Eric shook his head slowly as Severus came back into the classroom. "I'm not the only one to know that your family is your weakness. Draco knows it too."

"I'm aware of that," Severus growled.

"Just stating the truth boy, no need to get upset at me about it."

Severus sighed heavily, "what can I do to keep them safe? I'm half tempted to send the children to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang."

Eric inclined his head, "not bad choices. Madame Maxime is an excellent headmistress, and Krum has done a world of good for Durmstrang. But I'd wager that you don't really want to let them out of your sight either."

"No I don't."

"And Nimue would be incredibly safe in Greece."

Severus frowned, "how do you know about that?"

Eric shrugged and looked up at the ceiling, "I have my ways."

"And how much of what you know are you feeding to the enemy?"

"They're not my enemy Severus. The only reason I'm helping with Quintessence is to satisfy my own curiosity. Tom was never really a bad person; I don't know why there are all these attempts to destroy him..."

"He is a murder Eric."

"As are both of us."

"It goes beyond that Eric, he has attempted genocide, and he will again. He'll slaughter the innocent."

"He's family Severus, I can't just abandon him!"

"That shouldn't make a difference. You know what my father was like, and that I did everything I could to distance myself from him."

"That's because he disowned you Severus. Tom is different. He was such a bright boy, and so good at his studies... he did nothing..."

"Stop deluding yourself Eric. You should have distanced yourself from him years ago."

Eric ran a hand over the scarred flesh of his face, "my sister loved him dearly, how can I besmirch her memory by betraying her son?"

Severus' eyes were hard, "he killed Yvonne, how can you forgive him for that?"

Eric sighed as he sank into a chair, "Yvonne... I loved her, I think she's the only one I've ever truly loved..." he closed his eyes as he mind was flooded with memories of the beautiful French ballet girl, with her soft brown hair that ran through his fingers like silk, and her large green eyes that she had lent to their grandson. "It's not her fault she was a muggle."

"To Tom it was," Severus replied with deadly calm, "he killed her because she was a muggle and he didn't want that in the family. I guaranteed you that your grandson may be the next one to go if Tom is returned to power, he's the son of a muggle, Voldemort won't stand to have that in his family."

"You can't ask me choose between my family!"

Severus caught the front of Eric's robes and lifted the old man clear of the ground, "I'm not asking you to choose, I'm telling you that you will do what is right! To hell with your family ties, for once in your life think about what you could do for the common good," Severus set the man back down and spun around as he heard the door creak open. He narrowed his eyes at the door, and then sighed, "I know you're there so you might as well join us."

Kalliope was still angry. And worried. She paced the confines of her room with mounting frustration. She closed her eyes and felt a small degree of satisfaction when several small glass figurines slammed into the wall and shattered.

"I hope that makes you feel better. Although I'd appreciate it if you checked to see if there was anyone else in the room who might be in danger of being hit by flying projectiles."

Kalliope spun around, "I've told you not to sneak up on me like that," she hissed.

Remus ignored the barb, "the house elves are bringing up dinner for us."

"You can leave; I'm not in the mood for company."

"I'm not leaving Kalliope."

Kalliope made a low growling noise in the back of her throat.

Remus sadly shook his head, "you're so used to fending for yourself that you can't even accept a simple act of kindness. You said yes when I asked you to marry me, which means you're stuck with me. I'm not going to leave you alone when you're this upset."

Kalliope turned away from him, "I just want the girl to be safe, she may be the only chance we have. The temples are dying out. Not only in Greece, but everywhere. In Britain there is only Avalon left, and in the north there is only one temple left in all of Midgard. I don't know what to do."

Remus snaked his arms around Kalliope from behind, "I know you're upset, but I'm here for you and I want you to remember that."

Kalliope leaned her head against his shoulder, "I've never had this before Remus, I'm not used to having someone being here for me all the time. It takes some getting used to."

"Well, priestess, we have all the time in the world."

