Author's Note: Wow...you guys really don't like OC's. My apologies...If you can put up with Deirdre just one more chapter (this one) she will go away permantly, you have my word! I just couldn't think of another way to put Sev back to together, I mean, Dumbledore probably could have done it but shrugs Ah well...have no fear, no more OC's.

Chapter Eleven: Picking Up Pieces

Lily followed Deirdre down to the chapel. Even though she was interested in what the woman had to say, all she really wanted was to return to Hogwarts and spend time with her son. That was the only thing that brought her a semblance of comfort at this time. She didn't know where she would be or what kind of condition she would be in if Harry had been taken from her as well.

The chapel was just a small room with an alter and a few benches. The only light was a few candles that were lit at the front of the room. Lily filed into the third row of benches from the front with Deirdre and sat down wearily. She went to ask the woman what she wanted to talk about when Deirdre held up her hand.

"I'm sorry, but I really need some time to gather my thoughts."

"Was it really that bad?"

The American sighed and closed her eyes. "His mind or the damage that was done?"

Lily didn't specify either way but kept her silence. It didn't matter really. Either the harm inflicted was horrible or it was just his horrible memories from the past. Did Deirdre see Lily's callous refusal of Severus' apology? Did she see the countless pranks that the Marauder's had played on him? Or worse…did she catch a glimpse into his childhood? Lily always feared it was worse than what he let on when he told her about the latest fights between his parents.

Not having much else to do, Lily took the opportunity to sort through her own thoughts. She had now survived through almost five days without James. She hadn't slept much, but whenever she did it was from being too exhausted from crying. But Harry had lost a father, he didn't need to lose a mother as well. As far as Dumbledore could tell, Voldemort was still looking for Harry and Neville, determined to kill them both now. His efforts had only increased in the search now that he believed Severus was effectively as good as dead.

"Where's James?" Deirdre asked suddenly.

"He's dead." The words shocked her and left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had never spoken them before candidly before and it left her with a sharp pain in her chest. She started to shake uncontrollably and then the tears came afresh.

"Oh," Deirdre said, placing a comforting hand on Lily's shoulder. "I'm sorry. Dumbledore didn't tell me."

Before she could stop herself, Lily found the horrible tale of the prophecy, Voldemort's hunt for her and James, Peter's betrayal, Halloween night and everything else that had transpired in the last few days spilling out of her mouth. Every terrible detail that she spoke seemed to leave her heart that much cleaner. She wasn't sure if it was because this was the first time she actually spoke all the words or if having a stranger hear everything without being judgmental of any decisions or actions brought the comfort. When she felt even more drained than before, Lily wiped her eyes and sat up straighter in the pew.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

Deirdre looked at her strangely before turning back to watch the guttering candles. "I didn't know what you've been through. I had no idea that this was all happening. Witches and wizards really are out of the loop in the States. As for what I wanted to talk to you about, it can wait. I'll tell Dumbledore instead."

Lily felt guilty for the relief that statement brought to her. "Will he be alright?"

The other woman seemed to pause before answering. "I believe so, yes."

Lily took little comfort from the answer but didn't say anymore on the matter. For the first time in last few days, the quiet was restful to her weary mind and frayed emotions. Thankfully, Deirdre seemed to realize this and silently excused herself from the chapel. When she heard the door close, Lily looked up at the small statue that stood at the very front and center of the room: Christ on the cross with Mary, his mother, kneeling at the foot.

Was that what was expected of her? Watch her son be sacrificed for the sake of the wizarding world and the destruction of the enemy? She wasn't sure she could do that. She would rather nail herself to a cross, take his place and bear through his suffering for him. If she couldn't do that, then suffer along side of him through the same fate. Maybe Mary was stronger than her and that was why God chose her to be Christ's mother. So why was she chose to be Harry's? To protect, suffer alongside or to take his place? She leaned forward, resting her forehead on the pew in front of her, praying she would know what to do when the time came and then have the strength to carry through with it.

Severus shifted uncomfortably in the chair. His wounds had healed just fine but his body was still sore from the beating he had taken. He was working with Dumbledore to reestablish the mental barriers that had been torn asunder by Voldemort and slowly, he was beginning to be able to regain his occulmency. What the Headmaster wanted with him in the middle of a school day he had no idea and judging from the calm way Dumbledore was reading through a book, it wasn't going to be too terribly important.

"Something on your mind, Severus?" the old man asked without looking up from his book.

"No, not really."

"You haven't stopped fidgeting since you've sat down." Dumbledore looked up and gazed at him over his half moon spectacles. There was a slight smile on his face.

Severus shrugged and looked out the window. He was still trying to come up with an answer when the sound of laughter interrupted his thoughts. The door to the office opened and the sound grew louder…and more familiar. Forgetting his sore muscles, he whipped his head around to see behind him. Professors Slughorn and Flitwick entered the office with Lily in tow. She was smiling, though a little forced, and it was like seeing the sun after weeks of rain.

