I Do Not Own Harry Potter.

Wow! Had I known that stopping the updates would produce a deluge of reviews, I would have just posted the first one. J/K :o)
Thanks to all those who have read and reviewed (and those who have not, please do). A special thanks to Arien Llethmiel, JSSumner and This Time Imperfect (she registered just to review my fic. I do feel special Time!). I will try and keep the updates coming on a steady basis. Hopefully, the story will be up and complete by Saturday. Happy Reading!
Mattie :o)

They rushed into the Gryffindor common room. It was their tremendous bad luck that there were still quite a few people awake and around the room. It was a bit obvious by Eva's disheveled hair and Harry's sloppily buttoned shirt, what they had been doing. A few cheers came from the back of the room and snickers could be heard as they made their way towards Harry's dormitory.

Eva slowed a bit when they got to the door. She remembered her last experience of going in there without knocking. Harry tugged on her hand a little and she conceded to follow him, but not before closing her eyes.

He led her to his bed and began rummaging in his trunk for something. He finally pulled out an old t-shirt. "I got this during summer. I'm not sure it will fit, but it's the only thing I've got."

Eva took the shirt and looked around for a place to change. Harry pointed out a door on the other side of Ron's bed and she went into the bathroom that the boys shared. She let the dress fall from her shoulders and pulled the t-shirt over her head. It was just long enough to cover her bum.

Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus had come up from the common room and stared at her with open mouths when she came out of the bathroom. She walked quickly over to Harry and hid behind him. "Hello, boys," she said.

"Eva?" called Neville.

"It's a long story, Neville. I'll tell you in the morning," she answered his unspoken question.

"I don't think so," he said. "I would like to know just what happened." Neville was eyeing Harry rather dangerously.

Harry had the grace to blush and look down at his shoes. Dean and Seamus snickered at Harry's guilty bearing.

"Nothing happened, Neville," said Eva. "Unfortunately," she added just loud enough for Harry to hear her. "Now, if you will excuse me, I think I will try and sleep. I just hope I don't have nightmares about what I think I just saw." Eva visibly shuddered and Harry put his arm around her waist.

Harry placed a kiss on her forehead and moved to the bed to remove one of the pillows and then made to grab a sheet.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Harry looked at her quizzically. "I'm getting my things to make up the couch," he explained.

"I don't think so. I am not about to sleep on that couch and I will not have you sleep out there either." She took the pillow and the sheet and put them on the bed. She then lifted the covers and slid to the other side of the bed.

The five boys watched her with mouths wide open. Harry could not believe that she was actually planning to sleep with him. Well, they had been on the path towards it in her room, but there were four other people in the room now. He didn't think that he could be able to do anything knowing that his best mate was probably listening.

"Are you going to stand there all night?" asked Eva.

Harry moved into action and grabbed his pajamas from his trunk. He moved to the bathroom. He was soon back out with his pajamas and his teeth freshly scrubbed. He was walking towards his bed with some trepidation when the door to the dormitory banged open. He was expecting to see Professor McGonagall standing there, ready to expel him for having a girl in his bed, but he saw Hermione in her pajamas instead with Ginny right behind her.

"Someone told me that you had come back in a right state and hadn't come out of here yet," she said to Eva. "What are you doing in Harry's bed?" Her voice was a dangerously high pitch.

"I was going to go to sleep," said Eva.

"What?!" cried Ginny and Hermione in unison.

Eva continued like she was talking to a child. "You know, sleep. That thing you do every night when you get tired."

"I know what sleep is," said Hermione. "You can't sleep here, though. McGonagall will find out; not to mention your father."

"My father is not going to find out," said Eva. She shuddered again.

"And why is that?" asked Hermione, crossing her arms over her chest.

Eva looked at Harry and smiled. She conveyed a silent question in her eyes. Should I tell them? Harry just shrugged and hid his smile. He sat down on the edge of the bed.

"From the evidence of knickers that were definitely not mine, I suspect that he is too busy shagging my mother, in my bed to think about where I'm spending the night. Good night."

