This is JKR's world. I am simply extrapolating for my own enjoyment.

"You and Thera have done well. The addition of Lupin as caretaker is inspired. He will fit in excellently as your supposed lackey while in reality adding to the defence of the school."

"We are working on a way to link protective spells into a network. Sev wants as much protection as possible for everyone in the school."

"Excellent idea, combining Protego, Engorgio, and Contineo should be your starting point. What is wrong, Severus? Why are you looking like that?"

"Albus, I need to talk to you about something. Thera, you should go on to our rooms, I promise I will not be long."

I nodded and then used the floo to go on to the dungeons.

I waited for an hour, before going to bed. Sev arrived probably two hours after that. I knew he had discussed the developments concerning Moody and Lupin with Albus, as well as my desire for a child.

He woke me gently with a kiss. "Thera, I need you to wake up. My darling, please talk to me. I must beg your pardon for shutting you out these last few weeks. Trufy, bring tea for the mistress. Let me get your robe, Thera."

He had Trufy set the tea things on the table in front of the fireplace. When the Elf had popped away, he poured tea for both of us. He seated me on the chair he usually sat in. Then he knelt before me. He took my hands into his and began to speak.

"I have discussed this with Albus. He said that you should be told now, before classes began, in case it is an intolerable burden. What I learned back a month ago, just before the Weasley wedding, is that Tobias Snape was not my father. I do not know how to soften this so I must say it bluntly, Tom Riddle is my father. Thera, I am the son of the Dark Lord. Apparently, Bellatrix has known it for years…. Say something, Thera, please."

"It is as I thought. It does not change my feelings for you. Nor does it change the fact that I want your child. A child is first and foremost a product of its upbringing. The things learned in childhood shape the mind and psyche of the child. You learned Dark Magic to survive because of your environment. I learned love and honour and self awareness from my parents. You learned honour and loyalty somewhere, Sev. Whether it was here at Hogwarts or before, I do not know, but you know the difference between right and wrong. You also learned arrogance; your intolerance towards the less talented students is a direct result of the Marauders' tormenting. You have grown so much since that time. The person you are has no relation to the Dark Lord. You have none of his hatred, none of his short-sightedness. His is an incomplete personality. He knows naught of love, or of altruism. He could no more have done what you have done these last years than Bellatrix could be sweet and gentle. He may have donated the seminal fluid to your conception but he had no hand in making you who you are."

"But it is possible I might pass some of his evil to a child of ours, Thera."



"Impossible, Sev, from the notes in Albus's office regarding Riddle, he was raised in an orphanage. He had no parents to teach him right from wrong. He had no moral compass, nothing to gentle him. He came to Hogwarts an incomplete soul. There was no remorse, no empathy, and no humanity to him at all. He was so full of his own importance and his hatred of those who would not bow down to him that he could not see any view but his own. I repeat, you are nothing like him and will never be like him. The fact that in your seventh year you began researching the Wolfsbane potion to improve it for Lupin; one of the despised Marauders, shows that you felt others' pain as acutely as your own. Your grief and rage at the deaths of Harry's parents, the fact that you were willing to protect the son of your rival and try to ameliorate your perceived guilt by doing whatever Albus Dumbledore bid you do, shows clearly your sense of honour and integrity. Why are we having this discussion, Sev?"

"I thought it was time we discussed this. I have not been able to rid myself of the feeling that I am somehow unclean, that you would leave me when you learned this. I should have known better, Thera. You cut to the heart of what my doubts were. Will you forgive me for keeping this from you?"

"There is nothing to forgive, love. You had to deal with a horrendous discovery and you decided to internalise it. It has changed nothing, Sev. You are still my husband, still the only wizard I could ever love. You are still the only man I want to father my children. I was told recently that I had a look of longing on my face when Lupin was talking about Dora's pregnancy. I suspect I will wear that look whenever someone we know is expecting a child. I will honour your wishes if you do not want to have a child, but I cannot say I will be happy about it."

He drew me to my feet and held me close. I knew it wasn't an answer, but he needed time to assimilate all I had told him.

In bed later, he gathered me close and held me all night. We rose early the next morning to be able to greet the students as they came down to breakfast for the first time. He kissed the palm of each of my hands before the students started down the stairs to the Great Hall. "Perseverance and integrity, Thera, remember what your father taught you. We will prevail. Courage, my love."