"Ah, welcome," Dumbledore put down his book and conjured three more chairs in front of his desk. Slughorn took the chair next to Severus and gave him a hearty handshake.

"Severus, wonderful to see you again."

Severus mumbled a thank you to his former Head of House. Flitwick gave him a brief nod and Lily tossed him a little wave. He hadn't seen her in over a week, at least not this close up. He spent three days in St. Mungo's, and though he was assured by Lupin that Lily had been there from time to time it was not during times when he was awake. Now, he had spent five days at Hogwarts, wandering the grounds and reading in the library but had only caught glimpses of her as she passed through the hallways like a ghost.

"I have already discussed this arraignment with the Professors, who have agreed with hopes that you would accept as well," Dumbledore started.

Severus wasn't sure he liked the sounds of this.

"Professor Flitwick would be most appreciative if you," Dumbledore motioned to Lily, "would be up to teaching first and second years in charms. It would relieve him of some of his workload."

Lily nodded. "Of course. But, what of Harry?"

Dumbledore grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. "Hagrid has already volunteered his services. I believe he's becoming quite enamored with little Harry. I have the utmost faith in his abilities as babysitter whenever you need him to be."

A small smile graced her face again. "I have faith in him too. That would be fine then."

"And," Dumbledore turned in Severus' direction. All warmth he had regarded Lily with were gone and he gave Severus a look that dared him to disagree with what was about to be said. "Professor Slughorn would like your assistance in his potions classes. I'm sure you will remember that set up and clean up are quite time consuming. You be would doing Professor Slughorn a great service."

Too afraid to contradict the Headmaster, Severus nodded his head. "Yes, that sounds fine." If memory served, Lily was the one that made it into Slughorn's "Slug Club," not him. Though Slughorn never gave him the slightest hint of not liking him as a student or thinking he lacked talent in the potion field, he could pretty much guarantee that he was not Slughorn's first choice as an assistant. But how could he feel bad about being second best to Lily?

Dumbledore watched the two professors with their new classroom assistants leave his office. They would most likely be spending the rest of the afternoon re-learning their classrooms. He hoped this situation would prove to be successful. Other than coming right out and telling Lily exactly what Deirdre had said to him, this seemed the most prudent course of action. Still not quite trusting his decision, he pulled out his pensieve, wanting to double check the memory that was still floating in the stone bowl. When he fell into the bowl, he was back in St. Mungo's, Deirdre walking towards him with a pinched face.

"Where's Lupin?"

"Back with Severus. Where's Lily?"

Deirdre rubbed her forehead and narrowed her blue eyes. "You could have taken time to tell me more details of this situation."

"We didn't have time."

She crossed her arms. "There should have been enough time to tell me about the prophecy and that James Potter was killed."

"Many have died, Deirdre."

"But I needed to know who when I came. I almost put another burden on Lily Potter, one that I'm not sure she can handle right now."

"And what burden is that?"

Deirdre pinched the bridge of her nose. "There is a focusing strategy that my mentor taught me should someone turn my mind against me. You recall a very happy memory, a time of contentment and focus on that thought. By remembering every detail of that thought, it will break the cycle of negative memories that the attacker has used to surrounded your psyche. The memory that broke Voldemort's hold on Severus' mind was a memory that concerned Lily. She saved him mentally. You said he was a Death Eater?"

"Ex-Death Eater," Dumbledore corrected.

"I can't help him anymore now. His redemption, I believe, lies with Lily Potter."

"He loves her that much? Still?"

Deirdre's face was unreadable, even after three times of viewing of the memory. "I'll be reachable, no matter of the time. Tell Professor Flitwick I appreciate his offer of a place to stay but I'll return to America tonight."

And the memory ended and Dumbledore found himself back in his office. Deirdre had contacted him once, asking how Severus' was doing. His response was short but positive. He hoped that it would get better for Severus and Lily. He had placed them as teaching assistants in hope that they would use that common ground to help each other heal.

It was also a safety issue. Hogwarts was the best protected facility in the whole magical world. By giving Lily the opportunity to be useful to her old alma mater, he hoped she would stay here along with Harry until a better situation came available. Sirius had pleaded him with allow her to come live with him but he needed Sirius to move about for the Order. As for Severus, it was also a safety issue. Voldemort wouldn't dream of knocking on the Hogwarts' gates in search of his turncoat, not as long as Dumbledore were Headmaster.

He only hoped that by putting the two of them in close proximity, the friendship they once had would be reestablished and they could find forgiveness and the strength to move on. The possibility of having this situation backfire and the two of them would only isolate themselves in their pain loomed over situation as well. Not for the first time in his life, Albus Dumbledore had severe misgivings concerning his plan.