A/N: Welcome to part 3! As all of Charlotte's adventures took place in a Potterverse bounded by what we knew from Goblet of Fire, I have decided to continue that construct rather than trying to alter everything to what we now know to be "reality" from Order of the Phoenix (Charlotte's adventures being a bit AU to begin with). So, that means no spoilers for anyone for isn't done yet! J I hope you enjoy this next chapter in the saga!

Thanks as usual to my long suffering betas Lockholm, Branwyn, and JoyfulGirl!

***

            It was not in the nature of house elves to countermand the orders of their master families. Thus the Daily Prophet was still delivered to Snape Manor even though it had not been read in months. Nibby put it on Master's breakfast tray and took it away again, untouched like the carefully prepared meal that accompanied it, at lunch. Nibby knocked tentatively at the door of the tiny upstairs room and entered balancing a well-laden tray on one hand. Once the meal was set down, the elf approached his master cautiously.

            "Master, is you reading the Daily Prophet today?" There was no response from the chair. "Nibby is taking the liberty of reading the front page article before bringing it to Master. Nibby has already slammed his head in the oven for punishment." The house elf rubbed his wide forehead before continuing. "Mistress was in the front page today. There is being another Death Eater attack last night." He retrieved the paper and placed it on Snape's lap, pointing to the picture that showed Charlotte walking hurriedly away from a house carrying a young child.  MUGGLE WITNESS SURVIVES DEATH EATER ATTACK, the headline proclaimed. "Master, Nibby is thinking that this is connected to Lucius Malfoy. Mistress is in danger, and she is not knowing it yet! Master must save her!" Snape slowly turned his head to look out the window, giving no indication that he had even heard his house elf. Nibby's eyes filled with tears. "Oh Master, we is missing you and Mistress so much! We cannot let Lucius Malfoy hurt Mistress." There was no response from the chair. With a sigh Nibby collected the breakfast things and left, leaving the paper with Snape. It was only much later, when the setting sun cast an orange glow in the tiny room, that the shaggy head bent towards the Daily Prophet and the story contained within.

***

            Charlotte walked into Arthur's office holding on to her paper coffee cup like a life preserver. She looked over at Bryson and Penny and saw that they looked as lifeless as she felt. She at least held the magic of caffeine and sugar in her hands. In her association with the wizarding world, Charlotte had yet to find a potion that was as effective and tasty as a café mocha. Penny, who was Muggle-born, eyed the cup with longing until the meeting began. The events following the discovery of the child were related to the minister. They had taken Tamara to St. Mungo's for examination. Presented with a clean bill of health, Charlotte had spent a large portion of the early morning hours with the girl, going over the events of the evening and attempting to reassure her that things would be all right. At last the girl was taken to a Muggle hospital where relatives would claim her. Charlotte pitied the poor girl, losing both her parents in such a fashion. How dare the Death Eaters use little Tamara in such a way? But Death Eaters had very few scruples when it came to Muggles.

            "The Malfoys are dead!" blustered Moody, once Bryson had finished his official report. "This must be some ruse!"

            "Are we certain Lucius and Draco both died during the conflict?" Arthur asked.

            The Aurors in the room exchanged a nervous glance. "Draco's body was identified in Godric's Hollow. Lucius perished in the fire that destroyed the Riddle House. Human remains were found beside the snakehead that topped his cane. It was impossible to definitively identify anything that remained," Moody replied reluctantly.

            "So he could be alive?"

            "Everyone saw him go into the house, no one saw him leave," said Bryson.

            "But what could be gained by someone posing as Malfoy?" Charlotte wondered, "It's not really in the usual Death Eater playbook to reveal one's identity to ones victims…it makes even less sense to reveal a false identity."

            "We've been too complacent following the war," answered Moody, testily, "They are making a point. It is as I have always said, Minister, constant vigilance is the only –"

            "Yes, yes Alastor," Arthur interrupted, not unkindly, "Your feelings are well known. But Charlotte makes a good point, why would someone pretend to be Malfoy. For the time being I suggest we assume Tamara Bright did indeed see Lucius and proceed accordingly. Alastor, I need you and your people to find out everything you can about where Malfoy has been, what he's done and what he's after. Quickly, if you please – We don't need anymore Muggle deaths this week." The Aurors were dismissed but Arthur held Charlotte back.

            "If it is Malfoy, he will certainly seek you out. We should put the necessary precautions in place. I will speak with the Department of Creative Cartography directly."

