Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, except Leah. She is mine.

Chapter Five:

Severus found himself sitting in Dumbledore's office with Leah attempting to understand why exactly they were to take this little vacation half way across the world. As it turns out it was much more than a learning experience, but more a training session.

"So, let me get this straight. Apart from the Guardian, she has six helpers that help her?" asked Severus, stumbling over the words he was using to formulate his thoughts. It was difficult.

"Sort of, Sev. They are known as "Bidental Senarius" or the "Sacred Six". They are supposed to help me on my mission and are chosen based on ability and certain...visions I suppose." Leah looked completely nonplused by this information, however, he figured there was reason to that.

Severus just sat in stunned silence. According to Leah, she just knew, knew, that these six boys and girls were meant to swear their lives to protect her and the cause. Now, she could "do it on her own, however it would be more better with their help." He just did not get it. At all. First off, why did the Guardian need help, and more confusing, why were three Slytherins on that list?

"Okay, explain it one. more. time." Leah sighed, clearly frustrated, and Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes as usual. Damn him.

"Fine, one. last. time. The "Bidental Senarius" or "Sacred Six" are three girl girls and three boys from mixed background that bring something unique to a force designed to fight evil. The Bidental Senarius have a leader, the Guardian of the Order, namely me, and we are a force only drawn on in times of need. The last time the Bidental Senarius and Guardian were actually used was a very long, long time ago. You clear so far?" Severus nodded his head. "Okay, the Guardian always exist, however, the powers of the Six are only called upon when in desperate need. The signs aren't seen by the Guardian unless they are needed, so we can safely assume we are supposed to train Hermione, Neville, Dean, Draco, Pansy, and Blaise because they are the Six. No escaping that. Got it?"

Severus nodded again, and at that moment the door to the office opened and in came strolling the seven students that would be accompanying them on their training session in California–Leah's other home. It was at this moment Severus realized that they were taking seven students on this trip, and the group of protectors was known as the "Sacred Six"; he scanned the room and his eyes fell on Harry Potter, who most definitely wasn't part of that group. He looked up at Leah who seemed to understand his confusion and walked over to him. Leaning into his ear, she whispered, "Don't you think the boy should know who his pillars of strength are?" With that she rose up and called attention to the students in the room.

"As you all know, you've been selected to accompany back to California for a learning experience in potions and other applications of magic in the real world. Now, since this is such a long journey, we will be traveling as muggles." This comment gained a groans from the Slytherin students. "Ah-h, yes, I thought a few of you may not like this; however, you have no choice. Now, we will leave here shortly and will travel by train to King's Cross Station and from their we will take two cabs to the airport in London. After that, we board a plane for California. Now, please all meet Professor Snape and I in the Great Hall in twenty minutes. Any questions?"

Leah looked about the room expectantly and nodded when no one raised their hands. Everyone filed out of the room, talking excitedly about the adventure they were all about to embark on. Severus turned placed a hand on Leah's shoulder to command her attention. She turned around and smiled up at him, while slipping her own arm around his waist. He felt himself growing hot because of her touch, and his breath seemed to be coming in short and rapid. A thousand emotions rushed through him at once– happiness, lust, love, hunger, desire, confusion, fear– and he prayed that she couldn't see them passing across his face. Of course, Leah had and she only smiled more knowing what she did to the man.

"Come on," she said, removing her arm much to Severus' dismay, "We need to be ready for the students."

The trip to the airport was uneventful as all the students had traveled by train before, however many students were disgruntled to actually have to board a plane and fly for many hours to reach California. Draco, Pansy, Blaise, and Neville went through the gate and security checkpoints in a daze, while Harry, Hermione, and Dean seemed to have much more grace, and the entire time Leah coached them through acting as muggle as possible. Again, Severus was amazed at her patience with the teenagers and how she did everything with a smile plastered to her face. Sometimes he really wondered if she was happy, or if she smiled out of habit.

They were now all sitting on the plane, in their assigned seats, most looking nervous. He turned his attention to Leah when she placed her hand on his shoulder from the seat behind him–he had been disappointed when they weren't allowed to sit together, but she insisted it was easier to look after the children this way.

