Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick, Justin, Kyle, Carlos, Mike, Nurse Canter, Headmaster Jeremy Mickels, Hunfrith, Olwen, Huffie, Sorsek, Bilik, Fossum, Lars, Sven, David Suttington, Darius Prescott, Gerard's, Grace and Zielinski's) are entirely my own.


Chapter 12: St. Augustine's

"Septimus!" Katherine yelled from the living room, early Monday morning. Her and Severus were getting ready to floo to St. Augustine's Hospital, that was located in the wizarding section of Northern Milwaukee.

"What?" the boy's voice echoed down the stairs from the upper level.

"We're getting ready to leave," Katherine said, as Septimus' footsteps were heard from the staircase. "You're welcomed to join us, you know, if you want to."

"Are you just going to the hospital, or are you going to do some shopping too?" Septimus asked, as he rounded the corner.

"Your mother's going to show me the Apothecary on Rynek Lane," Severus stated, as he came out of the bedroom. "I said that right, didn't I...Rynek?"

"Prefect," Katherine smirked, as she finished tying her shoe. "Leave it to the Polish wizards to come up with the simple name Rynek, which actually means market in English." She looked up at Septimus, only to find the boy gaping in his father's direction. Katherine turned her head towards Severus, and gaped as well.

The elder wizard was dressed like he was ready to walk straight back into the potions' classroom and begin to hiss out instructions once again. He was fully dressed in his black trousers, white dress shirt, the black frock that was button all the way up, and the billow black robe.

"What in Merlin's name are you wearing?" Septimus finally asked, as he eyed his father up and down. "You look like you just stepped out of the Victorian era or something."

"What are you talking about?" Severus frowned, looking down at himself.

"Do you normally dress like that?" Septimus frowned himself, as Katherine covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.

"Yes," Severus grumbled in response.

"People are going to stare you know," Septimus said, looking towards Katherine, whose shoulders were shaking slightly.

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" Severus scowled.

"Love, to tell you the truth," Katherine said, composing herself. "American wizards don't normally dress like that. Plus it's going to be about seventy degrees outside."

"So how should I be dressing?" Severus sneered lightly.

"Well," Katherine said, rising from the chair. She was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a flowing blue blouse, one that wouldn't show the slight swell that was forming beneath. "For starters, you can drop the frock for today. I only wear mine to brew around here, or when I'm attending Potion seminars."

"Fine," Severus pursed his lips. "Anything else?"

"The robes," Katherine said pointedly. "Only teachers and members of the Wizarding Legislator wear them. You can wear the lightweight cloak, though. Milwaukee tends to be a little bit on the chiller side, with being so close to a large body of water."

"Fine. Just give me a moment," Severus sighed, before disappearing back into the bedroom.

"People really would have been staring you know," Septimus said again, as he put on his navy blue cloak, which had the New Salem school logo and his Quidditch Varsity patch sown on it.

"Yes, I know," Katherine sighed, turning back towards her son. "But you have to realize that he doesn't know that. European wizards don't like we do over here. We're much more modern and not as conservative as they are over there."

"Oh," Septimus muttered, as he finished putting on his shoes.

"I take it that you're going with us then," Katherine smirked at the youth.

"I don't have to stay at the hospital while you're with Mr. Suttington, do I?" Septimus asked, with a hopeful look in his black eyes.

"No, I suppose not," Katherine said, as she put on her own lightweight cloak. "Where do you plan on going?"

"I don't know," Septimus shrugged. "Here and there. I kind of want to get..."

"Want to get what?" Katherine asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"A..." It was the only word that Katherine was able to comprehend, as the rest of Septimus' sentence came out in a whisper.

"A what?" Katherine frowned.

"A birthday present for Helena," Septimus sighed, as he flopped down into a chair.

"Sept," Katherine smirked. "Helena's birthday isn't until August. It is still two and a half months away sweetheart."

"I know," Septimus mumbled. "But I wanted to get her something, you know...special."

"Special?" Katherine said, smiling coyly at the boy. "Does that mean you two are finally more than just good friends?"

"Mom!" Septimus whined.

"Well, are you?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Well," Septimus sighed again. "Nothing official yet, but we have gotten...closer, during the last term. And she has kissed me a few times."

"Really?" Katherine's eyebrows shot up her forehead.

