Disclaimer: See earlier chapters.

A/N: Sorry this update took so long but work has been rather busy and this story has been killing me.

Read and review or mock. I would mock it at this point.

EllaTwain

THE POTTERS

It had nearly destroyed their friendship.

But then again it wasn't Harry's child and wasn't Harry's dilemma. The Boy-Who-Lived-More-Than-Once was not in Severus' or Hermione's place

"You have no one to blame 'Mione, except yourself." Harry responded as the three sat out on the patio with tea. Hermione had come over confused and upset about the growing disaster of her oldest daughter's arrival.

"Harry!" Ginny chided her husband.

"What Ginny? Am I wrong? I told them from the start that what they were doing was no worse than how my Aunt and Uncle treated me all those years-"

Ginny interrupted her ranting husband. "Harry! That was entirely different and you know it! And if you think about it, they let you attend Hogwarts and they let you find your world; a world in which you belonged. You had to be sent away for it to happen, right? Hermione and Severus did what they thought would be best. They sent her to a world in which she could belong and grow. There are consequences that came from both of these scenarios. To think that because we are magic we can escape the wrath of our decisions is ridiculous."

"She could have remained here. Attended Muggle schools here. Gotten a job here. She could have been with the family."

"And what Harry?" Hermione finally spoke. "Watch every year as her brothers and sisters were sent to a magical place and to do magical things just like their parents. How did watching such a world fair for your aunt? If I remember rightly, it didn't. She was left feeling like an outsider and deemed your own mum a freak. How did it work for Argus Filch? He's a bitter man, who haunts the grounds, always angry at children who possess what he never will. We could never stop our children from being magical as it would be just a disservice to them as to try to make Miranda magical. We did what we had to do for the greater good of our family and for her."

"Greater good…where have I heard that before?" Harry muttered sarcastically.

Hermione stood and met her old friend eye to eye. "Listen Harry, we have been around this over and over again. It's time you let it go. I can no longer worry about the past and the decisions a mother and father made in the best intentions for their child. It's done Harry and it's been many years since it was done. Miranda has grown-up. She's a doctor and she's settled. She will do great things, I believe. And you know what Harry, she will do all of this without us. Without her family. I had to beg Harry, I had to beg my own daughter to come stay with us for one week. I haven't seen her in ten years and I had to beg for her to do it. I cannot worry about what happened years ago; right now I must worry about the future and how to make certain it will not be another ten years before I see my child. I have to figure out how to make a father and daughter who haven't literally spoken in ten years talk to one another. If you are my friend, you would help me. You would help me as I have helped you so many many times before." Hermione's sparkling eyes were blurred by tears. The tears quickly became sobs and she fell back onto the patio chair.

Ginny Potter gave her husband a deadly look before placing a comforting arm around Hermione. Harry relented just as quickly, bent down and looked Hermione in the eyes.

"I will do all that I can Hermione. I have done nothing less over the years."

Hermione's eyebrow quirked at the end of his statement.

"Did you honestly think I would not intervene? I have done my best to communicate with Miranda and help her in any way I can to understand this world and her own. I have outreached to the girl even when she didn't want it. I did this all because she is your daughter-she is Severus' daughter and I owe both of you my very life. I will do as much as I can while she is here but Hermione, I make no promises. I agree we must accept that the past has happened and there can be little done to change it. Nevertheless, to move on from it, is an entirely different story. We lived through that and we fought through that and it seems we must do it again."

"I am tired of battles, war and fighting Harry. I just want my daughter back." Hermione replied very softly.

"Anything worth loving is always worth fighting for. You, my good friend, taught me that and that is what you must do."

The war was on.

--

A CAFE

"Rose!" Miranda exclaimed joyously as she hugged the bulging petite red-haired woman.

"Oh, Mir!" Rose Weasley-Snape responded, just as excited to see her old friend and sister-in-law.

Rose Dianne Wealsey-Snape was the only daughter to Ronald and Luna Weasley. Rose was her mother in stature and frame but had inherited her father's bright red hair and matching freckles. She was a sweet and nurturing young woman, the same age as Miranda and the two had been close friends and relatives.

