Nimue headed towards her room to retrieve her book. Maybe she would just read for awhile. She stopped though when she reached the twins room. Dierna was sitting on her bed cradling a worn box in her lap. "Dierna, what are you doing?"

Dierna looked up at where her little sister stood in the doorway, "nothing much, just looking through my box of stuff from Stefan."

"Really? What do you have in there?"

Dierna patted a spot on the bed next to her and Nimue quickly joined her, "Nothing much, it's mostly letters and a few other little things."

"What's that?" Nimue pointed at a scrap of white ribbon.

Dierna smiled as she picked up the ribbon and held it gently in her hand, she was blushing slightly, "Stefan gave it to me when he graduated, he said it would keep us tied together even if we had to be separated."

"That's so sweet," Nimue spoke softly, "You two will be so happy when you can finally get married. You're meant for each other."

"You really think so?" Dierna reverently placed the ribbon back in the box; it was her most prized possession.

"Of course I do. Do you have any doubts?"

Dierna sighed as she closed the box, "I have no doubts, but it just seems so far away at times, and I'm not exactly patient."

Nimue smiled at her sister, "no you're not, but Stefan is. Besides, you two have to end up together. It's your destiny."

"And what do you know about my destiny?"

"I just know. I've seen it."

Dierna surveyed her sister; with her serious violet eyes and sweet demeanor she seemed so much older than she actually was. Dierna found herself wishing she could be a little bit more like her little sister. She was always so calm and collected. But the things she said could be uncanny at times; Nimue appeared to have real talent for divination.

"I'm glad you believe that, it gives me hope."

Nimue smiled, "the only thing you have to worry about is how Dad is going to react when Stefan actually asks you to marry him."

Dierna rolled her eyes, "Oy, that's going to be an interesting experience. I just hope Stefan has enough sense to ask Dad for permission to marry me. I have a feeling Dad would flip if he wasn't asked."

Nimue giggled into her hand, "I think you're right, although that might be an explosion worth seeing."

Dierna picked up a pillow and tossed it at Nimue, "you only say that because you've never had Dad really angry at you." She shuddered dramatically, "then again, it would be rather humorous as long as I was just a bystander and his anger wasn't directed at me."

"Dierna, promise me we'll stay close, even after you get married and move away. I don't want to lose you."

Dierna hugged her little sister, "don't worry, nothing will ever come between us. There isn't a force on earth that could drive me away from my family."

Severus leaned back in his chair appreciatively. He was sitting outside on the veranda with his wife, Bill, and Graine. It was amazing. He could hardly remember the last time he had had a purely adult conversation that was not related to schoolwork. It was a relief to separate himself from that for awhile.

Bill had been describing his latest assignment at work, but he knew that he had to bring up a topic that had been worrying him recently. "Gringotts has stepped up security a great deal lately. They've been picking up on an increase in underground activity. There's been discussion of an uprising involving former followers of Voldemort. Has Hogwarts taken any preventative measures?"

Severus sighed; this was not a pleasant topic. "There has been nothing done yet, but Hogwarts is of course one of the safest places to be. All of the teaching staff has been advised of the possibility of a new round of attacks, but until we have any concrete evidence there is nothing more to be done."

Bill nodded gravely, "of course, that is one benefit Gringotts has since they are not strongly connected to the ministry. They can change their policy with few hassles. You will be lucky if you don't hit too many snags in the system should you try to increase security. I'm still not convinced that all of Voldemort's followers have been removed from the system. I have the distinct feeling that there are several of them still fairly high up in the Ministry."

Morgan reached for Severus' hand and they shared a long look. The two of them held the same suspicions about Ministry members. Severus gently rubbed the back of Morgan's hand with his thumb while he spoke, "I believe that you are right. In all likelihood there are still remnants of Voldemort's original forces still in the Ministry. Unfortunately there is no easy way to distinguish them."

Graine leaned forward, "But don't they have records from the various trials that could be used to start another round of investigations? Or can't they use a truth potion to question employees?"

Severus shook his head, "trial records will not help. My name is mentioned on several of them along with others who are innocent of any recent involvement. Besides, those that managed to convince the Ministry they were innocent the first time around would have no problem declaring themselves free of involvement this time. It would just lead the Ministry in circles at great expense. And they would never condone a potion induced interview. They would be too worried about it being abused and the immorality of it. There just is no good way for them to ferret out the turncoats, although I do have my own suspicions of who is involved."

Bill locked eyes with the potions master, "I have a feeling we would probably come up with many of the same names. I know Dad has shared a few with me that he strongly suspects are up to something, and they were names that didn't surprise me at all."

Severus tightened his grip on Morgan's hand, "I have a very bad feeling that something is going to happen, and it will more than likely happen soon."

Harry Potter watched the sun as it slowly set behind the gently rolling moors. The heather crested rises glowed red in the fading light. Everything seemed so much simpler out here on the moors, not like the hell his life currently was.

Harry sighed as he watched the sun dip further down on the horizon, in many ways his life was different than what he had imagined for himself while he was still in school. For one thing, he hadn't been sure if he would survive Voldemort. But he had survived and he had seen Voldemort defeated, this time for good.