Harry flicked his wand and his curtains closed on the disgusted expressions of their friends. He and Eva chuckled at the 'Ughs' that soon came from the other side of the curtains. Harry slipped under the covers and moved closer to Eva. Just as he was about to kiss her, he heard Neville. "I'll be checking those sheets in the morning, Potter."

Eva laughed out loud. She had never seen Neville so protective of her. It made her feel good and struck her as funny at the same time. She put her head on Harry's chest as she controlled her laughter. When she looked up she saw a very serious look on Harry's face.

She only raised her eyebrow in a silent 'what?'

"I was just thinking that maybe we shouldn't . . . you know . . . do anything."

Eva was disappointed, but not overly so. "Okay, but just so you know, I would have gone any where you wanted to."

Harry kissed her on the lips and she kissed him back. They both sank down on the bed until they were lying side-by-side. Eva eventually turned on her other side and moved back into Harry, who scooped his arm around her. That was how they spent most of the night.

Saveage woke at about three in the morning. She stretched and heard Severus grunt next to her. Severus! She bolted upright in the bed. She was in Eva's bedroom with Severus. Where was her daughter? She snuck out of the bed making sure she did not wake Severus and tiptoed out of the room. The fire was on its last embers and she looked around at the clothes she and her lover had left on the floor. She also saw something green by the sofa. It was Eva's bustier.

"Oh Merlin," breathed Saveage. She picked it up off the floor and tried to think of what she could do before Severus woke up and thought the worst. Could she have gone to the Slytherin dungeons and bunked with someone there? Unless it was with Draco, she had no one who would share a bed with her. "Harry!" she cried. As soon as the name was out of her mouth she covered it. She did not want to wake Severus and have him jump to the same conclusion that she did.

Saveage sat on the couch and thought of the best way to proceed. She thought too long, though, because she heard footfalls from the direction of the room. Severus had awoken and was fastening his trousers. She tried to hide the bustier but she was not fast enough.

"What is that?" he asked.

"Nothing," Saveage said scooting the article farther under the couch.

Severus squinted at her and went onto his knees to get the object in question. He pulled it out from under the couch and sat there looking at it. Saveage watched in horror as his face went from bewildered to angered and finally furious. "Potter," he hissed.

"Severus, we don't know that. She could just as easily have gone to the Slytherin dungeons and spent the night with Draco. I'm pretty sure that she saw us in the bed and had to find somewhere to sleep. She and Draco have slept in the same bed before," she explained.

Severus wasn't listening. He stood and went back into the bedroom to collect the rest of his clothes. Saveage followed him and gathered her clothes as well. She only managed to put on her knickers before he stormed out of the room and out the door. She ran after him and managed to pull on her dress before bursting out the door after him. "Please don't let him kill Harry," she whispered as she raced down the stairs.

Severus was heading straight towards Gryffindor Tower, but could not get in. He did not have the password for the portrait and he cursed at the Fat Lady as he turned and walked to Minerva McGonagall's chambers. He pounded on the door until a frazzled professor appeared at the door.

"What is it Severus?" she asked alarmed.

"I have reason to believe that my daughter is in Gryffindor Tower," he said brusquely.

Minerva McGonagall looked scandalized as she walked in front of Severus to the portrait of the Fat Lady. She allowed the professor entrance and Severus charged up the stairs to Potter's dormitory with Saveage now at his heels.

"Potter!" he cried as the door banged open.

Harry flipped over on his back and Eva flipped over on her stomach and stretched her arm across his middle. They had not really heard the door bang open, both were like the dead when they slept.

Minerva pulled back the curtains of Harry's bed and gasped at the sight of the two teens asleep in each other's arms. This was in no way allowed at Hogwarts.

Severus' face was red with fury. "Potter!" he yelled.

This time Harry heard the yell and his eyes blinked open. The sight of Severus Snape in such a state of anger was enough to rouse him completely. He shook Eva's shoulder, but the girl only moaned and snuggled closer to him. He shook her shoulder again.

