Kalliope paced through the airy halls of the temple. She couldn't expect the Lady Sianna or Remus to get her letters till tomorrow, which meant it would be at least another day after that till she got a response.

She was also beginning to feel that perhaps she had acted in haste. She knew that as a senior priestess and chief oracle of the temple she could do pretty much as she pleased, but she wondered if she should have consulted with the head priestess.

Sighing, she turned and headed towards the head priestess' quarters. The old woman most likely knew all that had happened already, it was a rather uncanny ability of hers, but Kalliope knew that the Lady Rheia would want to hear the story from her.

Kalliope paused in front of the ornately carved door that led to the head priestess' rooms. She smoothed her hair and her robes, somehow the old woman always made her feel like a small child.

"Lady Rheia is waiting for you," a young attendant priestess bowed to Kalliope.

"Thank you Alexandra," Kalliope inclined her head to the younger woman. She pushed open the heavy wood door and entered the darkened room. Rheia was seated at one end on a low bench with a long green serpent twined around her shoulders.

Kalliope made a gesture of reverence and bowed low to the woman before her, "you were expecting me mother, I hope I did not leave you waiting too long?"

"Of course not child, I knew you would come when you were ready. Now come sit by me and tell me what is troubling you." The old woman smiled at her chief oracle through brilliant blue eyes set far back in her wizened face.

Kalliope obediently knelt at Rheia's feet. She had always called the older woman "mother" for as long as she could remember. Her own mother had died before Kalliope took her first steps. Rheia was mother to all of the priestesses in her temple, she had been there longer than any of them could remember, and longer than any of the written records recorded. Kalliope knew for a fact that Rheia was at least several hundred years old if not several thousand years old. She wondered how the woman did it.

"Your mind is wandering child; my age is not of importance to the task at hand."

Kalliope shook her head and smiled, "must you always read my thoughts mother?"

"No, but with such a young child as you it is easy."

Kalliope laughed, "I have lived more than thirty years and you still think of me as a child."

Rheia smiled, "when someone lives for as long as I have everyone seems like a child."

"And exactly how long is that?"

Rheia closed her eyes and stroked the head of the green serpent, she laughed softly, "I'm not really sure anymore. The only time reference I can think of that might give you a clue is my first memory. I remember your kinswoman playing with me in this very temple after she fled Agamemnon's home, lucky thing for her that his wife was also a priestess and saw fit to let her be. You remind me of Kassandra, she was a talented priestess, and a great oracle."

"You flatter me mother."

"Nonsense, I only give praise where it is deserved and you know it. Now, we have digressed even further off topic. Why did you feel that it was necessary to contact Sianna and that man you insist on corresponding with?"

Dierna dragged her feet as she trudged down the long corridor. Quidditch practice had been very intense; she was convinced that Nick was trying to run the team into the ground. He really wanted to win this year.

At least detention hadn't been that bad. Even though she had taken the time to shower and change after practice, which made her late, Professor Lupin had been really nice about the whole situation. He had even left her go after only an hour and a half.

Now she just felt sick and tired. She had stopped by the Gryffindor common room, but she just didn't feel like hanging out with her friends tonight. Especially since Kamen and William had a pretty serious drinking game in full swing already. She just wanted to go someplace quiet. This was why she was now standing in front of the door to her parents' rooms.

Dierna didn't bother with knocking, she simply removed the wards that protected the entrance and went in. Her mother wasn't anywhere to be seen, which caused Dierna to sigh. Her mother could always make her feel better.

However, her father was sitting on the couch reading. Provided he was in a good mood he wouldn't mind her hanging around for awhile. She crossed the room and sat down next to him.

Severus didn't look up from his book when his daughter sat down next to him, but he slid an arm around her shoulders. "Anything wrong?"

Dierna didn't respond, but she leaned her head against his shoulder and moved the book he was reading closer so that she could see it. She smiled, it was Le Morte D'Arthur one of her favorites.

