Morgan gently smoothed out the letter in her hand. Its contents had caused her great joy and yet they had also torn at her heart. It was a quick note scrawled in Viviane's neat hand, sent out quickly before she had left on assignment, saying that she and Colin were going to be married.
Morgan sighed, she had known that this was coming, but it sill managed to throw her off balance. Even though she knew that Viviane was a capable, loving woman, ready for this commitment, but Morgan still remembered her as the little girl she had cradled in her arms.
Morgan moved into Severus' study. There was something about the room that comforted her, as if her husband's presence seemed to linger there. She sank into the oversized chair behind his desk; it made her feel closer to him somehow. Although, at the moment all she wanted was to be held in his arms.
A small smile played at her mouth as she thought about their past. She had been so young when they married. Probably too young, now that she looked back at it. And she had become a mother so soon; Viviane had been born just over a year into the marriage. Everything had happened so quickly.
Morgan closed her eyes as she thought about the pain those early years had held. The fear and terror that Voldemort had instilled in them all. It was still hard to accept that he was harmless know, the effect that he had had on so many lives was a haunting spectrum. It had meant that her marriage had been kept a secret for the first few years. Severus had insisted on it, as a way to help keep her and Viviane safe. Everything had seemed so hard to bear then. She had never been sure if Severus would return to her, or if she would be left a young widow.
She inwardly flinched, that thought was still very hard to bear. But, Morgan had learned long ago, that no matter how hard it was, she had to let Severus go. She supposed that she would have to do the same thing with Viviane now. As Morgan sat there thinking about her life she realized that she had very few regrets. Her mind wandered, perhaps she just might be able to remedy one of those regrets, but it would be quite a job bringing Severus around to the idea that was forming itself in her mind and heart. But Morgan had no reason to doubt her abilities of persuasion; she had talked her way around Severus many times in the past. She fell asleep in her husband's chair, building castles in the sky.
In a dark cell, far to the north, a man waited. He had been patient for so long; it would just take a little longer.
He watched the shadows as they slowly moved across the floor, a grim reminder of the passage of time. He had no idea of the number of days he had sat there, always watching the shadows. They were the only way he could mark the passage of time.
His plan had succeeded brilliantly so far, he just needed to wait. And that was something he had accustomed himself to.
Kamen flashed his lopsided grin, using all of his charm to try and win over his sisters, "my plan is flawless, nothing will go wrong, I promise." His smile didn't falter, not even when his proposal was met with icy glares.
"Kamen, do you remember how much trouble I got in last time you said nothing would do wrong? I have no reason to trust you on this."
"Come on Serena! Don't use that as an excuse. You and Dierna pull all sorts of stuff together; why not help me out for a change?"
Serena's black eyes glittered dangerously, "because, whenever I get coerced into doing something with you, you somehow manage to make yourself look completely innocent and lay all the blame on me. I'm not going to fall for any more of your schemes."
Kamen sighed, all he wanted was a little help, "Nimue, how about it? Help your loving, kind, older, brother out. You know you want to."
Nimue shook her head, eyeing were brother warily, "there is no way I'm going to cover for you."
"Why won't either of you help me with this?!" Kamen was starting to get frustrated his brilliant plan was starting to fall apart.
"Well that's an easy answer," Serena put her hands on her hips and glared at her brother, "because we're supposed to meet Dad in fifteen minutes and you want to go off on some little excursion and you want us to cover for you. How you can actually believe that Dad will buy any excuse we use for you is completely beyond me. Because, when he realizes that you're gone, he will go absolutely ballistic on us for trying to cover up your ill thought out, delusional, skirt-chasing plan!" Her voice rose on the last part, he could be so dense sometimes!
Kamen quickly decided that Serena was right; it probably wasn't worth the risk. Not that he believed that his plan was either ill thought out or delusional. Damn, he'd really been hoping to get away with this too. "Well, I suppose I'll have to go make my excuses to Kristy, since the two of you have proved to be so helpful," his voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Serena shook her head in disgust as Kamen made his way over to the long legged brunette who had captured his attention this time, "he is such a player, although I am impressed that he actually knows this one's name."
Nimue nodded in agreement, "how does he manage to attract girls like that? You'd think they would see right through him."