I smiled at him as the first years arrived at the doors. Minerva appeared at my side and asked me to assist her making out the schedules for the older students. I nodded in reply then looked up to find Neville Longbottom staring at me. I quickly looked to see if the Carrows were around before slowly smiling and winking at Neville. I called him to my side and said loud enough for the other students to hear, "Mr. Longbottom, I understand you are assisting Professor Sprout in the greenhouses this year. Could I prevail on you to do some tutoring with the students who are not as well versed in Herbology?"

"Erm, yes, Miss Leoni…. Oops, Madame Snape. Sorry, can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that you are married to the Headmaster. I would be quite willing to tutor anyone who needs help with Herbology. I had a tutor who taught me the connection between Herbology and Potions and helped me greatly. I owe that person a lot." He grinned back at me. He had understood that I wanted to talk to him later.



When I saw Ginny Weasley coming, I motioned her over to me. She glared but came. "Miss Weasley, since you are our best Quidditch player this year, do you think you could assist Madame Hooch in teaching the first years how to fly? It would mean a lot to the Headmaster, I know." I smiled at her. She was wary but Luna came along then and pulled her away. Luna sent me a brilliant smile as she propelled Ginny to the Gryffindor table. Sev was aware of what I was saying and doing but chose to ignore it for the moment. I knew he would say something that night.

When the Carrows came down the stairs they roughly pushed aside whatever students were in front of them. I made sure to correct them loud enough for Sev to hear. "Good Morning, Professors Carrow, perhaps you need to remember that the teachers do not push the students at any time. The students are the reason for the school. The students are in our care not subject to our whims, please remember that." They of course, bristled at my lecture and swept in to the Hall angrily.

"It might be best not to antagonise them, Thera," Sev warned.

"I have reasons for this, trust me. They must be made to see that a mild manner and sweet words win the students over much easier. Since they will never achieve either the mild manner or the sweet words; they must see your little bride winning the battle for the students' loyalty. They will think that I am swaying them to the side of the Dark Lord while in reality, I will be aiding and abetting the resistance."

"Did you learn subterfuge in your cradle, wife?" He and I were walking rapidly to the Head Table.

"I began learning it the day Sergei was killed before my very eyes. Those two were there. They and a large blond man were sending curses at Sergei. Those three killed my brother. I do not think they remember me. I was only a very small girl at the time. I remember them vividly. They will rue the day they killed my brother."

"You were there? You must tell me more of this later. Now we must get through breakfast and the schedules. I saw you weaving webs around Longbottom and Weasley. I think Miss Lovegood may prove to be our ally in this. Smile, love, it makes them wonder what you are doing."

We seated ourselves at the table between Minerva and Filius. The Carrows were at the farthest end of the table. We smiled, made small talk and ate as if nothing was amiss. I personally have no memory of what food I put in my mouth. Directly after breakfast Minerva and I set about making out the schedules for the students. We began with the first years because they would take a general course of study. The second, third and fourth years were dealt with almost as swiftly. The fifth years we divided between us. Then Minerva assigned me to do the schedules for the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws. I had a chance to talk to Ginny Weasley.

"With your OWL scores you are eligible to take classes that will enable you to pursue a variety of careers, Miss Weasley. What are you interested in doing?"

"I'm interested in killing Death Eaters. Like your precious husband. How could you marry him after he killed Dumbledore?"



"For your information, Ginny, we have been married since December 1995. Keep your voice down, I do not want the Carrows to realise that two members of the Order of the Phoenix are arguing."

That silenced her abruptly. I continued softly. "Give your mother my best, and your father, too. I am going to need you to help me with things this year, Ginny. Nothing is as it seems, talk to Luna. Now about your classes, I think these should be sufficient if you choose to pursue a career in Quidditch or even working for the Ministry." I handed her a schedule that would keep her occupied and away from the Carrows as much as possible. She was looking at me thoughtfully before leaving. I next had the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws of the seventh year. When Neville was talking to me about tutoring, he handed me a note. I had one for him as well. "These are potion ingredients, Mr. Longbottom. I shall need them on a regular basis. I will check back with you in a week or so. Here is your schedule. You have the last two periods free for tutoring or working in the greenhouses. Is that satisfactory?"

"Yes, Madame Snape, quite satisfactory, thank you. I will get these ingredients to you as soon as I can."