"It will be okay, flying is a breeze," she comforted him, and everyone else aboard the plane.

The beginning had been rocky, but all in all Leah was right, flying was a breeze; this did not, however, take away the joy that everyone felt once they had finally touched down in the Oakland Airport in beautiful California. Everyone had thought Leah was crazy when she boarded the plane in jeans and a tank top, but when they stepped off the plane a wave of heat hit them. She lead the way to the baggage claim and everyone found their items before exiting the massive airport. So far the experience had been tremendous and many students would have been happy to return with what knowledge they knew of the muggle world already, but the thrill of what was to come pulled them along behind Leah as she led the way to a parking garage.

She stopped along side a small SUV that was silver in color and looked rather small. She pulled out her wand and placed the necessary expanding charms on it so all the students and luggage would fit properly. Once inside she told everyone to buckle up and they all looked at her confused until she showed them exactly what a seat belt was and how to "buckle up."

Draco Malfoy snorted, "This is supposed to save our lives?"

Hermione hit him, muttering something about being disrespectful. Leah laughed, "Yes, Mr. Malfoy, and don't be fooled, it does actually work. Muggles receive far too little credit.'

"And why can't we just floo or apparate? We all have our apparating licenses," came Pansy's voice from the back.

"Because, Ms. Parkinson," answered Leah, looking in her rear-view mirror and backing out slowly, "I live in the muggle part of a city known as San Francisco."

The drive to Leah's house proved to be more entertaining as everyone took in the sights. They crossed over a bridge and marveled at all the tall buildings and such that the muggles had made without the use of magic. It seemed with every second that passed the seven witches and wizards in the car learned more about the world around them. Even Draco muttered something about how amazing muggles must be if they could create all this with their hands.

Leah drove and pointed out sights and answered the million questions that the students threw at her with pleasure. Severus had never her seem so at home anywhere, not even back in the Lestrange Manor had she seemed this carefree, but then again, she hadn't grown up in the best family. He felt a little sad when he thought about how she had to move half a world away and live in an entirely different culture in order to be happy and escape her past, and he felt even more horrible that it was the world she hated that she was now risking her life to defend.

"So, wait, this is your house?" came Hermione's voice, clearly impressed with what she say. Severus looked out the window to see a lovely flat set up a few blocks away from the coast line, and that it had a spectacular view. Leah parallel parked next to it and helped everyone get out their things.

"Yes, this is home sweet home."

She gathered everyone up and led them up the steps that led to her front door. She knocked once and her smile faltered when there was no answer. Another knock, still no answer. "Oh, damn it all to hell!" She put her hand on the doorknob and whispered alohomora under her breath and everyone's eyes widened when the lock clicked and she pushed the door open.

Severus felt a sense of love and passion when he stepped over the threshold of her home. He was greeted by a large family room that took his breath away. On the wall next to the door was a fireplace, the mantel filled with pictures of Leah and people he didn't know, two chairs in front of the fire and a table in between them that had various books on it. In the center of the room was an overstuffed couch and coffee table that was placed carefully in front of a large black, muggle object that was shaped like a box.

"Through that door, is the guest bedroom, which has been expanded to fit you seven. A bathroom is attached, and yes, you have to share." He turned his attention back at Leah as she waved her hand to her left–his right–and he turned to see a wooden door.

He followed her into the kitchen which was just as magnificent as the simple, yet elegant, family room. It had the usual muggle contraptions needed in a kitchen, and in the center was a counter with four stools around it. Through two double-doors he could make out a dining room, which he figured was where they would spend their evenings.

Leah led them back into the family room and motioned to the stairs, "Up there is my room, another guest room where Professor Snape will be staying, and Jack's room. You are, under no circumstance, to go upstairs." Her eyes grew hard at this command, and suddenly Severus felt himself wondering what was upstairs, and why he was able to go up if her other guests weren't.

