yesterday.
"Well this looks interesting." Remus said, causing her to jump and utter one of her words much louder than intended. He laughed. He had been watching her for nearly ten minutes, and she hadn't even noticed.
"It is NOT funny, Remus Lupin!" She scolded, then, after looking around the room desperately, she flopped onto the bed and leaned over so that her head was upside down and her hair was flying everywhere. With a few more swear words and a couple of seconds, she was quite sure that it wasn't uner her bed and she whipped up again so fast that she fell backward onto the bed with dizziness. Remus laughed again.
"What are you looking for?" He asked, his eyes twinkling. Mindy sighed.
"My other high healed leather boot." She said. Remus laughed loudly at this, and Mindy sat straight up.
"And what, may I ask, is so funny, Mr. Lupin?" She asked, aggitated over losing one of her favorite shoes.
"That boot?" Remus said, mentioning to a tall leather shoe poking up from her underwear drawer, where she had thrown it while desperately looking for her favorite bikini not three minutes earlier.
"I hate it when you're right." Mindy said, sticking her tongue out at him and walking over to the boot. However, the closer she got, the slower she went. That statement had more meaning than she thought it would have. She closed her eyes for just a few seconds, but it was long enough for the memories to flash through her mind.
~~~~~
It was the end of her seventh year. Mindy had been troubled for quite some time. Her parents were dead, as was her best friend. But she had to move past that and think of the future.
She had always been good in Potions, and she was a favorite of the professor. She fully intended to go to a magical university to receive excessive training in the field.
Her Aunt and Uncle had given her the chance of a lifetime. They would house her, and help her pay her way into a very expensive university. It was recognized as the best for Potions in the world. There was just one problem.
It was in Australia.
She was walking now, walking to her secret place that she shared only with Remus. She was going to tell him, and she was going to tell him today. She had already arranged to meet him. She was going to Australia. She was leaving him here.
And she didn't intend on coming back.
Remus looked nervous when she arrived. They both went to speak, and Mindy insisted that he go first. He gulped, and took her hand with his, slipping the other into his pocket. She was watching him curiously, when he pulled out a small black box, and opened it slowly. Mindy gasped as she stared at the beautiful diamond ring.
"Mindy, you know I love you. Will you marry me?" Remus whispered, looking up hopefully into her eyes. Mindy was rendered speechless for a moment. A wild part of her screamed 'YES MIRANDA, YOU DOLT! MARRY HIM! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!"
And then she made the biggest mistake of her life.
She pushed the ring away.
"I can't, Remus." She whispered, not crying or even getting emotional. She was perfectly calm, though somewhat distant. "I can't. I'm moving to Australia. I'm giong to a university. I can't marry you."
She turned and tried to leave when Remus took her hand and forced her to turn and look back at him.
"You'll regret it later, Mindy," He said in a strangled voice, trying desperately to make her change her mind. "You'll regret leaving."
"No, I won't." She said, twisting out of his grasp and running back outside to the banks of the lake where she could be alone.
~~~~~
It only took a few seconds for this to pass through her mind, and as it released her she quickly grabbed her boot and threw it into her bag. Remus had sensed what she was remembering, and said nothing.
"Look, Remus..." She said, looking at him expectantly. He stood and nodded.
"I'll see you at dinner." He said, pecking her on the cheek. He strode out of the room. He knew, without seeing, the tears that were falling slowly down her face.
As he collapsed into the bed in his own room, he also had a memory. A memory that had haunted him for years. He had thought he would die when she rejected his proposal and moved to Australia. But then....
~~~~~
Remus was having a good time. He, James, Peter, Sirius, Crystal, Willow, Lily, Kitty, and Rhainnon were all at a reunion at Hogwarts three years after graduation. Everyone was there, from all four houses. They were having fun, catching up on old times and kidding around, when he heard a familiar voice, and turned in shock.
Mindy.
She had hardly changed since the last time he had seen her. Her hair was still silky and golden, and her eyes were still a soft, inviting green that would change slowly to blue as she angered. She was dressed nicely in a long blue dress that wasn't overly fancy, but made her look beautiful. Remus felt himself choking on his punch. Crystal scoffed, and after a few tart words between them, she left. Mindy, however, smiled warmly at the remaining Marauders, who welcomed her gladly, for they had missed her bubbly personality greatly.
But none so much as Remus.
"Moony!" She smiled at him, and his heart lifted. Maybe she was finished at that accursed university on the other side of the world. Maybe she had come back. Maybe they could still be together. Maybe she still loved him.
"Mindy," He forced himself to say. He opened his mouth to ask if she was back to stay, when He came.
'He' was a tall rusty haired man, good looking in a rugged sort of way. His shoulders were broad and strong, and his eyes twinkled in a way that made you trust him. He had a friendly look about him, like a good natured neighbor.
He slipped an arm around Mindy's waist without a second thought, and she smiled up at him. All of Remus's hopes popped inside him faster than a child who has awoken from a dream of Christmas to discover that it's only September.
"G'day mates!" He said cheerfully with a thick Australion accent. Remus cringed as Mindy giggled.
"They're not very familiar with that phrase up here." She said, smiling up at him lovingly. He laughed, and so did everyone else.
Everyone but Remus.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" He asked, rasing his eyebrows.
"Of course, hold you horses. All right, here we go. This is Lily Evans, and that's her boyfriend, James Potter."
"Fiance!" Lily replied, and Mindy gasped.
"No way!" She said. Lily nodded.
"All righty then, well, that's Sirius Black, and this is Willow Weeping. That's Topanga Topingside, but call her Kitty. Trust me, call her Kitty.
"Amen," A few of Kitty's friends muttered, earning a stuck-out tongue from Kitty herself.
"That's Peter Pettigrew and Rhiannon Romandle, no they're not together. And this is Remus Lupin." Remus forced a smile upon the stranger, who smiled easily at him. It was hard to hate him.
"Everyone," Mindy continued, not realizing Remus's torture. "This is Wes Ravine," She looked up at him excitedly and he squeazed her hand, then she turned back to her school friends and finished, "My husband."
Remus stared in shock at the handsome Australian who was now married to the woman that he had loved for so long.
"Yep, we're the Ravines!" He said, smiling down upon his wife. "Us and little Raina, our daughter."
Remus turned from the scene as his friends congratulated them. Mindy was married and she had a daughter.
It was no longer hard to hate Wes Ravine.
~~~~~
The dinner bell sounded and Remus pulled himself out of that particular memory gladly.