Severus handed the book to his daughter and let her read for a few minutes while he watched her. He tightened the arm around her shoulders, "Is there a reason why you have insisted on feeling miserable all day instead of simply going to the hospital ward?"

"I'm not sick," Dierna replied moodily.

Severus pushed the hair out of her face, trying hard not to smile at his daughter's sulky expression. When she was sick she always acted like this. He laid a cool hand against her forehead, "If you're not sick then why do you have a fever?"

Rheia closed her eyes and stroked the head of the green serpent, she laughed softly, "I'm not really sure anymore. The only time reference I can think of that might give you a clue is my first memory. I remember your kinswoman playing with me in this very temple after she fled Agamemnon's home, lucky thing she did too, otherwise that horrid wife of his would have taken her head too. You remind me of Kassandra, she was a talented priestess, and a great oracle."

"You flatter me mother."

"Nonsense, I only give praise where it is deserved and you know it. Now, we have digressed even further off topic. Why did you feel that it was necessary to contact Sianna and that man you insist on corresponding with?"

Kalliope took a moment to bring herself back to the present. She hadn't realized that Rheia was as old as that. But she knew that she had to focus, "I wish you wouldn't refer to Remus as 'that man'. He is a talented wizard and he provided much needed help to us during our time of need."

"I won't argue with that child, but he is after all only a man. I have seen more war and destruction in my lifetime than you ever will. All of it caused by men. I've witnessed rape and pillage and murder. Your own heart was ripped to shreds by a man; I don't understand why you still insist on finding good in them. They do have their uses, but do not lose your heart. A man destroyed your life once my child, I do not want to see that happen again."

"I understand your point mother, but Remus was there for me after... after..."

"So, you continue to claim that you are fine my child, and yet you cannot name that which nearly killed you. You are a priestess, stand up to your fears!" There was fire in the old priestess' words.

Kalliope swallowed her own anger. "My child was murdered and Remus was there for me, he holds a special place in my heart."

"As well he should," Rheia stroked the younger woman's hair, "but why must he be informed about the visions of our priestesses?"

"Because, it was wizards from his part of the world that attacked us then and the visions are telling us that it is the same men who are gathering now. He is in a position to save lives; you know that the wizarding world won't always listen to us."

"That is true enough, but I think you still have personal motives. The one you hate was in the visions wasn't he." It wasn't a question.

"Yes he was," Kalliope clenched her teeth as she thought of Draco Malfoy; she wanted nothing more than to see him dead.

"And why do you want this man to die?" Rheia questioned with her usual disarming ability of telling exactly what the other person was thinking.

Severus pushed the hair out of her face, trying hard not to smile at his daughter's sulky expression. When she was sick she always acted like this. He laid a cool hand against her forehead, "If you're not sick then why do you have a fever?"

"I'm fine," but Dierna sounded much less convincing now, even to herself.

"No you're not. Stay right there," Severus commanded as he got up. He returned a minute later with a mug of tea and a vial of something purple.

"What's that?" Dierna asked.

"Something to make you feel better," Severus handed her the mug and then uncorked the vial he was holding and poured the contents into the tea. "Drink all of that."

Dierna raised the mug to her lips and took a small sip. She made a face, "it's bitter."

"I know, but you are going to drink it anyways," Severus crossed his arms over his chest and used his sternest expression.

Dierna rolled her eyes, "fine..." She finished the tea but made it very clear exactly what she thought of it.

Severus raised an eyebrow as he took the mug from her and set it on the end table, "was it really that bad?"

"Yes," Dierna pouted.

Severus sat back down and allowed his daughter to embrace him, even going so far as to wrap an arm around her in return, "at least you'll feel better."

"I'm not sure if it will be worth it," Dierna frowned, "especially since you're perfectly capable of making something like that taste better. But you could make it up to me..." Dierna smiled sweetly.

"I could? And what exactly is it that you want?"

"Rub my back?"

