The day after their adventure into the forest, Mia and Lex were there to see Hagrid and Sofia off, the half-giant teary-eyed as he didn't know if he would be coming back or not. So it wasn't surprising when 3 weeks later they received a letter saying that he had been offered a great paying job at the refuge, taking care of the newborns that they had there. An added bonus was when they saw Dumbledore get Hagrid's letter of resignation just minutes later, and he nearly exploded.

Their days spent with Hagrid usually now became days spent with Firenze, learning many things they had never even though about before. They had even spent an entire night with him, laying back and trying to read the stars, Hermione having better luck at it than Lex did but they had a fun time anyway. They had learnt that centaurs were usually herd creatures but Firenze had left his herd as soon as he was fully grown, wishing to spend time alone as none of his herd understood his connection to the stars or the humans who he watched over; they deemed it an abuse of their powers.

Nye was growing like a weed, even though only 2 months old was the size of a 10 month old, his wings strengthening to carry his weight easier. The house elves had gotten approval to enter the Room of Requirements to give him his milk and feed, supplementing his liquid diet with special grains and grasses that the elves were positive would be good for him. Lex and Mia visited him every day, it was their time to cut loose and be the tweens they were.

The first 10 days of June the demigods noticed that both Dumbledore and Quirrell were acting oddly, more so than usual. When they brought it up with Severus, the man sat them down and explained what he had done, well more like confessed to it.

"When I rescued you both, I took a few vials each of your blood; I wanted to see if I could establish who your parents were by it. It didn't work but I saved it in case it would come in handy, and it did when I overheard something just after you both started here. The Dark Lord can't touch you Lex; Lily sacrificed herself to keep you safe no matter that you aren't biologically hers. So when I was asked to make my challenge to protect the stone, I placed some of your blood into every vial."

"So that when Voldemort drinks it, he will either die or return to waif form. That's very ingenious," Alexander stated.

The trio had then gone further into the potions that had been made and how adding Lex's blood had impacted the integrity of the initial potions. That had been a week ago and it was now the final day of classes, they would be returning home in 3 days, on the 20th. Exam results had come out that morning and no one was surprised when the pair tied for highest marks in every subject.

They were sitting beneath one of the trees in Nye's home, watching the 2 month old gallop around the pond, when it happened. The demigods felt the evil heading towards them before the castle shuddered just enough for them to notice. By the time they were on their feet, it was just in time to see a pitch black waif shoot through the room and leave again. Calling out to the Pegasus to stay put, the pair ran out of the room and through the halls of the castle.

It was lucky that Severus had left his office door open or the pair would have smacked into it. The potions master looked up briefly as the young duo entered before returning to his work, waving at the chairs that forever sat in front of his desk, "What's up?"

"The waif, it just shot through the ROR," Hermione explained hurriedly.

Severus was on his feet instantly, "Albus has gone to the Ministry, it's the perfect time, no doubt why he left today and in the manner he did. Come along, we should inform Minerva."

Lex and Mia followed the man quickly as he made his way to the deputy headmistress' office. She was in the same position that he had been moments before when they all walked in, "Severus, Mr Potter, Miss Granger, what a pleasant surprise."

"Minerva, someone who was possessed by the Dark Lord just died trying to get past my challenge. It would be best to send someone down for the body to determine who it was, though I have my suspicions," the Head of Slytherin told his colleague.

That startled the usually stern witch, "R-right, I'll have Filius and Pomona go down. How do you know?"

"His waif was seen by a certain duo which means that he had to be expelled. I think he had been possessing Quirrell this past term at least."

"Quirinus? I realise he had changed from his sabbatical but not this," seeing her two favourite lions there, Minerva grew concerned, "Are you both alright?"

"Yes ma'am"

"Good, how about you both go use the sunny day we have been gifted to your advantage? Severus, stick around."

Reluctantly, and only after seeing the older wizard's nod, the demigods left the office, stopping at the bottom of the staircase, "Go and see Firenze?"

"Yeah," hands together, they walked down to the clearing.

Inside of the office, Minerva waited until her colleague and former student to sit before starting, "I've been meaning to talk to you all term about this but Albus is paranoid, as you know. What is your relationship with my two lions?"

Knowing that the woman hated Albus as much as he did, and that she wouldn't tell him about their conversation, Severus answered somewhat truthfully, "I've watched over Harry since he was put with those bastards. As for Hermione, I've known her father since I was a child; he was friends with Lily and I. When she and Harry became friends in school, it just saved me that much travelling, Wade and Kelly Granger taking the boy in as another child. I was the one that diagnosed their reading issues, which would make me the cause of their studious behaviour; they'd not truly read a book before I purchased them their school books and they were hooked."

Minerva smiled cheekily, "Their being placed in Gryffindor must have been a kick in the shorts."

"Not at all, I was certain they would be put in your house, while they are cunning, loyal and incredibly intelligent, they are much braver. Harry once stood up to 6 boys, all larger than him, and took a great beating just so that they didn't hurt Hermione and this other girl."

What the witch saw in the black eyes of Severus brought a smile to her face, he had been nothing more than a shell since Lily's death but now his eyes shone with love, caring, and pride, "You're another father for them."

Severus attempted to deny it, "I'm just…"

"No, don't deny it Severus, Merlin knows that Harry needs it living with those people. Do not worry, Albus will not get anything about this from me and I know he has no intention on placing wards over Harry's residence, he still believes the boy will come to see him as a grandfather."

The two professors rolled their eyes and spent most of the remaining day talking and catching up, only getting interrupted by their fellow Heads of Houses arriving to state that while no body was found there was a large pile of ash topped with Quirrell's turban. When Albus finally returned that evening, he was informed about the death and seemed annoyed at it, only Severus knowing that the man had intended for Alexander to risk his life for the stone.