Kamen abandoned all thoughts of teasing Dierna about her date. He had heard the exchange between her and their father and knew that Dierna would probably never forgive him if he tormented her now.

However, he wasn't one to let go of the situation completely. Kamen left his own room and knocked softly on the twins' door. No response. He slowly opened the door. Dierna was sitting on the window seat, apparently lost in thought.

"Hey, Dierna."

"What do you want? Because if it's anything about my date you better drop it now."

Kamen crossed the room and joined his sister on the window seat. Although he was constantly tormenting his younger sisters, Kamen honestly didn't like to see them hurt. "It is about your date, but I promise I'm not going to tease you about it."

Dierna looked at him skeptically. Kamen usually wasn't this nice. "Well, what about it then?"

"I heard your and Dad's 'conversation' when you came in, I wanted to tell you that I think he's wrong. I don't like to see my little sister hurt, and I know how much you care about Stefan, so if you want me to stand up for you..."

"You don't have to Kamen. I mean, it would probably just get Dad mad at you too. I just don't know what I'm going to do if Dad really meant it when he said I couldn't see Stefan anymore. I can't imagine my life without Stefan in it."

"If Dad should for some reason forbid you from seeing Stefan, I'll help you work around that. The two of us are some of the most notorious trouble makers Hogwarts has ever seen. I think that if it comes to that we'll be able to work around it. But I wouldn't worry too much about that if I were you. Dad may be overprotective, but he's not a complete tyrant."

"Thanks Kamen. You know, you can actually be really nice sometimes."

He flashed his lopsided grin, "What else are big brothers for? But, I have a feeling I should head to my own room before someone hears us and we get chewed out for not being in bed. G'night Dierna."

"G'night Kamen."

Morning. Severus fervently hoped that this day would go smoother than yesterday had. He smiled down at Morgan, watching her while she continued to sleep. She had taken up most of the bed, pushing him precariously near the edge. She was a rather restless sleeper.

Morgan felt like something was not right. She was being watched. She spoke without opening her eyes, her voice still hoarse from sleep, "Severus Snape, I can't sleep if you are going to stare at me like that."

"But it is getting late dearest, I thought you would have been up by now," Severus found that his mood had indeed improved after an undisturbed night of sleep, enough, in fact for him to tease his wife. He gently brushed his hand trough her hair, it was so soft.

"Severus, let me sleep! You may enjoy getting up at some ungodly hour, but that doesn't mean I want to get up. Leave me alone! Instead of bothering me why don't you go un-tyrant yourself to our daughter and admit that it's ok for her to kiss her boyfriend?"

Severus resisted the urge to laugh; his wife was not a morning person. She had the tendency to get bitterly sarcastic and knew very well how to use the sharp side of her tongue when she was woken up early. And Severus dearly loved to provoke his wife. She was usually a very calm and easy going person, but he knew exactly what it took to make her angry. He would love her forever.

However, it might be better for him to get out of their room before his wife got really angry. And he did have a feeling that this time his wife was right. Though he abhorred the idea that his daughter and her boyfriend would kiss, he realized that he had been rather unreasonable. He would have to accept it, but he didn't have to like it.

Serena ducked a low hanging branch, and quickly swerved around an old tree stump. Her heart was pounding and her breathing was heavy. It was exhilarating. She glanced behind her, she was losing her lead.

Serena neatly cleared the low stone wall and sprinted across the field. She resisted the temptation to look back; it would only slow her down. But, she could hear her pursuer closing in. Damn. Serena was not going to lose.

Nimue sat at the kitchen table, cradling a cup of tea between her thin hands. Last night had been anything but peaceful for her. Hogwarts was safe. As soon as she was back at school she would be able to relax.

Hopefully by then the strange black figures would be forgotten. But for now their threats and eerie conversation lingered at the back of her mind, tormenting her. Why did she have to be the one to witness them? Nimue was confident that one of her older siblings would have known what to do with the information she was concealing, but she felt lost.

Severus entered the kitchen and sat down at the table opposite Nimue. "Do you think I act like a tyrant?" Severus wondered how accurate Morgan had been when she had told him to "un-tyrant" himself.

Nimue eyed her father warily, "Nooo..."

"First one inside the kitchen door wins!"

"Then I hope you're prepared to lose!"

Dierna was running as fast as she could, her muscles were aching and she could feel the sweat dripping off of her. She didn't want to lose. She just had to push herself a little bit more. Serena was still ahead of her.

