"Nick!" Dierna threw her arms around her friend's neck, "I missed you!"

"Missed you too hon," Nick responded as he dropped a kiss on her cheek and grabbed Serena with his free arm, "I missed both my girls..."

Dierna rolled her eyes, "don't start getting sentimental on us now Wood, I'm not sure if I can handle that coming from you."

"Well I'm going to go back up to the Common Room and finish the homework that I haven't done yet. Anyone want to join me?"

"Nope, already finished mine. Besides, I think some of the boys are planning a party tonight, I think me and Kandi were planning on crashing it."

Nick shrugged, "I'll go with you Serena, I have some homework to finish too." He took her hand and passed it through the crook of his arm, "allow me to escort you up lady fair?"

Serena rolled her eyes but grinned, besides her twin he was her best friend, "not quite a knight in shining armor, but I suppose you'll do."

"I'm hurt, I try so hard to please you girls and this is the treatment I get," he shook his head despondently.

Serena only rolled her eyes at him and conversation drifted onto quidditch as they made their way up to the Gryffindor Common Room. They finally settled themselves onto the rug in front of the fire, with their books spread out around them.

"Hey Nick, did you finish the Charms homework yet? I'm having troubles with it." She looked at him and frowned at the way he was looking at her, "Nick, you there mate?" The next thing she knew Nick's arm was around her as he brushed his lips across hers.

"What just happened?" Serena asked as Nick pulled away.

"Something I've wanted to do for a long time."

Serena looked at him for a long moment before nodding, "alright then. I think I like this development."

Dierna made her way down to the dungeons to return a book she had borrowed from her father. She pushed open the door to his office, and not finding him there, decided to just leave the book on his desk and head back up. But something caught her attention. "Bloody hell..." she muttered as she picked up a stack of notes on his desk. She frowned as she leafed through them.

"What are you doing?"

Dierna looked up at her father, who didn't look to pleased, "you lied to me," she spat out.

"You have not answered my question young lady, what are you doing with those papers?"

She thrust them at him, "you've been lying to me for months," she swore at him, her green eyes dark with rage, "telling me that I was researching something for a bloody Wolfsbane project, but I wasn't! How dare you do that to me! You used me to do your own damn work, and for this?" She gestured at the papers that were now scattered across the floor.

"I suggest you do something about that attitude young lady. I will not be spoken to in that manner," Severus voice was deadly calm.

"How could you lie to me like that Dad? Why didn't you just tell me you were working on..." she glanced down at the remaining papers in her hand, "Quintessence?"

Severus sighed, "Sit down Dierna."

"Not until I get some answers!"

"I'm not going to tell you again. Either sit down so we can discuss this or you can leave."

Dierna grudgingly took a seat in front of her father's desk and looked at him with raised eyebrows, "I'm waiting."

Severus sat down behind his desk and accioed the fallen papers back to him before speaking. "I could not have told you if I wanted to Dierna, it would not have been safe."

"For who? It seems a lot meaner to lie to me about it."

"Can I continue without further interruption?" he sneered at her, "I thought it would be safer for you if you could not be linked to this project. Besides, it is Order business... nothing you should be involved in..."

"Why not?! I'm willing to join in the fight against Voldemort and his supporters!"

Severus smiled sadly, "you have no idea what you are saying child."

"I'm not a child."

"You are my daughter, and I will protect you to the best of my ability. And do not bother running up to the library to research Quintessence, I guarantee you that there is nothing there."

"Then tell me. I want to know," Dierna insisted.

Severus felt a headache coming on, why did he give in so easily when his daughters were concerned? "It is a potion that dates back to the early Middle Ages. It has only been brewed once, by its creator. No one else has been able to reproduce it since then. It is supposed to restore the minds of persons who have been driven insane or..."

"Or issued the dementor's kiss?" Dierna asked in a small voice.

