Author's Note: I should warn you that I throw a lot at you in this chapter so hold on to something as you read. Just kidding…but I do need to warn you that there is reference (though not direct) of suicide and rape in this chapter.

First Times, Second Chances

Chapter Fifteen: Second Flight of the Prince

Severus knew that he only had a few days to prepare for Shacklebolt and Meri to show up at the school gates. He had already spoken to the Carrows about the possibility of the arrest. He had also sent a message to the Dark Lord voicing his concerns. His response was short: Fight. As if he didn't have enough on his mind already, the Daily Prophet had landed on his desk with another disconcerting, albeit predictable, issue.

"And what does the Prophet have to say today, Severus?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. There were times when he appreciated the presence of Dumbledore in the portrait and others when he sincerely wished for quiet. "Apparently, they're trying to dig up dirt on Meri. There was a front page article regaling her less than admirable escapades."

"Really?" the portrait said, "did they manage to fit the story of her and the mishap with the goblin?"

Severus turned around. "No, I think they left that out."

"Pity, I rather liked that story. Have you ever heard it, Severus?"

"No, I have not and I would prefer it stay that way."

"Very well," Dumbledore said, "what does the article say?"

Severus frowned deeply. "They're looking in to her apparent suicide attempt in the middle of her sixth year."

"Ah, yes. I remember that well. It frightened many people."

"So it did happen?" Severus asked, crossing his arms across his chest. "I never got a straight answer from anyone concerning that event." He hated to admit it but not knowing what happened to Meri during her sixth year unnerved him greatly. They had continued with their private lessons with legilimency and occulmency with Dumbledore but whatever had happened she had completely shut away from him.

Dumbledore had fallen into one of his quiet, pensive moods so Severus allowed him time. Perhaps he would finally learn the truth as to what happened. Finally, the former Headmaster shifted in the frame.

"Severus, I believe it is prudent for you know the circumstances that drove Meri to do what she did. I'm sure the Daily Prophet will be throwing all kinds of speculation on the subject. Given the fact that I won't be able to communicate with you after the next day or so, now is the time for you know. There is a bottle in the Pensieve cabinet labeled 'MP 1978.'"

Severus went to the cabinet and moved some of the bottles around till he found a small amber bottle with the label that Dumbledore told him to look for. He pulled it out and found the silvery material of a memory floating around inside. He opened the bottle and dumped it into the Pensieve before carrying the stone basin over to the desk. He stared down into the swirling liquid feeling almost guilty.

Meri and he had both shown signs of legilimency and occulmency in her third year and his fourth. Dumbledore kept getting reports of the two of them predicting surprise tests, his faster than normal reflexes and her abnormal precision on the Quidditch field. Dumbledore himself had started teaching them how to control these gifts and use them in tandem. They had spent three years running around in each other's minds, knowing the ins and outs of each other's thoughts and feelings. It was the ultimate invasion in his mind to view this memory that she had kept hidden for so long. But Dumbledore had granted permission and curiosity got the best of him. With a deep breath, he fell head first into the stone basin.

He landed back in Dumbledore's office and at first thought he hadn't even entered into the Pensieve. But when everything came into focus, he saw a younger looking Dumbledore seated behind his desk, an immense look of sympathy on his face. Turning slightly, he saw a sixteen year old Meri, curled up in a fetal position on the chair across from Dumbledore.

She had wet tracks on extremely pale cheeks with black smudges under her eyes. Her thinness, skin color, red-rimmed eyes and shaky hands all spoke of a poison attempt, hemlock, possibly. So that was how she tried to kill herself. It would explain the lengthy stay she had in St. Mungo's that Christmas holiday.

"Meri?" Dumbledore's voice was quiet and soft but Meri jumped as if he had shouted at her. He tried again, "Meri, why?"

She took a shuddering breath and more tears rolled down her face. "I can't…I can't say."

"Why not? Your family is very concerned about you, James especially. Your friends as well, Remus, Lily, Mary, even Severus is worried."

