Saturday morning, Severus came to the house with the students from the other two houses in tow. He delivered these charges and escorted the Gryffindor and Slytherin students back to Hogwarts.

Katrina spent the day getting her newest students acquainted with the house. She ordered pizzas for the students' dinner, saving her energy to prepare a small meal for her daughter, herself, and their two guests.

At six o'clock, the doorbell rang and Katrina went outside to properly greet Severus and Minerva. She opened the outer gate/door and smiled, "Minerva, Severus, please come in."

"Katrina," McGonagal said softly, with a large smile, "It's been far too long."

"You're right; it has been much too long. Wait until you see Maggie, she's grown so much!"

Katrina led them inside and directly into the kitchen, "Please, have a seat."

"So, where is my goddaughter?" Minerva asked, glancing around the small kitchen.

"She's probably downstairs helping out the students. I'll be right back," Katrina said, hurrying from the room in search of her daughter. She found her daughter in the middle of a group of Hufflepuff girls. She held back a moment and simply listened in.

"I still can't believe you're dating Harry Potter!" a red haired girl squeaked, clearly addressing Maggie.

"We're not dating," Maggie said quickly, a blush suffusing her cheeks.

"Oh, come on! We saw the two of you kissing outside before he left!" another girl interjected.

"We're just really good friends," Maggie protested weakly.

"Uh huh, sure," one of the other girls said. The girl leaned closer to Maggie, "So… what's he like in bed?"

Maggie blushed beet red and took a small step backwards, "I wouldn't know."

Katrina decided now was a good time to step in. "Maggie? I need you upstairs," she called, pretending she hadn't just heard all of that. Once her daughter was at the stairs, she glanced over at her, "We have some guests for dinner."

Maggie glanced at her mother, "I really don't know… about Harry, I mean. We didn't do anything, mum."

Katrina gave her daughter an appraising look, "I know, Maggie." She stopped her daughter at the top of the stairs, "Maggie, you know I love you, don't you?" She didn't give her startled daughter any chance to respond, "I love you more than I love my own life. I have made some very bad decisions in my past and at the time, they seemed to be right. In fact, they seemed to be the only decisions I could make to keep you safe. Those mistakes have finally caught up to me, Maggie dear, and tonight I'm going to begin rectifying my mistakes as best I can."

"Mum?" Maggie said, her voice small, "I don't understand."

Katrina pulled her daughter to her and hugged her, "You will soon and I only hope you don't hate me for it." She pulled away and held her daughter at arm's length, "Come on, Severus is here and there's someone else here who is eager to meet you."

Minerva sat across from Severus, nervously fiddling with the edge of the tablecloth. They heard approaching footsteps and she stood as Katrina entered the room, followed by a beautiful young lady. Minerva's gaze snapped between the girl and Severus, automatically registering the similarities. She was glad to see that the child had inherited her mother's olive skin tones, as opposed to her father's sallow tones.

"Maggie, this is Professor Minerva McGonagal. She is the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Minerva, this is my daughter Maggie," Katrina made the introductions, smiling nervously.

Smiling broadly, Minerva extended a hand to the girl before her, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Maggie."

"Likewise, Professor," Maggie responded, shaking her hand with a bright smile of her own.

"Maggie, Minerva, please sit while I serve dinner. I think we will eat before we discuss anything…" Katrina said as she bustled around the kitchen, serving the meal which had been staying warm on the stove.

"Professor Snape, sir," Maggie began, drawing Minerva's attention as well as Severus'.

"Yes, Maggie?" he asked. Was that the hint of a smile Minerva saw? She blinked and glanced back at the child.

"Well, I was reading that text you gave me and I was confused by something. I'm not sure I understand the reason that the eel fangs should be powdered for the Infatuation potion. Shouldn't they be laterally sliced?"

Minerva expected a quick answer from Severus and was shocked to see his eyes had grown huge. There was an unrecognizable emotion in his eyes. She watched him attempt to speak once before he took a deep, calming breath and finally spoke.

"That is… I am stunned that you have found the single error in that entire textbook." Was that pride Minerva heard in Severus' voice?

"Well, considering who the author is," Maggie continued, "I was surprised to find any errors at all."

The smallest blush crept into Severus' cheeks as he responded, "That was a first edition copy of the text and the error was fixed in subsequent editions."

Minerva realized that they were discussing a textbook that Severus had recently published. She laughed lightly, "Well, Severus, I'm jealous. This young lady got a first edition copy of one of the pre-eminent potions texts and I had to settle for a 5th edition printing."

"I'm sure I still have a couple first editions," he responded smoothly. "Would you like me to sign it for you too?" he asked sarcastically.

Katrina was placing the plates on the table when she joined in on the conversation, "You didn't tell me you had a published text, Severus," she gently chided.

"We haven't exactly been in touch," he snapped automatically, a chill descending in the kitchen.

Katrina turned away, ostensibly to get glasses and the bottle of wine.

Minerva glared at the potions master, "That was uncalled for, Severus."

"Katrina, I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that," he said quietly.

Turning back to the table, Katrina wordlessly placed the glasses on the table and filled them with red wine. She placed the bottle down and sat, "It's okay. You have every right to be angry with me." She gestured to the food before all of them and her smile was forced, "Please, eat before it gets cold."

Minerva poked at her food; the tension in the room was palpable. The meal was delicious. Katrina had served pasta in a red sauce with shrimp and fresh baked garlic bread. Everyone ate in silence. Once they had all finished, Katrina cleared the table before returning to her seat.

Katrina took a deep breath, turned to her daughter, and began to speak. "Maggie, it is time I told you the truth about myself and your father."