It seemed strange that out of all the people from her family and extended family, Rose was her best friend and greatest confidant. Born the same year and placed together often as children the two became inseparable. And Rose, at the young age of seven, could not understand why Miranda had to be sent far away. She would later come to know why but children never get over seeing their best friends move far away.

Lucky for both, Rose had sense enough to keep in contact with her friend. Before Miranda left Rose gave her an enchanted musical box in which they were able to exchange notes from across the seas. The pair of boxes traveled all over with the girls and through them they shared all their lives and deepest secrets.

When Rose had been placed in Gryffindor, a note went into the box first thing. When Miranda had been accepted to Princeton, she made a copy of the letter and placed it in the box. Back and forth their lives and loves went. When Rose had fallen in love with Leo, Miranda's older and brooding brother, thousands of notes were exchanged. When Miranda had fallen in love with her attending doctor, a much older and recently divorced man, Rose had left the box and gone to visit. At last, when Leo finally saw the beautiful young woman that Rose had become and proposed, the ring and a letter went into the box. That was followed by a beautiful small card and small engagement gift from Miranda.

The two remained in each other's lives and somehow never let the magical divider divide them. But only one other person knew of the fast and true friendship and that was Miranda's brother Leo.

It made sense for him to know and little got past her eldest brother. Miranda did carry a certain respect for her brother; if for nothing else but for choosing the best wife possible. Miranda had not been able to attend their wedding due to a natural disaster crisis for which she had been called-in to work but she had sent a spectacular gift.

She gave them a crib.

There had been fits of laughter when the couple opened the large package to discover the crib. Shouts of 'it was much too soon' and 'what weren't they telling everyone' filled the room. But all of it was lost on Leo and Rose. The crib was a hand-carved wood, smooth with delicate and intricate wooden-designs engraved into it. Inside it was fitted with the softest of beds and blankets.

Rose assured the crowd and family she was not pregnant and jokingly made the comment that Miranda was obviously hoping a little too hard. Leo knew better. Leo knew that Miranda was seeing something he and Rose hadn't. They had discussed waiting for children and both establishing respectable careers first.

Ten months later Nora Cate Snape was born and placed within the beautiful crib. Rose had asked Miranda why she got them a crib. Miranda had no deep explanation other than she saw the crib at a sale several weeks before the wedding in New York City. She saw the item and felt an urgent need to purchase it for them. She hadn't found a suitable wedding gift and if nothing else, it would be a good gag and laugh. Rose eyed her friend cautiously. Miranda assured her it was nothing more than a gift and a good buy. There was nothing magical about it. She had assumed they would have children at some point- after all, Rose was a Weasley. The crib could wait to be filled till that time.

Rose and Leo hadn't believed a word.

"Okay, sit-sit. I want to know everything about your new job, loft, and how many doctors have proposed to you since you arrived at your new hospital." She laughed jovially.

"First, I haven't started my new job yet. I had my initial interview but I told you how that went already. My new loft while sucking my very last dime from me is absolutely amazing. It has a wonderful view of splendid little park and garden and the entire city. It's spacious and open and perfect for me. And the last answer to your question is zero. The only doctors I met have been Doctors Lisa Cuddy, James Wilson and Allison Cameron. Doctors Cuddy and Wilson are expecting a child together; although I am not sure if it means they are a couple or it was an arrangement of sorts. Doctor Cameron, while a very pretty young doctor is a woman. So none. And honestly, I just don't have time or the want Ro. After my relationship ended with Spenser, I was broken and it took away from my ability to do my job. I need all the ability I possess for this position and I cannot afford to be distracted."

"That's what you said exactly a week before you met Spenser."

"I mean it this time Ro. I really do. This could be a career-making opportunity and I don't intend to waste it. I haven't even started and I know I am going to have my hands full. I've written five new memorandums, revised current policy for the free Clinic, made policy for the new Clinic, am reviewing job applications, and must also find a way to control a troublesome doctor that will be working for me."

"I could always help with that…" Rose spoke, giving a sly wink.

Normally, Miranda would have been upset with the implication of using magic but with Rose it was just typical order for them. "I might actually take you up on that offer."

"The doctor must be a right special git if you are willing to resort to magical means."

"Git does not begin to describe him, Ro. He's the best in his field and he won't let anyone forget it. He's arrogant in a very unique way and has made life for most of the staff at the hospital a living hell. He once held an 'American Idol' competition to choose his new fellows…interns that is. He had them doing all sorts of weird and unethical things to 'win' a place in his department."