He had pressed a strange looking galleon into my hand enclosed in a note as he took the schedule. I had seen one of these before. It was one of the charmed galleons that Dumbledore's Army used to communicate with each other. Neville trusted me, obviously. Luna was next; I made her schedule out so that she also had the last two periods free. "I may need your assistance this year, Miss Lovegood. I am going to be doing evaluations of the dormitories and common rooms. I will require you to report on any deficiencies that require my attention. Can you handle that task?"

"Certainly, Madame Snape, I am happy to be of service. And congratulations on the announcement of your nuptials." She winked at me.

I stood up from the table and nodded to Minerva before climbing the stairs to 'help' Sybill teach her Divination classes. After the first two classes, I wandered down to the Potions classroom. Professor Slughorn welcomed me like a long lost child. He fawned over me so much I though he would burst a seam in his trousers. He informed the students that I had the highest NEWT scores ever recorded. He hinted that he knew that my marriage to the Headmaster was a runaway love match that he himself had helped along. I simply raised an eyebrow and said nothing. I left to look in on the Carrows. Amycus was having the students practice curses on each other. I reminded him that students were not to be harmed; so I created some life size mannequins for the students to practice on. I had to correct Alecto when she put forth the premise that Muggles were not really human. "Pardon me for interrupting, Alecto, but if Muggles aren't really human then Wizards could not produce children with them. The physiology would not be compatible. Please adjust your teaching notes to reflect that. Thank you."

I looked in on the other teachers before making my way to Sev's office. He listened to my tales of what was happening in all the classes. He sat back in his chair and just looked at me. "You are undermining them; but doing it so subtly and as an innocent would do, that the students will come to you for answers when they feel the Carrows are not telling the truth. That is your plan. The innocent, precise, book smart ingénue will destroy them. And you do it so nicely. You sabotage them with facts and alternatives. It is a brilliant plan, Thera. They will be furious. They will complain to the Dark Lord and to me. I will simply point out that your facts are correct and that the Dark Lord does not want the students lied to; just 

gently persuaded to his side. If they feel they must lie, then they are not the correct people to be teachers here. The Dark Lord hates liars. If I present their complaints in that light, he will more than likely punish them or replace them. You did learn subterfuge in your cradle. Your wide-eyed innocence will disarm even the Dark Lord. Only I know the true scope of that devious intellect. You are a delight but you scare the life out of me. I am going to have to follow Moody's advice; constant vigilance will become the motto for the school until we are rid of the menace once and for all."

"I will not apologise, Sev. They took my brothers from me and then my father. I will see them all dead, even if it takes my own life."

"Do not say that, say only that we will win whatever it takes. It will more than likely take my life instead of yours. That possibility I accepted long ago, Thera. What do I have to do or say to make you want to survive? Would a child sway you from that course? Or would it harden your resolve? Would you consider not having to take the contraceptive potion again enough of a birthday present? I did a considerable amount of research today. You were quite correct that heredity has little to do with the development of a child's sense of right and wrong. You will turn nineteen in a month; I am now twice your age, Thera. I find more and more that I am loath to deny you anything. If you want my child, then we will attempt to achieve that goal. But if it comes down to a battle, a final battle, then I do not want you in the thick of it, especially if you are pregnant at the time."

"Yes, Severus, I will be careful. Thank you. I promise I will not endanger myself or our child. I love you, husband."

"I think sometimes that Igor knew exactly what he was doing when he made me make that promise. He surely knew what kind of woman you would grow up to be. I wonder what he would think of a grandchild whose other grandfather was the Dark Lord."

"We do not have to tell anyone that he is your father, Sev. It is unimportant to anything just now. Are you really sure? About the child, Sev?"

"I would not lie to you, Thera. I am still uneasy about it, but if you are certain, then yes I am sure."

"Sev, it is a perfect way to convince the Dark Lord that I am as negligible as he thinks. Tell him I am so intent on producing a child that I have no thoughts for anything else. It will make my corrections of the Carrows seem like maternal fussing."

"Your cycle starts in ten days or so. I have not made any more of the contraceptive potion. Instead I have created a different potion which should enhance our chances. You will need to take it after your cycle finishes. By my calculations, the week of your birthday is the optimum window for conception. If we are not successful at first, we will keep trying. What are you laughing at, Thera?"

"The fact that you have monitored my cycles so diligently amuses me. I sincerely hope we are not going to limit ourselves to only procreative relations, Sev."



