Chapter 62

While Zara was talking with Snape, Harry had found Hermione.

"Mione, you have no clue what I have just discovered." he said, positively flustered.

"I trust you will tell me why you're in such a state"

Harry looked around for potential eavesdroppers and filled her in on what he had just overheard.

"What? Zara is Snape's daughter? You have to be kidding"

"Where is Zara by the way?" he asked.

Ginny, who had just joined them, told him that his mother had approached the Ravenclaw.

"I bet Snape has told her by now" Harry assumed.

"We are not going to bring up the subject before she decides she wants to talk about it. This will be hard enough on her as it is. Nobody is going to hassle her about it" Hermione said with her best McGonagall-voice.

She was glad that Ron was busy playing wizard chess with Kelsey. He sure was a great guy but sometimes he was like a bull in a china shop when it came to emotional things.

Hermione knew that she had to be careful not to tell him about it when Zara was around and to make sure he keeps his big mouth shut.

Snape was standing in a dark corner watching the others enjoying the party. The father-daughter-talk didn't go so bad after all. At least she didn't curse him or anything similar. They would both need time to adjust to the new situation..

Although he knew that he couldn't handle alcohol very well, he decided to indulge in some firewhiskey.

He had to drown his worries to make it through this evening.

When he reached the refreshment table, only one person was there.

Lady Tanya smiled at him happily and purred "Isn't it a splendid evening, Professor?"

"I wouldn't phrase it like that" he growled and poured himself a big glass of firewhiskey.

"Aww Professor, you need to lighten up a little. Don't be so gloomy. I know exactly what you need!"

"And what would that be?" he sneered before he drained his drink.

"Very simple answer... a woman"

Snape's face grimaced into a smirk, than into a smile and finally his whole body was shaking from a genuine laughter.

Lady Tanya looked very pleased about the reaction she had achieved from the gloomy potion master. She placed a kiss on Snape's lips and whispered "You look really cute when you are laughing"

With a final wink, she left a totally aghast potion master behind.

Albus was chuckling as he watched his ancestor all but skipping over the dance floor. He thanked Merlin that James was married and all the other men in this room were either too old or too young for her.

She had always been his favourite family member, at least on the 'deceased' side. The way she could cheer up even the most depressed person had always impressed him. She was a very fun loving person and a joy to have around.

Kimberly and she had a lot in common, although it seemed to him that the flirty ways of Lady Tanya, especially the way she acted around Sirius and Remus did somehow displease his great granddaughter.

The marauders, along with Lily and Kimberly had sat down around a little table and reminisced about old times, while the students had discovered all kinds of games they could play.

Some of the teachers were dancing and in between the old house-elf scuffled around, muttering curses and profanities.

Molly Weasley and her husband Arthur had withdrawn in a quiet corner for some privacy. They both had been quite disappointed that their older sons Charlie, Bill and Percy had not been able to attend the feast.

A little while later, several other members of the Order had joined the festivities. Tonks, Shacklebolt and Moody, who had been informed about Lily's and James' return, told them everything important about the ministry business that James might had missed.

Nobody dared to look at Mad-Eye Moody for a longer period of time because the constant spinning of his magical eye gave most of them a very strong feeling of sickness.

Lily and James truly enjoyed having so many of their old friends around and they also wanted to know what happened to the others.

"I'm missing Alice" Lily said to Alastor Moody, who was drinking from his own flask, as always.

"Oh the Longbottoms. They were not so lucky" he answered her carefully.

"Moody, tell me the truth...what happened to them?" she urged him anxiously.

The old auror took her arm and hobbled over to a group of chairs.

"Sit down my dear. This is a longer story"

He informed her that the deatheaters had sought them out because their son Neville could have been the boy mentioned in the prophecy as well.

"And in the end these sewer rats had tortured them with the Unforgivable so long until both of them had lost their mind in the process. They are now in St Mungo's... with not more sense than a babbling pumpkin" he growled angrily and banged his fist on the table.

Lily furiously grabbed one of the auror's bony hands and hissed "Who did this? Tell me Alastor...who did this to Alice and Frank?"

"The Lestranges... they had both been sent to Azkaban for it, but Bellatrix escaped or more likely has been set free from the dementors" he growled.

"So why is nobody out there looking for her?"