"You didn't tell me you had guests coming, Princess," came a voice from behind them. Severus turned around and saw a man, wearing nothing but a towel, walking down the stairs. He had dark brown hair, that fell over his forehead and deep brown eyes, and was dripping water all over the carpet. Severus could hear the young girls' behind him swooning as they beheld the young man in all his splendor.

"Oh, Jack!" screamed Leah, running forward and throwing herself into his open arms. He spun her around a few times before he set her down, putting his arm around her shoulder, and looking at the eight intruders before him.

"So, these people are who?" he asked, looking down at Leah. Severus noticed a bit of irritation in his voice and eyes, but shrugged it off.

Leah pulled away and walked over to the group. "I told you, Jack, that I would be back for holidays and that I would be bringing some students of mine. They are here for a learning experience." She pointed out each person individually and then continued to explain that they excelled in potions and were here to learn about life in the real world.

Jack nodded and grinned–not a happy grin, but a 'there-isnt-much-I-can-do-now' sort of grin. "Right, so you brought them back here why? You couldn't use the English ministry?"

"Jack, I don't work for the English ministry." She looked at him hard, as if willing him not to say what he was going to. Severus thought the exchange between the two friends was strange. Jack nodded and walked back up the stairs and slammed the door to his room shut. Leah breathed a sigh of relief, and turned around to the silent crowd. "Well, he is a bit temperamental at times. Who wants to sight-see?"

Later that night, after all the students were in bed exhausted from a day around town, Severus lay in bed finding it hard to sleep. He couldn't get out of his mind the strange exchange between Leah and Jack; there was something wrong with the way they acted around each other. It was simply not how best friends acted; ever. He sat up in bed when he heard muffled voices coming from below him in the kitchen. Crawling out of bed and sneaking downstairs, he leaned against the wall near the kitchen door and listened to the argument raging inside.

"God damnit, woman! You don't have a job at the American ministry either!" Jack's voice was filled with fury. Severus flinched at his harsh tone.

"Jack, all I have to do is talk to Mr. Grafton, I'm sure–" but Leah's pleading voice was cut off.

"No, Leah, no. You aren't getting this job back, ever! This is your third offense. You lost your job the second you were stupid enough to get kidnaped by Death Eaters, and Grafton won't hear of taking you back. You just aren't worth the price we might pay."

"Are you saying its might fault I got kidnaped? Like I had any control over that?"

"You must of leaked to someone about the potion, you had to be talking–which is something you were always good at, mind you– otherwise they wouldn't have known. How else would the Dark Lord know that you held the secret to this potion? A potion, I might add, we've been working on for years; it could change the wizarding community forever."

"I don't know, Jack, I don't know! I didn't leak it! Maybe you did, maybe they offered you some sort of power. You were always power hungry, wanting fame, hint your wanting this potion to be a success. All I know is my innocence, and right now, I am pretty damn sure you're the weak link in this chain, not me!"

Severus heard what sounded like skin on skin contact and peeked around the corner to see tears welling up in Leah's eyes, her cheek turning red. He saw Jack drop his hand to his side, before continuing on his rampage. "You bitch! You are a stubborn bitch who doesn't know what's good for you. You may be able to last through a few curses, Lestrange, but mark my words: your days on this earth are numbered." It wasn't an empty promise.

On that final note Jack apparated out of the kitchen, and Severes breathed easier knowing he wouldn't come across him spying. He watched as Leah turned around, her cheek red, and her eyes hard and full of contempt. She walked across the kitchen to the small fireplace and pulled a bag off the mantel and opened it up. After she had a sufficient amount of Floo powder, she slammed it down and called out, "Narcissa Malfoy", whose head immediately popped up into the fireplace.

Severus tore up the stairs and into his bedroom and slammed into his bed face down. There was no way she was with them; it wasn't possible. He had seen her tortured and beaten; he had seen her show up to fight selflessly for muggles she didn't even know; and now here she was, in her kitchen, having some sort of conversation with Narcissa Malfoy, wife of one of the most well-known Death Eaters. He fell into a troubled sleep, still not wanting to believe his premonitions about Leah were wrong, way wrong.

A/N: Read and Review!