"Hardly, Thera, you will have to suffer through my lovemaking as often as possible. We will need to brew more potions for everyone. I want enough Felix Felicis for the entire school three times over. And blood replenishing potion enough for a thousand doses. If we keep a thousand doses of the most important potions spread over the school, we should be safe. And I want to continue working on the Wolfsbane. I wonder what would happen if we added Felix Felicis to the Wolfsbane? I want to free Lupin once and for always. He has suffered for too many years. He deserves to enjoy his family without the monthlythe monthly transformations."

"I will start the brewing tomorrow with your permission. Am I to use the lab in our rooms?"

"If you don't want Slughorn stealing our potions, you must use our lab. He will take anything, Thera and sell it to feed his questionable lifestyle accoutrements. He was venal and weak when I was in school. He has not changed one whit since then, except to become even more so."

"Acknowledged, Sev, I will hide the potions where he will not find them. From before, we have almost four hundred doses of the requisite potions. I am not counting in the stores Poppy has; but only those we have hidden. That means we must brew another six hundred doses. Shall I hide them in the room of Requirement? I will get Luna to help me, possibly even Ginny and Neville. Neville will be giving me potion ingredients with the connivance of Pomona, I believe."

"Excellent! Shall we get ready to go down to dinner? A show of strength and unity will keep the staff wondering about our true loyalties. Change into something a little less voluminous, Thera. I want the Carrows to take notice of just how very young you are. And make sure to stop and speak to your favourite friends on the way to the table. That way, hopefully, the Carrows are warned which students they are not to tamper with."

"When does Lupin arrive, Sev?"

"He should be here for the evening meal. Dora will arrive in a few days. I had the House Elves thoroughly clean Filch's cottage for them. He will meet with us after the meal, in our rooms. I had the floo in the cottage added to the one in this office and in our rooms. Minerva and the other teachers have been added as well though they are not aware of it yet. I leave telling them to your discretion. Now hurry, I want to be waiting at the doors as the students arrive for the meal."

"Give me a few minutes. I will return shortly." I threw floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared.

I rummaged through the wardrobe to find the soft grey-green dress with the lace fichu and cuffs. I tied my hair back with a matching ribbon and put tiny diamond drops in my ears. I pinned the locket with the pictures of my parents in the middle of the lace fichu. I put on my flat heeled shoes and pinched my cheeks. When I looked in the mirror, a very young, very gauche Thera looked back at me. I swirled to the fireplace and returned to Sev's office.

His eyes widened at the sight of me. I had an uneasy feeling that perhaps I appeared too young but he eventually nodded and we left the office together. His hand was warm at my back as we made our way down the stairs.



His whisper caught me off guard. "I feel like the proverbial cradle robber, Thera. Can you at least take the ribbon out of your curls?"

I removed the ribbon and tucked it into his vest pocket. We arrived in front of the doors to the Great Hall a few minutes before the students began to assemble. They all looked at us strangely until Sev took my hand in his. He squeezed my hand and sent a thought through our link. "Greet them, Thera. Ask how their day has been, be the courteous, gentle, elder sister looking after her siblings. We want them happy and relating to you."

I squeezed his hand back and moved forward. I touched them on the shoulder or the arm, calling them by name, asking questions of the older ones. When I got to the first years, I squatted in front of them and held my arms out as if to hug all thirteen of them. "And you, dear ones, how was your first day of class? I want you all to come to me if you have any questions. This weekend the Headmaster and I want to take all of the students on a tour of the school to point out the things you should all be aware of. I will tell you the stories of the founders and we will formally meet the ghosts. How does that sound?"

They all smiled and nodded. I rose and came back to Sev. The little ones were talking excitedly among themselves. I saw Collin Creevey standing in the doorway holding his camera. He winked at me before taking a picture of me kissing my husband's cheek.

We followed the students into the Great Hall to have dinner. Minerva raised an eyebrow at my juvenile attire but said nothing. Filius Flitwick winked at me like a conspirator. Sev kept a hand at my back until we reached the table. Then he seated me at his right. He turned to whisper in my ear, "Giggle, Thera. The Carrows are coming and they are staring at you. Imagine I've said something embarrassing. Blush and giggle."

I lowered my eyes to the table and brought a hand up to my mouth then raised wide eyes to Sev's face, as if startled. Then I giggled like a child and did my best to blush believably. I turned my head towards him and buried my face in his shoulder. When I raised my head again, the students were all smiling at my little charade. Minerva looked shocked, Sev was smirking like a lecherous gnome, and Draco had put his head down on the table. Sev stood up to make an announcement about Lupin coming in as caretaker. The news was met with mild applause from the older students who remembered Lupin fondly.