"Yes. And although in its original form it is not dark magic it has the potential to be. It calls for the blood of a virgin, but that can be replaced with a human sacrifice. The goal right now is to successfully brew Quintessence so that we can create a way to counter it. Not only is it supposed to restore the mind, but it supposed to have some... powers attached to it. But it is not clearly documented."

Dierna tucked a stray curl behind her ear as she thought, "I'm sorry I yelled at you Dad, but you still should have told me."

Severus shook his head, "what am I going to do with you?"

"Love me forever 'cause I'm your perfect angel?

Severus buried his face in his hands, "get out Dierna! I have had enough of you for one night."

"You sure Dad, 'cause I could stay and bug you for awhile longer, it wouldn't be a problem..."

Severus saw past the teasing demeanor and caught the undertone of hurt in Dierna's voice. "Adelaide, believe me, I would have told you if I could. But, up until this week even I did not know exactly what we were working on. I was just taking shots in the dark to try to come up with a solution; it was Eva that had the instructions for Quintessence."

Dierna scowled "I suppose that's a reasonable excuse... but I expect to know what I am working on from now on."

Severus' eyebrows shot up, "you are in no position to be making demands young lady. You will be told what you need to know when you need to know it."

"And why is that?" she shook her hair back as she leveled him with a cool glare.

"Because I said so."

"That's not a reason!"

"It's the only reason you need to concern yourself with, and you would do well to remember it."

"Are you ready for your first day with your new tutor?" Morgan asked the next morning.

"I suppose... but what if she doesn't like me?" Olivia asked worriedly.

Morgan took the girl's face between her hands, "that is the last thing you need to worry about sweetie, I'm sure you'll get along just fine."

Olivia looked down at her hands, "will you walk me to where we're having class Morgan? My mama always walked me to school in Hogsmeade and I liked it, and I..." she started to sniff as tears filled her blue eyes.

"Shhhhh... calm down sweetie. Of course I will walk you to your classroom, and either myself or Severus will be there to walk you back at the end of the day." She didn't mention that this was more for her own peace of mind about Olivia's safety than for the girl's comfort. "Would you like that?"

"Yes ma'am. And there's really going to be other girls for me to play with?" Olivia stressed this last part; she had lost so many people she knew due to the attack on Hogsmeade. Morgan took it as a positive sign that she was looking forward to meeting new people instead of growing distant.

"Of course there will be darling; I told you there would be. Now, let's get going, don't want to be late, do we?" she said with a wink.

Olivia slipped her hand into Morgan's as they made their way through the school's many hallways to the previously unused classroom that had been set aside to have class for the little ones.

"Here we are," Morgan announced as she pushed open the door. She noticed that Meg's daughters, Diana and Cassandra, were already there, along with Clara. "Go, and have fun," she said, giving her adopted daughter a gentle push. "Arabella," she looked up with a smile, "how did you get talked into this job?"

Arabella Figg, wearing a set of robes that looked suspiciously like an old oriental rug, threw her hands into the air, "I don't know! Honestly, never saw myself as a teacher for primary students. But, I know I'm only a squib, and I said I'd do anything I could for the Order, and if that means being a teacher for the children of fellow members than so be it."

Morgan grinned, "at least you only have four of them, I have to go face a whole classroom full."

Arabella gave a snort, "true, true, won't fight you on this one. I just... well the thing is Morgan, I fell bad about this arrangement. If there should be an attack I can't use magic to defend the little dears. And I know that Minerva has arranged so that there are always several house elves watching this room and that their magic would be enough to turn back any attack, but I still wish I could do something."

"I know, but we have to do the best we can during times like this. To be honest with you, I know that several fully trained witches and wizards were interviewed for this position. But, you were the only person we trusted enough with the children, we know that you're on our side."

"Well child, I thank you for that confidence, means a lot to me," Arabella ran a hand over her grizzled grey hair, "you're right. We've got to do the best we can with what we got."

"You ok kid?" Kamen sent a sideways glance at Dierna, "or let me put it this way, do you remember anything about last night?"