Severus took a step towards the door and wrenched it open all the way, "well? What is it child?"

Olivia looked up at him with large eyes, "Morgan told me to find you."

"Why?"

Olivia frowned, "I don't remember."

Severus sighed, "well come in here and sit down." He turned to Eric, "I'm done talking to you, leave."

Eric leaned heavily on his cane as he stomped towards the door. But he paused in the doorway, "Severus, my life has not been one of virtue or morals. I have lived as I have seen fit and by my own standards. Yes I have killed men, I am a murderer. Yes I have played both sides, but that is because those that I care about have been on both sides. While I may not like you Severus, you have reminded me of one thing tonight. Yvonne. She would have wanted me on your side, on our grandson's side. I don't have many years left; I'm going to do what she would have wanted me to."

Severus watched as Eric exited out into the hallway and gave a small smile of satisfaction. It was good to know that his manipulation skills were still up to par.

"He's scary looking," Olivia said.

Severus turned to look at the small six year old who had climbed up into the chair behind his desk. "Did I say you could sit in my chair?"

"You didn't say I couldn't," she replied logically.

Severus' eyebrows shot up, "and how does that make it excusable for you to commandeer my chair?"

Olivia frowned as she tried to figure out what the long words meant, "You didn't say I couldn't," she repeated emphatically.

Severus fought a smile as Olivia continued to frown, "I think its time for you to get ready for bed."

"But it's still early," she whined. Now, in the middle of February, Olivia had become accustomed enough to her new home to start to lose some of the fear that had plagued her before. She still had nightmares about the night Hogsmeade was attacked, but the memories of her parents were slowly starting to fade from her young mind.

"It's eight o'clock, which gives you enough time to for you to get ready for bed and one story before bedtime."

Olivia pouted, "Can't I stay up a little later tonight? Please..."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Why else?"

Severus was starting to think he almost enjoyed it more when his adopted daughter had still be scared of him, at least she hadn't questioned him then. "That's all the reason you need," he said simply as he scooped her out of his chair.

She giggled as she was lifted up into his arms, "don't you like my questions?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"About as much as I would like being chased by a pack of hippogriffs," was the dry response.

"You don't always act nice, but I like you anyways."

Severus was beginning to regret his decision to allow Dierna to assist on Quintessence. As he, Eva, and Eric began work the next afternoon he was hoping that his daughter would not show up, but it was not to be. As soon as classes were over she came bounding in, ready to hold him to his promise.

Dierna frowned slightly and muttered something about grunt work and slave labor when she was handed a mortar and pestle and told to make herself useful by grinding beetle wings, but didn't voice her complaints too loudly as she feared losing her chance to at least observe. She watched with interest as the three adults poured over the instructions and conferred over the best way to proceed.

They worked for several hours with little conversation and with a growing amount of tension. Finally Eva set aside the parchment of instructions, "it looks like it's the yellow-green color that it should be at this stage, only one more ingredient and then it has to set for a month before we finish it off."

"Just our 'blood of an unwilling virgin'" Eric said as he slowly stirred the potion.

Eva held out her arm.

"Sorry dear," Eric shook his head, "you just became willing."

Severus frowned as he thought, "I suppose we could procure a donor and then alter their memory."

Eva nodded, "I don't particularly like that idea, but it's our best chance right now."

"We should do it soon," Eric interceded. "Child," he looked over at Dierna, "would you hand me that vile behind you?"

Dierna reached for the vile and held it out to Eric. She gasped when he gripped her wrist with bruising strength, causing the glass container to fall from her hand and shatter on the stone floor. She was too shocked to struggle when he wrenched her arm over the cauldron and produced a knife, which he slashed across her wrist so that the blood flowed.

"Dammit Eric, what in hell do you think you are doing?!" Severus thundered.

"Just finishing off the final step of this part of the potion," Eric said calmly as he picked up his wand and muttered a spell that healed the gash on Dierna's arm.

