Greetings... *enters, peels off the wide, billowing black cloak and hands it back to a drenched Snape that is glaring* thanks, Sev. It is raining cats and dogs here!! Pretty soon we will change the city name from Athens to Venice!

Anyhow, yet another weekend, and here you go, yet another chapter. You haven't rewarded me very much, so should I penalise you or shouldn't I? Severus thinks I should. I'll be a little less... vindictive. Heh. But I need my fuel, people.

As for my reviewers:

Ar itish poedaer Cynara: You flatter me. I am glad to see that my writing has touched you. It is great that finally I get to know of it too. Let's hope I hear from you again, then :)

Lady Lunar Phoenix: Yes, poor pixies... hehe.

Rickman's Girl: Thank you. You put as much faith in me as Severus does. *glances at him* ...or not. I'll try to make the story as surprising as possible. As for the Malfoys, Draco is dead. Of his father and mother, nothing has been specified...

Angel Baby: You are an overactive little one, aren't you? hehe. I HAVE to write Harry Potter into the story-- he is the secondary character, apart from his kid. And, like I have mentioned before, he wouldn't BE Harry Potter if he could stay away from trouble. I am glad you are excited. And of course I would mention you. I mention everyone, cos everyone's reviews and opinions are important to me.

Jaimynsfire: If I wrote them in alternative chapters, at least at present, they would be too short and there would be griping reviewers-- and I aim to please. hehe. And I think that an uptight person like Snape would have some kind of phobia nobody really knows about.

Tabitha: I think Severus, the way I have evolved him at least, likes to make fun of himself in a surrepticious way. Here's some more then!

By the way, food for thought: Everyone places Remus in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor (and prolly that is accurate)... but has anyone thought that he has enough darkness in him, being a werewolf, enought ambition, since he wants a normal life and education if he can get it, and enough intelligence to also be a *gasp!* Slytherin? Just a thought there. hehe. In this story, Remus is not a Slytherin.

Now on with the story.

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~~~~ Lily Potter ~~~~

"Up. Up! UP!" you little piece of firewood. The broom won't respond to me so seamlessly as dad said his experience had been. Madam Hooch is watching me with curiosity. She too expected me to be already looping the loop with the damn broomstick. It's frustrating. She comes over to look at me with her birdish eyes.

"Miss Potter, snarling at your broom will not motivate it to obey you. All it needs is a firm command. Now take a deep breath, and just say 'up' like you would to a pet."

"Yes, Madam Hooch." I say, ignoring the stifling of laughter from co-students that apparently do not like me too much. I glare at a couple of Slytherin boys that are already having their brooms hovered. I nod to myself, setting my jaw.

I look at my broom laying parallel to me on the ground. "Up." I say simply. The broom comes to my hand readily and softly. I smirk at the Slytherins, tipping my chin upwards a bit. Madam Hooch smiles and goes over to another poor soul screaming 'up' to his broom. The Slytherin boy smirks at me.

"What's the matter, Potter? Not going to fill your daddy's shoes?"

I roll my eyes and snap back readily, not even having to think of what to tell him.

"I don't know who you are, but you are a disgrace to the House of Slytherin, obviously."

The boy goes red-- dark red in the face. I smirk. Lots of other Gryffindors smirk, too. Of the Slytherins, some are disgruntled, and some are glaring at the boy. He snarls at me.

"My name is Liam Avery-- and if I am a disgrace, then you are dirt."

Avery. That name... didn't sound quite right. But I could not place where I had heard it and the significance. In any case, Madam Hooch comes to break it up.

"Mister Avery, Miss Potter! Behave yourselves! 5 points from Slytherin and 5 from Gryffindor!"

"But Madam Hooch!" I protest. I sure as hell did nothing. She huffs.

"It takes two to fight, Miss Potter-- and so it's only right that two are penalised."

I glare holes into her back as she resumes the lesson.