The twins went running together nearly every morning. It was usually low impact and actually rather relaxing. But sometimes it became competitive.

Almost there, only a short sprint across the lawn. Serena knew she had a clear lead, this one was hers. She skidded to a halt to avoid hitting the door and reached for the door knob.

Dierna skidded to a halt right behind her sister, but hadn't stopped soon enough. She crashed into Serena, who had been almost in the door. They scrambled, tying to knock each other out of the way. The race wasn't over till they were inside the kitchen.

Serena wrenched the door open and ducked inside. But Dierna was right behind her. The two of them got tangled and fell, giggling, in a heap on the floor.

Nimue looked down at where her sisters lay sprawled on the floor. Their antics tended to be a bit rough for her tastes. "Oh Dierna! You're bleeding, what happened?"

Dierna pushed herself up into a sitting position and glanced down at her leg, there were several nasty scraps and a trickle of blood ran down her leg. She shrugged her shoulders, "I've had worse, probably caught it on a thorn bush". She stood up and grabbed a towel, which she used to wipe the blood off then held it against her leg when she sat down at the table.

Serena quickly stood up and grabbed an apple out of a large blue bowl on the counter. She looked at Dierna, "want one?"

"Sure."

Serena tossed her twin an apple and leaned against the kitchen counter, tossing an apple back and forth between her hands. "I told you I would win," she was grinning.

Dierna narrowed her eyes, "you won't next time."

"I'll leave you here to fume about your spectacular loss, I'm gonna go get cleaned up." Serena left the kitchen and headed upstairs.

Severus was waiting for a chance to speak with Dierna. This would probably be easier if it was just the two of them. Nimue quickly solved the problem for him when she decided to go read in the library. Severus took a deep breath. This conversation scared him.

"Dierna, about last night..."

Dierna froze, her mind moving at incredible speeds, trying to figure out where this was going to go.

"Your mother informed me that I was rather unreasonable, and although I do not see this situation the same way she does, I suppose she is right. I know that Stefan is an honorable young man and I trust you. But, I want you to be careful. I have had students in the past who have unintentionally let things progress too far and I don't want that to happen to you. If I ever find out the two of you have..."

"Dad!" Dierna could feel herself blushing, she knew where this conversation was heading and it was nothing she wanted to discuss with her father, "I promise we haven't done anything beyond kissing. Besides, I really don't want to talk about that with you." Her face felt like it was on fire. She desperately wanted to drop this subject.

"I just want to make sure that you are aware of the consequences should you make the decision to..." Severus stopped, he couldn't say it. This topic was making him very uncomfortable.

Dierna buried her face in her arms. Why was he pushing this subject? "Please Dad; I really really really don't want to talk about this. I promise I haven't slept with Stefan, and I'm not planning on it." Please let that be enough for him to drop the subject, she was getting desperate. Her face was burning; this conversation was getting so embarrassing.

Severus could see how uncomfortable his daughter was. Thank merlin. This wasn't a subject he had been overly thrilled to discuss with her, "As long as it stays that way, I'll try to be more accepting, and not to be the tyrant your mother told me I acted like."

"She said you were a tyrant?" Dierna hid a smile behind her hand. Sweet Circe, a change of subject.

"She did not say I was a tyrant. She merely inferred that I had acted like one. And don't you dare laugh at that young lady" Severus tried to look his sternest as he watched Dierna trying to hide her mirth.

Dierna wasn't going to make it; she dissolved into a fit of giggles. She had not gotten much sleep last night and it made her giddy. She watched her father as he slowly shook his head at her. He would never betray that he found it almost as amusing as she did, but Dierna wouldn't have expected that of him. Even though he was scowling at her Dierna swore she saw the corner of his mouth twitch in amusement.

Dierna knew that as a rule her father usually didn't show much emotion beyond anger or annoyance. When they were at home he was very loving, but that usually disappeared once school started. But, while he didn't display most emotions, his children had learned how to read him fairly well.

Dierna put the towel she had been holding against her leg on the table and attempted to regain her composure.

Severus glanced at the blood stained towel his daughter had placed on the table, "how badly did you cut yourself?" He found himself thinking of the time Dierna had cut herself on a loose piece of rusty wire and didn't tell anyone about it until it had become infected and swollen. He also tried to tell himself that she had only been seven when she did that.

Dierna glanced down at her leg, "it's not bad, it stopped bleeding. I think I'll live," she grinned wryly.

