A/N: This chapter isn't that long, I was thinking of adding more but it works better as the beginning of the new chapter.

Solvere = to loosen, to undo

Chapter Nineteen

A door opened then closed. The sound of fabric against fabric. Someone sits down on the floor.

"Were you planning on telling anyone you had left the infirmary?" Albus asked his companion.

Severus didn't answer; he was sitting against the wall hugging his legs with his forehead resting on his knees.

"I know that what they told you was a bit of a shock," Albus said.

Severus gave a snort.

"A big shock, but you can't hide in here indefinitely," Albus continued.

"Why not?" Severus asked.

"Well, who would teach the students potions, and snap them into line," Albus said, "besides people will still need to user the astronomy tower,"

When Severus didn't respond, Albus prompted him gently, "Severus?"

Severus shook his head and said, "I need to think,"

"I know that you have been here since five this morning, talk to me, please," Albus said.

Severus suddenly laughed and looked up at Albus, "My life has just fallen apart around me, Albus, what do you want me to say?" he said.

"Severus." Albus said.

"Don't call me that," Severus interrupted, "it isn't my name; I don't even have a name,"

"A name is not important," Albus replied.

"Yes it is, it tells people what you are and where you belong," Severus said.

"As long as you know who you are inside, it does not matter if you are Severus or Seraphina or a girl from a different world," Albus said, "you are still the same person that I know, intelligent, sarcastic, honourable, slightly self-deprecating, stubborn, tenacious, and a multitude of others."

Severus gave a small rueful smile, "My life has been a lie, Cronus and Valere Snape were not my parents, I am not their son, I'm not even from this world," he said.

"No, your life has not been a lie," Albus said, "Your life up until now and beyond is yours, you made your own decisions in life that were true to your heart. This knowledge of your origins does not negate everything that has gone before it; it may shape your future but it is an enrichment of your identity."

"I know you're right, Albus, but it just.they could have told me sooner, I mean forty years they waited, and if I had not been revealed and kidnapped they may not have even told me," Severus said.

"I must admit that their timing is a bit off, but I am sure that they have their reasons for not telling you," Albus replied, "perhaps they thought you too young to truly accept your true heritage,"

"You mean the part where I am suppose to 'unite the warring world'?" Severus asked.

Albus nodded.

"How can they be sure that I am the one?" Severus said.

"A leap of faith, I guess," Albus said.

Severus covered his eyes with his left hand, "Now I know how Potter feels," he said with a sigh.

Albus smiled and placed his arms around Severus' shoulders, "Don't worry, whatever happens I will be there to help you,"

"Thank-you, Albus," Severus said as he laid his head onto Albus' shoulder.

***

Later that morning saw Remus tinkering with the ring around Severus' neck whilst he debriefing Albus on what had occurred the night before, glazing over the unpleasant details. "Ah, I've seen one of these before, it's quite easy to open," Remus said, he pulled out his wand and pointed to the ring, "Solvere" The ring became liquid-like and shrank back on itself until it was a small black nugget that fell onto Severus' lap. Remus bought out a small lead box, scooped the nugget in and sealed it. "A dangerous little trinket," Remus said.

"Thank-you, Remus," Severus said.

"Well, my work here is done, now I'm suppose to escort our guests to see you, be back soon," Remus said, as he walked out of the infirmary.

"No doubt that Voldemort will try to kill you again," Albus said when Severus finished his story, "We will have to be more vigilante and maybe install some more security around you,"

"He will probably think of a way to get around it, besides what can you do," Severus said.

"We will think of something," Albus said, "even if it means tying you to me forever,"

"Now that is drastic," Severus said.

"So what are your thoughts of the three visitors from last night?" Albus asked.

"Hm, I was hoping that they were a figment of my imagination," said Severus, "Personally I think that they are mad. There may be a crazy explanation for my present condition but I think that theirs is a little far-fetched,"

"True it does sound like a story book fantasy, but after all other theories have been discarded, the one left however improbable must be the truth," Albus said.

"You are willing to believe that I am a person from another dimension who will somehow put a stop to a two hundred year war?" Severus asked.

"We already know that different dimensions exist, and we ourselves have our share of prophecies," Albus said.

"That is true, however I am rather dubious about it," Severus said.

"Well, hopefully they will clear things up slightly when they get here," Albus said.

"So who is taking care of my Potions classes today?" Severus asked.

"Remus, Minerva, Flora, Alates and Victoria,"

"Remind me to thank them later," Severus said. "So what happened last night after I.left?"