"Harry, it can't be morning yet. Go to sleep."

"Get up!" shouted Severus at his daughter.

The voice that was shouting registered in Eva's sleep-muddled mind. Her eyes popped open and she sat up in bed. "Dad!"

"Severus, give them a chance to explain," said Saveage.

By this time the other occupants of the dormitory had awakened and were peeking through their curtains.

"Explain?! I really don't want to hear details!"

"We didn't do anything!" shouted Eva.

Severus turned to her. "Then where is your dress?"

"It's in the bathroom. Harry gave me his shirt so I would be comfortable." Saveage and Minerva groaned at her explanation.

"I'm sure he wanted you very comfortable," said Severus.

"Just because you had sex last night doesn't mean I did," snapped Eva.

Saveage blushed furiously at her statement. There were other people in the room, after all. "Eva, why don't you go get your dress and we'll talk about this in your rooms."

"There's nothing to talk about. We didn't do anything! As much as I hate to admit it, Harry was a complete gentleman last night."

Severus glared at the boy in question with such hate that for the first time since he could remember, Harry actually shrunk away from the gaze. If he had his wand with him at that moment Severus was sure he would have hexed the boy into his twenty-first birthday.

"Be that as it may," said Professor McGonagall. "You have broken a school rule and since it is an inter-house rule, the Headmaster must be informed."

Eva groaned and fell back on the bed. "This is so not fair," she said.

"Be glad that I'm not the one who will be handing out punishment, Severa," said Severus. "Now go put on your dress," he ordered.

Eva was about to protest when she saw her mother furiously motioning to her to just do what he said. Eva, not about to completely acquiesce, climbed over Harry getting as close to him as possible and then stomped into the bathroom. She emerged and Harry quickly went in to change into some clothes as well.

The two professors led the way for the group to the Headmaster's quarters. Severus plowed into the office and looked around for the older man who was usually uncannily aware of the goings-on of the school.

"Good morning!" called a voice from the top of the stairs. "To what do I owe this pleasure." The Headmaster made his way down the stairs in his dressing robe.

"Potter was found in a compromising position with my daughter," said Severus.

"It was not his fault!" cried Eva. She walked towards the Headmaster. "Harry and I did not do anything unseemly. He was kind enough to offer me a place to sleep."

The Headmaster looked between Harry and Eva. Harry looked rather ashamed and Eva was completely in control. No doubt it was more because her father was in such a state of anger. "Minerva?"

Professor McGonagall stepped forward and told the Headmaster what she had seen. "While I did not see any evidence of an indiscretion, the two students did break a school rule."

Professor Snape was barely holding his calm. Albus could see that he wanted to lash out at someone and he was sure Harry would be a welcome target. To diffuse the situation Dumbledore motioned for the two students to sit at the chairs in front of his desk. "Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me what happened? Harry?"

Harry fidgeted in his seat until Eva put her hand on top of his and smiled. "We danced the song that you allowed us after the dance and then we left the Great Hall. I went to Eva's rooms after that and we sat on the sofa for a while. We saw some . . . stuff on the floor and she looked into her bedroom. She told me that we had to leave and that's when we went to Gryffindor Tower. She didn't want to come back here, so I offered to sleep on the couch and she said that she didn't see the need . . . and . . . that's it."

The Headmaster nodded then turned to Eva. "Severa?"

"Like Harry said, we danced to one song after everyone left and then I invited him into my rooms. I found my Mum and Dad's clothes on the floor and saw them in my bed. I told Harry that we had to leave and we went to Gryffindor Tower. He offered me something to sleep in and then offered to sleep on the couch. I really didn't see the need, so we went to sleep in his bed."

Dumbledore nodded again and stayed silent for what seemed an eternity. "I do not believe that any indiscretion was committed on the part of either of these students."

Severus hissed and turned towards the fire.