            "Yes, Arthur."

            "Be careful Charlotte, that's all I ask."

            "Of course, but I'm not about to let Malfoy keep me from getting my work done."

            "A Ministry girl through and through, eh?" Arthur asked with an amused glint in his eye.

            "Something like that."

            Charlotte disposed of her coffee cup and headed down to street level and the shops of Diagon Alley. A small horned owl had been waiting for her when she returned to the apartment early that morning bearing a list of the things Hermione would require. It didn't take long to buy the supplies—the lab at the college had ample quantities of most of the ingredients. As much as she respected the owl post, she decided that it would be better for all concerned if she took Hermione's parcel by hand. The Ministry owes me half day anyway, after last night. Charlotte collected her Vespa and was soon soaring over the countryside on her way to Sortilege.

            Hermione had been doing a great deal of study on the Smarati Zama and the prospect of working on such an unusual and ancient potion had turned her into a raving potions geek. Severus had been the same way (if less demonstrative) the thrill of working with and refining a potion out of the common way was one of his favorite parts of being a potions master. While Charlotte usually felt that a love of learning was its own reward, Hermione's excitement did much to reassure her that the potion would work as hoped.

            "Preparation of the potion should begin under a waxing moon, which fortunately for us occurs starting next week. Following that the potion is pretty simple – but it must be consumed before the next new moon."

            "No worries there!" said Charlotte, with feeling. She looked at her young friend and sighed. "Have you been following the recent Death Eater attacks?"

            Hermione nodded. "I've had a subscription to the Daily Prophet for quite some time now. I saw you found a young girl at the last site."

            "One of the Death Eaters showed his face to her. The Ministry has reason to suspect that the person Tamara saw was Lucius Malfoy." Hermione's eyes grew round. "I must ask you to keep this information to yourself. If it is Lucius, he will be looking for me. It is too long a story to go into now," she added hastily, preventing the question forming on Hermione's lips. "If, for whatever reason, I cannot take the potion to Severus, I need you to administer it. Don't go alone, but please make sure he gets it.

            Hermione nodded slowly. "Of course I will." She chanced a sly grin. "I've got to follow my research through to the end!"

            Charlotte squeezed the girl's hand and smiled. "Hermione the scientist to the rescue!"

***

            Lucius rolled the head of his cane between his fingers in contemplation. On the whole things were going well. Those Death Eaters who remained had joined him, and recruitment continued among those who looked kindly upon the Dark Arts. There had been little insurrection among the ranks, most accepting Voldemort's second-in-command as leader of the new revolution. Those who dared question his authority were met with swift retribution. Lucius knew he was not as powerful as the Dark Lord, but his Avada Kedavra was effective enough, which was all that really mattered. His army was growing; soon the time would come to bring wizarding Britain to its knees. In the interim, however, he would take care of some personal business.

            Clearly Harry Potter would have to be destroyed, having not only vanquished Voldemort, but Lucius' beloved son as well. Snape was also a popular choice among the legion, but Lucius had special plans for the turncoat. No, first would be that meddlesome mudblood Charlotte Parnell. His informants knew she worked for Weasley at the Ministry. She lived in a section of Muggle London and rode around on a preposterous looking Muggle machine, but beyond that…. Her flat had been rendered Unplottable and her ministry file was restricted to top-level personnel. Charlotte was making it very difficult to be found, but find her he would. Thanks to her, he, a Malfoy, had been subjected to the indignity of a stay in Azkaban, the only thing keeping him sane his all-consuming loathing for Professor Parnell. Upon his release (an equally dignified escape courtesy of the Dark Lord), his grand designs for her murder were put on hold for the more noble work of Voldemort, but at last he would have his revenge.

            There was a tentative knock at his door. Chateau Malfoy had been razed during the course of the war, so he had established his headquarters at Crabbe Court. His old friend had no need for it, seeing as the majority of the family was dead or in prison. It was not to his taste—tile rather than marble and oak rather than teak—but it was tolerable. "Enter!"

            One of the younger recruits, Lucius couldn't be bothered to recall his name, slipped into the room. "My Lord, we have spotted the girl."

            "Where?" Malfoy asked, instantly alert.

            "She was seen leaving Oxford; we tracked down her wand signature."

            "Did you accomplish your mission?"