Dierna groaned as she put her head in her hands. She remembered coming back up from the dungeons to find her twin and Nick snogging in the Common Room. That development had done nothing to improve her mood, and she had immediately sought out her brother and his friends, who were throwing a party. "How much did I drink?" she asked miserably.

"You probably don't want to know."

"That much?"

"Yep."

"I feel horrible..."

"Been there before, you're just lucky I was there to watch you kid. You tried to leave the Tower last night, who knows how much trouble you would have been in if I hadn't been there to stop you."

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

"Don't let that get around; don't want to ruin my reputation. And speaking of reputations... I see a certain Head Girl that I need to go speak to. Try not to pass out in class Dierna, and try not to look hung over."

Dierna scowled at her oatmeal as breakfast continued, debating whether or not she could keep it down. She decided to abandon it altogether when Serena and Nick showed up holding hands. That was definitely more than she could handle this morning.

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"I'm not sure Angie..."

"Nimue, you never want to do anything," her dorm mate insisted. "What about you Ophelia, you want to come?"

"Well..." Ophelia started uncertainly, "it does sound fun, especially if we don't get caught."

Nimue worried her lower lip. She wasn't sure what to do. On one hand she wanted to go with her friends, but on the other hand she never did anything that could get her in trouble, "I suppose..."

"Great!" Angie smiled, "we'll go after dinner, no one will miss us then."

"Don't worry Nimue," Ophelia reassured her best friend, "I'm sure nothing will happen."

"I thought Morgan was coming to get me," Olivia said as her eyes widened.

"She was, unfortunately, delayed, so you will have to deal with me."

"Oh... ok." Olivia was still staring up at Severus uncertainly; she didn't know what to think about him. Morgan was nice, and seemed like a good mother, but Severus was still a bit intimidating to her.

"Well come along, I have work to get done," Severus said a bit impatiently as he headed off down the hallway. Olivia had to practically run so that her short legs could keep up with his long strides. He looked down to see her trotting to keep up with him and slowed his pace a bit. He cleared his throat, "how were your lessons today?"

Olivia stared down at the floor, "good," she mumbled shyly.

"What did you do?" Severus fought to keep up a conversation with this girl who was now his daughter.

"Stuff."

"Elaborate please," it was a command, not a request.

"Mrs. Figg gave us some tests so that she can know what we already know, and then we did a project, and she read us part of a story. I liked it," Olivia quickly ducked her head. That was the most she'd ever talked to the Professor. "Professor?"

"Hmmm?"

"Can I bring Tristan with me tomorrow?"

Severus raised an eyebrow, "what did Morgan say about that?"

Olivia wouldn't meet his gaze, "she said he should stay in my room so that nothing would happen to him."

"I think that is a good idea."

"Oh..." Olivia was clearly disappointed. She gasped when suddenly her feet left the floor and she was lifted over several stairs. Her eyes were enormous when she looked up at Severus as he set her back down.

"There's a disappearing step there, I do not need you getting stuck in it when I have work to get done," he told her as he continued to hurry her down the staircase.

Olivia didn't say anything, but continued to hurry alongside Severus down the hallway. They were down in the dungeons, close to Severus' office, when the Bloody Baron floated through a wall and stopped the Professor to talk. Olivia was startled, and before she could think about what she was doing she instinctively slid her small hand into Severus' large one.

Severus looked down in surprise at Olivia. He was not at all put out by her action it just took him off guard. At the same time Olivia realized what she had done and tried to retrieve her hand, but to no avail. Severus gripped her hand firmly, and pulled the little girl a bit closer to him as he continued his conversation with the Baron.

When the Baron continued on his way, floating down the hallway, Severus led Olivia to his office to collect a stack of papers, and then back to their living chambers. Olivia promptly ran to her bedroom to retrieve Tristan and a book.