"You're kidding?"

"No and he will be working for me. He's not going to like this in the least. So bring on the magic--what do you suggest a charm, a potion--how about a hex?" Miranda laughed.

"Hex would be good. I'm fairly great at hexes." Rose responded laughing too.

"Anyway, I'm busy. I enjoy it. I live for it but I would also like to work on getting the Clinics updated with the latest technology and software. I would like to send my staff to patient care seminars. There are miles of work to be done and I'm just beginning."

"You sound like Albus."

"Albus?"

"Albus Severus Potter, remember, my cousin…he's the same age as me and you. He's Harry's middle son and has been working for St. Mungo's as a foreign healer. He's been traveling for the past three years. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry haven't seen him since last Christmas and I haven't seen him since the summer holiday before that, I think. Last I even heard he was in Budapest with a group of wizards working on a better solution than Skel-e-grow for the replacement of bones. But anyway…he's all about his work. James is married with four kids and Lily is pregnant with her and Scorpius' first child. Albus is just so driven and independent, a lot like you, actually."

"Don't even go there Rose."

"What?"

"I know that tone. I am not interested."

"Why? Albus is successful. He's in the 'medical field'-sort of. He's quiet good-looking, or so my friends tell me over and over again. He hasn't dated anyone worth a lick in ages. He's intelligent--"

"Seriously, Rose, stop. While I am sure Albus is a catch amongst the wizarding world at large I have no interest in dating or mating with a wizard. I don't actually see how it could ever work. My career is very permanent and settled in one hospital in the Muggle world in the United States. Your cousin is all over the wizarding community and world and doesn't appear to be settling down anytime soon. I love Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny- I do but I don't see me considering their son."

"You know I hate this."

"Hate what?"

"Hate it when you do this 'magical versus non-magical' crap. I am one of your closest friends and your sister-in-law and I am a witch, Miranda. Your beloved niece and future nephew will most likely be a wizard too."

"Why? Because you and Leo are a witch and wizard-didn't seem to work for my parents. Please do not do the disservice to your child in hoping they will be such things; it will let you down."

"Miranda, that's not what I meant and you know it. What I mean is that you are so quick to build a great wall between yourself and anything remotely to do with magic that you don't realize all the goodness and the possibility of good things you are walling out. There is me and Leo. There are your other siblings who love you. There is the extended family that would do anything for you if you merely asked. And Miranda, whether you believe me or not, there are your parents."

She put her hand-up to stop her friend from the obvious interruption.

"Miranda, hear me out. I know you are apt and prone to believe your Mum barely loves you and your Father doesn't at all but I can say I know them better than you do. I truly believe they love you; they loved you enough to let you go in hopes you would have an easier life. Maybe it wasn't the right decision, but as a parent there are no guarantees. You simply do what's best and hope that you made the right decision. Your Mum was born to two Muggles. She lived in a Muggle world. She understands more than you ever give her credit for and she is proud of you. Your father…"

Her voice hushed a little. "Miranda I think your father blames himself for what happened or didn't happen to you. I think he believes his past deeds are responsible for everything and I don't think you will ever convince him otherwise. I remember when we were younger. I remember when you use to live here. You were his little girl, Miranda. His eyes, so much like your eyes, lit up whenever you walked into the room. His eyes broke when he realized what was wrong with you."

Miranda didn't say a word. She fancied herself a person who lived a truthful honest existence and valued such things.

She was a liar.

She didn't like or care for at all what Rose had to say. In fact, Miranda thought it hurtful and ridiculously cruel she had said it. Maybe Rose did know her parents better than she did. That was just fact. However, Rose would never know what it is like to be abandon by the very people that brought you into the world….even if the abandonment is nothing more than your own creation or device. She would never know what it is like to feel like a complete disappointment and waste to one's own family.

"Rose you are too much like your Mum." Was all she could say and with that she let the matter drop. Rose knowing Miranda just as well let it drop too. There was no use in arguing or continuing on with the discussion. Miranda was not ready to accept such a thing and they both knew it. They returned to their conversation of idle chit-chat and gossip pretending as if all were well.

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