Bloody barn owl.

~~~~ Severus Snape ~~~~

"You have the list, Severus?"

"I do Minerva. I told you it wouldn't be long." I say as I enter the Headmistress' office. Lupin is already there, frowning, and-- oh bloody hell. It never rains Potters, it pours them. Harry Potter is sitting in a chair.

Doesn't Minerva yet know I -hate- surprises of the kind?

Harry lifts up his head, his eyes locking with mine and he smirks, feeling my thoughts.

"Sorry, Severus. I did not mean to be a surprise of that kind."

I had forgotten the irritating link that we share after our last group near-death experience, too. I know I am scowling just like the old times. But I can't help it. I scrutinize him. He is not a particularly tall man, but he is well-proportioned. Merlin, he still wears those ghastly glasses and his hair in a mess...

He also has the assertiveness of a man that has made his own choices. For Harry Potter is not an Auror, or a Ministry employee. As a matter of fact, he does not really like the Ministry and they do not really like him back. As I have heard officials say in gatherings, he is considered a 'loose cannon'. Acting only when he wants it and how he wants it. In all other instances, he is the chief proprietor of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. And judging from his attire and that of his daughter's, business is not bad at all.

I do believe Albus fine tuned his inherent independence and strong-headedness.

"You never -mean- to do much of anything, do you, Potter?" I sneer at him. He smiles as I take a seat.

"So how is Lily doing?"

"She's only been in my class once, Potter." I snort. I meet his eyes again, which are trying to prod in my brain, but I do not let him now. I allow a small smile.

"Not to worry. She survived first encounters."

"Severus has brought us a list of uses for pixie wings." Minerva puts an end to small talk.

"Pixie wings?" Harry asks. Minerva nods.

"It looks like someone has been harvesting pixie wings in numbers, Harry. We are not sure what is going on yet, and we all know how Minister Fudge--"

"Yes, we all do." Harry interrupted Lupin wryly.

"Severus, your floor." Minerva says and I sigh.

"Pixie wings are a great conservatory of magic power. Pixie magic power, to be exact, which to humans tampers with perception. There can be made high class cognitive potions. They induce permament subservience... alternate states of consciousness... it depends on what you add."

"All of them Dark Magic." Lupin states the obvious again.

I watch Harry fidget, and for a second I can feel what he thinks. He remembers. As do I. My skin crawls only in the mere suspicion.

Can we have come full circle once more? Can it have returned?

~~~~ Lily Potter ~~~~

"Lily, isn't that your dad?" Nigel taps me on my shoulder and points. I blink. What is he doing coming out of the Headmistress' office, when we are still in the first week of classes, and I haven't even had a single detention? How can I possibly be in trouble already??

He catches sight of me and his face, which was troubled, lights up. He grins at me and calls.

"Lils! Come over here!"

In the aisle, everyone stops and stares. After all, it is the great Harry Potter that defeated Voldemort and reversed his magic that is yelling happily. I don't care. I am glad to see him and I run to him for a hug.

"What's the matter, daddy?" I search his face, but he shakes his head and smiles at me.

"Nothing, Lils. Don't you worry." Then his gaze becomes a little suspicious and penetrating. "I don't suppose you -have- any reason to worry, do you?"

"Oh no, of course not." I smile at him. By this time, Nigel has walked up to us, with a small polite smile. I turn to him to make introductions.

"Dad, this is Nigel Veris, my friend. He's in Ravenclaw. Nigel, this is my dad." I say proudly. Dad shakes hands with Nigel who looks excited.

"Very pleased to meet you, sir. I... I know so many things--"

"Don't they all, Nigel. I'm pleased to meet you, too. Now if you'll excuse me both. I am sure there is some class you have to attend." he says and leaves.

"Lily, to class. You don't want to be late, do you?" I blink up at Uncle Remus. And right behind him-- Severus Snape, who passes between us in a flurry of black, snorting to himself.

Why were they all in the Headmistress' office? And why did they all look troubled?

"Oi, Lily! What's in your mind?"

"Nigel, they were all in there, talking."

Nigel frowns and looks at the professors as we walk to the DADA class.

"You think something might be up?"

"I don't think. I -know- so. There is no other reason why they wanted dad to be here."

"Dark Magic?"

I bite my lip, and smile to myself.

