I have to say that, though I have been getting my muse back, and I have the most important chapters almost done, I am still experiencing writer's block from time to time. It is not the important chapters, those I could handle, but it the chapters like this one that just doesn't seem to want to be written. If it seems choppy, please say so, as I myself think so too.

MachiavellianOrange: it is people like you that especially bring my hopes up. I know that you put a lot of thought into reading this fic (and if not please don't tell me… just let me live in my fantasy world). Expect the unexpected, indeed. I hadn't even thought about your point before your review and I must say that it was indeed a mistake to make. However, soon the kids will be in school so they won't have to resort to such methods and too, the Calculosos will be finished. We'll just think that the DE truly are idiots and don't figure this out until then. Thank you though, I really appreciate it!

I give credit to athenakitty who has been IMing me, giving me the encouragement to continue with this chapter though it drove me crazy. She also was the one who named dear Lachesis, who I have regrettably forgotten…

Your IMs really do help me, especially reviews as I get mail through them (though don't email me as that is how my computer crashed last time…). My yahoo id is (yes you do need the whole thing or else it won't work) and my AIM id is K091288 (and that is a zero…).

Snape's Musings and Lachesis' Identity

Life still continues though problems disrupt the daily routines. In the large populous of Hogwarts, only six students knew the complete truth of what had happened in the Ministry of Magic at the end of last term. An abridged version of the tale was released to the public to not frighten them any more than they had to. If it was released in full, most would stop relying on the Ministry if six underage students were able to penetrate the outer defenses. The fact that they were able to infiltrate the supposedly perfect system protecting the rooms used by the Unspeakables was simply unheard of.

The hustle and bustle of school was soon underway raising the stress levels of staff and student alike. It was not unusual to overhear students begging others for help with their unfinished homework. They didn't even care that the teachers at the High Table could perfectly hear this going on. A similar conversation was occurring down on the Gryffindor table early the morning before the dreaded Potions class.

Severus Snape sat back in his chair musing about the apparent difficulty his class was rumored to be. Just yesterday the new Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff first years had their first Potion's class. It was the same as usual routine since he started teaching the class… or at least since he started developing his battish behavior. And to think that all of that pain and suffering had bee for nothing if only he had listened to the people he had trusted most… But it was best not to think of that right now. No telling who would see. Especially the Gryffindor that had been on his mind for some time, sitting only five seats away.

Now where was he…? Oh yes, the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class yesterday.

Like usual, Ravenclaw is prepared for any fact from the book, no matter what chapter it's from. However, they just don't understand the practical part of it. How hard is it to memorize facts? But even more, how are you to use those facts without understanding the logic behind it? Severus Snape knew that he was not liked for this way of thinking, but they'll be thanking him when they have to actually make something.

The Hufflepuffs on the other hand are actually humorous to watch. They had heard so much about him to the point where they can't even look him in the eye. They seem to huddle in a group as if a large group would stop him from nitpicking them apart piece by piece. Its survival of the fittest; and he was determined to create the strong.

It was the Gryffindor and Slytherin sixth years up next, no doubt which is what the Gryffindor trio was talking about. It was this group that he was particularly fond of watching. The battles between the two houses amazed him as most of the insults were used before, usually by the insulter's parents. And after that group the first years for Gryffindor and Slytherin would come. Why Dumbledore always seemed to pair those houses together in his class, he wouldn't know.

Maybe that's why he thought the lemon drops were laced.

22-22-22-22-22

"It's as if these hallways get darker and darker each year," Rom joked and started to make various ghost sounds. It wasn't fully known if this was to scare any students not knowing he was there or for his own benefit, but no one really cared.

"They aren't getting darker, Ron," Hermione huffed, hitting the read head in the back of the head with the Potions book she was reading, "why don't you just read Hogwarts, A History? Then you would know that they are controlled by the magical core to stay a certain minimum light unless it is after curfew or under an emergency."

"But if we know that you had read, why do we need to know?" Ron stopped his ghost sounds enough to say, "We could just ask you."

Ron easily dodged the incoming Potions book aimed for his head and ducked behind Harry. The raven haired hero just continued walking as if nothing had happened, he was too deep in thought to listen to the constant blabber his friends were known for. It felt as if he was being watched, and quite frankly, he didn't like it. Around his wrist was the snake that he had gotten from Ron for his birthday, restless as can be. It was if she was yelling to get out of his sleeve though all her hissings were indistinguishable. He let her out only to be glared at by her beady little eyes.

You could have killed me and hadn't known, she yelled in her tiny little voice, I could have died and you would have gone on your merry way.

I'm sorry, he hissed back sincerely, I was thinking.

You humans tend to do that a lot. I imagine you had thought enough to figure out a name for me.

Harry immediately felt guilty. From the time he had gotten her as a gift, he had put off her questions of a name saying he was either thinking or too busy to think. What had it been? A full month of her not having a name, an identity? He turned to Ron and Hermione to ask their opinion but started once seeing them childishly running around, throwing wads of parchment at each other. The scene took him back to a time where such a scene was not so rare, as now the threat of Voldemort was hanging overhead. A time when a child could remain a child until the proper time had come.

A place with children grown by the age of sixteen foretold death of a tradition, of a society. But then again, Fate was not so kind to anyone, much less to one Harry Potter. Destiny produced a heavy burden for him much younger than any could imagine.

The snake at his wrist continued to squirm, trying to catch her masters attention, succeeding. It was then that Harry had the idea.

"Hermione," he spoke out, regretfully breaking the merriment, "what are the names of the fates?"

Without a second though, she answered, "Well they were called Clotho, the one who created the life, Lachesis, who measured the life, and Atropos, who cut the life. But they are often compared to the Roman goddess Morae, though she is just one goddess."

Harry repeated the names, one by one, trying to figure the best one for the young Ashwinder. He agreed on Lachesis, as it had more of the hissing feeling with the "ch" and "sis" sounds. And it could be figured that since the snake is long, that it was an omen of a long life. Or at least he hoped it was.

Lachesis, he hissed down to her.

Lachesis she repeated, nodded her head, and went back to sleeping… this time in a safer zone.