Serena just shrugged, "It's beyond me, and I certainly don't see anything special about him. I just I hope I'm around when one of them eventually sees him for what he really is and decides to slap him. That would be the greatest moment of my life." She grinned wickedly as she thought about that possibility.
Kamen came sauntering back over; it looked like he had already made one conquest. He couldn't wait for the school year to start so he could really get back into his usual routine of picking up girls. In his opinion, the more the better.
Kamen grin did not fade as he approached his sisters, "why do you two look so upset?"
"Not upset, just disgusted. Although, I was impressed that you actually know this girl's name, that's an improvement for you. Do you know anything else about her?" Serena glared up at her brother; she really hoped his girl chasing habits would backfire on him someday.
"Of course I know other stuff about her."
"Such as..."
"Well, she's going to be a fourth year Ravenclaw, how's that for information?"
Serena rolled her eyes, "I think you need to find someone your own age, and you need to stop trying not to break every girl's heart that you come in contact with. I find it disgusting that this is like a game to you."
"Why would you think that? It is a game, but a very complex one. I know all the rules and I play by them, it's not my fault if girls assume that I want something serious when all I'm looking for is a fling. Besides, its kinda fun leading them on, actually, it's a lot of fun for me; I don't see it as a bad thing if I break a couple hearts in the process. Girls get over that stuff eventually."
Serena smiled and used her sweetest voice, "Ohhhh... you are going to be in so much trouble when I tell Dad what you just said."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Wanna bet? I've heard you get the 'don't treat girls as objects' lecture before, I think it would be rather entertaining to hear it again."
"You try to get me in trouble, and I'll tell Dad about a few very interesting things that are in your top dresser drawer, including a rather interesting photo of you and a certain boy I recognize from school, and a rather stimulating letter from him, all of which is rather scandalous if you ask me." Kamen coolly began playing with his nails, confidant that he had the upper hand.
Serena felt her cheeks burning, "How did you find out about that?" She whispered furiously.
Kamen grinned, "Oh, my usual way, just snooping about your room, looking for something to use against you should I need it. And trust me, what you have in your drawer will definitely land you in more trouble then that pitifully little amount of information you have on me, it kinda looks like your 'collection' would be the perfect distraction for me to use should you try to say anything to Dad."
"Oh!!!! I hate it when you twist things around like that. And I really hate it when you go through my stuff!" Serena was livid, "I think I should tell Dad what you were saying, I will probably be able to talk my way around Mum if you tell Dad about my personal belongings."
"Tell me what?"
Serena felt herself blushing again as she turned to face her father, she hadn't realized he was behind her, and she really hoped he hadn't been there for too long. "Nothing, absolutely nothing."
Severus raised an eyebrow, but didn't push it any further. Sometimes it was better not to know. Besides, he had a feeling he'd figure out whatever they were hiding from him later, he was very good at that. "I want to get the rest of your supplies and leave as quickly as possible." Severus turned on his heal, expecting to be followed, his mood was definitely worsening, he had no intention of putting up with any form of noncompliance from his children.
Serena sent a questioning glance at Dierna, wondering what could have happened to get their dad that agitated. Dierna whispered softly back to Serena, "I'll tell you later, but it wasn't good."
Serena sent a quick glance at their father, making sure he wasn't listening, "did you..."
"No," Dierna quickly cut her off, and grinned, "it wasn't anything I did."
"Well that's a change," Kamen entered the hushed conversation, smiling wickedly; "you're usually the only one of us who can get him that upset."
Dierna punched Kamen in the arm, "stop being a jerk," she hissed at him.
Kamen just flashed his lopsided grin and flicked Dierna on the nose, "I'm never a jerk, I just tell it how it is."
Dierna was getting ready to pinch him in retaliation when Severus spoke up without turning around, "stop that right now you two! I'm not in the mood for this kind of childish behavior today."
Dierna immediately dropped her hand back down to her side, it definitely wasn't worth crossing Dad when he used that voice.
Kamen leaned in closer to Dierna, "I would really love to know how he does that 'I know what you're doing even though I'm not watching you' trick sometime."
"I don't want you to go!" Lily pouted her lower lip quivering as she fought back tears, "you can't go now!"