            In answer, the young man pulled a clear globe no bigger than a snitch from the folds of his robes. As it settled in Lucius' hands the crystal clouded and resolved into a picture of a sketched map of central Britain, with a blinking red dot moving slowly towards London.

            "It will probably not function properly when she is protected by the wards around her flat or at the Ministry, but once she is in the open we can find her anywhere."

            "Excellent." Malfoy pocketed the crystal and stood. "The hour grows late, our revels will begin soon." An unpleasant smile marred his patrician features and the Death Eater followed meekly in his wake.

***

            Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin was conducting his usual hallway rounds when he heard the knock. It was far too late for visitors, the sky black outside the windows of the castle. The tapping came again, insistent. Lupin crossed the entranceway to the great wooden doors of Hogwarts and opened one fractionally, wand at the ready. At first he thought he must be imagining things, there was no one at the door. But a small voice directed his eyes downward to a young house elf.

            "Nibby must speak with the headmistress immediately!"

            An hour later Nibby was granted an audience with Headmistress McGonagall. Her hair was still pinned in rollers under a tartan cap but she was wide awake, which was more than could be said for two of the wizards who joined her. Deputy Headmaster Flitwick looked very close to nodding off, as did Professor of Potions Black, who had stretched his lanky frame out before the fire closed his eyes until Lupin thumped him on the arm.

            "Well Nibby," Minverva said kindly, "what is so urgent that it cannot wait for morning?"
            "Nibby belongs to the Snape family," he began, wringing his hands. "I is not wanting any of the other elves to know I is coming here to I is waiting until they is all asleep." He gave a strangled sob and looked up with pleading eyes. "Nibby is worried about his Mistress! Lucius Malfoy is going to kill her!"

            The werewolf smiled gently at the elf. "Lucius Malfoy is dead, Nibby. He cannot harm your Mistress."

            "Oh no sir, he is coming to visit my master. He is being involved with the Death Eater attacks in the paper. Mistress is being in the paper too. Lucius Malfoy could kill her!"

            "Mrs. – Charlotte is in no more danger than any of the other people involved with the investigations, and we have no reason to suspect that Malfoy is anything other than dead. But," The headmistress continued, forestalling his renewed insistence, "I will speak with the Minister of Magic and see if he can offer more information."

            "Thank you Headmistress."

            "However, I'm not sure I see what you expect us to do with this information, why come to Hogwarts in the first place?"

            "Master and Mistress is both teaching here. They is liking Hogwarts, and is having friends here. Master cannot help Mistress now, and Nibby is hoping that Hogwarts friends would be able to help Mistress."

            "We like your master and mistress as well, and we will help them as we can. You'd best return home now, we wouldn't want you to be missed."

            "Nibby," Black began abruptly as the elf reached for the door, "How does your master?"

            Nibby's large eyes filled with tears and he shook his head slowly at Sirius. Without a word, he left. A depressed silence reigned in the room behind him.

            "Oh for just a hint of Albus' omnipotence," said Minerva wearily. "I won't wake Arthur now, but I will speak to him first thing in the morning."

            "But what can we do?" asked Flitwick.

            "I don't know, Filius, but if we can do something to protect Charlotte, we will."

***

            Charlotte restrained herself from contacting Hermione the first morning after the waxing moon began, but it was difficult to think of anything but Severus—unless of course it was Malfoy and the Death Eater attacks. She had hoped they had all heard the last of Lucius Malfoy, that she would no longer be a marked woman, in fear of her life. Before she had Hogwarts, Albus, and Severus to protect her, now she had nothing. But I'll be damned if I let Lucius kill me before I get to see Severus again!  She thought, thumping her fist on her desk.

            She tread water all day, trying in vain to engage interest in the work that lay before her. Muggle relations seemed trivial and pointless. Her flat offered no reprieve from her anxiousness. There was nothing to research, nothing to do. Arthur had asked her not to venture outside her confines of her building unless absolutely necessary so she spent a frustrating evening staring at the computer before spending a restless night staring at the ceiling until sleep got the better of her. All too soon the alarm clock woke her, and Charlotte swore that another day like yesterday would put her round the bend completely – she felt a nervous tic coming on already. She brought her Vespa into the ministry that morning and checked it with the young witch at the front desk. There had been another Death Eater attack overnight and the atmosphere in the office was very tense. Charlotte had not been included, Arthur said, out of concern for her safety.