"On the cheek mom," Septimus whined again. "I just...hope that I'll be able to at least spend a little time alone with her this summer. I'd really like to go back to school with her being...being my girlfriend."

"I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunities to ask her this summer," Katherine reassured her son, as she patted his knee lightly.

"Better?" Severus asked, as he emerged from the bedroom. He had lost the frock and robe, as suggested, but he had also changed his white dress shirt to a charcoal colored one. Severus had stayed with his black trousers, but he now wore the lighter weight black cloak, that still managed to billow behind him as he walked.

"Much," Katherine said with a smile, then gestured towards the fireplace. "Shall we?"


Flooing into St. Augustine's was much easier than Apparating into Rynek Lane. The hospital's lobby was a bit crowded, but other than that, Severus was impressed by the overall cleanliness of the room.

"Alright Sept," Katherine said, as she took a hold of Severus' arm. "We'll meet you at Gerard's Pub in two hours. Okay?"

"Right mom," Septimus said, as he looked around the lobby. "See you two later." The boy turned and walked hurriedly to the front doors, and disappeared out into the sunshine.

"Are you sure it's alright to let him go out by himself?" Severus asked, as he frowned towards the doors.

"He'll be fine," Katherine assured him, as she guided them towards the reception desk.

Three witches sat at the main desk in the lobby, taking information from patients and their family members alike; as healers fluttered about behind them, grabbing clipboards and the patients themselves and guiding them off through different doors.

A large sign hung above them; it was a large black board, with white writing on it.

"Lower Level - ER

Ground Floor - Reception & Waiting Rooms

First Floor - Magical Bugs & Diseases

Second Floor - Creature-Induced Injuries

Third Floor - Visitors' Lounge & Hospital Gift Shop

Fourth Floor - Artifact Accidents

Fifth Floor - Potions & Plant Poisoning

Sixth Floor - Surgery & Intensive Care

Seventh Floor - Spell Damage

Eighth Floor - Long-term Residences & Visitors' Lounge"

"Good morning Mrs. Prince," a young woman's voice snapped Severus' thoughts back to the receptionist at the counter. "Glad to see you back." The young red head smiled at the pair as she handed Katherine a clipboard.

"Hello Grace," Katherine said, as she took a pen and signed her name on the paper the receptionist handed to her. "Glad to see you're still here."

"Who are you here to see today?" Grace asked, taking the clipboard from Katherine and setting it in front of Severus. "Please sign in here sir."

"We're here to see Suttington," Katherine said, as she handed the quill to Severus. "We have an appointment with him at nine." Severus began to write his name into the slot, writing his first name first, but then pausing quickly before the quill continued. He had almost wrote 'Snape' instead of 'Prince,' and he inwardly cursed himself for his almost mistake.

"Okay, here you are," Grace said, handing them both 'Contractor Badges' to clip onto their cloaks. "You remember where his office is?"

"Fifth floor, room 528," Katherine smirked, as she clipped on her badge. "Thank you Grace." Katherine took Severus arm again, and led them to the lifts. The doors opened revealing a tiring looking old wizard, sitting on a stool with wand in hand.

"What floor Hun?" the elder asked, rising his hand towards the lever.

"Fifth please," Katherine said, as the two entered the lift. The old wizard twisted and turned the lever five times, causing the lift's doors to close and the box to begin rise. "What's with the drawn wand?"

"There's been a rise in security these past few weeks," the wizard said. "With the war that ended in Europe, we been put on alert to watch for illegal travel of accused wizards and witches from across the ocean." Severus shifted slightly, which went unnoticed by the older wizard, but not by Katherine.

"Stop that," Katherine hissed at him in his mind. "You're protected by the government and my uncle's memories. We have nothing to worry about. Plus Suttington will protect you as well."

"If you say so," Severus' voiced mumbled in her mind.

"Fifth floor, Potion and Plant Poisonings," the elder announced as the lift came to a stop and the doors opened. Katherine led Severus out into a long corridor; one with cream colored walls, and gray tiled floors. The two walked quickly and silently down to almost the very end of the hall, until they reached room 528. Katherine only had to knock once, as the door opened swiftly, revealing the plump David Suttington and his wide smile.

"Katherine! Severus!" the man beamed. "Good to see you again. Come in! Come in!" He stepped aside and gestured for them to take a seat in front of his desk, that was littered with papers and broken quills.