"However, a school rule has been broken and I will have to serve you both with punishments." He looked at the two students from over his half-moon glasses. "Usually, this kind of rule-breaking does involve an act of indiscretion and would result in expulsion. Since this is not the case, you will both be serving detention for two weeks, starting at the beginning of the term. It is only this short because I know you two spend a lot of time together after hours. You will have no training sessions for the two weeks and will report to your Heads of House for detention everyday except for Fridays when you will report to me."

"Yes sir," both mumbled.

"I would welcome expulsion," said Eva under her breath. Harry looked at her stunned and the Headmaster looked at her in concern.

"Harry, Professor McGonagall will see you back to Gryffindor Tower now. Eva your parents will see you to your rooms."

The older man watched as the two students walked out of his office. He was not sure which one he felt more sorry for. Harry, because he would definitely be receiving the short end of the stick again. No doubt, by morning the whole school will learn about how Snape caught him in the act with a Slytherin. Eva, because she was going to have to deal with Severus. That last thought made Dumbledore chuckle. It was more likely that Severus would have to deal with Eva.

Eva sat in her room crying. Her father and mother had left only a few minutes earlier and now she thought about what they had argued about.

Severus was dead-set on thinking that Harry had taken advantage of Eva. Eva was dead-set on making sure he knew that if she had things her way, she would have taken advantage of him. Saveage just hung on the outskirts of the two. She had tried to be the intermediary, but neither of them was having it.

She watched as Eva and Severus snapped at each other. If they would just listen to what the other was saying they would see how ridiculous this argument was. She realized that they were too much like each other that they couldn't speak to the other.

Severus had finally pulled out an act of indignation that she would choose Gryffindor over her own House. He said that she had no reason not to go to the dungeons and ask for a room there. He'd told her that as an added punishment she was to apologize to Pansy Parkinson for hexing her and help the young lady with any class that she needed tutoring in. Eva did not believe he would force her to be nice to someone who had been nothing but nasty to her.

"I am not asking, Severa! You will do this!"

"I HATE YOU!" Eva had just blurted it out and ran to her bedroom. She'd sealed the door and would only open it to Saveage.

Saveage had tried to comfort Eva, but the girl was so upset that all she did was cry and plead to be taken back home. Saveage hugged Eva and rocked her a bit, but told her that there was no way either of them would be able to go back home yet. She'd left Eva and joined Severus in the living area. The man showed no remorse for what he'd said and was determined to see Eva carry out the punishment he'd laid before her.

"She'll be better in the morning," was all he said as he walked out of the room with her.

He was completely wrong. The next morning, Eva woke with red eyes and a swollen nose from all her crying. She saw the huge pile of presents at the foot of her bed and ignored them. She went into the bathroom and did her best to get her face back to normal. She went back and rummaged through the pile of gifts and found the ones she wanted to open.

Neville had given her a Muggle DVD that Eva had said she wanted. It was too bad she didn't have her TV and DVD player at school. Ginny had sent her a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Hermione had given her a book on different grooming spells. "Trust Hermione to make a lesson out of a present," she'd said. Ron sent her an assortment of hair ribbons, many of which were in red and gold, Gryffindor colors.

She put Harry and Draco's presents aside for last and approached them with some trepidation. She opened Draco's first; she thought Harry's would make up for whatever might upset her. He'd sent her something she'd only read about or seen in pictures. It was an enchanted rose from the hanging gardens of Syria. It was said that Solomon's wives had been witches and they'd bewitched the rose bushes to bloom always, even when cut. A rose from those gardens was not only rare, it was expensive. Eva sniffed the blossom and smiled; Draco always knew her favorite things. She placed the rose on her bedside table and moved to Harry's gift.

The box was small, almost the size of a ring's box. She slowly opened the lid and gasped at what she saw. It was another charm; this one in the shape of a lion. "A raven and a lion," she whispered. She looked down at her wrist where her charm bracelet still lay. She'd not taken it off at all and she charmed the new charm onto it. She held up her wrist and admired the two trinkets on it.