"Because Fudge is a nutcase. She had broken into Hogwarts before and injured a student, but Fudge just doesn't want to believe it. He had been informed immediately and when he went to Azkaban for inspection, the dementors told him that everything was in best order and all the inmates were in their cells."

"And he didn't go to check it?"

"No, I told you he's a moron. He just believed those creatures although we are all suspecting for quite a while that the dementors are following Voldemort."

Lily was enraged. "In James' period of service, something like that would have never happened."

"True Lily, James was a lot more responsible than Fudge. He just wants to please the pure-blood families to stabilize his position."

"Moody, do you have an idea how I could visit Alice and Frank, without being discovered?"

"Where's a will there's a way" the old auror said friendly and his scarred face distorted even more as he tried to smile.

Shortly after midnight everybody was tired and exhausted. The teachers were ready to floo back to Hogwarts after they all had helped to clean up the mess.

Dumbledore was looking everywhere for Lady Tanya. It was time for her to get back in her painting, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Sirius had just descended the stairs along with the kids, James and Remus, after showing them his grandfather's lab.

They had not seen the lady either but offered to help searching for her.

It was Hermione who found her finally, cowering in a huge terracotta pot that had been stored in a broom closet.

"Bother!" she hissed as Albus grabbed her collar and lifted her out of the pot.

"You really thought you'd get away with this, my dear?" he chuckled.

"It can't hurt to try" she replied as she followed the old wizard back into the kitchen.

He placed her in front of her empty portrait and pointed his wand at her.

Most of the people present had to stifle a laugh at the sight of the pouting witch.

A red flash hit her, she blurred and just a moment later she made herself comfortable in her painting once more.

Nobody recognized the little item she was hiding between the folds of her dress.

After the guests had left, everybody else withdrew to their rooms to get ready for the night.

Sirius had taken the portrait of Lady Tanya with him and put it on a hook next to a window.

He decided to change into his pyjamas in the bathroom that night to ensure that she wouldn't see more than necessary.

Sirius was glad to finally get the chance to lie down. It had been a while since he had been so relaxed and happy, but all the firewhiskey, butterbeer and punch had been a little too much.

He had a royal buzz and all he wanted now was to sleep.

Lady Tanya looked at the little crystal in her hand and smiled slyly.

"Thanks Albi for your assistance. Life will be a lot more enjoyable from now on"

----------

Lily couldn't find sleep for a long time that night. She had agreed to take some polyjuice potion and change into Molly Weasley to visit the Longbottoms.

James had agreed to her plan. She and Alice had been close friends during Hogwarts and afterwards and he understood how hard it had to be on his wife to know that her best friend was in such distress.

Lily was up early next morning before anybody else, except Molly and Tonks.

The young auror had agreed to accompany her to St Mungo's.

After a quick breakfast, Lily swallowed the potion. She was sure that she would have never been able to eat anything with the taste of the vile fluid in her mouth.

Disguised as Molly, she and Tonks stepped into the fireplace and flooed to the hospital.

They passed the reception and headed to the 5th floor.

A sign over the double-door said "Spell Damage" and they entered.

They walked around Gilderoy Lockhart, who was wandering around the corridor aimlessly, waving pictures of himself.

"Would you like an autograph?" he beamed at the two women, but Tonks just padded his arm and put him off until later.

They moved further down the corridor until they reached the closed door of the Janus Thickey Ward.

Tonks pointed her wand at the door and said "Alohomora".

A young healer appeared at the entrance and welcomed them. When she heard who they had come to see, she seemed very excited that the Longbottoms finally had some new visitors.

"Not too many people come to see them, you know? Only Neville and his grandmother come during the holidays and the minister visits them once a year"

Lily nodded mutely. She was a little afraid that someone might recognize that she's not Molly Weasley. Her friend was well known in the hospital and she couldn't risk to be discovered.

It felt so strange to be in Molly's body. It was stout and not as tall as her own, but for a short period of time it was not a big deal.

They followed the healer past several beds. One of them had to be Lockhart's according to all the pictures of him on the wall next to it. All the images beamed toothily and smiled at the new arrivals.

At the far end of the ward flowery curtains had been drawn around two beds and Lily instinctively knew that this was where they were going.

