Fall had come earlier than usual in London that year. Dustings of dried leaves combed the streets and the quickly passing feet created a never-ending fest of noise. I tried my best to find light throughout the extense of the cloudy autumn days by reminding myself of the wonderful even to come. But even such a joyous presence, as a baby to be, can't always clear one's mind of the burdens that were mine.
We had been met three years prior, my husband and I. Jean was subtle man, as loyal and good hearted as they come. In Ireland, where we had met, he had developed a reputation in medicine, therefore, once we were married and moved to London he continued his practice. It was only then that he realized that he had fallen ill, cancer. As predicted, it wasn't weeks before he had slipped into the advanced stages. Then, shortly after, he passed away; the only man that I had ever loved was gone.
It had been over ten years since we had gotten together. Graduation had divided our friendship that decade ago, and each of us went out into the world to seek our own fortunes. Each companion created their portrait in time - some very different than the rest. It was then their turn to come to rescue, to care and to comfort a friend in need...
***
The fragrance of fresh flowers loomed throughout the kitchen, mingling with smells of food being cooked. One plump older woman stood at the stove, stirring a large brass pot of soup, while the rest of the house staff sat around a large wooden table. The setting was a whirl of hands measuring, slicing, and stirring to prepare for the night's dinner guests.
When the bell at the street chimed once, all heads rose in the house. After a second ring, Ms. Morris, the head of the staff, got up from the head of the table. She walked with sullen grace out of the kitchen and down the long corridor. Her hawkish gaze looked in on each room she passed, seeing to their order.
With high ceilings of regal gothic arches, one was able to see clear through the entire building. It was something that Ms. Morris preferred, for it made her job slightly easier.
At the end of the hall, the last room was the master's office. He had been a professional man, holding several jobs other than just pharmaceuticals. It had always been the messiest room of the house: books stacked waist high from the floor, memos covering the bureau, and always a half-empty coffee cup lying somewhere. That was how "the lady" had always liked it, because that was how he was - messy yet refined.
Only, that day the office had actually been cleaned, a first in the two years that they had lived there.
The housekeeper turned, and jumped upon discovering that she was not alone. "Good afternoon, Ma'am," she greeted.
"The guests have arrived."
"Yes, that is why I have come," Ms. Morris replied. She looked questionably at "the lady's" hand on the door.
"It's alright. I think that I'll answer it for once." The smooth, cool fingers tightened slightly and turned the knob.
***
"Headmaster, you wished to speak with me," drawled a silky voice. Two black eyes stared blankly through the crack in the door.
"Yes, Severus, do come in," Dumbledore replied.
The tall man dressed in black strode into the headmaster's office and sat down in one of the plush, scarlet armchairs. His sallow skinned face stood out like a moon against the night, amongst his thick head of shoulder length black hair.
Professor Dumbledore watched him intently. "Its nice to see you again, Severus. Did you have a good break?"
Not content with making small talk, the man - Severus Snape - shortly replied, "Yes, quite."
"Ah," Dumbledore chuckled, well aware of the Potion Master's muse. "What I asked to see you about? Yes, I will be leaving this afternoon for a short period of time. There is business I have to attend to in London."
Severus nodded. "Yes, Headmaster, I will be sure to keep a close eye on the grounds while you are gone."
"No, I'm afraid you don't understand. I am requesting that you come with me. Hagrid will do the grounds keeping for the time being."
Though he would have preferred to stay at Hogwarts, it was beneath him to go against the Headmaster. He had vowed to serve the school council when needed, therefore he owed them his allegiance. Severus pealed his eyes from the floor, sure to wipe the venom from their depths before meeting the gaze of the Headmaster. "What is it that you wish for me to do?"
***
The air was crisp and quite clear for a city block. Diagon Alley was bustling with commerce; since it was two weeks before the start of term at Hogwarts, the morning crowd was slightly larger than usual.
Farther down the narrow street, past Gringott's Wizarding Bank there were more buildings, mostly residences or townhouses. A carriage suddenly appeared through an arched nook in one of the adjacent buildings and turned down the alley. It traveled a few feet, then stopped abruptly in front of one of the houses.
A tall, good-looking young man slowly stepped down from the carriage compartment, then turned to help a young woman and child also get down from the carriage. All three were of Chinese ancestry; therefore they had black hair and brown eyes. The young man's name was Ben Chang and his wife, the small young woman, was Donna. Their daughter Cho, the little girl, would soon be turning six.
After paying the cab driver, Ben stalked to the back of the carriage and helped him unload the luggage from the rack. Holding onto her wee daughter by one hand and carrying a bouquet of roses in the other, Donna slowly scaled the steps to the large brick townhouse. Ben followed closely behind her once the carriage took off and he slowly heaved the stack of heavy suitcases up to the landing.
"Oh, shiny button!" Cho cried, letting go of her mother's hand.
"No, Cho, wait."
Disregarding her mothers call, Cho burst forth and rang the bell.
It was only moments before the large oak door swung open and a warm draft swept over them.