He stood there, lost in thought; his life was far from perfect. He had married only a couple of years after graduation, he had a job that he loved, and he had three wonderful children. So what was he missing?

His life hadn't turned out exactly as he had hoped. Harry realized that he had assumed that as soon as Voldemort was gone the rest of his problems would also disappear. He had been wrong. Only now his problems didn't tend to be life threatening, but they were still hard to bear.

Harry found himself wishing that his life could be simpler. Wishing at times that he didn't have to be 'the boy who lived'. He wanted something else. He wanted his life to be perfect, and it wasn't. That's the way things were.

He ran a hand through his unruly black hair. He smiled grimly, at least some things never changed. His hair was still a wild mess. The smile faded, a mess, just like the rest of his life.

He looked down when he felt a small hand slip into his own. It was his six year old daughter, Lily. At least his children were the one thing in his life that was still good. Probably the only thing, he thought wryly. He held his daughter's hand in his and thought about his life, hoping for a change.

Morgan sighed as she leaned back into Severus. They had just finished seeing her family out the door. It had been a wonderful visit, but it had been tainted with the threat of future attacks by the growing dark forces. Morgan felt a cold shiver run up her back. She feared for the safety of her husband and children.

Severus wrapped his arms around Morgan. "What's troubling you love?"

Morgan placed her hands on top of Severus' arms as he pulled her back into him even closer, she rested her head against his chest, "I'm worried, I don't like the way things are going. I'm scared that there are going to be attacks on Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts is most likely the safest place to be." Severus rested his chin on top of Morgan's head and breathed in the soft scent of her hair. He tightened his grip around her waist, intent on keeping her as close to him as possible.

"I know it is, and with us there to watch over Kamen, the twins, and Nimue I'm not overly concerned, yet. It's Viviane I'm worried about now. I don't like that she was transferred into the department of mysteries. It doesn't seem like a very safe place to be in the Ministry right now." Morgan frowned down at her hands as she lightly traced her fingers over Severus' arms.

"I know it's hard. I too feel some degree of comfort knowing that we can look after our four youngest on a daily basis. At least Viviane keeps in close contact with us. Plus, I have a strong suspicion that that young man she has been seeing is going to propose any day now. He will look after her. He's a good man, even if he is going after my daughter." Severus frowned on the last part. Even though Viviane was nearly twenty and living on her own he didn't like the idea of his daughter having such a serious relationship.

Morgan looked down at her hands as twined her fingers around Severus' hands. It was hard to believe that she had been married and was a mother when she was Viviane's age. It didn't seem possible that so much time had passed; it seemed like only a moment ago. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to admit that any of my children are ready to think about marriage." She sighed, "It just doesn't seem possible." She closed her eyes, taking pleasure in the feel of her husband's arms as they encircled her, it made her feel so safe.

"You sound tired my dear. I think I shall have to get you to bed early tonight."

Morgan turned herself around and buried her face in her husband's chest, "I like the sound of that." She smiled up at him, her eyes dancing.

Severus could see the fatigue in his wife's face, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I suggest that you head up to bed, I will join you shortly." His voice was soft and silky, it purred in Morgan's ear, sending a tremor of thrill up her spine.

Morgan felt like she would melt. She reached up and gave her husband a gentle kiss, "I'll be waiting for you." She released herself from his grasp and headed up the stairs, aware of his longing gaze following her the entire way.

Severus decided to quickly check on his children before he allowed himself to follow Morgan. The lack on noise was unsettling. He had learned through the years that silence in his house was usually the lull before a storm.

He looked into the library. Amazing. Dierna and Nimue were reading while Kamen and Serena played a game of chess. No disasters, no problems, nothing he could find fault with, it seemed surreal.

Severus headed back towards the stairs, looking forward to spending some time alone with his wife. He stopped midway up the stairs when he heard a knock at the front door. There always seemed to be something to keep him from his wife. Severus sighed in resignation and turned around, intent on sending whoever it was away as quickly as possible. He had no patience for anymore interruptions this evening.

Severus opened the door, "Stefan, how... unexpected. What do you want?"

Stefan looked at his former potions master resolutely, he had no intention of cowering despite the glare he was getting, "I need to speak with Dierna."

"What do you want with my daughter?" Severus found himself thinking of the previous night and attempted to keep his temper in check.

"I have to do some traveling for work, I've come to say goodbye."

"If you do anything to break my daughter's heart I will make your life miserable," Severus scowled at the young man in front of him.

Stefan found that he was very glad he was the same height as his former professor; this would be much harder if he had to look up at him. Professor Snape did make a rather imposing figure. "I would never intentionally hurt Dierna, I care for her too much to put her in any type of pain if it all possible."

Severus continued to glare; he wanted to send this young man away without letting him see his daughter. It seemed like an easy solution, but it was not to be. Dierna came around the corner at that moment.

"Stefan!" She ran to him and threw her arms around the man she loved. She could tell that her father was scowling at her for the display of affection, but she didn't care.