"I don't know. But we can find out."

~~~~ Severus Snape ~~~~

Of course, chances are that the Potter girl was outside the office because her father called her, and she has no idea nor any intention of getting mixed up in this affair.

But she is a Potter. Mischief runs in her blood. Not only Potter mischief, but also Weasley mischief, seeing as her mother is Virginia.

I'll keep an eye on her. And that boy she seems to have already befriended. You can never be too sure with a Potter. And the way she looked at me when I walked past-- she definately suspects, she sees. Let us hope she is not in possession of any invisibility cloaks. I forgot to ask Potter that.

During dinner, I feel her watching me or Lupin. I take a sip from my goblet and side look at Lupin, who is eating quietly, immersed in his thoughts.

"Your thoughts, Lupin?"

"Are not good, Severus." Lupin sighs, not meeting my gaze. I look ahead, and happen to meet Lily's eyes. Damn it. Even now that gaze that she inherited from her father gets to me.

"The Potter girl is on to us, I think. I do hope her father was not the usual imbecile and has not told his daughter anything."

Lupin looks up, peering at the Gryffindor table with a smile, then shakes his head.

"Harry is afraid too much for Lily, Severus. You know that he and Ginny sleep and wake up with her in mind."

I swallow the bite of pork pie that I have been chewing.

"I suppose so. I am going out to the Forbidden Forest tonight, Lupin."

He turns to look at me seriously.

"You are hoping to find more there."

"Obviously. I would appreciate it, if there were no 11 year olds tailing me tonight, if you get my point, Lupin." I say quietly, as I dab my lips and get up to leave. I have to get ready for tonight.

~~~~ Lily Potter ~~~~

"Why are you not eating?"

I blink to my side. There is another boy sitting near me, looking at me with interest and inquisitive eyes. I pick up my fork.

"Oh, I will, now."

He has brown hair and brown eyes, and he doesn't seem ready to leave me in peace yet.

"I am Alex Diggory. Pleased to meet you." he offers his hand. I blink. I know the name Diggory.

"You are...."

".... Cedric's younger brother. I never met Cedric." he says knowingly. It sounds like he always repeats those words.

"I'm Lily. But I guess you already know that."

He nods and smiles.

"Yes, I saw you in DADA. You're good."

"Uncle-- Professor Lupin has been telling me about DADA before. And dad."

"I suppose it's only natural."

"What do you like?" I asked, my mind reeling. I always associated the name 'Diggory' with 'Hufflepuff', yet here was one in my House.

"Transfiguration. I can't wait until we transfigure animals."

"You'll have to, until next year at least." I smile to myself as I look back towards the Head Table.

Professor Snape leaves, glaring at me once, then I feel Uncle Remus' eyes on me, guessing, like when I was 8 and he was trying to understand if I had let a garden snake in the house or not, without having to go to dad about it.

There is definately something going on.

"You are not listening to me, are you?" Alex smirks at me while waving his hand in front of my eyes. I turn to him, a little embarrassed, not really knowing what to tell him.

"Alex, how would you like to... go on a little hunt with me and a friend of mine?" I smile sweetly to him, seeing the spark of interest in his eyes light up instantly.

I call Nigel as we walk out of the main hall, and he smiles amiably to Alex.

"There seems to be something up. If the Headmistress called my dad, it might even be serious." I tell them both.

"Do you have any idea what it is about?" Alex asks.

"If Harry Potter is needed, and Professors Lupin and Snape are involved, it only means one thing." Nigel says conspiratorily.

"Dark Magic." we all say in the same time.

I think I love these guys.

~~~~ Severus Snape ~~~~

I make doubly sure I am not followed. Lupin told me where he found the pixies exactly, but before I actually start my way there, I go in circles, trying to tire any aspiring Potter children from playing detective. The night is chilly, suggestive of the winter that is approaching. I pull my cloak around me more, and once more try to listen from sounds that are not justifiable by the night and the forest.

I can hear nothing suspicious. I walk further into the forest, very carefully, and with respect. The forest does not turn against you immediately if you do not trample around like a baby elephant.

"Lumos."

I reach the patch of night lilies that Remus had described to me. Some are wilted, others discoloured. Signs that creatures bound to nature have been maltreated. I bend down to touch the little plants, to find anything that might give me a hint.

At first, there is nothing. I intensify my wand's light a little, and look closer to he ground. Still nothing. I sigh to myself and get up. As my glance falls to the brambles to the left, I catch movement of cloth, and I approach. Peering down, I discern a scrap of black clothing. I pick it up, unsure if I am scared or angry.

It is a scrap of school robes. Hogwarts typical school robes. I grit my teeth.

If I ever catch the Potter girl, she'll get more detentions than she will be able to attend in the 7 years she'll get here...

My ruminations are interrupted by small, sudden sounds of movement.

"Nox."

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And that's that! There you go all. Till next time. Remember, that at the moment I have a very low level of R-fuel (= Review fuel). Please fill me up if you want me to write, or even write faster. *points to button down at left*. Come on. I'll even make Severus say 'please'.