            "Besides, you weren't actually needed – the victims weren't Muggles." Charlotte shuddered, that certainly explained the strained vibe she was feeling. Malfoy had moved to the next stage, removing offensive wizarding families.  She spent most of the morning engaged in her new favorite activity, staring at the wall. When the tap at the window came she was so startled she nearly fell out of her chair. She let the small owl in and opened the message it bore with trembling hands.

It's ready

Come when you can.

HG

***

            The potion is ready, that' doesn't mean it's going to work. She repeated this to herself any number of times during her journey, but the excitement couldn't be suppressed. She parked the Vespa outside the Botanical Gardens and went inside. Her cloak was in the scooter and she looked like any other Muggle in a long sleeve black shirt and grey slacks, eliciting no more than a second glance from the woman at the visitor services desk. Charlotte reached the gateway to Sortilege only to find it blocked by three figures in black robes. Any number of emotions vied for prominence in her head, chief among them annoyance and fear.

            "Sent here to do your master's dirty work boys?" she asked her voice carefully nonchalant.

            "On the contrary, Mrs. Snape, I far prefer to participate in this kind of 'dirty work'" The familiar silky tones made her flesh creep. He pulled back his hood and she was once again face to face with Lucius Malfoy.

            "Lucius, how lovely," she said dryly.

            "Always a pleasure, I'm sure," he purred. "But I must know what brings you to the garden."

            "A love of botany, naturally." Her mind was racing, looking for an escape route. "You?"

            "Nothing so pedantic, I'm afraid. I came here to kill you." Two curses streaked towards her and she dove behind a row of bushes, which promptly exploded in a shower of flower petals upon contact with the spells. She raced along the row, almost bent double, dodging curses.

            "Alohomora!" she cried pointing at the door to one of the greenhouses that spanned the length of the garden. A pane of glass shattered as she entered. She paused behind a shelf of terracotta pots to get her bearings. One of Malfoy's companions stood in the doorway, scanning for a Charlotte-like shape. "Petrificus totalis!" she yelled, not waiting to hear if the spell hit its target. She bolted though the greenhouse to the far end. The coast was clear and the entrance and her Vespa were in sight. "Comintiare!" she waved her wand and the scooter's little engine sprang to life. She lifted off as Malfoy's hand closed around her ankle. She shook her foot leg vigorously to free it, kicking him in the face in the process (not that she minded), but he still held on. With her left hand she held the vehicle steady as she twisted around on the seat to get a good shot at the tall man below her. She nailed him with the Tickling Charm and Lucius collapsed to the ground in laughter, allowing Charlotte to speed off into the air.

***

            Sometime later Hermione entered the garden from the college and was greeted by a scene of minor destruction: singed bushes, overturned planters and broken glass. She didn't see Charlotte's scooter so it was a reasonable assumption that if she had been the victim of an attack she had been able to escape. Hermione felt the small vial in her pocket and ran back to Sortilege, she had to make a Floo call.

***

            She could see them in her side mirrors, two men in long black cloaks on brooms. At least the odds are a little better now. Charlotte was relative sure that her scooter could outrun most brooms, but she couldn't stay aloft forever. She turned her invisibility control on almost immediately but somehow they could through it and had matched her movements point for point. If she was going to have to fight them, it would be on her terms – and as far away from Snape Manor as possible.

***

            It had taken surprisingly little time to find Ron. He was working on his Auror training and helping out in his brothers' joke shop on his days off. It was there she found him, stocking Canary Creams. Once she explained the situation he Apparated immediately. Ron was fond of Charlotte, having survived an adventure to the 19th century at her side. Something that happened there had also endeared Snape to him, although he never said what. He was happy to accompany Hermione to Snape Manor. Their courage wavered a bit when confronted with the imposing Gothic main entrance, but Hermione knocked resolutely on the door. It swung open to reveal a house elf.

            "Hello, my name is Hermione Grainger and –" this was as far as she got before the elf caught sight of Ron.

            His eyes narrowed angrily. "You! You is tricking Nibby and hurting master!" With a wave of his hand, Ron was flung backwards onto the ground.

            With a cry of "Ron!" Hermione rushed over to help her friend. "What did you do to this house elf?" she asked, pulling him up.

            "Nothing! I've never been here before!" Nibby advanced on them, the angriest house elf either of them had seen.