"Hello!" they cried in unison, rushing forward to hug her.
The loose brown waves of Anne's hair fluttered across her face and her eyes brightened. "I believe that that's the first time I've smiled in weeks," she said, "won't you come in?"
"Yes," Ben replied eagerly. "Who knew that autumn in London could be so cold."
The three guests slowly filed into the long descending hall of the great house, and Ms. Morris assisted Ben with the luggage.
"It's so good to see you again!" Donna exclaimed, reaching forward to hug Anne again. She eyed her midsection, where the fabric of her dress fell tightly around the small bulge. The little Cho gathered around also with a toothy grin.
"It's going to be a girl," the young Chinese woman stated matter-of-factly. "Believe me, we know these kinds of things."
"We?"
"Chinese.."
"Ah," Anne sighed.
"Yes, you know that each time my Mom got pregnant she always predicted right." Donna had grown up with four other sisters and by the last one her father had wished that the Chinese prophesy was not so accurate.
"I think so too. It would be wrong for Anne, "the flower goddess," to not have a girl," Ben added.
"Thanks," Anne smiled to him, "I would like for it to be a girl."
"Oh, speaking of flowers, we brought you these." Donna handed her the small bouquet. "They're not really much compared to your usual display, but they didn't have many to choose from at the airport."
Anne smiled and brought one of the crisp white blooms to her nose. "No, they're lovely. I'll just get a vase."
They followed her into the drawing room. There was a lovely fire crackling in the hearth; red and blue flames licked at the sweet smelling pile of wood that appeared too perfectly stacked to be emitting so much warmth.
There were hardwood floors covered with richly woven carpets and the walls were decked with rows and rows of shelved books. The only inlets novel free held the large stone fireplace and a comfortable window seat overlooking the busy alley.
As the Changs sat down, Anne returned carrying a small crystal vase of the roses and set it down on a side table by the couch. "You have a beautiful house," Donna sighed, eyeing the rest of the room. She lightly took off the lid of an urn on the opposite side table, but quickly set it back down upon meeting her friends eyes.
"I may have a nice house today, but I don't know what I'm going to do in a few weeks when the reality of life sets in." The young starry orbs ached with the dawning fear. Thoughts of the love and support she had lost coursed her mind. She shoved them away as a salty tear met her lips.
Anne relished in the strength of his arms and rested her face on his shoulder. Though he had only met Jean on rare occasions, Ben knew of the love that he and Anne shared. He held her close as she struggled to support herself.
"Don't worry, Anne," Donna encouraged, taking her friend's shaken hand. "Everything will turn out fine. I promise."
***
The next day it was cool and despite the remaining clouds, the sun found moments to peep out and bear its light. Perhaps the golden rays were one nice thing to be counted on such a solemn day.
The cemetery was extremely quiet, besides the hollow voice of the minister performing the ceremony and the gentle mourning of the assembly. Anne stood with a forced upright stature, clutching Donna's hand when tears threatened to fall.
Cho sat on her daddy's hip, sleeping quietly, and Ben kept his free arm resting loosely around Donna's waist.
The pallbearers, assembled mostly from the Neoin's relatives and neighbors, slowly stepped forward to prepare the lowering of the casket. Looking away, Anne pulled up her black veil and received her first clear view of her surroundings:
In between the tall-silhouetted tombstones there were columns of small pink and blue wildflowers. A short cast-iron fence neatly surrounded the veld that made up the cemetery. There were two trees in its vast depths - one short magnolia in the far-left corner and a thin, slightly mangled gum tree that stood not twenty yards from the burial site.
A gum tree...
It had either dropped its leaves prematurely of it was dead.
A gum tree...
Anne took in its savage branches and heaving roots. She blinked, her ice blue eyes going wide.
There, under the tree, stood a man - a regal looking man. Despite the fact that he was obviously part of the funeral procession (why else would he be there?) his total black attire looked natural, unlike the rest of the onlookers.
***
Severus looked up from wringing his hands and glanced back towards the funeral.
He sighed.
Funerals had lost meaning with him. Hell, he'd been to so many that it just didn't matter anymore.
He glanced throughout the people; there were the family friends. Mother. Father. Wife
Wife.
His eyes met hers, aching, blue pools to black, empty orbs.
The woman looked away.
***
He'd seen her.
Anne quickly looked back towards the casket, but it had already been lowered into the ground. She let out an anguishing cry and fell to her knees as sobs wracked her body. Donna struggled to pull her from the wet ground. Ben and Anne's two brother-in-laws, Thomas and Gerald, came to her aid and pulled Anne from the grass.
***
Severus ran his hands through his lanky black hair as he watched her. His eyes lingered on the small bulge at her stomach. He felt sincere pity for the child, knowing what sadness it would face.
'Life without a father is no life at all.'
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A/N: Hi, I'm Anne, the author of this fic. If you just finished reading my first chapter then I invite you to make a review and tell me what you think. Any suggestion or flames are accepted.