She shook herself out of her revelry and got ready for her day. She showered and changed quickly so she would not miss breakfast. On her way down she thought about how her father would act when they saw each other. She shook it out of her head, deciding that things would work out however they were meant to. She had not expected what she saw as she approached her table.

A few first years nodded to her in greeting and she smiled back at them. She'd first noticed the gloves on a second year named Angela Doomsbury. She waved at Eva and showed off the gloves. Eva had stopped in her tracks. The glitter on the back of the gloves called her attention. She looked down the table and saw that more than half of the students had identical gloves on. All of them black with a silver snake on the back; just like the ones that the Death Eaters wore when they killed her grandparents.

Eva did not know that she had a look of horror upon her face. She just felt her breath coming in short gasps and she felt the beginnings of a horrible headache. Then, unbidden, she saw a flash of the day her grandparents were murdered. It hit her like a freight train; she saw the green flash fly at her grandfather and his body fall to the floor. She dug her fingers into the side of her head and pulled at her hair, as if to yank the mere memory out of her mind. "No!" she cried as another flash of that day came to her mind.

By this time Professor Snape and the Headmaster had left the Head Table and were walking briskly towards Eva. She still clutched at her head and her breath was coming in shallow bursts. Her Housemates looked on, completely stunned at what was happening. They could not guess what was going through her mind.

The two professors took Eva out of the Great Hall and back to her rooms. She kept on mumbling "No, no," all the way to the Tower. Severus left to fetch Saveage as soon as Eva was on her bed.

"What happened, child?" asked Dumbledore.

"I saw it again, Professor," she gasped. She found his hand and clamped onto it like a life-line. "The gloves; they were wearing those gloves."

Albus tried to soothe the girl until her mother arrived, but there was little he could do without a calming draught. Saveage finally entered and did a much better job at calming the girl. Eva was soon asleep, thanks to a Dreamless Sleeping Draught that Severus had brought with him.

"She said she saw the murder again," said Saveage, sounding tired.

Albus nodded. "It must be difficult for her to cope with the loss. She has not really had the opportunity to stop and think about things. I'm surprised that it has taken this long for it to come back to her."

"Will she be alright?" asked Saveage.

"I'm sure she will be," said Albus. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have some business to attend to. Please let me know if you need anything."

Saveage nodded and walked the Headmaster to the door. When she returned to the room, Severus was sitting on the edge of the bed with a package in his hands. She approached him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"She didn't even open her presents," he said.

Saveage finally noticed the pile of unopened presents that were on the floor and the foot of the bed. It looked like she had opened some of them, but none of the ones that she or her father had gotten for her. Saveage sighed and picked up one of the presents. Eva was still angry with Severus about last night and she didn't blame her.

"I should never have brought her here," whispered Saveage.

"What?" Severus stood from the bed and walked to Saveage.

"Nothing good has come of her being here. Besides Harry, she really has no happy memory of this place."

"What about me?" he whispered.

"She loves you, Severus, I'm sure of it, but . . ."

"But what?"

"She's not used to being watched so closely. At the Manor we allowed her to study at her own pace, which is quite rapid, and she was allowed to come and go as she pleased. We did not spoil or neglect her, but neither did we smother her. She's not happy here."

"She must get used to it, Saveage. There is a whole world outside of Nocturino Manor and Hogwarts will prepare her for it."

"She knows the world outside of the Manor. I've taken her everywhere from America to China and all the places in between. She doesn't need you to be her protector, Severus. She just needs a father who will care and show his concern."

"I have shown my concern!"

"Yes, you have and you've alienated her with your punishments." Saveage shook her head and looked out the window. "You can't force your love on her, Darling. She loves you and she will respect you, but you must also respect her."

Saveage sighed and knew she was getting nowhere with Severus. Being a parent was something that everyone did differently. She could only tell him things that she had learned and hope that he took her advice and if he didn't, then she could only hope that he would not do anything that could jeopardize his relationship with Eva. "I think I will just lay here with her until she wakes up. You can do what you want." She lay next to her daughter and listened as he arranged the gifts and then left the room.