The healer opened the curtains and Lily was shocked about what she saw. The plump and happy-looking face of her old school friend was thin and worn now. Her eyes seemed overlarge and her hair, which had turned white, was wispy and dead-looking.

Frank in the other bed was not moving at all. His eyes were closed and his face looked deadly white in between the yellow sheets.

She took a chair and sat down next to the bed of Alice. Empty eyes were staring at her from a dull face, while her friend's hands were fidgeting with the hem of her nightgown.

"Hello Alice" she said with a shaky voice, but received no reply.

"It's truly hurting me to see you like this. I wish I could have been there to prevent it."

Tears were forming in her eyes as she watched her friend, who had once been so energetic, just staring into space.

"I can't wait to see your son, Neville. When he's just a little bit like you I'm sure he's a sweetheart."

It seemed a little ridiculous to keep talking, when she knew Alice wouldn't understand a word she was saying, so she just remained silent. She took Alice' hand in hers and sat like this for what seemed like eternity.

Then the curtains opened slightly and Tonk's head appeared.

"We have to go soon, Lily"

"Just one more minute than we can leave"

Lily took an old photograph out of her robes and handed it to Alice. It showed two teenage girls in their dress robes in the Gryffindor common room. Lily smiled meekly as she thought back when this picture had been taking.

Right after they had been taking their OWL's the marauders had thrown a big party.

Time had been so easy and carefree then, she thought.

Just then she recognized her natural auburn hair flowing over her shoulder. The polyjuice potion had worn off.

She was just about to pull another vial out of her pocket when she felt Alice grabbing her hand tighter.

Astonished she looked at her friend and for a split second it seemed that she was looking back directly at her.

"Alice? Do you know who I am?" she said hopefully.

"Alice do you recognize me" she asked again, this time more urgent.

Alice Longbottom's head starting to quiver and she pinched her eyes together like someone who's thinking very hart.

Lily moved her hand up to the other woman's face and stroke her cheek.

"It's me Lily... Lily Potter"

Excited to see any kind of reaction she continued stroking her cheek.

"Lily... Lily Potter" Alice repeated with an emotionless voice and then the dull expression was back.

Disappointed Lily took her hand out of her friend's limp grip and drained the vial.

Maybe it was just a coincident and she just repeated my words

Deep inside however Lily was sure that she had seen a flash of understanding in her eyes.

The healer showed them out and at the door Lily turned around a last time.

"Excuse me; has Mrs Longbottom ever uttered a word since she is here?"

The healer sadly shook her head and said "No... unfortunately not a single word"

Lily nodded and left with Tonks.

-----------------

Severus woke up with a terrible headache. That evening had been worse than any other evening he had every experienced. If he would have been a muggle, he most likely would have compared it to a rollercoaster ride.

He freed himself from the sheets and decided to get a hangover relief potion from his private stock. Fortunately he wouldn't have to put up with any dunderheads today, so he could return to bed and rest.

Not bothering to put on a dressing gown or slippers, he shuffled to his private lab and grabbed a vial from one of the shelves.

Severus pinched his eyes together. Even the dim light in his quarters hurt his eyes terribly.

He drained the vial instantly and hurried back to his bedroom.

A tray full of food awaited him there, but he shuddered and almost gagged as he recognized it.

"Maybe later" he muttered and fell back on his bed.

Even after almost an hour, the headache hadn't lessened.

"What have I ever done to deserve all this" he growled.

Yesterday spiders, pink hair and this idiotic mustache, than this importunate woman and his not very successful talk with his daughter and today he would have to continue to suffer.

He knew it would be no use to wallow in self-pity, so he could as well do something productive.

First, however, he had to get rid of this unbearable headache.

He performed a quick cleaning spell and put on some fresh robes, before he struck off towards the hospital wing.

Deep inside he hoped that Celeste would be there and not Madam Pomfrey. He just couldn't take the satisfied grin on her face when he asked her for some medication.

For some reason, the nurse seemed to be very pleased to see that she was indispensable even for the vile potion master.

He entered the infirmary and a sigh of relief escaped his lips as he saw Celeste in the office.

Without looking up from the papers she was reading, she asked "What can I do for you Severus?"

"How did you know it was me?" he said taken aback. "I had no idea that you have eyes in the back of your head"

"Yes I'm gifted in many different ways" she smiled. "But this was very simple. There are only 3 men in this castle right now; Dumbledore, Remus and you. Albus doesn't need my help to find relief for his hangover, Remus has already been here this morning, so it could only be you" she said matter-of-factly.