            "Wait! There's been a mistake!" Hermione said frantically. House elf magic was powerful stuff, especially when used defense of the people they were loyal to. She had to get Nibby to listen. "Please! We're friends of Charlotte, we've come to help your master, we mean no harm!" In the end it took several repeated uses of Finite Incantatum to convince Nibby that neither of them were Lucius Malfoy in disguise and that they were really there to help his master. At last he led the way through the house and up to the small attic room. In pained Ron and Hermione more than they expected to see their once domineering professor reduced to catatonia.

            "It's like all the life and energy has been drained out of him," Ron whispered.

            "That's what this is for," Hermione replied, pulling out a cobalt blue vial.

            "How exactly does this Sama- Smara – thing work?"

            "Smarati Zama, and as near as I can figure, it's like years of Muggle psychotherapy in a bottle. It's supposed to show all the good things in your life, the things worth living for."

            "Well, bottoms up mate," Ron said, tipping Snape's lifeless head back so Hermione could empty the solution down his throat. She massaged his Adam's apple to get him to swallow and then stepped back, unsure of what to expect. Almost instantly he began to tremble, not violently, more like he was sitting in a chilly bath.

            "Hermione, how will we know when the potion is done?"

            "I don't know…maybe when he stops shaking? All we can do now is wait and see."

***

            A bright white light suddenly exploded in front of him and he flinched. He had been in the dark, and this glow was so intense as to be painful. Slowly the light faded (or did his eyes adjust?) and he saw a frail looking man hunched over in a chair, eyes vacant, face unkempt. He looked old, nearly dead. With a sick lurch, he realized the man in the chair was him. Severus Snape reduced to an empty-headed invalid. He turned away from the man in the chair and was presented with another image. Again he had difficulty recognizing the figure, at last remembering it was Charlotte. But it was Charlotte as he had first known her, new to the world of magic, facing down her own fears and the specter of Lucius Malfoy. He saw himself teaching her, which faded to images of him teaching other students, another satisfactory set of O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts. He saw a younger Snape in Dumbledore's office, confessing his dealings with the Death Eaters and asking forgiveness, the happiness in Albus' eyes as he gave it. He was presented images of the decent things he had done as spy, easing suffering where he could, saving lives when possible. He stood shoulder to shoulder with The-Boy-Who-Lived and his friends, to fight the Dark Lord and win. Snape could only see the fallen body of his leader and mentor, who had died to save him. Without warning he was no longer watching the memories like a Muggle movie, he was back in Godric's Hollow, the stench of burnt flesh and death heavy in the air. Albus lay on the ground, face frozen. But the old wizard did not bear the look of fright or surprise that marked most victims of the killing curse. Rather he looked at peace, even smiling faintly.

            "Do not mourn me, Severus. We none of us live forever." He was startled to see another Dumbledore standing above him.

            "You died protecting me. I believe I am entitled to a certain amount of guilt. I would rather you sacrificed yourself for Potter, he probably deserved it more."

            "It was my choice, Severus. No one made me protect you but me. I had a good run of things and I was perfectly well aware that I would not return from that battle. Furthermore," Albus continued, looking sternly over his half-moon spectacles, "what use are you making of the life I saved? I did protect you so that you could sequester yourself in a room for the rest of your life, driving away friends and family." Godric's Hollow vanished and Snape was again an observer. He saw Charlotte crying herself to sleep over and over again. Something in his heart stirred to see her in such pain. "She lives for you, Severus," said Dumbledore, "You need each other." Snape turned away from the image. "Do not dishonor my memory; do not dishonor your own. You have many years left ahead of you. I cannot promise they will be easy years, but they will all be yours. Let go of your grief, of your guilt. Trust in my judgment, and the judgment of the ones who love you." The headmaster's blue eyes twinkled, "If nothing else, think of your professional pride – I hear they have Sirius teaching potions in your absence."

            "That is hardly funny, Albus." The picture had changed to one of Charlotte laughing.

            "Perhaps not, but it is true," the old wizard smiled. "I have always been proud of you Severus. Now, I think it is high time for you to awaken." The white light began to dominate his vision again, blocking out both the image of Charlotte and the form of Dumbledore.

            Someone was talking, far away. "Look, he's stopped shaking!" The white light came into focus, a painted wall in a room he did not recognize. Three shapes were standing over him, looking anxious.

            "Professor, can you hear me?" Severus put a hand to his head and blinked twice.

            "I assure you Mr. Weasley, my hearing is perfectly adequate, there is no need to hover."