Kamen bounded down the stairs and skipped the last five steps altogether. Five days till he was trapped in school again. He was going to make the most of his few remaining days of freedom. Not that he applied himself very hard to school work, except in potions. Not one of the Snape children would have dared to fall behind in that subject. But everything else could be coasted through as far as Kamen was concerned.

He entered the kitchen with the feeling that today was going to be good. He was in too good of a mood for anything to put him out of sorts.

"Morning Dad, morning troublesome little red-head." He took in his sister's running clothes and her windblown hair, "Hey Dierna, you should probably get cleaned up, you smell pretty bad after you've been running. Besides, you look like a wreck, its painful just looking at you."

Dierna threw her apple core at her brother, but he caught it midair and threw it right back at her. Dierna glared and stuck out her tongue at him.

"That's very attractive Dierna," he moved quickly and gave one of her auburn curls a tug.

"Kamen that hurt!" Dierna narrowed her eyes, ready to take her brother on.

Snape leaned back in his chair; he closed his eyes wearily and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling another headache coming on. There was never a moment of peace in his home. Maybe he could just block them out. He glanced over at his children. Wonderful. Kamen had somehow managed to get one of Dierna's shoes and was now holding it over her head where she couldn't reach it. Now he would have to intervene.

"Kamen, give you sister her shoe back now! Honestly, I think you two would have grown out of this ridiculous sibling rivalry by now. And Severus, what were you doing just sitting there while this was going on?" Morgan stood in the doorway, arms crossed, impatiently tapping her foot.

"Mum!!!" Kamen dropped the shoe and quickly crossed the room to hug his mother. "You know that I would never to anything mean to my darling little sister. I'm completely innocent, I swear. By the way, have I told you how wonderful you look today? Because you look absolutely fantastic, I really mean it Mum."

Morgan rolled her eyes, heaven help her, but Kamen was just too much sometimes, "Kamen, I'm not even going to dignify that with a response. But, I want you to behave, my sister and her family are coming for a visit today and I want no repeats of what happened last time."

"I am shocked and offended that you even remember that little incident. I don't know why you insist on blaming that whole thing on me. How was I supposed to know that my little experiment would actually work?" Kamen managed to look truly affronted at the looks he was getting from his parents.

Morgan sighed, Kamen's "experiment" had been to see if he could change his cousin Lori's and Dierna's hair green, without their permission of course. He had ended up in a world of trouble for that one.

"Besides Mum, why would you want anymore redheads here? Isn't the one we have to live with trouble enough? In fact, I'd say we already have one redhead too many in this house." Kamen turned on his charm, and flashed his lopsided grin. He hoped he would be able to charm himself out of too much trouble.

Dierna wasted no time on thinking about her reaction. She took her shoe that was still clutched in her hand and threw it at her brother. She smiled in satisfaction when it hit him on the head. Served him right.

Severus quickly stepped in, "Kamen stop teasing your sister. Dierna do not throw things at him. Although I should think that you two would have learned to behave yourselves by now."

"Dad, we don't really mean any of it. It's just in good fun isn't it Dierna?" Kamen walked over to Dierna and put an arm around her shoulder.

"Speak for yourself," Dierna removed the arm with unconcealed distaste. "I'm gonna go get cleaned up. You can keep living in your own little delusional world Kamen." Dierna picked up the discarded shoe from the floor and swept out of the kitchen, head held high.

"Kamen, promise me, no tricks this time?" Morgan looked up at her son with the sternest look she could muster. Something which proved harder than she thought, he really was rather entertaining with the way he denied his troublesome nature.

"Mum, how can you even ask that? Have I ever done anything to deserve this kind of mistrust? However, unfortunately I must now take my leave; I have a few affairs that need to be put in order before this afternoon. Until then, I bid you a fond farewell." Kamen made a dramatic entrance, turning to bow to his parents when he reached the door.

Severus turned to look at his wife, "It appears that I might actually have a moment alone with you my dear. How... extraordinary. It has been a long time since we have spent any uninterrupted time together."

Morgan laughed, "Sev, would you honestly expect anything different when we still have four children living at home?"

Severus shook his head, "No, but it would be nice to have you to myself for a bit. What do think about escaping from the world for awhile, just the two of us?'