"Has the possibility ever occurred to you that the werewolf might have come back for some reason?"

"Oh you disappoint me Severus. This hangover is certainly hampering you to reason. Otherwise you would have remembered, that the potion I'm handing out to cure a hangover will let you sleep for several hours. So it was very unlikely for Remus to return already. On the other hand I figured that you would try your own potion first before you seek me out for help."

Somewhere in the depths of his spinning and hurting head, he was admiring her for her logic which, at least at normal days, matched his own.

"I wanted to ask you if there's anything else you could do for me, besides the regular medication. There are a lot of things I need to take care of and I certainly can't waste any time with sleeping"

Another reason why he would rather try something else was the fact that he somehow reacted allergic to the medication.

Hurtful bumps in private places, was the last thing he needed today, when he considered sitting down most of the day, preparing classes.

"Oh I'm sure I can help you otherwise" she said graciously and beckoned him over to one of the hospital beds.

He sat down and Celeste ordered him to disrobe his upper body.

Severus gave her a disbelieving look and didn't move.

"Oh, don't be so prudish. I've seen a lot more from you than your naked chest, so this won't be a surprise for me"

Reluctantly the potion master started to open the countless buttons.

Celeste had to hold back hard to not break out into laughter. She would have never imagined that a man like Severus, so urbane and sophisticated, would have problems to show his bare chest when he already knew that she had seen it before.

Celeste had treated all the scars that covered his chest, the new ones as well as the old ones. There was nothing that she didn't know about him.

During the time in Dumbledore's house, as she had stabilized his condition, she had also shared all his memories. She knew what he had been through and what he would have to face.

Severus pushed the robes off his shoulders and Celeste put her delicate hands on his pale flesh.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply as her hands moved up from his shoulders to the back of his neck.

Severus felt a tickling sensation as her hands moved up and she placed her finger tips on his temples.

She started humming a very calming melody while her fingers moved back down to his shoulders and then back to his temple once more.

Severus had no idea what exactly she was doing or how this was supposed to help him, but he realized that, against his nature, he had to have faith in her abilities.

Celeste was trying to locate the exact source of the pain, but that wasn't easy. There were so many different sources, that she wasn't sure which the right one was.

She immersed deeper into the depths of his mind and body and then she found what she was looking for.

The potion master felt the back of his neck growing hot as Celeste concentrated on the source of his pain and burnt it out of his system.

After the hot sensation had subsided he felt refreshed and free of pain. His whole body felt years younger as if a big burden had been taken off his shoulders.

If he would have asked Celeste about it she would have told him that she not only had taken away the hangover, but also dislodged the remains of his bad conscience towards his daughter Zara.

She knew now that he was her father and why he never had the chance to be there for her other than as her potions teacher. The girl would soon understand everything and they might have the chance for a common future.

The only thing that really concerned her was what she had seen about Voldemort's plans. He wanted Harry Potter and Dumbledore and Severus was supposed to bring them to him or otherwise his child would get sacrificed.

She snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Severus talking.

"I wondered why you haven't attended the Christmas festivities yesterday"

"I didn't think that I belong there."

"You belong there at least as much as I do. I had a present for you."

Celeste tilted her head and smiled.

"I never really had the chance to thank you for saving my life" he said quietly while he buttoned up his robes again.

"There is no need to thank me, Severus. I did what lies in my nature. As a healer it was self-evident for me to help. You should rather thank Sirius. He put himself in a lot of danger to save you"

Severus snorted and the moment of familiarity was gone.

Celeste recognized the deep abhorrence Severus felt against the other wizard. She the reason, of course but it still appalled her that this feeling had not died down in the slightest after all those years.

Severus thanked her for the help and excused himself.

There would be a more appropriate time to hand over the little present that he had gotten for her.

While he walked down the deserted hallways another thought struck him like thunder.

Oh bother! I should have given her present as well. How thoughtless I have been. It was Christmas after all. I'm her father, so I should have had a present.

Cursing himself he entered his quarters and went straight to work.

It would take him some effort to find the right gift.

Maybe I should ask for some advice... one time wouldn't really hurt, would it?