A/N: Sorry for the long wait but I simply didn't have the time. I hope you enjoy.

Thanks for all the great reviews!

Chapter 8

Lily looked at Dora in shock and wonder. She had already suspected it but it was still a great shock to have it confirmed. Thousands of questions were running through her mind and she couldn't decide which one to voice first.

Dora was watching Lily anxiously. She had been silent for a long time now and Dora was worried about her reaction. Finally the Gryffindor girl seemed to have found her voice again.

"Why are you telling me this? You aren't my daughter, are you?" she asked sounding slightly panicked.

"No, no, oh Merlin no! I'm not your daughter. My real name is Rose Nymphadora Weasley. Granger was my mother's maiden name," Dora explained.

"Oh, good, I just thought...with the red hair and all..., not that I wouldn't want you as a daughter" Lily hurried to assure her. "I really like you and you are a very good friend but it would just be so awkward," she explained.

"Yes, it probably would," Dora agreed.

"So why are you telling me this?" Lily asked again.

"Uh, to answer that question I need to tell you the other crazy story first. But I was hoping you would agree to do me a favour after hearing me out," Dora said, still unsure how to explain her current situation.

"Sure, as long as you don't ask me to murder someone or break any laws or rules," Lily said instantly without the slightest hesitation. Dora was her friend and she still trusted her despite the things she had just revealed.

Dora laughed. "No, don't worry. I'm not going to ask you to do anything forbidden or illegal."

"Well, then let's hear the rest of your story," Lily said and looked at her expectantly.

"Alright, how much do you know about Sirius Black?" Dora asked her.

"Black? That obnoxious prick of a prankster? What has he to do with anything?"

"A lot. How much do you know about his family?"

"Not much, just what everyone knows. That they are typical Slytherin purebloods who despise everyone and everything related to Muggles. He doesn't talk about them often because he doesn't agree with them. About his only redeeming quality if you ask me" Lily said.

"He got a letter from his parents on his birthday a few days ago," Dora started her explanation. "They told him of his betrothal to his cousin Bellatrix who is not only completely insane but also one of You-Know-Who's followers. They can and will force him to marry her as soon as he turns seventeen unless he elopes with someone else before they can get their hands on him."

Understanding and horror dawned on Lily's face.

"And that someone is you?"

"Yes, I already agreed. He proposed to me yesterday and I accepted. We decided to keep our engagement a secret and only tell the two persons we want to be the witnesses on our wedding. Will you be my maid of honour, Lily?"

"Of course I will. But why are you doing this? You don't even like him!" the Gryffindor exclaimed.

"I have to do this because he isn't supposed to marry Bellatrix. If he married her it would change the future as I know it and I just can't risk that."

"Would it really change so much? Is he worth throwing away your chance at love and a happy marriage?" Lily asked insistently.

"Yes. I know he's a prick right now but he will grow up – eventually – and he will play an important role in this war. But he needs to distance himself from his family and make his own decisions. Sure, he will make some really bad decisions but they are nonetheless important. And I would love to change some events but I can't because it's too dangerous. Please understand?" Dora begged obviously distressed.

"You know who will win this war, don't you?" Lily asked.

"Yes. The Light Side will win this war but the price will be high. So many people will die and I can't save them," Dora finally broke down and started to cry. Lily was her friend and one of the people she would not be able to save. It hurt her to know what would happen in a few years and not be able to prevent it.

"Hush, it's alright," Lily said and hugged her tightly. "I understand."

They sat like this for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts. Dora finally dried her tears and smiled weakly at Lily.

"Thank you. I'm glad we are friends."

"So am I," Lily returned the smile. "Since you arrived things got a lot more interesting."

They laughed together and for the moment all their previous dark thoughts were forgotten.

Soon the Christmas holidays were upon them and the majority of the students left the castle to visit their families. Dora stayed at Hogwarts because she had nowhere else to go and Sirius had decided to stay as well to escape his family. The Potters had invited him to stay with them but he thought it was safer to stay at the school. Mr. Potter was an auror and would be obligated to hand him over to his parents if they came for him whereas Professor Dumbledore was more than happy to deny them access to the school grounds.

Only three other students had decided to stay at the school over the Christmas holidays – a first year Gryffindor, a sixth year Hufflepuff and Severus Snape. Dora hadn't really talked to Snape yet but she was curious to get to know him because of the many stories she had heard about him from her family. So when she saw him sitting alone in the library one day she decided to join him at his table.