She gave him a disbelieving look before returning her eyes to her trembling hands. "What about my mum?"

"What about her?"

Meri swallowed forcibly. "Is she alright?"

"As far as I know. Why the concern over her?"

She rubbed her forehead, something that Severus had come to know as a tick whenever she was frustrated or felt like she was backed into a corner. "I don't want to say…I can't tell…"

"Meri, secrets create a cage around us. The more secrets you keep, the more you find you can not move." The headmaster leaned across the desk and fixed Meri with a steady but compassionate stare. "I've lived a very long time and I can assure you, anything you say will not shock or disgust me. I've seen the kind of person you are and nothing can make me believe you are anything but brave, intelligent and kind hearted."

Severus watched Meri's face as frustration gave way to fear and ultimately, shame. After many minutes of deliberation, she finally started to speak.

"I was, I was going through the exercises that you assigned to us over the holiday and, and," her lower lip trembled, "and I was so stupid."

"I highly doubt that," Dumbledore passed her a white handkerchief which she took with shaky hands. "What happened then?"

"I thought that I could possibly reach Sev. I know where he lives so I knew the distance it would take and the concentration. I know what his mind feels like so…I tried."

Dumbledore nodded his head slowly. "It wasn't Severus' mind that you saw, was it?"

Meri shook her head. "It was my, my mum's. She was having a nightmare and everything was happening so quickly. By the time I got control back," she closed her eyes, "I had seen everything."

Silence fell in the room with only the ticking of a clock and Fawkes clicking his beak. Severus found he had been holding his breath, waiting for "everything" to be explained. After several minutes, Dumbledore finally shifted in his chair, his face deadly serious.

"I assume you mean your mother's capture by the Death Eaters shortly after James was born?"

Meri nodded her head miserably and Severus couldn't believe he didn't know this piece of information. But it still didn't account for her attempted end of her life. There had to be something else to this and sure enough, Meri added more detail.

"Sir, I, uh, I don't…don't know how to t-tell you…" she broke off in a ragged sigh.

"Take your time."

Meri moved from her fetal position and put her feet on the floor, her hands gripping the armrests of the chair so tightly both her hands were white from the effort. Her eyes remained fixed on the floor still and Severus could see tears dripping off the end of her nose. She was trembling from head to toe and when she spoke her voice wavered as well.

"When my mum was having her nightmare, I saw…I saw You-Know-Who," she swallowed with great effort, "I saw him attack my mum. I saw him…"

Dumbledore had risen from his chair and made his way over to Meri. He knelt down in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know."

Meri shook her head violently. "No, you don't. After I got control I went to her and I asked her…I asked her if she knew who…who my father was." Meri stood up with such force the chair was knocked back and Dumbledore was forced to release her shoulders. Meri looked deranged, wild-eyed and heaving. "She said she couldn't be sure! She said she never could be sure!" She grabbed fistfuls of her curly black hair and howled, falling to her knees sobbing. "Oh God," she moaned, "I could be his child. I could be You-Know-Who's daughter!"

Dumbledore rushed over to where Meri had fallen and wrapped his arms around her, rocking her back and forth. It was a long time before she had quieted enough for Dumbledore to speak again.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Meri. But believe me when I say that who our parents are do not determine who we become. Your mother and father love you and James so much and, I daresay, they have never treated you differently or shown signs of favoritism."

Meri shook her head slightly.

"Your mother wanted to keep this secret from you because she was afraid you would feel less like her daughter and that was the last thing she wanted you to feel. As far as your parents are concerned, you are their daughter and will always remain so."

He watched as the scene shift and felt himself come out of the Penseive…

Severus found himself leaning over the desk, trying to process the revelation that had just been given to him. He turned and stared at the spot on the carpet where Meri had once knelt and sobbed over her dubious parentage. No wonder she had tried to take her own life. It was known across the school that James Potter hated anything to do with the Dark Arts. What would have been his reaction had he known his own sister might be the child of one of the most powerful Dark Wizards of the time?

