Chapter 20. Wow. I didn't ever think it would last this long. And more, of course. But 20 chapters. Wow.

"So close, no matter how far,

Couldn't be much more from the heart.

Forever trusting who we are

No nothing else matters."

Metallica            'Nothing Else Matters'

It seemed, however, that Crouch did not see sense. Harry was treated to viewing several appeals for her release, one of which ended in Snape throwing a hissy fit and screaming obscenities at Crouch.

Needless to say, Crouch was not impressed.

After that, Harry witnessed Crouch interrogate Karkaroff and Bagman, and then watched in horror as he sentenced his own son to Azkaban. As the Dementors led out Barty Crouch Jr., crying and pleading his innocence, the room gave another lurch, and Harry was watching the Dementors lead Daniel back into the room.

Looking to his left, Harry saw that Snape was sitting beside him again, as well as a man Harry hadn't seen before. Ruffled black hair fell around his cheekbones, and he kept glancing at Snape. As Daniel sat down in the chair, it bound her again, and Cornelius Fudge stood up instead of Crouch. Her eyes were open, but unfocused. Staring dazedly at him, she listened as he addressed her, with a slight apologetic tone in his voice.

"Daniel Snape, in light of new information regarding the former members of the Wizengamot, the three that you were sentenced for killing believing them to be Death Eaters, the Ministry of Magic has decided to release you from Azkaban. Said members were, in fact, Death Eaters at the time of their," he coughed "deaths."

Snape exhaled thankfully, grinning at Dumbledore, who smiled back.

Daniel was released by the chair, but remained seated. Fudge, who perhaps expected her reasons, said softly, "There has been no new information about the death of James and Lily Potter clearing Black's name." She nodded understandingly, and got shakily to her feet. The witches and wizards stood up and began filing out. Snape leapt to his feet and clambered over a few seats to get to Daniel.

A ghost of a smile flittered over her face as she saw him. He pulled her into a hug, and she emerged smiling. Dumbledore and the other man walked over to them, Snape still with his arm around her.

"Congratulations Daniel." Dumbledore said, eyeing her closely. "You see Severus, I told you it would work out alright."

"Yeah, but it's been 10 years." Snape answered huffily, still not letting go of Daniel, who was looking at the strange man. "Oh, Daniel, this is Alexander." Snape said quickly, slightly hyperactive with happiness. He jumped between them, "Alexander, Daniel, Daniel, Alexander." He rattled off, looking nervous and ecstatic at the same time.

"Nice to meet you, Ms., um, Snape." Alexander said anxiously, shaking her hand.

"You too." She answered. "Do you have a surname?"

"Dylan." He replied, looking sideways at Snape, who grinned stupidly.

"Well now that we all know each other, why don't we return to Hogwarts. Daniel, I'm sure you're tired." Said Dumbledore.

"What month is it?" she asked, looking around as they exited the room.

"July." Answered Dumbledore, "Young Potter is starting Hogwarts in September."

"Oh. How's he been getting on?" she asked, expressing a keen interest.

"Just fine. He has no idea he's a wizard, though." Dumbledore said smiling. Harry followed them out of the Ministry, and emerged into a warm summer night. Alexander inhaled deeply, savoring the smell outside of the stuffy Ministry. Dumbledore stuck out his right arm, and nearly got it clipped off by the Knight Bus. Paying the driver, Alexander bounded down the aisle like an excited child and plopped himself on a double bed. Rolling his eyes, Snape followed. Daniel chose a single bed, and almost immediately fell asleep. Dumbledore sat on the end of Severus and Alexander's bed, and began talking. Alexander looked put out, but joined in the conversation.

"It will take her a while to get used to being back in society." Dumbledore explained, while Snape listened intently, and Alexander stared at her as though she would lapse into a psychopathic killing spree at any moment.

"What do you think of her?" Snape asked him, with a smile playing about his face.

"I think she's cool." Answered Alexander. Dumbledore spotted someone at the other end of the bus he knew, and went to talk to them. Alexander looked sneakily at Snape.

"On a bus?" said Snape, incredulous. Alexander whispered what Harry was sure were obscenities, and Snape looked mildly interested, until Dumbledore rejoined them.

"I think it's time you went Harry." Said Dumbledore. Harry glanced down the bus. Dumbledore was seated there, too. He heard a squeal from behind him. He turned, and nearly fainted. From the looks of it, Snape had been kneed in the stomach as Alexander tried to fight him into lying down, the two of them kissing passionately all the while. Looking quickly at Dumbledore for an explanation, he found himself traveling very fast through  swirling lights.