"Fine." Severus waited while his daughter repositioned herself. She laid a pillow on his lap and then laid her head on it, stretching out on the couch. Severus picked up his book from where it had been discarded on the end table and held it in one hand while he rubbed his daughter's back with his other hand.

"Daddy?"

"What?" Severus almost smiled; she had stopped calling him 'daddy' when she was about seven unless she was sick or really tired. And right now he would say that she was both.

"Can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course."

"And why do you want this man to die?" Rheia questioned with her usual disarming ability of telling exactly what the other person was thinking.

"Because he killed my daughter."

"Do not let your emotions control you child, the goddess will deal with him as She sees fit."

"But..."

"Child, listen to the advice of someone who has served the goddess for many centuries, She will deal with those who defy her in her own time and in her own way. You need to focus on your duties as the head oracle of this temple."

"I feel like I should be doing something."

"You are child; you are a valuable asset to this temple. However, if things continue the way they are I will give you leave to go to Britain."

"Thank you mother..." Kalliope was cut off by sounds of yelling coming from the entry way. She reached for the knife that she kept belted to her waist, prepared to defend the head priestess to the death if necessary, and rose to her feet as the doors were thrown open.

"How long has she been out?"

Severus looked up at his wife as she entered the room, "about an hour."

"She's usually as restless a sleeper as I am and as light as sleeper as you are, what in the world did you give her to knock her out like that?" Morgan leaned down to kiss her husband on the cheek.

Severus smiled as his wife's soft lips brushed his cheek, "nothing much, just something to make her sleep and bring down her fever."

Morgan grinned, "You're so wonderful. Now, do you think you can get up without disturbing her or am I going to have to sleep alone tonight?"

"Do you think I would really let you sleep alone?"

Morgan chewed on her bottom lip, "I was hoping that would be your answer."

Severus gently lifted Dierna's head out of his lap and stood up. He picked up a blanket and tucked it around her.

"You want to move her into the spare bedroom or leave her out here?"

"She'll be fine on the couch," Severus replied.

"Well then why don't you join me in our bedroom professor, I would love to spend some... quality... time with you," Morgan's look was mischievous.

Severus grabbed his wife and pulled her into his embrace, "I like the sound of that," he purred into her ear, his voice deep and silky.

Morgan giggled softly as she released herself from his embrace and moved toward the door to their bedroom. She was very much aware of the look of hunger in her husband's eyes as he followed her.

Viviane held Stefan's hand as he moved in his sleep. She could tell that he was experiencing horrible nightmares, but she was afraid to wake him up. She laid a cool hand against his forehead; her movements were gentle and caring.

She felt real affection for the man who had claimed her little sister's heart. They had really bonded in the past weeks. Mainly because they both missed the ones they loved. She sighed, they had been working on this project for so long, and yet they didn't seem to be making any progress. It seemed as though Malfoy and Macnair were just leading them around in circles.

"Shhhhh... it's alright Stefan, they can't hurt you here," she murmured in soothing tones as he continued to thrash about in his sleep. She smoothed his hair and whispered to him. She knew that he had been tortured yet again at the hands of Malfoy and Macnair. She wasn't surprised that he came back and had nightmares like this.

"Hold on just a little longer MacNeill, I'll get you back to my little sister yet," but Viviane wondered how true that was. It was already late October and the mission showed no signs of being close to finished.

Stefan sat up quickly, his breathing was hard, "Dierna!" His voice was strangled and he blinked furiously, trying to remember where he was.

"It's alright Stefan, calm down," Viviane sat down on the bed next to him.

Stefan buried his face in his hands, "I'm so afraid that they will hurt her to get to me. I can stand being tortured but the dreams of them torturing her are too much."

"You'll get through this Stefan, we all will."

"Thanks Viv," Stefan wrapped his arms around the slight frame of the woman sitting next to him.

"All we have to do is survive one day at a time, you'll be with Dierna again before you know it," Viviane hugged him back as she thought of her Colin.