"Well, last night after I was informed of your disappearance by Sarah Graham who confessed her part in the act, I went to check on your quarters and it turned out she was telling the truth. I alerted all of the teachers and we entered the Forbidden Forest to look for you but of course we were too late, Sirius found the dart that had hit you and we feared the worse," Albus said, "I immediately contacted some of Order, and then those three girls arrived and said that they knew were you were and would rescue you,"

"You trusted them?" asked Severus.

"We had no reason not to," Albus replied.

Remus entered the infirmary with the three visitors in tow; Rena and Saba were wearing similar pale blue gowns with light purple edgings, while Ceren was wearing a black gown. "Good morning, Mistress," they said.

"Good morning. There are some questions that I would like to ask you," Severus said, sitting up straighter in bed.

"Of course," Rena said.

"How can you be so sure that I am the one that the prophecy foretold?" asked Severus.

"The you are born of both man and air elemental; exactly as the prophecy stated, and the twelfth age is almost over, unless there has been another born during the time that we have been away, we certain you are the one," Rena said.

"I seem to be exhibiting new.powers since the glamour was removed, and before I was able to apparate onto Hogwarts even though there is an anti- apparition field," Severus said.

"Oh my," Saba said, placing a hand over her mouth, "you were able to perform the ultimate metamorphosis,"

"Ultimate metamorphosis?" Severus asked, with one of his eyebrows raised.

"Yes, as an air fey we are not totally human nor are we entirely air. The ultimate metamorphosis transforms the caster into pure air; it allows us to travel to places that may have been inaccessible to us in human form. We can also travel at great distances and quite rapidly," Saba said.

Rena turned to Saba and frowned, "But that technique takes years to learn,"

Saba looked at Severus with a smile and said, "You truly are your father's daughter,"

"Thank-you," Severus said quietly, "but if the technique is suppose to take years to learn how was I able to use it? I was never taught how,"

"I'm not sure," Saba replied, "was it done in a time of desperation?"

Severus nodded.

"Perhaps it is an innate ability that was left when our people took on human forms. It is amazing that you were able to do it with out training," Saba suddenly looked sheepish and said, "I'm afraid that it is my fault that you never received proper instructions on how to master your powers. When we first got here and encountered the Snapes, I assumed that it wasn't too different from our own world and everyone could do magic,"

"That is quite alright," Severus said, "at least I was able to training at Hogwarts. I am right in presuming that the wandless magic is also the result of my heritage,"

"Yes, it is," Ceren said, "The magic users in our world have no need for wands, we find it cumbersome and limiting,"

"There is one more point that confuses me," Severus said, "Why do I look so young? In fact, you three do as well,"

"On our world the fey can live up to several million years, and the humans several hundred. So we age quite slowly, especially the fey," Rena said.

"If you do not mind me asking, how old are you?" Severus asked.

"As a human, I'm one hundred and seventy," replied Ceren.

"Twenty thousand four hundred and seven years," Rena said.

"I stopped counting after half a million," Saba said with a smile.

Remus gave a low whistle, "And I thought Albus was old," he said.

Albus looked over his half-moon spectacles and said, "I'll have you know that I am regarded as being in the prime of my life,"

"This is a strange request, but everything that you have told me can you keep it just between us? No one else knows that I am not Seraphina," Severus said.

"Yes, Mistress, we live to serve you," Rena said.

"I am not that comfortable with you referring to me as 'Mistress', could you call me Seraphina?" asked Severus.

"Of course.Seraphina," Ceren replied with a smile.

***

Over the course of the lunch hour there was a steady stream of visitors into the infirmary, mostly teachers and a few Slytherins, some of which were probably checking up on him for Voldemort. Finally around two Poppy discharged Severus with the strict instructions to rest and eat.

"Poppy, I am quite capable of taking care of myself, there is no need to fuss," Severus said, as Poppy reminded him what he could and couldn't do.

"I know you can take care of yourself, but I also know that when you start doing one of your projects you forget all about eating or even taking a break," Poppy said.

"If it makes you feel better I have no projects to do at the moment," Severus retorted.

"You better not, even though I am stuck in the infirmary all day I still know if you are behaving," Poppy said, "These wall have ears,"

"More like you bribe people to check up on me," Severus grumbled.

"Anyway I can, Severus, anyway I can," Poppy replied with a smile.

Severus rolled his eyes and said, "Now may I leave,"

"Yes," Poppy replied.

"Thank-you," Severus said and left the infirmary.

Outside the infirmary, just opposite the double doors, sat Snuffles, who got up and barked. Severus smiled, "Good morning," he said, "Lets go back to our quarters,"

Snuffles barked in agreement, and ran in front of Severus, he looked back and barked again when Severus didn't move.

"Okay, okay, I am right behind you," Severus said.