Landing on the office floor with a thud, Harry glanced over at Daniel, who was still incapacitated on the sofa. Taking a while to recover from the shock of it all, Harry suddenly remembered his manners.

Apologizing immediately for entering the Pensive, Harry sat down quickly and began listening to Dumbledore's perpetually calm voice explain what he thought his dream meant.

"Sir?" said Harry, looking at Dumbledore, "how could Daniel have been there?" Dumbledore looked at him with his characteristic piercing glare.

"Have you not figured it out yet, Harry?" Dumbledore smiled, as though asking a particularly difficult riddle he already knew the answer to.

"Well," Harry shrugged. "No."

"Daniel," Dumbledore said slowly, " is a vampire." Harry mulled this over for a while.

"Really?" he asked weakly. Dumbledore nodded. "How does she know about Sirius?" he asked, remembering their conversation suddenly.

"Daniel and Sirius have known each other for a very long time." Dumbledore said delicately. "I don't suppose Sirius has told you that she is your godmother?" Harry though his insides were dissolving, looking round at her, he looked back at Dumbledore in shock.

"Did she know my parents?" asked Harry quietly.

"She was a close friend of your mother's. Your father and Daniel did not quite see eye to eye."

"Why not?" questioned Harry.

"Because your father and Professor Snape did not like each other at all. So, it was natural for Daniel and James to be opposed as well. Of course, your father could not disagree with your mother when she chose Daniel to be your godmother, after all, Lily and Sirius often had disagreements. They were friends, of course," he added, seeing Harry's worried look, " but they enjoyed arguing with each other. Much like Ron and Hermione." He finished with a smile.

"Sir?" Harry asked tentatively, not sure of how he should word his question.

"Yes Harry?"

"Professor Snape,"

"Will make you eat your own eyeballs if you tell anyone." Dumbledore replied, smiling again.

"Why would he be worried about people knowing? He was on a bus when…" he trailed off, not wanting to remember what he saw.

Dumbledore had stood up, and walked quickly over to Daniel, who was sitting up unsteadily.

"How're you feeling?" asked Dumbledore, looking at her carefully.

"Better." She answered, looking round at Harry, who smiled nervously in return.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, scrutinizing him for signs of damage.

"Nothing." He answered, glancing at Dumbledore, who was pouring her drink. Harry's stomach gave a lurch. Handing her the glass of thick, dark red liquid, Dumbledore winked at Daniel and gestured towards Harry. Sipping her drink, Daniel patted the seat beside her, and reluctantly, Harry sat down.

"The Pensive's great isn't it?" she said, smiling over her glass. Harry nodded. "Severus is a bit of a hornball, isn't he?"

Harry refrained from comment. Grinning broadly, she finished off her drink just as the door opened. Harry wanted to disappear.

Severus and Alexander had just walked in. Alexander looked different. His hair was cut roughly the same length as Harry's own. Snape eyed him suspiciously. Averting his gaze, Harry glanced around for Dumbledore.

"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Alexander, peering around. Daniel smiled benignly around at all three of them.

"What?" asked Snape, an intonation of dread in his voice. She didn't say anything, but Snape looked both horrified and amused. He muttered something to Alexander, who grinned, obviously humored. Harry wanted the couch to swallow him up. No one said anything for a while.

"Harry?" queried Alexander, "if you had to choose between Severus and myself who would you choose? Just for a date, you know."

"What?" shouted Harry and Snape together, looking at him with terrified expressions on their faces. Daniel giggled. Alexander smiled supremely.

"Well?"

"Potter, I forbid you to answer!" growled Snape, and Harry just remained thankful that Snape agreed with him.

"I don't think he was going to." Said Daniel.

"It is quite rude not to answer someone's question, Harry." Stated Dumbledore softly, stepping out of a side room.

"But Sir…" pleaded Harry.

"Personally, I would prefer Severus." Answered Dumbledore, smiling at the look on Snape's face. Alexander laughed hysterically as Snape just looked as though he'd been whacked about the head.

"Why's that, Sir?" asked Daniel innocently.

"Shut up!" Snape hissed at her.

"Well, I suppose because I've known Severus longer, although I'd have to stay off the Knight Bus." He answered, looking highly amused.

Well. Chapter 20 done and dusted. I don't know how much longer this will last. For a good while, anyway. I want to get more of Krieg done. I have a few good ideas. Hee hee.

Xanadan