Disclaimer: If you honestly think that Harry Potter is mine, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

Part One: The Return

The Gate had been dormant for years. The dementors had ceased to spill from it decades before, and the former source of terror had faded into memory, a dark tale half-forgotten over time. Its stone pillars had begun to crumble; the runes had faded, no longer glowing with the Old Magic.

On this night, however, something was different. The cave was imbued with a sense of restlessness; there was an air of waiting and of frustration. And then… the Gate crackled to life. There was a shout of triumph and a woman tumbled forward, through the web of crackling energy. She lay on the ground for a moment, breathing hard, hair fallen forward to cover her face. She looked up when she had caught her breath, getting her bearings.

"The cave… the forest… oh thank the Gods," she breathed, pushing herself up and standing. "Hang on Sev, I'm almost home."

The sorting ceremony was over. Six new Gryffindors, eight Ravenclaws, seven Hufflepuffs, and five Slytherins had joined the student population, and all of the Houses were settling in to their feast when the Great Hall doors flew open, landing against the stone walls of the hall with a crash. Heads turned to regard the woman who stood silhouetted in the doorway. For a moment little of her was visible, but then she stepped forward into the light. Auburn hair hung to her shoulders; her blue-eyed gaze swept the room briefly before settling on the head table. She was clad completely in black, with the bearing of a fighter; she moved with a strange grace as she began to make her way into the Hall. Some of the students shrank back as she passed and all conversation died.

The head table had also been struck dumb. One professor, however, was on his feet, staring in profoundest shock at the newcomer, his face had gone pale. Everyone in the room was astonished to hear Severus Snape speak, his tone a mixture of disbelief, fear, and something else entirely, something that none of them had ever expected from him.

"Artemis?" he asked. He moved slowly toward her, as though afraid she would spook and disappear again. She did not, however; instead she smiled.

"Hallo, Sev. Did you miss me?" He stared, dumbfounded.

"You're alive…" he whispered, and then, before anyone could react, they were in each other's arms. She was laughing and a few of the students later said that they had seen a tear roll down the Potion master's cheek. This scene lasted only briefly, however; the couple (and it seemed strange to think of Snape in that fashion) soon realized where they were and pulled apart; Severus coughed uncomfortably.

"Yes, well – welcome back." He still did not sound like himself; Artemis grinned. She turned to address herself to the Headmaster. By this time Dumbledore had also reached her; his shock was no less palpable than Severus', indeed, he looked as though he had just seen a banshee.

"I'm home, Daddy," she said. A gasp was heard from the students on all sides; Severus glanced around them.

"Perhaps we should take this conversation to your office," he suggested.

"Perhaps you're right," Albus replied. The three proceeded to walk out, leaving the excited buzz of conversation behind them.

Severus Snape was in shock. Artemis had been assumed to be dead for fifteen years; that she should return on the anniversary of her disappearance defied explanation. And yet there she was, undeniably real and very much alive. The question was, how?

"Sev, are you alright?" He barely heard the question at first, still not used to the sound of her voice after so long; he had never expected to hear that voice again this side of death. He looked up, startled.

"You seem distracted," she remarked, looking concerned.

"Just… shell-shocked," he replied. They did not speak further; they had reached the phoenix which marked the entrance to the Headmaster's office. Artemis turned to face it; she had always known the password. It would be interesting to try and guess it now after so long away.

"Kit-Kat," she guessed, knowing her father's predilection for sweets. To her surprise, the gargoyle moved; Albus regarded her strangely for a moment before shaking his head. He had heard of being well-informed, but that did not even begin to cover this one. He frowned to himself; he was more than a little worried at this new occurrence.

Artemis Snape, née Dumbledore, had disappeared fifteen years ago, just a few weeks before Lily and James Potter had been killed. Two of Voldemort's Death Eaters had later confessed to killing her; Albus could still remember Severus' sheer rage and his own grief. No spell or potion, no matter how strong, could bring back the dead, and so Albus was at a loss as to how his only child was now standing in front of him. She was undeniably who she appeared to be; no one would have any reason to impersonate her, nor would they have been able to do so without her body, which had never been found. The only two who had known that detail had been Kissed before the information could be forced out of them; how on Earth, then, had this happened?

"If you would both follow me?" he asked, gesturing toward the staircase. They were sitting down in his office moments later; Severus suddenly felt like a first-year student again as he regarded the Headmaster's stern visage.

"Artemis… while I am inexpressibly glad to see you alive…" Albus started.

"How did I get here?" she asked, finishing his question. She sat back with a sigh, her expression serious and somehow wistful.

"To begin with, I was never really dead," she started. At a strange look from Severus, she amended herself. "At least, I don't think I was." She stopped for a moment, seeming to contemplate something. "If that was death, then it's definitely not all it's cracked up to be." Severus gave her a pointed look; she coughed. "Well, anyway, whatever it was, it was quiet, and very grey. It took me a while to figure out what had happened, and after that it took me even longer to find the Gate. Opening it…" she shook her head. "I'm surprised that I have any energy left after that little stunt. It wasn't easy. I came here as soon as I could stand up again; it's lucky that I was close or I would still be walking. I don't feel up to any more magic tonight, certainly." Both of the men stared, digesting what they had just been told.

"You never cease to amaze me," Severus finally said, coming over to wrap his arm around his wife's shoulders. Artemis, however, was looking at her father; something on his desk caught her eye, something she had never seen before. A horrible thought suddenly dawned on her.

"How long have I been away?" she asked. Albus' smile suddenly became frozen; Severus looked away. She looked between them, suddenly uneasy. She turned to stare at her husband, knowing that he would be more likely to answer her question. "Severus… how long have I been missing?" He seemed to brace himself.

"Your godson is in his sixth year," he answered quietly. "That would make it…"

"Fifteen years," she breathed. "Oh bloody hell." She suddenly sat bolt upright.

"What have I missed?" she demanded. "You didn't… I don't know… you're not married again or…" Severus just looked at her for a moment, a long, slow, steady gaze; she flushed. "What happened while I was gone?" she asked, a bit more calmly.

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