Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Olivia McGonagall, Ferris Longbottom, and Eudora are mine.

Chapter 11: In the eye of the storm.

True to his word, Severus stopped speaking to Minerva. At staff meetings they sat on opposite sides of the room. Neither visited the other for evening games, and neither was willing to talk with the other. Minerva only held herself together in front of her class. She wept for what she had lost when she found time to be alone, wishing that he was there with her. In class when she thought she had put on a reasonable façade, she forgot that Livie could see through it.

Severus was constantly grouchy, snapping at everyone except for Livie. He too felt pain when he was alone because of what he had said, of the accusations he had laid out. The staff jumped whenever he entered a room because he had taken to slamming doors on a regular basis. No one realized why he was upset, except Livie. The silent feud continued through the end of September.

As October began, Livie decided that she was tired of seeing the two people cared about the most continue their depression. She walked up to Minerva's desk after class. Her mother looked up with curiosity. "Mum," Livie began, "you look terribly upset about something. I haven't seen you in he same room as Uncle Severus, so I assume you two are fighting for some reason."

"You're very observant Livie," Minerva stated. "The problem is mine though, not yours."

Livie shook her head. "You're my mum, and I want you to feel better. Therefore, you should talk to him. I don't know the situation, but both of you always taught me to apologize. Mum, please take your own advice," she remarked as she left the room and headed for her next class.

That same day she approached Severus. "Uncle Severus, I know you're mad, and it has something to do with Mum. Please go speak with her. I can see that what happened is bothering both of you."

He patted her on the head. "Poppet, I appreciate your concern, but sometimes adults argue and things are said that cannot be taken back."

Livie scoffed and reminded him of Minerva for an instant. "You have always taught me to keep trying. You taught me how to read and you've always been patient with me. Just because things can't be taken back doesn't mean you give up."

He sighed, barely able to meet her eyes. "Livie, sometimes it isn't a matter of giving up. Sometimes it's-"

She was tired of hearing excuses. "No. It's always about whether or not to give up. It's about asking yourself what really matters, if proving you were right is more important than fixing things."

Smiling genuinely, he pulled her into a hug. "Poppet, there are days when you are wise beyond your years." He backed away and they walked toward the door. "Alright, I'll speak with your mum and we'll try to fix things. I can't make any promises, but I'm not giving up."

Minerva had not expected Severus to appear in the doorway to her rooms after the evening meal. "May I come in?" he asked.

She nodded and offered him tea. Once they were seated, him on the couch and her in a chair, she spoke. "What brought you here?"

"I received a lecture from a certain perceptive first-year," he relayed.

She sighed. "So did I."

"She can be rather manipulative at times," he remarked. "She knows how to make a person feel guilty."

Minerva chuckled. "She gets that from the Slytherin side of the family."

"Severus-"

"Minerva-"

They began talking simultaneously and then stopped. "You first," he said.

Her shoulders sagged with sadness. "I am so sorry for not telling you. I convinced myself that I was protecting both of you. I truly had planned to tell you. I am so sorry for not telling you everything," she conveyed.

"I yelled at you, not wanting to understand. I was so angry and I'm sorry. I know I hurt you." As he finished his tea she joined him on the couch.

"Can you ever forgive me for being so narrow-minded and so very wrong?" she implored, a few tears beginning to slip down her cheeks.

He hugged her tightly. "Yes. I forgive you everything." As he wiped her tears away, he added, "Can you forgive me for all the awful things I accused you of?"

She rested her forehead against his. "Certainly." They held each other for a while. "Now that you know, I want to tell Livie. You were right, she deserves to know the truth."

"Perhaps you could tell her later this year," he suggested.

After a few more minutes, they broke apart and moved the teacups to the kitchen. Then he kissed her gently. "I need to be going."

He attempted to pull away, but she surprised him and grabbed his sleeve. "No," she whispered.

Worried, he cupped her chin and looked into her eyes. "What is it, Minerva?"