"Hello, I'm Dora Granger. You are Lily's friend, Severus Snape, right?" she introduced herself.

"Yes," he scowled at her and promptly turned back to his book.

"What are you reading?" she asked determined to get him to talk.

"None of you business. Now go bother someone else and let me read in peace," the Slytherin replied acidly.

"Wow, you sure know how to charm the ladies," Dora said sarcastically but remained stubbornly on her seat at the table.

"Whoever said I was trying to? If you are looking for your Prince Charming I suggest looking at the Quidditch pitch. I don't think Black even knows how to read, so you won't find your boyfriend in here," he remarked snidely.

"Black isn't my boyfriend," she said calmly. He's my fiancé but no one is supposed to know that.

"Oh, so you do have some brains. Then why is it so difficult for you to understand that you are not wanted here?"

"Merlin, I was just trying to be nice. Lily's always talking about you and how she wished you had more real friends so I thought I would try but apparently you aren't interested. You really can be a right bastard, you know?"

Severus rolled his eyes at the Ravenclaw's persistence. Normally people were only nice to him if they wanted something from him and he was easily able to scare them off with his sarcastic attitude but this girl seemed genuine in her attempts and not inclined to give up any time soon. He knew she didn't need his help for homework, she was one of the best students in their year and what else could she possibly want from him?

"I know," he smirked. "But you don't seem too bothered about it. I think we could try this friendship thing if you still want to."

Dora looked at him in surprise then stuck her hand out for him to shake wondering what had changed his mind. Severus took her offered hand and she gave him a tentative smile.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" a loud voice suddenly disturbed the silence of the library. Dora looked up and saw Sirius storming towards them, looking livid.

"Get your hands off of Dora you greasy git," he shouted, grabbed Dora by her shoulder and pulled her away from the Slytherin.

Angry, Dora shrugged Sirius hands off and turned towards him to give him a piece of her mind.

"Black, let me go! You have no right to order me around or decide who I spend my time with! If I want to be friends with Severus I will and you better not insult my friends or I will hex you six ways to Sunday!" she replied furious.

"You can't tell me you really want to be friends with Snivellus?" the Gryffindor asked incredulously.

"I already am and you can't stop me!" Dora replied defiantly.

Sirius glared at Severus, silently promising to make his live hell and stormed back out of the library as suddenly as he had appeared.

"I'm sorry for that. He had no right to say those things," she apologized to Severus.

"I'm used to it," he said in a flat, toneless voice. "He has always hated me because I'm a Slytherin and to him all Slytherins are evil." A slight hint of resentment crept into his voice. "Are you sure you want to be friends with a snake?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Now, what are you reading?"

They stayed in the library until it was time for dinner, discussing potions and DADA. They were Severus' favourite subjects and he could talk about them for hours without getting bored. Dora was impressed by his vast knowledge in these two subjects and enjoyed their discussion immensely. Not many could keep up with her and it was nice to have someone to talk to now that Lily, Remus and Becky were gone for the holidays.

Sirius was still fuming when they arrived together at the Great Hall for dinner and threw hateful glances at Snape. Severus simply ignored him, sat down as far as possible from him on the only table currently standing in the Great Hall and started to eat. Dora took the seat next to him, glaring at Black for his immature behaviour and started to eat as well.

Black stormed off as soon as he was done eating while Dora took the time to say good night to Snape. After Severus was gone Professor Dumbledore approached her.

"Miss Granger, please come to my office tomorrow at 10 a.m. Mr. Black can accompany you if he wants to," he told her.

"Yes, Headmaster," she answered wondering what he wanted to talk about.

"Have a nice evening," he nodded at her and left the Hall.

She went back to Ravenclaw Tower where she curled up in front of the fire in one of the armchairs with a book, reading until it was way past midnight. When she finally became too tired she dragged herself to bed and promptly fell asleep.

The next day she woke up at eight o'clock in the morning and debated if she should tell Black about their meeting with Professor Dumbledore or not. She was still angry at him for his behaviour the previous day but on the other hand he was her fiancé now. Whatever Professor Dumbledore had to say would probably concern him, too.

She decided to go to breakfast and see if he was already awake. If he was still asleep she wouldn't be able to inform him anyway.

Unfortunately she met him on her way out of the Great Hall after she had finished her breakfast. Reluctantly she told him about the meeting with Dumbledore. Sirius, who was bored out of his mind without his friends, was eager to tag along and find out what Dumbledore had to say. So after he had had a short breakfast as well, they made their way up to the headmaster's office.