"Well now," Suttington said, as he sat behind his desk. "When am I going to get my favorite supplier back?"

"Well," Katherine started, as she exchanged glances with Severus. "I'm actually going to need a little more time off David."

"What?" Suttington flustered. "But you just got back! I understand that you want to spend time with your husband and son, but like I said on Thursday, I really could use you back soon."

"Unfortunately we really don't have a choice," Severus said. "Katherine is unable to brew at this time."

"What do you mean unable to brew?" Suttington sputtered, as he looked back and forth behind the younger couple. "Katherine?"

"I'm pregnant," Katherine said softly, shrugging her shoulders slightly. Suttington sat, staring at her, as if he was trying to comprehend what Katherine had just said. It seemed to be an eternity, before the elder wizard blinked, and a broad smile appeared once more.

"Well congratulations!" Suttington said, beaming once again. "This is good news indeed. But unfortunately that still leaves me one supplier sort."

"Actually," Katherine said, glancing back at Severus again. "We think we have a solution to that very problem."

"Oh?" Suttington said, folding his hands and placing them on the desktop.

"As we told you last Thursday, Severus is a Potions Master," Katherine stated. "And well..."

"And even though I do not need to work," Severus continued. "I will eventually drive myself mad when I run out of things to do."

"I normally ask to see a resume and credentials," Suttington said, smiling again. "But I must say, I have seen the articles you have written to Potioneers Monthly. Oh yes, I knew I heard your name somewhere before, and it wasn't because of the mess that was going on over there. It was because of those articles.

"I think the most interest one was the improvement on the Wolfsbane Potion," Suttington continued, as he leaned back in his chair. "Which I hope you will continue over here."

"So does that mean..." Katherine said, watching Suttington closely.

"You're hired Severus," Suttington smiled. "I hope you can start right away." The elder wizard reached across the desk, offering his hand to Severus.

"Of course I can," Severus said, as he shook his new employer's hand.


After an hour of filling out his application, Severus and Katherine had finally made their way out into the busy street of Rynek Lane. The Monday morning shoppers were out and about in sunshine, making their way between stores.

Katherine led them down the street, weaving in and out of the crowds. They passed a robe shop, a bookstore, an open air market, a bakery and about four other shops before stopping in front of a brick building with a large picture window. A small wooden sign over the door read 'Zielinski's Apothecary.'

Severus thought that Olsen's in Amadahy had a lot, but it was nothing compared to Zielinski's. Three floors of potions ingredients, dried herbs, fresh herbs and so much more. But since they only had forty-five minutes before they had to meet Septimus at Gerard's Pub, Katherine left the list of ingredients for the hospital with the store manager and skimmed over the three floors.

At eleven o'clock exactly, Severus and Katherine found Septimus sitting at a table under an umbrella outside of the small pub. Almost all the tables in the small courtyard were already taken, and Katherine was relieved to see that Septimus had managed to snag one.

"Done shopping already?" Katherine asked, as her and Severus joined the boy under the umbrella.

"Yeah," Septimus blushed slightly. "I hope she likes it."

"I'm sure she will," Katherine smiled at her son, as a waitress came up and took their drink order.

"How did it go at the hospital?" Septimus asked, after the waitress had scampered off to get their drinks.

"Very well," Severus said. "I start as soon as all the needed ingredients arrive at the house."

"Which knowing Zielinski's," Katherine smirked. "They'll be there by the time we get home."

The three sat outside Gerard's for well over an hour and a half, talking and eating before heading back to the hospital and flooing home; where they found the four crates from Zielinski's already waiting for them.


a/n: Yup, late again. So this is what I'm going to do; I'm not going to say that the next chapter will be on Friday or Saturday or whatever. Instead I'm just going to say that I will write one chapter a week, but it will most likely be posted sometime on the weekends. So, Chapter 13 will be posted sometime next weekend :)

A big thanks to tigerlil48, Mira Severus Sirius Black-Snape, sandradee27, Love Me Like Snape Loved Lily ALWAYS, ShadowDust74, MRSSPICY, RequiemWolfenstein87, lexiloo124 and LemonDropsWoolSocks for their wonderful reviews!

Story Alert! - That's right, my mind has been turning, and I am beginning to make notes for my next story already. I might put up the prologue to that story in the next month, but I will not officially start it until this one is done!