Truly, Cassie had no idea when she'd started taking marching orders from portraits. Especially Slytherin ones, who probably had ulterior motives. After all, it was fairly often that Serene, angry at being disturbed, had hissed at her to 'go bugger herself;' and she'd never done that.

Her face flushed a deep red, realizing what she was thinking about in a teacher's office. Trying to calm her embarrassment, she waited for McGonagall to return.

"Here you go, dear," the Professor said, handing her a steaming cup of tea. It was her favorite, green, and she felt a warmness when she realized her Professor had remembered something so minute about her.

"Well, what brings you here, Cassiopeia?" the older woman asked, holding her own mug in her hands. "I don't remember you ever coming here so late."

"Yeah," she answered, unable to make herself meet the Professor's gaze. "I–I've been having bad nightmares, this past week. I'm not sure what to do."

McGonagall sipped her tea for a second, clearly considering. "Have you talked to your friend Mr. Snape? Horace tells me he's been brewing some potions for the hospital wing; I'm sure a Dreamless Sleep would not be beyond his capabilities."

Even as she reveled in the praise her favorite teacher bestowed on Severus, she knew she could not ask him. "I don't want to worry him, Professor. He–He'd want to know what's wrong, and–" Cassie cut herself off before she broke down, remembering what she'd seen in her dreams.

"I understand, dear," the Professor reassured. "Even then, the potion is simply a temporary fix–" she frowned, "–Do you know why you've started having these dreams?"

Dumbledore hadn't told her? Of course he hadn't - she'd know then, Cassie thought derisively. Worried, she wondered for a second how she'd explain them away, before an idea popped into her head. "I'm sorry, Professor. The Headmaster has forbidden me from speaking about it."

McGonagall set down her mug, staring into Cassie's face. "Albus– he–" she shook her head, "–this reason happened at school?"

"Yes, Professor," she answered meekly.

"Thank you for informing me of this, Miss Nazyalensky," the older witch replied, her eyes stormy. "I'll be sure to ask Albus why he's keeping me out of important information."

"Thank you, Professor," Cassie said, relieved.

"Of course, dear. Come to my office tomorrow, once I know, and we'll see what we can do about those dreams. Is that fine with you?"

"Wonderful."

November 18, 1974 - Hogwarts

Lily still didn't know of their kiss. And Severus felt insanely guilty over that.

Somehow, every time he opened his mouth to inform her, his courage left him; and he ended up simply asking her about something. It… angered him, that he didn't have enough trust in Lily to tell her.

Which was why he'd convinced himself to do it tonight; to get it over with. It was also Friday, which would give her the weekend to get used to it, though with the Hogsmeade trip on Sunday, he hoped it wouldn't take that long.

Would the Fat Lady even let him in only ten minutes before curfew?

He stopped, hearing whispering voices across from him. Damn it, that was just his luck. Would they leave soon?

Standing in the darkness for several more minutes, he waited for the people to leave. If that was Black or McKinnon, he knew he wouldn't be able to show himself, lest they tell his Head of House. Could it be Lily or Alice, though? They'd be fine–

He peered across the corridor, making out Lily's long red hair in the subtle scone-light near the portrait. He frowned for a second. Who was that with her?

His hands clenched into fists as the second person came into the light. It was Black, easily recognized in his ridiculously expensive bright-red weekend clothes.

Was he threatening her? Lily didn't seem to be frightened, actually seeming to smile at the mongrel.

Would she still be smiling if she knew what he'd done? he thought angrily, observing the two. What were they even doing together? They weren't friends - as far as he knew.

Seconds later he saw Black leaning in to Lily's face, and froze in anger and in shock. At the last second, Lily turned her head, Black's slobbery lips hitting her cheek.

Instead of being angry at him, however, she simply blushed, and whispered something into his ear. Seconds later, the two of them entered inside the Gryffindor common room.

Trying to calm himself, Severus turned away from the portrait and into the darkness. He couldn't tell her now; angry and hurt as he was. He'd just say something he didn't mean - he knew himself enough to know that. But Black was still a fucking bastard.

Besides, once Lily told him of what had happened, he'd be able to tell her. He'd even feel a bit better, knowing that he wasn't the only one with something to share.

Because she would tell him.

Wouldn't she?

November 19, 1972 - Hogwarts

Cassie didn't know what had prompted her to go on this… researching spree; the result of which was her body huddled over the most comprehensive pureblood family tree she could find, and trying to take notes.

Maybe it was her curiosity, hearing Professor Binns discussing the intertwined origins of the pureblood families, that had interested her in her further origins - ones that her mother had not written of. It may have been also the letter she'd received that morning, from the House of Rosier, inquiring about her availability and if her mother had made any plans for her eventual marriage.

She'd blushed like fire, reading the contents at the breakfast table; her only relief being that Evan Rosier had graduated last year, and was not available to pursue her in person.

To be truthful, it both sickened and fascinated her, the custom of such early marriage; and while her first thought was to simply dismiss it out of hand, she was old enough to understand the value of such alliances, now. But could she marry for something other than love?

Cassie cursed under her breath. In her tangent, she'd drifted off, not realizing that the ink had started to drip from her quill and onto the book. Before she could think up a suitable excuse to Madam Pince, she saw the page simply absorb the ink, making it disappear.

She sighed, relieved, and leaned closer to check that no damage had been done.

-Althaia Prince-

1736 - 1821

She was just leaning away, grateful that the protection spells had worked, when she noticed the name, and more importantly the hand-drawn portrait.

That was the same Althaia she knew, there was no doubt about it. Same hair, same eyes, same skin. She'd been a Prince?

She thought back to her encounters with the Hogwarts portrait, remembering the familiarity of some of Althaia's gestures. She'd seen the same skeptical brow and quirk of the lips on Severus and Eileen more times than she could count.

Cassie grinned, promising herself that she'd confront the portrait tomorrow, when she went to McGonagall's office. She'd love to be able to tell Severus.

Her eyes trailing downward, she noticed Althaia's three children. Appoline, the late wife of Hector Granger–

So Severus was, in a way, related to one of his favorite potioneers, Cassie though, grinning.

Then, Septimus Prince, who died unmarried; and lastly Tiberius Prince, who was– still alive? She'd been sure Severus' grandparents were dead.

Heart jumping into her throat, Cassie traced Tiberius' line downward. Marrying Eimear, and having a single child, disowned. Through the deep, red, cross, she could just make out the first letters of the name, E–i–l.

That was Eileen. She was sure of it. And her parents were still alive. But– Eileen had said that her parents were dead. Had she lied, not wanting to discuss it, or was she telling the truth and simply didn't know?

Now unsure what to do, Cassie shut the book. She'd talk to Severus and Althaia tomorrow; and see what to do next.