"The Prophet will get it correct one day, if they're already reporting her suicide attempt," Dumbledore said quietly. "I wanted you to know the real reason so when it comes out and Meri is forced from the Auror office, you need to find her."

"Me? Why me?"

"Meri was right in thinking that she could reach you despite the distance. You know each other's minds so well, with a good deal of concentration you should be able to find her location if she is forced underground. And you must. Having this family secret aired so publicly will only force her back into her self-destructive nature, especially after losing Remus not that long ago. I fear she may try to take her life again and that is the last thing the Order and Harry needs right now."

He wasn't that thrilled about this new assignment, babysitter to James Potter's little sister, on top of trying to stay alive in his role as double agent. "Do you think there is any truth in her being the Dark Lord's daughter?"

Dumbledore sighed wearily. "There are some similarities between Tom Riddle and Meriam Potter, yes. They both have a significant amount of charisma and magical capabilities. I also researched her family history and there are no mentions of legilimens or occulemens. And," the portrait paused briefly, "the way they hold their wands is identical."

Meri knew she was walking into a fight as the large entrance doors of Hogwarts came into view. She was to accompany Kingsley and Dawlish, who had been one of many to be removed from the Imperious curse, to arrest Snape and the Carrows. They were chosen to do the actual arrest because they made up the three strongest wizards found in the Ministry at the moment.

Kingsley had suffered immense dissatisfaction with many witches and wizards, which Meri had pointed out, made their job easier in finding out where the death eaters were hiding themselves in the Ministry ranks. Thankfully, Dolores Umbridge handed in her resignation and went into early retirement. Many followed her, either resigning and taking short vacations or following Umbridge's example and going into retirement. It had thinned their numbers enormously but Kingsley remained optimistic that radical change had to occur first before things would turn in their favor. She hoped he was right.

Professor McMonagall met them at the entrance hall, her back stiff and her lips pressed into a thin line. "Minister, Mr. Dawlish, Ms. Potter."

They nodded back to her as Kingsley addressed her. "Do you know where they are?"

"Snape is in the Headmaster's office. The sooner you get him out the better. The Carrow's, I believe may be with him."

Meri followed behind Kingsley and Dawlish as they made their way to the Headmaster's office. They passed by the Great Hall where a group of students were in an after hours study hall and they all looked up as McGonagall passed and gave the three Ministry workers curious glances. Two students got up from their table, Gryffindor if Meri saw correctly, and ran to the doors of the Great Hall. Meri looked over her shoulder and recognized Ginny Weasley as one of the students but she didn't know the boy, though he did look vaguely familiar.

"Meri," Ginny called.

She stopped and Ginny and the boy ran out into the hallway to see her. She looked over to see that McGonagall had stopped but gave her a curt nod to let her know that the distraction was permitted. "Hey, Ginny. How are you?"

"Fine, have you heard from Harry, Ron and Hermione at all?"

She wondered if she should tell them that she had. Harry had written her a letter that she got two days ago in the muggle post. It had been short but assured her they all were safe, healthy and fed. "I'm sure he's fine, Ginny."

"You have heard, haven't you?" the boy spoke up.

"And you are?"

"Oh," he stuck out his hand, "Neville Longbottom."

That was why he looked familiar: he favored his mum. Meri lowered her voice. "What makes you think I've heard from them?"

He did the same. "You paused before you answered."

Meri gave him a smile. "You're just like your Dad. Good work. As of five days ago, they were fine."

Neither one of them asked how she knew this but merely smiled broadly. Meri gave Ginny a brief hug and patted Neville's shoulder. "You better get back to studying. Good luck." She watched them disappear back into the Great Hall before returning to the group. It was a quiet, almost eerie walk through the school that brought back good and bad memories for her, but all of them hurt to remember. It wasn't until they reached the floor where the Head Master's office is located that things got interesting very quickly.