Neville, Ginny and Luna looked confused until Neville whispered something to the two girls. Ginny turned to the Head Table and winked at me. They saw the introduction of Lupin as exactly what it was; an added force on the side of the light. Neville was beginning to sense that, unlikely as it seemed, they had unexpected allies. Our meeting with Lupin later was a planning session. The days following were a careful dance of deceptions. Neville, Ginny and Luna all helped me brew the requisite potions for keeping the students and others safe. When we had amassed another six hundred doses we hid them in the room of requirement. We struggled on with the Carrows and their increasing abuse of the students.

At Halloween it had been arranged that Neville, Ginny and Luna take the fake sword of Gryffindor from the Headmaster's office. They were caught, of course, as they were meant to be. Their punishment was 

to gather potion ingredients in the forest with Hagrid. In reality, they contacted Harry, Ron and Hermione to update them on the goings on at the school. Luna made sure that Hermione knew that Sev had announced our marriage. Luna and I had been working diligently on the Wolfsbane potion. The addition of Felix Felicis to the mixture was having a beneficial effect on Lupin. September had seen a slight improvement in the transformation nullification. October showed a much higher improvement. He appeared to be throwing off the effects of the moon cycle much easier. His health had improved and he looked younger. We were hopeful that continued doses of the potion would completely nullify his transformations eventually. Sev had surmised that increasing the amount of Felix Felicis to the Wolfsbane each month would benefit Lupin immensely. He was proved correct almost immediately. A healthier, happier Remus Lupin gave hope to all of us.

True to his word, Sev had given me the fertility enhancing potion after my monthly cycle in September. At Halloween I was still not pregnant but we were still hopeful. Dora Lupin was working in Hogsmeade at the Three Broomsticks, listening to the Death Eaters and making notes for the Order. Her pregnancy was advancing. She would not face Sev, but thanked me profusely for Remus's improved condition every time we met.

Viktor was visiting us much more often now. He had taken my mother home to the Petersburg house when she was released from St. Mungo's. She had sent a message thanking me for redoing Grandmere Tatiana's rooms for her. Viktor was growing impatient for Hermione to come back. He was worried about her. I was worried, too. If it came to it, I was going to use the Imperius on Draco and have Viktor beat him at duelling and then have Viktor find Hermione and the others and stage some sort of game where Harry would beat Viktor. I was getting desperate.

One night in November, after Viktor had left, Sev poured a glass of elf-made wine for me then added three drops of a golden potion to the glass. He handed it to me before he poured one for himself.

"Felix Felicis, Thera. This is the optimum time for you to conceive. We are living on borrowed time as it is, we need to achieve the one thing that neither the Dark Lord nor Potter has anything to do with. Tonight we conceive a child, if it is possible. Come here to me, beloved. Drink your wine. I am going to make sweet exquisite love to you tonight, all night."

When we were finally in bed, with only firelight illuminating the room, he began the seduction with soft words.

"Open to me, love. Open your womb for my seed. I want to plant a child inside you this night."

"May Brigit and Cernunnos smile on us this night, husband. The garden awaits the seed and the rain. Make love to me, Severus."

At midnight, we knelt in front of the fire to reiterate our pleas to all the fertility gods and goddesses. We had written our pleas on parchment which we threw into the fire along with herbs. Hours later, at almost dawn there was a rushing sound like wind. Sev and I woke to find the room filled with the smell of rosemary, and then rose petals started raining down on us from the ceiling. A voice spoke from the 

shadows. "What was damaged now is healed; seeds are planted in a fertile field." The voice, deep and resonant, chuckled as it faded away.

We brushed the rose petals from the bed and I lay back against the pillows. Sev called for a House Elf to bring tea. He sat back down on the bed and pulled me close.

"I think that we had our answer from Cernunnos and Brigit, Thera. Last night was sheer paradise, my love. If we are truly blessed with a child from this night, I will be content. You are so beautiful this morning."

"That voice said something, Sev. Let me look at you. That scar, the puckered one on your scrotum, let me look at it."

He brought his right knee up so that I could see where the scar stretched from the front of his hip to his testicles. It had been the only injury that had scarred. It had been a puckered, ropey ridge of scar tissue. Now it was simply a thin white line. It had vanished in the night.

