Anyhow! I always have to finish what I start, and I will finish this one too. I hate unfinished stories-- so I don't want to leave one as such. It took my a LONG time to find a creature that was interesting enough for this one. Let's hope you like this one too!

This chapter is a little short, but I have been (and still am), quite tired. I needed to re-attach to this storyline. I have done so with this. So next chapters will be normal length.

Like in GWTT, reviews now are at the end. And likewise, the more reviews, the faster I update-- and by now you know how fast I can be...

oh, and an announcement... if you can't wait and want to read another story, I have posted an old original fantasy story I had written in Fanfiction Press. You can find it here.

It is not HP, but it has a mystery and wizards, and it is complete! I'd love to see what you think of it.

On with the story.

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~~~~ Severus Snape ~~~~

I watch Potter pace back and forth in front of me. Virginia is sitting at Lily's bedside, somber faced. Paloma has successfully managed to keep out Diggory and Veritas -- at least for the moment. And for one more time I feel being at fault, and having failed.

Damn Potters and their attraction to trouble!

"What happened, exactly?" Potter asks hoarsely. He looks haggard. I do not blame him.

"She received a present too many.." I say distastefully.

This is hardly the time to be sarcastic, Snape! Potter's thoughts ring into my head as the shorter man glares into my eyes. I look back at him impassively.

"What do you mean?" Virginia asks, stroking Lily's hair the whole time.

"I mean that someone wanted Lily's blood, at least."

Potter pales. Before his eyes seems to play an old memory. Virginia makes a small sound and her hand flies to her face. I explain further, and my own voice sounds bleak, at least.

"The smoke that rose from the packet made a wound at the child's right forearm. The blood seemed to evaporate around her wrist and disappear. She was also delirious until early this morning."

"What was she saying?"

I fidget. It makes Potter even more irritable, but what the answer to his question is not good.

"Answer me, Snape!"

"The Eye. She was saying 'The Eye' and 'Don't hunt me, blue'... and the rest of the time repeating 'Yellow Fur'".

"What yellow fur? what eye?" Potter looks puzzled.

"If I knew that, Potter, I wouldn't be lingering here like an idiot! I have no idea what she was seeing or if it was just because of her delirium."

"What about you!? Don't YOU have anything to say in the matter?" Virginia grabs Paloma by the arm roughly. The nurse bristles and disentangles.

"I am not knowledgeable in the Dark Arts thank you very much!" she retorts.

"Paloma, kindly take your coffee break now." I snap at her, and she leaves huffily.

"Where is Remus?" Harry asks.

"Lupin is looking into exactly that babble, and the box that brought her into this situation, Potter. I would prefer if you did not distract him more than he already is. Now, the draft Miss Potter needs has cooled enough-- stay here, and do try to get a grip-- you too, Mrs. Potter." I order the two parents as if they were still both my students, and waft out of the room.

Before continuing to my potions lab in the dungeons, I pause, shutting my eyes. It is not just the Potters that need not to panic.

~~~~ Lily Potter ~~~~

I wake up basically because of the vilest taste I have ever had in my mouth. I gag and spit, but the hands holding me don't let me turn away from the damn liquid.

"Darling, open your eyes," I hear the voice, at first coming from far away, but quickly becoming louder. I do try, and a manage to open them a crack.

"Mmmum?" my mouth is not entirely willing to cooperate, but I feel my mother's perfume as she gathers me up and hugs me in relief and comfort.

My father's hand on my back completes the feeling of safety that I need so badly right now. I stay there and breathe, feeling all my body tingly as the potion -- it must be a potion that I was given -- takes effect.

"Let the girl lie down again, let her breathe." Madam Paloma Peel's voice. Mum lowers me gently and I can see both her and dad smiling down at me in relief. Their faces are drawn with worry, though, and I too feel my heart beating loudly against my chest.

"How are you feeling, snapdragon?" daddy asks me, and smiles gently, stroking my cheek like only he can. I smile.

"I'm okay dad. My arm hurts. What happened?"

Dad fidgets and his eyes darken. Before he can reply, I see Uncle Remus walk in and right behind him, Professor Snape.

I expect Remus to come. He is my godfather... or rather one of them. Mom and Dad are so afraid that what happened to my father's parents could take place again, that I have two godfathers. I only know one, Uncle Remus. The other is somewhat secret. I suspect it is either Uncle Ron or Uncle Fred or George. Perhaps even Professor Snape-- but that perhaps is pushing it... but here he is, and he wordlessly offers me another smoking goblet.

I raise my hands to take it, but they are shaking, and my right one barely moves. Uncle Remus takes it in his own hands and gently helps me. I drink it, and thankfully this one tastes of mint-- a great improvement.

"Do you have trouble with your arms?" Professor Snape's voice does not live room for lingering.

"Somewhat, Professor..."

I look down on them, and I only now realise that they are bandaged. I look up at all the adults around me.

"What has happened to me? I... I only remember opening a present... and uh, ..."

"We are not sure yet. We will take the bandage off now, alright, honey?" mum says gently, but I can sense the worry in her voice, and the atmosphere is tangible.

The strangest question escapes my lips.

"I don't have yellow fur under the bandage, right?"

Everyone freezes, and I blink to myself. Yellow fur? where did THAT come from?

Dad held me close by the shoulders, his eyes locking with mine.

"Lily, think hard. Don't you remember anything else? No dream, nothing?"

I try hard to think, but nothing comes to my as a recollection but the feeling of shearing pain in my arms.

"Just the pain I felt in my arm... nothing more."

"Paloma, unbandage Miss Potter's arm." Professor Snape's voice cools the atmosphere but it does not diffuse the tension as the nurse unbandages my arm.

A group gasp -including me AND professor Snape - is heard when the last layer is revealed.

On the back on my arm is a bloody, thick line, snaking in a figure eight, red and angry. One edge is like a tail-- the other, is like the open mouth of a snake.

I cover my mouth so as not to scream.