Harry sighed as he tried to reason with his youngest daughter, and he was very aware of Ginny watching them form the other side of the room as he picked Lily up and settled her on his lap. "I've already explained this to you doll, I need to go help your 'uncle' Sirius with a few things, and then I need to go back to work. But I promise, I'll stop in to see you whenever I can."
"No, you're not going!" Lily clutched her favorite stuffed animal, a llama named Ralph, to her chest. Her face was dark as a storm cloud and a couple of angry tears threatened to spill over.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment trying to remain calm as he pulled his daughter in closer to him for a hug. "I know you don't want me to go sweetheart, but I have to."
"No you don't!" Lily squirmed out of his grasp and ran crying up the stairs to her room.
Harry sighed dejectedly, that hadn't gone nearly as well as he had hoped. He stood up and moved towards the stairs.
"You'll be better off if you just let her cry for awhile, she'll come around eventually."
Harry turned to face Ginny, slightly amazed. Her advice had been civil, with no hint of the exasperated tone she usually used when addressing him. Maybe there was still hope for his marriage. Harry nodded his head in acceptance, "I'll just go finish packing."
He felt as though he should say something else, there had to be something he could do to make everything right again. He absently ran a hand through his unruly black hair, "Ginny..."
"Harry, please, just go pack. I have nothing to discuss with you right now." Ginny turned away, feeling hot angry tears forming in her eyes. She still loved him. But everything had fallen apart.
Harry took a step towards Ginny then stopped. She obviously didn't want him anymore; otherwise she wouldn't always shut him out like this. He turned back towards the stairs; he still had to get his packing done.
As Harry entered the bedroom he and Ginny shared a sad smile crossed his face. The shared room seemed like the last true semblance of their marriage. But, Harry thought dejectedly, it was really only a false front, put up to convince the children that everything was still fine.
Harry packed his belongings in silence; he folded each item carefully and placed them in his trunk. He was strongly aware of the fact that this could very well be the last time he was welcome in this room. It was a very discouraging thought.
He turned when there was a slight noise at the door. It was Lily, with a tear stained face and still clutching Ralph. She quickly crossed the room and attached herself to his leg, "Don't go Daddy, please..."
Harry gently picked her up and set her on the bed, "I have to go sweetheart, you know that."
"You'll come back?" Her face was determined, she desperately needed that affirmation.
"Of course I will," he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Now, I need to get going," he moved to close the lid to his trunk.
"Wait!" Lily quickly hopped off the bed and ran in front of her father, "take Ralph with you, he'll keep you company." She held out the stuffed llama, her most prized possession.
Harry knelt down in front of Lily, "I can't take him with me doll, won't you miss him too much?"
Lily shook her head, "not as much as I'll miss you. Take him."
Harry smiled as he took the stuffed toy from his daughter, "thank you sweetheart, you do wonders for my heart. Now, should I pack Ralph in my trunk?"
Lily's eyes grew big as she shook her head emphatically, "no, you have to carry him. He won't be able to breathe if you shut him in the trunk."
It took all of Harry's self control not to laugh at the serious way his daughter was looking at him. He wouldn't dare put Ralph in the trunk now, not with the way in which he was being glared at for even making the suggestion.
Severus sighed with relief. He had managed to get through the rest of the trip to Diagon alley with out any further incidents and had even managed to get his children out of the way quickly and quietly when he discovered Morgan sleeping in his desk chair. He smiled to himself as he wondered how long she had been there.
He placed his hands on the arms of the chair and leaned down to gently kiss his wife.
Morgan stirred slightly and smiled as she opened her eyes, "I like being woken up like that," her voice was still thick with sleep.
Severus smiled, "and I like waking you up like that, it never fails to bring a smile to your beautiful face."
"You think I'm beautiful?"
Severus' smile widened as his wife began fishing for compliments, he was only too happy to oblige her. "No, not beautiful, you're only the most gorgeous woman I know."
"Only the most gorgeous out of the women you know? What about all the other women in the world?"
Severus leaned down and kissed her again, when he pulled back, leaving only a hands breadth between them he replied, "What other women? You're the only one I see, all other beauty fades in comparison when placed beside you."
Morgan giggled as she reached for her husband; he was so good to her. As soon as she found the right moment she would ask him the question that was burning in her heart.