"I would have to say that you are just as delusional as your son. The school term is going to start very soon, and we both have a lot of work to get done before then. You know we don't have anytime for ourselves. I do regret it, but I do love the fact that I get to spend at least part of everyday with you, no matter what. At least we have that much. You know that most of the other teaching staff doesn't have that advantage. We truly are blessed."

Severus held Morgan in his arms and thought about how he never wanted to let her go. He loved her fiery spirit; he loved the way it could take over her usually gentle demeanor. But he also loved it that she was so receptive to him, she could be so gentle or so temperamental by turn. She was so soft.

"I hate it when you're right about things like this. I would give almost anything to have even a weekend alone with you." Severus breathed in the sweet scent of his wife's hair. She was soft and she smelled good. Why could they never be alone?

"Sev..."

"What is it darling?"

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"Yes, but I love hearing it. And I love you more than life itself, you are my everything. Amicam meam magis quam oculos meos amo."

Morgan sighed, "You know that I have absolutely no idea what you just said."

"My dear, you are completely devoid of culture," she rolled her eyes at him, "simply put it means that I will never let you go."

Morgan sighed happily, and snuggled herself closer into her husband's embrace. It was so wonderful to be held. During her seventh year at Hogwarts she had often wondered what it would feel like to be held by the striking potions master. She had been extremely delighted when they were finally able to embrace each other. There had been almost no hint of their mutual attraction while she was still in school. It would have made an already complicated situation nearly impossible.

Morgan had never had such a hard time controlling herself as she had during her last few months at school. She had been terrified that she would do something to betray the affection she felt for the strict potions master. She smiled to herself. She was so lucky, she was happily married to the man she loved with all her heart and he had given her five wonderful children. She couldn't ask for anything more.

Severus found that the rest of the world seemed to fade away when Morgan was in his arms. It was so right, it was simply wonderful, and.... Damn! It had just been ruined by someone knocking on the front door.

Morgan quickly extracted herself from Sev's grasp and ran to answer the door. She quickly pulled the large front door open and giggled when she was lifted off the ground in a giant bear hug.

Bill Weasley grinned when his sister-in-law answered the door and quickly swept her up in his embrace. He loved his wife's older sister. She was an absolute doll. "And how is the lovely Mrs. Snape doing today?" He set her back down.

"I'm wonderful Bill, but I'll be even better if my sister and your children are here with you."

"Do you really think I'd dare face you without them?"

Morgan squealed in delight when her little sister, Graine, pushed her way around Bill. The two sisters embraced happily. Six years apart the two were nearly identical in height and build, but Graine sported long red curls in contrast with Morgan's brown tresses.

Morgan pulled away from her sister to embrace her niece and nephew, eleven year old Lori and eight year old Arthur. She smiled widely, the entire family was redheaded, and they always made for an entertaining visit.

Kamen came bounding around the corner, "Arthur, buddy, come on, I have something wicked to show you outside."

Arthur smiled brightly, he adored his older cousin, and the two of them got on famously. Plus, the older boy was always showing him the most amazing tricks and pranks.

"Kamen," Morgan was looking at him sharply, "do not do anything that you will regret later. I mean it."

"Oy, Mum! Don't worry about it," he rolled his eyes, "come on Arthur, we'll go find some fun." The two boys headed outside, Kamen leaning down from where he towered over the younger boy, trying to decrease the height difference between them.

Morgan turned to Bill again, "So brother dear, tell me about you family, how is everyone doing?"

Bill smiled down at her, she never failed to inquire about his family, "Well, Mum and Dad are doing just fine, Dad is busy with the Ministry, but he always is. Mum is constantly nagging me, Ginny, Ron, Charlie, and the twins to bring her grandchildren to visit. Basically, there's never any peace for us when Mum's around," he stated dryly, "Business is going great for Fred and George, and their families are doing just fine. Charlie is a bit upset about having to leave Meg and the kids for work. Ginny, well... last I heard the marriage had hit a bit of a rough spot, but I believe everything will work out," he tried to sound hopeful, the situation wasn't a good one.

"Oh, poor Ginny, but you're right; I think they will work everything out." Morgan took her customary optimistic approach to the situation; she refused to believe that it wouldn't work itself out. Now, why don't you tell me all about your latest project at work? I want to hear about everything."

Bill chuckled, "that could take awhile."

"Then come for a walk with me outside and tell me," Morgan grabbed Bill's arm and dragged him toward the back of the house. If they walked outside while they were talking she could keep a better eye on her son. Hopefully it would dissuade him from trying anything this time.