As soon as they stepped foot in the hallway a flash of bright light blinded them. Aiming in front of her, Meri sent a shield charm to block the entire group. Thankfully it held as her sight came back and she caught just the tip of three cloaks disappearing around the corner of the hallway. Severus wasn't kidding when he said he would put up a fight.

"Stay here," Meri said as she ran past McGonagall. She really didn't want the now current Headmistress hurt in the scuffle. She could hear Kingsley and Dawlish behind her as they covered the rest of the hallway in a matter of seconds and shot around the corner. The hallway was longer than the one they had left and all three people were still in sight. Meri sent a stunning charm but it hit a suit of armor instead, knocking it over. An idea occurred to her and she hit another suit of armor further up the hallway. As it fell it took out one of the Carrows and with a quick flick of her wand, Meri had one of them bound on the floor.

She was starting to plan the next attack when a jet of red light passed over her shoulder. She heard someone fall behind her and glanced back to see Kingsley still standing so it must have been Dawlish who went down. By the time she turned back around all Meri could see was red before everything went black.

Severus apparated in front of the Malfoy's front gate. He wasn't ready to show his face yet to the Death Eaters gathered in the sprawling mansion, so he opted for catching his breath propped up against the boundary wall. This was the second time he had fled the only place that ever remotely felt like a home. Now, he faced a possible painful future at the hands of the Dark Lord for being chased out of the school.

He could just make a run for it but without anywhere to go it didn't seem like a productive plan, especially since the Order thought he was an enemy and the Death Eaters would see him as a deserter. Dumbledore wanted him to remain in Voldemort's camp for as long as possible so that only left him with the choice of facing punishment and being reassigned.

With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself off the wall and took a steadying breath. With a hand on the gate, a crack sounded behind him. He turned around to see the squat, lumpy form of Amycus Carrow shuffling through the darkness. As he neared, Severus could hear the wheezy giggle coming every now and again and see that the Carrow was dragging something behind him.

"Amycus?"

The wheezy giggle came again. "No punishment for us tonight, Snape!"

"What?"

Amycus threw whatever he was dragging at Snape's feet. It looked like nothing more than a mess of robes. Using the toe of his boot, Severus pushed the bundle over and saw Meri's pale face in the dim moonlight. Amycus was still gasping with delight.

"I went back after they got Alecto and snatched this one. The Dark Lord should be pleased with this one. Head Auror, ha!" Amycus spit in Meri's direction and continued his laughing. Severus wasn't sure what to do now. He could knock out Amycus, take Meri and go on the run but that would compromise both of their positions. He could deliver her to the Dark Lord as penance for abandoning his post but it could mean Meri's death in the process. Dumbledore's order of keeping Meri alive echoed in his head until Bellatrix's voice drowned it out.

"What do we have here?" she said, stepping through the gate. When she saw the face, she broke out in a delighted laugh. "Meri Potter! Potter's Aunt! The Dark Lord will be very pleased! Itty Bitty Potter will have to show himself now!"

Severus watched as Bellatrix ran back down the pathway to the mansion, yelling the announcement that he and Amycus had brought Meri Potter with them. His mind was racing, each plan of escape as improbable as the next. He bent down to pick up the unconscious form when he felt Amycus' wand at his throat.

"I brought her. I carry her in."

"You can't carry her."

"I got her here."

"You drug her here. The Dark Lord will need her in one piece."

Amycus seemed to think about that and reluctantly stepped back. "Fine. But I'm the one that tells him I got her."

"Fine," Severus snapped as he hoisted Meri over his shoulder and started down the lane towards the house. As soon as the doors were in sight, they opened and Voldemort stepped down to greet them, his followers spilling out into the night around him.

"Is it true, Severus?" he asked. "Is that Meriam Potter?"

Severus swallowed. "Yes, my lord."

A wide smile broke out across Voldemort's snake like face and he opened his arms like he was welcoming home a relative. "Severus, I can always count on you to please me."