"What is so special about that rabbit child?" Severus asked as he eyed the stuffed toy, which looked rather worse for wear, disdainfully.

"I've had him since I was born, my parents gave him to me," Olivia answered softly. She hesitated a minute, looking close to terrified as she asked in a small voice, "can me and Tristan sit with you?"

"Of course," Severus fought a smile as the girl scrabbled up next to him on the couch and settled in, still clutching Tristan tightly, and looking at her picture book. Severus turned his attention back to the papers he was grading, but was almost immediately interrupted by a whirring noise as a modified sneakoscope sitting on the mantel went off. "Damn..." he looked down at Olivia, "I am needed in the Slytherin Common Room. While I am gone you are not to leave these rooms under any circumstances, and do not let anyone in. The only people who should be in here know the password and how to drop the wards. Is that clear?"

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Nimue asked.

"Of course, it'll be fun," Angie answered.

"Ophelia?"

"I'm in."

Nimue looked between her dorm mates and nodded, "then lets go, I guess I'm in too."

"This'll be so wicked!" Angie exclaimed in a whisper as they made their way out of Gryffindor Tower and out a side exit into the cold night air, wrapping their cloaks tightly around them. "But it would be better if we had an invisibility cloak..."

"What are we going to do if we get caught?" Nimue asked worriedly.

"Simple," Angie snapped her fingers, "we don't get caught."

"What exactly is so great about a baby dragon that we're trying to get ourselves frozen out here in the dark?" Ophelia asked, her teeth chattering.

"Because its gonna be absolutely wicked! Trust me girls."
"Eva, do you have a minute?"

"Ja, was ist los?"

"Well, I was wondering... you're a beautiful and talented woman, who I admire greatly."

"You hardly know me," she laughed.

"True," Alberto gave her a roguish smile, "but what little I know of you I like."

"Is this going somewhere?"

"Eventually... I was wondering if you would like to enjoy my presence on a bit more personal level some night. Maybe a private dinner... a romantic walk around the school..."
"Angie, you were right, this is wicked," Ophelia breathed in the cold air as they leaned on a snow bank, watching the scene below them.

"It is really cute," Nimue crooned. She watched as the adult Common Welsh Green nuzzled the newly hatched baby with her snout.

"I told you!" Angie told them triumphantly.

"Maybe we should go back in, I don't want to get caught out here," Ophelia whispered.

"Too late..." Angie muttered as a shadow fell over them.

"What would three little Gryffindors be doing out of their dorms and outside on a cold winter night?" a raspy voice asked.

Nimue gasped as she realized this wasn't anyone from the school. This was much worse than any of her fears about getting caught and in trouble, this could mean their lives.

Angie, always the brazen one of the group, leapt to her feet and put her hands on her hips, "what do you want with us?" she demanded.

"It's not what I want, you filthy mudblood-loving Gryffindors, it is what my master wants. And he is looking for collateral. I think you'll do nicely," he pulled his wand before any of the three girls could react and instantly had Angie in a full body bind. "Are you other two going to come quietly, or do I have to bind you as well?"

Ophelia and Nimue violently shook their heads no, and slowly rose to their feet. Both girls realized that it was better to stay free; at least they had a chance that way. The girls and their captor jumped when the Welsh Green, which was near by, let out a mournful shriek.

"I don't have time for this," the man hissed. He quickly grabbed Ophelia in a bruising grip and reached for Nimue.

"No!" Nimue felt as though she screamed it, but it came out a strangled whisper. She put her hands out in front of her to ward off the death eater as he tried to grab her. She made a low growling noise in her throat, intent of defending herself as best she could. But shrieked as a knife like pain cut through her, and she fell to the ground.
Kalliope bolted up from where she had been lying next to Remus, breathing heavily, "Remus, I need to you go outside, something has happened."

"What is it?" Remus asked as he tried to pull her back down.

She pushed him away, "Go! You're the one that's still dressed, I'll join you shortly. But go now before something happens that could destroy us all!"