            Ron grinned at Hermione, "Sounds like it worked to me." Nibby promptly burst into tears and hugged his master's leg, unable to speak.

            "Nibby, I would greatly prefer to not be wearing my clothes when they are washed," Snape told the elf sternly, causing Nibby to sob harder. "What the devil are you two doing here anyway?"

            "It's rather a long story, sir. There is a lot to explain."

            "Stories must wait!" said a strident voice from the doorway. It was Milly, trying hard not to cry herself. "Master is needing food, a bath and a haircut!"

            Ron eyed the elf with trepidation. "Maybe we'll wait a little bit. You've only just come to after all." And he propelled Hermione out of the room as the elves set upon their master.

***

            Somewhere in the South of England Charlotte found what she was looking for. It looked like it might have been part of a farm at some point, but for many years it had lain fallow, allowing tall grasses and shrubs to spring up around the crumbling stone wall that had once marked the property line. She started a sharp decent, heading toward the ground as fast as she dared, trying to get some extra time to reconnoiter before Malfoy and his goon touched down. The Vespa hit the ground with a jolt, rattling Charlotte's teeth and bruising her tailbone. She put some distance between herself and the Vespa before ducking behind a convenient bush to wait. Within moments she saw them dismount near the Vespa. A well-timed Impedimenta froze the other Death Eater in mid-stride. Charlotte vacated her cover before Malfoy's retaliatory curse struck.

            "Hey Malfoy, why don't we put the wands away and fight like gentlemen?" She dodged a Jelly-Legs Jinx. "I know I've been itching to punch you again."

            "I think not, Mrs. Snape." He was advancing on her position, deflecting everything she threw at him. There was no cover to her left so she dove back to the right. "Run as long as you like," Lucius said, "You are not leaving this field alive."

            "Sure she is!" a voice said cheerfully. "Petrificus totalis!" Lucius' body seized up and he toppled to the ground. Someone grabbed Charlotte around the waist and the field vanished.

            They reappeared in Hogsmeade. She saw with relief that her captor was Remus Lupin. A moment later Sirius Black Apparated beside them.

            "Sirius, Remus! Impeccable timing as usual."

            "Thank you madam," Sirius replied with a gallant bow.

            But Lupin was looking at Charlotte in concern. "Something's not right. Sirius, can you smell it?" Black obligingly turned into his animagus form and sniffed at Charlotte. Within a moment he was pawing at her neck. Lupin reached back and pulled something from the base of her neck.

            Black retuned to human forma and peered over Lupin's shoulder to look at the small square of material. "What is it, Remus?"

            The werewolf shook his head. "I'm not sure. It's organic, that's how I smelt it. My guess is its some kind of tracker – so Charlotte's friends could keep tabs on her."

            "That explains why they could see through the invisibility drive on the scooter," said Charlotte, annoyed. Remus dropped the square to the ground and muttered "Incendio." The material burst into flames and quickly turned to ash.

            "How did you two know where to find me? Unless there's some other tracing device I should know about."

            "We did it the old fashioned way; we followed Malfoy" Sirius replied with a charming grin."

            "One of Snape's house elves came to see us the other night. Minerva decided that someone should keep an eye on you," Lupin added.

            "Thank you both, and thank Minerva. I really appreciate it." She turned to leave.

            "Hey, you're not rid of us yet!" said Black hastily, "Malfoy is still out there!"

            "I've got to go to Severus – Hermione may have administered the potion already."

            "What are you talking about?" The two men looked at each other in confusion.

            Charlotte made an impatient noise. "Come if you're coming, I'll explain later."

***

            She walked up to the door and knocked. If felt like her whole body was shaking. Six months of work came down to this. For a moment Charlotte thought she might vomit but then Nibby opened the door, distracting her."

            "Mistress! Nibby is not seeing you for so long!"

            "Hey Nibby. These are my friends, Sirius and Remus. Can – can we come in?"

            The house elf hesitated, but then flung the door wide. "Two of Mistress' friends are being here too, Hermione Grainger and Ron Weasley." Hermione and Ron waved.

            "Where is he?" Charlotte asked. Hermione pointed past the grand staircase to the long hallway leading to the solarium. The sun still shone brightly through the windows, shadowing the figure at the end of the hall. She took a hesitant step forward, waiting for this world to shatter. A voice she knew better than her own breathed her name and Severus stepped into the light.