"Please- Please don't go. I've been so lonely without Livie, and this past month without our visits… I'm so lonely," she admitted.

"Is the couch still an option, or would you prefer that I sleep on the floor?" he inquired.

A small smile appeared on her face. "The couch would be fine."

Livie noticed the change in Minerva and Severus almost immediately. In Transfiguration she sighed with satisfaction. "What are you thinking about?" asked the red-haired girl sitting next to her.

She turned to Ginny. "I was thinking about how nice things are when people are getting along again." Ginny shrugged and returned to her notepad.

Through the month of October preparations for the Triwizard Tournament began. The student body held their breaths collectively when Harry Potter was selected as a contender. When November 24th arrived for the first event, Livie watched with awe as Harry took the golden egg with only minimal harm to himself and no harm to the dragon.

"That was absolutely brilliant!" Livie told Harry as he sat in the Gryffindor Common Room with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.

"Thanks. It was logical. Anyone could have come up with that," he commented.

Hermione laughed. "Harry, one day your attitude's going to get you in trouble."

"As if it hasn't already," Ron teased.

"Livie, save us and change the subject," Harry requested.

She smiled. "I really ought to let you fend for yourself here, but alright. Let's move on to the more important issue of the afternoon: the Potions quiz. All of you asked me last week if I would help you study. Let's hit the books," Livie suggested. With all four of them studying together and especially with Livie's understanding of the craft, it seemed as though they all had a good chance of passing Potions decently that year.

On December 1st Livie celebrated her eleventh birthday with her Gryffindor friends. At lunch, her owl Cicero brought her two packages. Ginny, sitting on her right, glanced over at them. "Who are they from?"

Livie grinned. "They're from Mum and Uncle Severus, of course."

Minerva had given her a beautiful silver locket in an oval shape. Hermione was seated across from Livie and eyed the piece of jewelry. "That's not just any locket, you know. It's an enchanted one that lets you put as many pictures as you want in it. The pictures change depending on whom you want to see from the pictures you put in."

"I can't wait to see that!" Livie exclaimed.

Then she turned her attention to the other package. Severus had given her an advanced potions book and a pensieve. "You store memories in that," Ginny pointed out.

As Christmas neared, the contenders in the Triwizard Tournament were to bring dates to the Yule Ball. A week before the ball Harry was still debating whom to bring. He was sitting in a chair staring at the fireplace when Ron walked by. Harry looked up and smiled. "I don't see why they have to throw a ball with the contest. It doesn't make much sense," he said wryly.

Ron laughed. "You're only saying that 'cause you don't have a date. I don't really care for all that romantic stuff either, but it's a good excuse not to do homework."

Harry chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm finding that there is some homework you shouldn't skip. Thanks to Livie, we've all been doing well in Potions."

"Yeah, she's really good at it." Then Ron had an idea. "Listen mate, you don't have to take someone as a date, why don't you bring a friend as a way to pay back a favor?"

Harry considered the idea for a moment. "That's not a bad idea."

That afternoon after classes, Harry found Livie studying for a Charms quiz. He took a seat next to her on the floor. She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

He thought she resembled Minerva at that moment. "I want to thank you for helping us survive in Potions."

She smiled. "I like tutoring all of you. Perhaps I'll follow in my mum's footsteps and become a teacher. Though I'd rather teach Potions than Transfiguration."

Harry paused and looked at his shoes before turning back to her. For a moment she met is gaze and with her eyes seemed to ask, 'Why are you nervous?' He swallowed and then spoke again. "Livie, I wanted to find some way to repay you for your help, and your friendship. I would be… honored if you would accompany me to the Yule Ball," he finally choked out.

"You want me to come with you to the Yule Ball?" she asked in disbelief. "Wouldn't you rather take someone who knows how to dance?"

He laughed. "That's what refreshment tables are for."

"So you intend to take me to a ball where I'll probably stand around eating cookies the entire time?" she asked with a smirk.