"Look, Sev. It is gone. The scar is completely gone. Whatever residue of Dark Magic remained in the injury has been expunged. That is what he meant."

I ran my hands across the fine white line on his skin; there was no feeling of scar tissue at all.

"Look at the rose petals, love." Sev whispered.

The petals had swirled in the wind still blowing in the chamber. They were forming into the shape of a woman with long hair. A female voice echoed through the chamber. "Both of thy pleas were answered tonight, a child and a healing, two healings. Never fear the moon again, daughter."

Then the rose petals swirled into the fire.

I woke in the morning to find Sev sitting in the chair. "What did you dream last night, Thera? Voices and wind, rosemary and rose petals, I dreamed the same things. The scar is gone, just as we dreamed it. The second voice said two healings and something about never fearing the moon…….. Lupin! Of course, we had been talking about the Wolfsbane earlier in the day. It would still have been fresh in our minds. Do you think…?"

"When is the full moon, Sev? If your scar is gone, there is a chance that the dark magic affecting him is gone as well. And that….oh, Sev, two healings and a child, she said."

"Get dressed, Thera. Trufy, bring Lupin to the infirmary as soon as possible. I will meet him there before breakfast."

"Shall I come, too, Sev? Perhaps it would be best if Dora has come with him."

The House Elf had popped in when called bringing tea and toast; he now nodded at Sev and popped out again.



"Yes, you can ask Poppy to examine Lupin. She can look at his original bites and see if they have changed. And have her run a diagnostic spell on you, although it may be too soon to detect. Oh, Thera, I do hope that she finds something, for us and for Lupin. Now shower and fix your hair. I want to look at you today and remember the passionate Cossack Princess who was in my bed last night."

"Shower with me, we save time that way."

He did just that. We dressed and hurried to meet with the Lupins in the Infirmary. Poppy examined both Sev and Remus, after which she turned her wand on me. The four of us followed her into her tiny office as she sat down behind her desk.

"I do not know how or why but the scars are simply gone. This is magic I cannot even begin to imagine. Severus's scar is now only a white line across his hip, no underlying hardness or ropey texture. Remus's scars, on the two bites he received as a child, are now completely healed. Werewolf bites do NOT heal. They stay partially healed open weeping sores for the life of the victim, only closing on nights they transform. But his are gone. No scar tissue, no sores, nothing but healthy skin remains. This is unheard of, Severus. What did you do?"

"It wasn't me, Poppy, or only partially. We have been trying for a child and last night we asked the blessings of Cernunnos and Brigit. Thera and I had been discussing Remus and his progress on the improved Wolfsbane earlier so it was fresh in our minds. We dreamed of voices in the night, a wind, the scent of rosemary and showers of rose petals. We dreamed the male voice said that what had been damaged was now healed, the female voice spoke primarily to Thera; telling her that both of her pleas had been heard and answered. It said two healings and a child and that she need not fear the moon anymore. When she looked at my scar this morning it was as you see it now. We came to you for confirmation."

"I can only say this has never, ever happened before. I cannot give you a definite yes or no on Remus. We must wait for the full moon to see if he transforms. If he does not transform this month, I would be fairly certain he will never transform again. And yes, Thera is now pregnant."

Remus spoke for the first time that morning. "Poppy, is there any way I might have passed the Lycanthropy to the baby?"

"None whatsoever, Remus, Dora is perfectly healthy as is the baby. Now go on all of you. I have a report to finish reading and no, Severus, I will not record this whole episode until we are well and truly past the present crisis."

He bent to kiss her cheek before we all walked out of the infirmary. Lupin kept looking at the nonexistent bite on his forearm. He kept rubbing the place as if he could not yet believe it was real. He and Dora went back to their cottage while we continued to the Great Hall. My radiant smile must have sent some sort of signal to Minerva. The moment I sat next to her she was asking me why both Sev and I were smiling. I gently put my hand over my lower abdomen and her eyes widened. Then she grinned hugely. I knew she would go to the cottage at the end of the lake tonight as she had been doing for the last few weeks. She would tell Alastor the news. I mouthed the words more news at her and a time of 10 A.M. She blinked in reply. I sent the information to Sev through the link. He made a point of saying "Minerva, I think it is time we had a talk about plans for the holidays. Can you come to my office at 10 this morning?"

"Yes, of course, Severus, I will be there promptly."