Severus looked pointedly at his daughter, "not too late and I do not want you going anywhere," he shifted his attention to Stefan, "and remember what I warned you about." He turned on his heal and climbed the stairs.

Stefan looked down at Dierna and gently ran the backs of his fingers along the outline of her face, "I have something we need to talk about." He reached for her hands; this conversation was not going to be pleasant.

Dierna studied his face; something was obviously wrong, "let's go outside, we can walk while we discuss whatever it is that's bothering you."

"What about what your father said about you not going anywhere?"

Dierna brushed it off, "let me worry about him. I need to get out of this house for awhile and it will be the only way to ensure that we're left alone."

Harry held his daughter's hand firmly in his own while they crossed the gently rolling moors as they walked home. The terrain was a bit rough and had produced more than a few bumps and bruises and scraps when his children weren't careful on the uneven ground.

He stopped when he felt Lily tug on his sleeve trying to get his attention. He looked down at his daughter, she clearly wanted something.

"Carry me?"

He fought the urge to smile, she looked so serious, "Don't you think you're getting a little big for that?" He raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

Lily looked at her father as though he was crazy, "no," she said it like it was the most obvious answer in the world.

Harry laughed as he swung his little girl up into his arms. His children were the only bright spot in his life at the moment and it felt good to laugh at something.

Lily leaned her head sleepily against her father's shoulder, "Daddy..."

"What is it doll?" Harry thought his little daughter was the sweetest thing in his life, so trusting and so loving, without any conditions.

"Daddy, do you and Mummy still love each other?"

Harry held his precious daughter closer, "of course we do. Now I don't want you to worry about that anymore." He was amazed that she had asked that question, he hadn't thought that she would have picked up on increasing problems at home. They had tried so hard to keep all of the ill feelings hidden from the children. And he did still love his wife; things were just so complicated at the moment.

Dierna and Stefan walked in silence. The continued silence was making Dierna nervous; she wished Stefan would just come out and say what was bothering him. They stopped by a stone wall that was bathed in a puddle of moonlight.

Stefan placed his strong hands around Dierna's waist and gently lifted her up so she could sit on the wall, putting them at eye level with one another. "Dierna, I have to leave for a work assignment early tomorrow, I'm not sure when I'll be back," he left out the rest of his thought, 'if I come back'; he couldn't say that to Dierna, it would just upset her.

Dierna looked at Stefan with growing concern, "Stefan, why are you making such a big deal out of this, you were gone earlier this summer on an assignment and you didn't make such a production out of telling me then."

Stefan took both of her hands in his and held them lightly, "because doll, I am going to be out of contact on this one. You're not going to be able to write to me and I probably won't be able to write to you. I'm going to be gone for an indefinite amount of time and there probably won't be any communication between us."

Dierna felt as though her world were spinning out of control, "no..."

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, I just want to be with you, but I have to go." Stefan's voice was filled with regret; he didn't want to leave like this. He couldn't even promise that he would be back. "Will you keep in touch with my mum while I'm gone? She really loves you. I keep hearing about how you're the daughter she never had."

"Of course I'll keep in touch with her, I love that I'm the 'daughter of her heart' as she puts it." Dierna lowered herself down off the wall and threw herself into Stefan's embrace. She held on to him tightly, "I don't want to let you go, please don't leave me."

Stefan kissed the top of Dierna's head then gently raised her face so he could kiss her more passionately. "I have something for you," Stefan reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ring that featured a tiny, delicate cameo. He lifted Dierna's right hand and slid it onto her ring finger. "This is my promise to you, no matter what happens, no matter how long we are separated, I will always love you."

"How dangerous is this mission?" Dierna felt the beginnings of panic start to hit her.

"Dangerous enough." Stefan avoided the question; he didn't want to admit how bad it was looking.

"There's a good chance you won't come back, isn't there?"

Stefan lowered his head, "I should have known I could never keep that from you. Yes," his voice was filled with regret, "there is a chance I won't come back." He retrieved a small package wrapped in brown paper from his pocket and pressed it into Dierna's hands, "I want you to open this package only if I don't come back. It's something I want you to have, even if I don't get the chance to give it to you in the way you deserve."

Dierna fought back her tears, she never cried and she had no intention of starting now. She raised her chin, she could be strong, "you better go, you still have to pack before you leave."

Stefan looked down into the green eyes that he loved so much, intent of memorizing every feature of the face that was so dear to him. "I'll walk you home, love. And you're right, I do need to pack. But until then you're mine." He gently kissed her again, she was so wonderful.

"Stefan, if you want to..." Dierna could tell she was blushing, she hoped Stefan wouldn't be able to see it in the moonlight. It seemed like the only thing she could offer if he might never come back to her.

"No. You would only regret it later." He didn't even want to think of what the consequences would be if Dierna ended up pregnant. He was willing to bet that if he did anything more intimate than kiss Dierna his life wouldn't be worth living after his former potions master got through with him. He pulled her back into him for another embrace, "I think its time I got you home, before we both do something we would regret."