"I suppose," he answered frankly.

She crossed her arms. "You must have an idea in your that you're charming and irresistible. I will go with you, but not as your date. I will go as your friend."

"That's the idea. Now that you've humbled me a bit, is there anything else you'd like to remind me of?" he asked her with a wry smile.

She smiled back and shook her head. "No, I think I'm done putting you in your place for today."

Severus did not care for the idea of Livie going to the ball, especially with Harry. However, Minerva convinced him that everything would be fine if they signed up as chaperones. "You're right, but I hate attending these things," he grumbled.

Livie wore lavender dress robes that made her look at least thirteen instead of eleven, accenting her black hair and ivory complexion. When she came down to the Common Room, Harry's eyes widened in surprise. Noting his reaction, she giggled. "You didn't expect me to wear my school uniform, did you?"

He shook his head and the two walked over to the Great Hall. It was elaborately decorated with holly, fir tree branches, and poinsettias. The swags on the walls gave off a wonderful Christmas tree scent. Six different forms of hot chocolate had been brought out to the tables: cinnamon cocoa, peppermint cocoa, caramel cocoa, raspberry cocoa, double chocolate cocoa, and regular cocoa. Cookies ranging from chocolate chip to gingerbread to shortbread sat on the tables next to the cocoa and the cups. Most of the students wore dress robes in the colours of maroon, dark green, or black. Some, like Livie, wore other colours.

Harry and Livie were walking over to a table to sample the cinnamon cocoa when a snide vice behind them spoke. "Well Potter, it looks like no one in your own year would go with you so you had to ask a first-year."

Both wheeled around to see him in his black dress robes. "Shut-up, Malfoy," Harry retorted.

Draco eyed both of them. "What does the munchkin have to say for herself?"

Livie looked directly into Draco's eyes and scoffed. "You're an idiot," she told him.

No one had ever been so direct with him. He was surprised and took a moment to recover. "You think that was smart? What can you do to me? You're just a first-year."

Harry noticed that she touched her wand to his drink. "I'm not going to do anything," she responded as she walked away with Harry following her.

"What did you do?" Harry inquired in a whisper.

"I added something to his drink. I'm not going to cause him problems, but the drink will. We should probably watch from over here," she stated as she led him to another table.

They watched as Draco took a sip of his drink. For the next ten minutes his head changed from that of a dragon to a dog, from a kangaroo to a polar bear. Eventually he figured out that something was wrong with his drink and tossed it out. Harry and Livie were laughing heartily.

"That was great! Where did you learn that?" Harry asked.

"I learned it from a book in the library. The bloomin' idiot deserved it," she answered.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "That was rather Slytherin of you. I probably would have gotten into a fight with him and lost house points again."

"You shouldn't waste your time on that git," she paused and they watched people dancing. "Did you see that? He keeps stepping on her toes. And her over there, she doesn't know her left foot from her right."

"All this from the girl who said she didn't know how to dance," Harry teased.

Livie sighed dramatically. "I suppose I could endure one waltz."

He took her hand and led her gracefully around the floor. The polite dance lasted for only a short time and both nodded their thanks as the dance ended. Two adults watched the entire scene from the table containing raspberry cocoa. "Did you see that? He danced with her!" Severus mentioned with disapproval.

Minerva hid a smile. "Yes, I did see it. For not having danced before she really wasn't half as bad as the other students I've seen."

He let a smile sneak its way onto his face. "Care to show them how it's really done?"

She grinned and nodded. "I would love to."

When Severus and Minerva began dancing, several pairs of students stopped to watch with interest. Their movements appeared to be connected and they were oblivious to anyone else in the room for as long as the music continued. As the music ceased they made their way back over to the refreshment table as if nothing had happened and some of the students returned to the floor.

Winter seemed to be passing by quickly as February 24th and the second task of the Triwizard Tournament rolled around. Livie and Ginny giggled when Ron had fins and gills. "That was absolutely ridiculous!" Livie remarked.