"Eric, this time you have gone too far, you damn well better start running..."

"Wicked..." Dierna softly exclaimed as she looked into the cauldron. The contents had turned from a yellow-green to a swirling mixture of red and orange with gold flecks shimmering at the surface.

"Dierna, I want you out of here now, you too Eva, this is not going to be anything I want a lady to see," Severus said as he ushered the two women towards the door.

"Don't kill him Dad," Dierna rolled her eyes at the way her father was glaring at her, "I don't really mind, and it finished off the first stage of the brewing."

"Professor, perhaps you should calm down before anymore blood is shed?" Eva tentatively suggested.

"Ladies, please leave," Severus said through clenched teeth. He quickly moved them towards the door, but when he turned around to deal with Eric, the old man was gone.

"Are you feeling congenial enough yet to continue teaching Nimue?" Remus gently asked.

Kalliope nodded, "yes. More than ready now I think."

"What are these?" Remus asked as he picked up several scattered letters written in strange hands, including one on papyrus and one on heavy parchment.

"I've been communicating with the few temples that remain in the magical world. I've started contacting the other priestesses who still serve any form of the goddess, trying to figure out how they are going to deal with the increased threat of the dark forces. It is once again becoming a world- wide concern."

"Are you women plotting to deal with this all yourselves?" Remus asked with a grin.

Kalliope frowned at him, "we're certainly more capable of dealing with it than the men of your Ministry. They've only made the situation worse."

Remus, not in the mood for a fight, chose to hold his tongue on that matter. "Who is Svafa?" he asked as he continued to sift through Kalliope's correspondence.

"She is one of the Volva."

Remus frowned, "I've heard that term before."

"They are seeresses from the north."

Remus nodded slowly while mentally making a note to contact someone from Durmstrang, probably Krum, to see if they could provide any further information. While he trusted Kalliope herself completely, he had some reservations about the rest of the priestess community. Some of them were downright vicious in their opinions of men. Not that there weren't congenial ones, but they tended to become less involved in matters that involved the wizarding community.

"What are you thinking wizard?" Kalliope interrupted his train of thought.

Remus shook his head, smiling slightly as he looked up, "nothing, just lost myself there for a moment."

Kalliope frowned, "you do realize that those who serve the cults of the goddess are on our side? They abhor Voldemort and his followers."

"I wish you wouldn't read my mind."

She snorted, "I wasn't reading your mind, just your expression."

"You know why I am worried though."

"Yes, I know that those who follow the old ways have not always been... completely accepting... of the wizarding community. You have abandoned the way of life that they still practice."

"We have changed because we had to."

"You did not have to! Look at my temple, at Avalon, even in Midgard, all of them still operate as they have for hundreds, even thousands of years. When I was initiated the same songs were sung, the same torches passed, the same barely mixture drunk as it has been since the goddess gave instructions on how she should be worshiped. Why is it that you have allowed your way of life to change so?"

"Not all things are meant to stay the same."

"Not all are strong enough to keep them the same. There was a time when you wizards understood that, Salazar Slytherin did."

"Well that's done with," Severus muttered to himself.

"Did you kill him?"

"What are you doing here?" Severus asked impatiently as he speared Dierna with an icy glare.

Dierna raised an eyebrow as she rearranged her position on the couch in her parents' living quarters, "waiting to see if you really killed Eric."

"Unfortunately no, the bastard disappeared before I could deal with him," he frowned as he thought about the most current reason for which he wanted to murder that man, "let me see your arm."

Dierna obligingly rolled up her sleeve and extended her right arm out, palm- side up, "not a mark on it."

"That doesn't change the fact that he should not have done that."

Dierna shrugged, "at least it worked."

Severus nodded in agreement, thinking that at least this way he had confirmation that his daughter was indeed a virgin, but he refrained from voicing that fact as he knew she would take it as a lack of trust and throw a fit, "now we wait, and when we finish it in a month it will be ready to test."