~~~~ Severus Snape ~~~~

What is it with Potters and scars? Why do patters repeat themselves? Why can;t I prevent them?

Virginia whimpers and almost faints. Lupin's hands hover around the girl's new mark-- it is a snake... why did it have to be a snake? And Potter--

Potter is holding his scar, as if it is hurting him, just like in the old times.

"Potter?" I ask him, and he nods, his eyes scared.

"Yes, it hurt me. It is back, Severus. It is back and it is acting on its threat."

To this, nobody had anything to say... but the morning itself seemed to lose from its winter brilliance.

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I am taking up th line again-- and as I am sure you can feel, EVERY SINGLE DETAIL is plotted down and ready. I worked a lot to find everything that wsa needed to set down the clues and everything. So hang in there! And if you egg me on, I will update as fast as possible.

You know that when I promise something, I keep it. ;)

There then! Comments, please!

Now for the reviewers!

Love Childe: We definately do not want you to explode! So here it is, I am starting it up again :) Hopefully the mystery will be as alluring as ever.

Kemenran: I totally agree with you, and yes, there is sort of a dream team reborn... let's wait and see- I don't think Lily feels overshadowed by her dad. About Alex's folks... hm. everything will be answered in due time.

Raging Silence 22: I am sorry-- I was just taking a break. I have started up again!

Adenara Yatman: her hair is dark dark red. :)

Kris: here you go, update. Sorry it was not as soon as I had hoped.

Irish Angel: Snape has provided me with antidotes. hehehe.

lotrchild: genes that code for brown eye colour have allelles that code for green or blue-- in the weasley case, I think the non-expressed allelle would be coding blue. Crossed with Harry's green eyes that don't have allelles for brown, you can get green-blue. :)

Lexi-Formerly Katy999: Remus prolly got her something too-- I just forgot to include him. heh.

bluestarfish-was: starlight: thank you very much! I hope I haven't lost my touch. Did you like this chapter?

enlil: I said it was at LEAST 10 years later. 15 would cover it much better, true. As for a dark spirit possessing people, the idea is not rediculous-- after all it features in every single religious background, in any religion you might look into. Why would nelly be too young to be Fudge's daughter? The spell 'Nox' is the opposite of 'Lumos'. Severus has no mark. Remus saw Nelly, but she put up the herbology front, and Remus had no reason not to believe her. And Severus is VERY suspicious after being told that Nelly caught them. Which is why he asked twice. Nigel could have asked about Nelly had he been free to think on that-- he had his mother breathing down his neck and Lily to pull out of depression so to speak. Prof. Veris is the Voldemorta? *chuckles* perhaps. We will see.

Tabitha: Nigel says it's ok. *chuckles* I hope you haven't given up on me... have you? I updated! I will finish this.

Angel Baby: I hope my version of worried Harry satisfied. *g* and we are not done yet, by a long shot! And Nigel is a dear. It goes with the name. :)