"I should have thought to do that myself," Ginny exclaimed. "He looks better that way."

March brought a few odd rainstorms that saturated everything out of doors, especially wandering professors. Having just returned from a Deatheater meeting, Severus sank down into a chair in his sitting room. Things had not gone as planned and he had found himself standing on both sides of an ambush. He tried not to look at the bloody gash on his arm or think about what on earth that one clerk had shot at his back. He had managed to use an advanced drying spell on his robes. Just as he had moved to an almost comfortable position, someone knocked.

He sighed heavily and slowly dragged himself to the door. Opening it he was surprised to find Minerva. She stepped in and shut the door before scrutinizing him. "Albus said you were off on another mission. I just wanted to see that you were alright."

"Minerva, this is probably not the best time for a visit," he told her through clenched teeth.

The way she was staring at him caused him to wonder if she was daring to pity him. But then she kissed him warmly. "What on earth did you do? You're a mess!" she told him with motherly annoyance.

He smiled wryly. "I'm glad to see you too, Minerva. The meeting ended abruptly when we were ambushed and I spent too much time trying to stand on both sides of the fence. It's amazing what kinds of simple illusions are possible when the air is full of smoke."

She grabbed his blood-caked sleeve. "You need a shower, a change of clothes, and you need to have that arm looked at along with Merlin knows how many other injuries you seem to be collecting."

He chuckled even though it hurt. "Yes, Mother. I'll do everything you have suggested in time. I hate to admit it, but I need to rest for a while before I do anything else. Would you join me in a game of chess?"

"Always," she responded.

They played a quick quiet game, simply enjoying each other's company in the silence. As the game ended, Minerva stood and walked toward Severus. "You need to see Poppy about your injuries before it gets any later."

He groaned as he stood. "That sounds like a reasonable plan."

As he hobbled over to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water, she followed him. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

He turned and shook his head. "I appreciate the thought, but I'd like to retain some ounce of pride."

She laughed and hugged him gently, not wanting to injure him further. "Goodnight, Severus."

"Goodnight, Minerva," he said as he pulled her closer. When their lips met the kiss became passionate. As she responded to the kiss, he stepped back slightly and his head collided with one of the kitchen cabinets.

Minerva pulled away instantly. "Oh, are you alright, Severus?"

He sighed and nodded. "It's just one more injury to add to the list."

In May the students were once again instructed not to go anywhere near the Forbidden Forest. An adolescent dragon had escaped from a traveling Romanian dragon breeder and the creature had been last spotted darting into the forest. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Livie were studying advanced flying techniques together that Saturday, using their brooms. A few other groups of students were playing sports in the fair weather.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny and gotten off of their brooms for a few minutes to rest when someone playing badminton hit a birdie over their heads. The blue object landed in front of the Forbidden Forest. Harry dashed over to pick it up. Livie watched him and suddenly realized that the dragon was in that part of the forest and heading right toward Harry.

She raced over to the area and tried to distract the dragon while warning Harry by calling to him. The last thing she realized before she plummeted toward the ground was that Harry might be next if he did not start listening more. When the others realized what had happened, Harry stayed with Livie and the others ran to find either Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall.

A few hours later, Severus went in search of Minerva. He quietly entered her office and found her grading papers. "Minerva, sit down," he instructed.

She took her seat and faced him, noticing the distress in his eyes. "What is this all about?"

He sat next to her and sighed heavily. Then he took both of her hands in his and faced her with an expression of sadness in his eyes that worried her. "I would have told you sooner, but I didn't know where you were. There was an accident. Livie's been taken to St. Mungo's."

(my thanks to TartanLioness, The Unknown Weasley, Lizella, Crazy-Physco, Lady of the Twilight Woods, MoroTheWolfGod, Silverthreads, and Clove for reviews; I sincerely apologize for the Umbridge typo of the previous chapter; also, a swag is a branch arrangement similar to a wreath :D)