"Come on Dierna, hurry up!"

Dierna mumbled something unintelligible and snuggled further under the covers of her bed.

"You're not going to get to go if you don't get up." Serena threw a pillow at her sister as she spoke.

"Maybe I don't want to get up!" Dierna threw the pillow back at her twin as she groggily sat up.

"Well you won't get to go to Hogsmead if you don't get up."

"Bloody hell..." Dierna muttered as she practically feel out of bed as she struggled to get up, "I'm coming, just give me some time."

Kalliope walked down by the beach. The last few weeks had been anything but pleasant and it had her worried. It had all started with the unexpected arrival of Cadmus when he had burst into the head priestess' quarters several weeks ago. The hulking man had laughed at the sight of Kalliope clutching her knife ready to defend Rheia should she need to.

Cadmus was the leader of a group of warriors that kept the old ways and still wandered up and down the coastal plain, living a nomadic life. They were a magic people, but they defied all customs.

Kalliope sighed; the presence of men in the temple had greatly disrupted everyday life. She knew that many of the priestesses had taken Cadmus' men to their beds, but she definitely was not one of them.

This brought her to another problem, one that she was not looking forward to dealing with. Sophia had taken to spending a great deal of time in the men's camp. Although the girl had done nothing wrong yet she was a sworn virgin of the goddess until the time that she took vows as a priestess. Kalliope had been ordered by Rheia to take care of the situation.

She bent down to pick up a small pink shell which she flung into the brilliant blue sea. Her young charge had become quite enamored with a certain young man from Cadmus' tribe. Kalliope wasn't overly surprised, especially since the girl had had very little contact with men before this. But the young girl could not be risked. As distasteful as it sounded, even to Kalliope who had spent her whole life in the temple and was well aware of the customs, Sophia's worth as a temple servant was measured by her virginity.

Kalliope knew that she either had to convince her ward to stay away from the men, or she would be sent away until the warriors were gone.

She sighed again; she had written to Remus that morning and had poured out her troubles to him. They had shared many letters recently, talking about anything from the threat of Malfoy and his recruits to more personal details of their lives. Kalliope longed to see the werewolf again. His affliction, which he was so conscientious of, meant nothing to her.

Kalliope absently kicked at the sand, but spun around when she noticed a dark shadow approaching from behind her, her hand going to the knife at her waist.

"Easy there girl," a deep voice said as a large hand gripped her wrist, forcing her to drop the blade.

"Let go of me Cadmus," Kalliope hissed.

"Of course Lady," Cadmus released his grip on her and bowed low, "I have no wish to quarrel with you or your goddess."

"Then you had best keep your distance from me."

"Come now girl, I don't like this hostility. Your fellow priestesses have spent many a night in the tents of my men, why don't you come warm my bed tonight? I only want to improve relations between us."

"I most certainly will not."

Cadmus smiled, his white teeth flashing against his darkly tanned skin, "Then I won't ask you again, but the invitation stands."

Kalliope snorted, "Don't count on me showing up at your tent, I don't play those games."

"You did once."

"And you can clearly see where it got me," Kalliope stared out at the brilliant blue sea, she felt the waves wash over her feet. The sea seemed so... clean... compared to the rest of her life.

Cadmus rested a hand on Kalliope's shoulder, "I am not old enough to be your father and even if I were I know you priestesses have little respect for men, but I am going to try and give you some advice anyways. I know you loved your little daughter a great deal, but that little girl you've been looking after who keeps coming down to our tents is as much your own as the one that lays buried under the sands. Give up the bitterness girl."

"Don't tell me how to live my life."

"I wouldn't dream of it Lady."

Kalliope grinned, "If this was all a ploy to get me in bed with you..."

Cadmus threw back his head a laughed, "I know better than to try a trick like that with a priestess. I've had one to many curses thrown at me for trying to seduce one of you into my bed."