A/N Apologies for the long delay. I was working on "Set to Rights" and then there was Solstice/Xmas with all that that entails. Anyway, thought I'd get this up before I hammer my brain with booze tomorrow and gibber until term starts. Lesson plans, pshew, who needs them –I'll still be hung over and mumbling something about peeing my pants, too old, nonsense and dunderheads. HAPPY RUDDY NEW YEAR – MAY YOU MAKE LESS OF A MESS OF THIS ONE! Very short, SORRY, more will come on 2nd .

Chapter 11

Serenity was aware that time had passed since she had hit the sheets in exhaustion. She remembered Remus tucking her into her bed. Remus, who now knew her secret and still took care of her as though she was precious.

A quick glance around her quarters showed her that he was no longer here. She admitted to a feeling of disappointment. She was not yet sure if she was ready for an open, honest conversation about their feelings but it would have felt comforting to find him there.

She unbound herself from her slept-in clothes and slipped into a soft lacy blue night-slip. It was calf-length, but it was by far the most revealing thing she owned. No corsetry, no laces, no layers, just a swath of rich silk wrapping around her nakedness like smoke, it was her luxury.

A knock at the door sent her scrambling for her dressing gown, more rich blue, this time lined velvet. She padded barefoot to answer the door. She prayed to the Gods that it wasn't a student. It wasn't.

"Minerva"

The older woman looked uncomfortable for a moment before meeting Serenity's eye.

"Serenity, I… I'm not sure what to say. May I come in?"

Serenity stepped aside and gestured her inside. They moved silently to sit by the fire, which sprang to life with a swift gesture from the elder woman.

"I want to ask why you didn't tell us, why you didn't come back, why you didn't trust us. But then we didn't really give you reason to trust us, did we?"

Serenity smiled sadly.

"Minerva, that was a long time ago. We all had our roles to play. I accepted mine, there were consequences to that path, we all know that. I would trust you with my life; I was ashamed, I don't even really understand why, it was not any lacking on your part that led me to hide. It was…it was difficult."

"You shouldn't have had to go through that alone."

Serenity sighed, "Well, what's done is done, there's no going back now. What happened to me led me in new directions that I would never otherwise have gone, for that I am grateful. I wouldn't trade the time I have had in this form for a lifetime of my old one. I'm still me, well, if you take the hormones into account. If they thought I was an arsehole in class before, wait till they see what I'm like with PMT."

Minerva's struggle not to laugh showed visibly. When Serenity chuckled anyway, she gave up the battle. The two women were soon chatting and laughing in front of the fire in a way that they had never done as male and female. Minerva mused as she watched her old friend relax back into a pile of cushions. She stretched unconsciously, velvet and silk rippling across her young body. She was a beautiful woman, there was no denying that. Maybe one's physical form represented your opportunities. Skinny and hook nosed, his fate had been bleak and dark, now the light shone on her life and she sat here shimmering. Minerva shook her head to clear it a little, it was still difficult to accept that this was Severus Snape and then she looked over and saw the raised eyebrow quivering questioningly and the old shone through the new coating clearly. Minerva beamed broadly.

"I am very glad that you are back at Hogwarts; I do hope that you will stay."

"I will…consider it. I still have to resolve the werewolf issue. Then I'll make a choice."