Dierna smiled slightly, "that means we get to finish it on the ides of March, does that mean anything?"

"What do you mean by 'we'? You are not helping out again after what happened today."

"That's not fair! That wasn't my fault!"

Severus sighed, "I will reconsider it, but I promise nothing."
"I think it's gotten colder out..."

"I think you're right."

Ginny jumped as and spun around, her hand going to her heart, "you startled me!"

Sirius grinned, "Sorry about that, I thought you had heard me come in."

Ginny shook her head, "not that I'm not pleased to see you, but what in the world are you doing here?"

"Playing matchmaker."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up, "in case you haven't realized it Mr. Black, I'm already married, and to your godson no less, I'm hardly in need of a matchmaker."

"How about a repairer then?"

Ginny sighed, "If you're here because Harry is too..."

"He doesn't know I'm here, and I doubt he would like it either. I just came to clear a couple of things up for my own sake. I've heard that you still haven't forgiven him for what Cho did." He took her silence as an agreement, "Harry did nothing..."

"You're right he did nothing! That's the problem Sirius. That... she just showed up, intent on catching herself a quidditch player out on tour with his team. She wanted my husband! And I know Harry was faithful to me..."

"But..."

"He did nothing. He didn't even have the decency to tell me what happened. I had to hear it from someone else. That's when we stopped talking. We're married, and when we first started out that meant that we told each other everything. And then that stopped. I don't even know how to talk to him anymore."

"You both deserve to be happy."

"I know, and you have every right to want your godson to be happy, maybe if we went our separate ways."

"That's not what I meant," Sirius ran a hand through his hair, which he had noticed was starting to go grey, "I want you two to be happy together. I think I'm getting sentimental in my old age," he smiled wryly.

Ginny shook her head, a small smile threatening to come out, "maybe its being a married man, you're determined to have everyone as happy as you are."
Eric eased himself down the steps into his work area. He had decided that it might be best to lie low for awhile, well away from the wrath of Severus. And, over the years, he had realized that Paris was the perfect place to hide oneself. And so the weeks slipped by, dismal February slipping into an even bleaker March.

"And how are you two this evening?" He asked, addressing himself to the two ravens perched next to his desk, as he shook the snow from his cloak, "I swear, the city streets get more and more crowded every year... Hugin, Munin, anything come for me while I was gone? Ahhhh... yes... apparently so." He picked up several letters and immediately threw out two of them, "hmmm..." he carefully examined the third one, "I don't like this. Not at all..."

Eric moved as quickly as old age would allow back to his sanctum sanctorum and quickly traveled in his own peculiar way to the headquarters that Draco had set up.

"Eric, glad to see that you can still be relied on," Draco smirked as the older man appeared.

"You left me a most interesting message, one that I could not ignore."

"Yes, I find your loyalty to your family to be most refreshing. So many purebloods have turned out to be so disappointing. It's nice to know that a few of us still cling to the old ways."

Eric made no answer, knowing exactly how dangerous this game he played was, "I'd like to see my nephew."

"Of course," Draco waved his hand towards the back hallway, which was dark and dungeon-like in appearance.

Eric nodded curtly and slowly walked back that way, slowly pulling open the first door that he came to. "Well Tom," he closed the door and quickly muttered a soundproofing charm, "this is about the end of it. Family or no I've had to make a decision, and I've got to do right by Yvonne. And that means that I fight on the side of Zach and his cause of 'good' of whatever such nonsense that boy has come up with. I know this is far from over, and I don't much care for life anymore. Goodbye."

With that final farewell to his days of playing the double agent Eric hitched his cloak back around his shoulders as he went back into the hallway. But he paused at the door across the hall, peering in through the bars on it, "Merlin's balls... Draco, how long have you had him?"

Draco shrugged, "years. I think we may finally have a use for him."