Note: I do not own 'Harry Potter'. I do own my own characters. I hope you enjoy and I'll try to post a couple of chapters a day since I leave on a 40 day vacation on the 25th...No matter what or how busy I become with packing and everything, I will have it all posted before my flight takes off...

"Brothers don't run off and disappear after their mother is killed," Snape growled.

"Mum wasn't the only one to be killed during that raid. Laura was there too."

"That Muggle."

"At least Mum was trying to see past her family. Father and you looked down your noses at her. Where were the two of you during that raid? Thought all Death Eaters killed together."

Snape was quiet while I got in between them. It was during their talking that I picked up on the similarities. They had the same dark eyes and while my date's nose was a bit hooked, it wasn't as large as Snape's. I gave back the wand and grabbed my date's hand.

"That is the past. Professor Snape is no longer marked and you'll be reunited with her after the Ball. You did bring what I asked, right?"

"Of course. But not marked?"

"Reunited? Sacrificing yourself to be together, Edward?"

"And give you the satisfaction to be the only heir? I might consider myself a Prince but I'm still a Snape. Let's go, Arya. Let's get the Ball started."

After the confrontation, the champions were told to open up the celebration. I danced with Edward, Cedric was with Cho Chang, Viktor took a bushy haired girl from Ravenclaw, and Fleur was with a Durmstrang boy. Only the older adults took notice of my cloak and by their expressions, they realized just how special I was. Although I don't think anyone figured out the type.

The younger males were more interested in the dress underneath. I went with a pure white dress with a flowing skirt and minor detailing under the bust, accenting the deep V plunge between my breasts. I had ample breasts to pull the dress off without making it look tasteless. The straps criss-crossed my back and tied at the waist.

Edward did not once look to his brother but Snape couldn't keep his eyes off our table. Naturally we were sitting with my friends who were laughing from the jokes my date was telling. He even told some childhood stories about the Potions master.

"So your girlfriend was a Muggle?"

"Yes. No ounce of magic in her. My family, except Mum, hated that. When I was called to St. Mungo's to identify her body, I was told Death Eaters had attacked a Muggle café where she had worked. Mum had been there to get acquainted and died in the attack. I was angry and heartbroken that they had died so I left the magical world behind. That is until Arya found me."

"It was by chance. He did my tattoo. So Snape didn't like Laura because she had no magic but yet he was in love with my mother, who was a Muggle-born?" I stated.

"Simply put, yes."

I cast my eyes on Snape and flicked a finger. I raised my eyebrow to Edward and smirked.

"What did you do?"

"He holds magic in such high regard that he wouldn't last a day without it so that's exactly what I did. For the rest of the holidays, Severus Snape is as Muggle as they come."

Edward forced me to stay for a bit of the dance after dinner. I was grateful that there weren't that many slow songs, dancing in a group with my friends was good enough for me. I still occasionally flinched if a guy got too close to me.

In the spirit of Christmas and everything, I did pull Edward out of Hogwarts before midnight. I apparated us to the graveyard where Laura Montgomery had been buried for my end of the arrangement.

"Hand me the item you brought. I'll call on her spirit and if she wishes to stay with you, I'll use it as a vessel."

I transfigured a knife and cut into my palm. I sprinkled the blood on the grave and called out to the spirit.

"I call upon Laura Montgomery. I call upon the lover of a friend. Arya Potter calls her forth for Edward Prince Snape."

The image of a young woman with long hair appeared before me. I had told Edward that he needed to keep quiet and still until I called him.

"Laura Montgomery, you do not know me but I know Edward. He is a friend and I have offered to help him with a request. He misses you terribly and would like your spirit to stay with him."

"But I'm already with him."

"In heart and soul but your spirit can live along side him. It will be like you never died and you will be together. This spell will not last long so what do you say?"

"Is he here?" she asked.

I motioned for Edward to come closer and I watched as his eyes filled with happiness and tears. Laura, if she could, would have looked the same.

"Laura, please. It's been a long 13 years without you."

"In body, mind, and spirit," was her reply.

I held up the item, a lovely framed photo of the two of them. I reopened the cut and lined the edges of the frame with my blood.

"I call upon Laura Montgomery to remain here. I call for her spirit to be bound to this plane of existence until the death of her lover. I call upon Edward Prince Snape to seal this ritual."

Edward cut his finger and traced over my line of blood. The frame glowed as did Laura's spirit. It receded and I gave my friend the frame.

"Her spirit will call the picture her home if she is not out. For any reason you want time alone, trace the frame and say 'Adu'. You don't need blood anymore, just trace the edges with a finger. To bring her out, do the same but say 'Come forth'."

"Thank you, Arya," he said.

"Don't think anything of it. Just enjoy your new time together," I replied as I turned away.

"Will we ever see you again?" Laura asked.

"In body, probably not. In spirit, yes. As a Death mage, once I'm dead I can visit whomever I want without a spell. And when another is chosen as my successor, I will do my last visit to bestow the power to them. That will be my last moment of existence. Good luck Edward and Laura. He may have been an arse once but do give your brother a chance."

Between Christmas and New Years, I visited the Ministry and sat my exams. Two days were spent writing the O. and completing the practicals in every subject possible. They had a handful of markers so I could get my results quick so I could move on to the N.E.. Naturally I received Outstandings in all subjects. I kept my results to myself, not wanting to flaunt them.

Note2: Like I've done with other stories, I've posted the link to the dress that Arya wore to the Yule Ball in my profile...