The owl that had arrived in New England made Oliver grab the first portal home. How they had found out or gotten in was beyond him but it had happened. When his mother had read the note she had immediately Floo'ed to the Bones' and not finding Amanda nor Theo there she had panicked. The colonel was out of reach of any kind of communication so they had to figure this one out themselves. Oliver cussed the war, the constant vigilance, the problems and trouble his sister had brought their family, as much as he loved her he often thought that they had been better off without her. It was a harsh thing to think but the pain he was feeling in his chest, the pain of not having his nephew waiting at home for him felt worse than the worst heartbreak he had ever experienced. How someone could love a tiny being so much was beyond him, Theo inspired him to find a witch for himself, to marry and start a family with. Love that grew was precious and right now, his was lost.

Appearing back at his childhood home he caught his mother in a hug, her eyes were red from crying and she was blubbering incoherent words and sentences. Oliver gently patted her head before guiding her back into the house, schussing her in the process.

"We'll find her, nothing is going to happen to her or Theo"

Emilia sobbed again, sitting down on a chair by the kitchen table as Oliver moved to the stove to pour them two cups of tea, he reached for the third but stopped. Neither Amanda nor their father was there, it was only tea for two today.

BR

Amanda was sitting in an armchair by a lamp, reading a book. Severus was sitting across the sitting area from her, watching her closely. She stopped reading mid-sentence and took a deep breathe.

"What?"

She looked up at him after marking the paragraph to which she had come. The older man narrowed his eyes.

"How did he find you?"

Rubbing her brow she closed her eyes for a few seconds.

"Who found me?"

Severus sighed

"Come on woman, we took you from your parent's home, to my office at Hogwarts and on to Stone Hill. How did he figure that one out? It's a home donated to the dark course decades ago, it's so to say, off the map and off the books"

Amanda smiled, letting out a small chuckle before placing an elbow on the armrest and resting her chin on the back of her hand.

"Oh my, something you do not know…"

The glare she received would normally cause several students to have a nervous breakdown but she was getting used to him, she knew what he was capable of and she had certainly not lost any inch of respect of him but she knew she was more or less safe here. More or less…

"I can always torture it out of you"

The sudden movement of Marcus falling out of the chair caught their attention, he had been tending to his much mutilated broom because Theo had used it to chase spiders with. Looking back at the Professor, locking eyes with him she sneered.

"Always with the threats, super way to establish trust"

Severus smirked at her

"I don't need your trust so just spill it"

Rolling her eyes she picked up her book again, opening the page and finding the right line before answering him.

"A house elf"

Feeling sheepish Severus growled something about getting some sleep and a certain wrench doing his head in before exciting the room. Amanda shook her head as Marcus came over, sitting down in the chair next to her.

"A house elf?"

Looking up at him she gave him a slight smile.

"Their magic is different than ours, he could find me even though we had travelled through several Floo's"

Marcus nodded but she knew he did not understand fully and to be honest, it didn't matter. Not anymore.

"So…?"

She knew what the question was that he was hoping to ask and she shook her head in reply before he could speak the words.

"No, my father is not in the country and we do not have a house elf at our house"

"And…"

"No, the trail will be cold by the time my father comes home… if-"

She felt a sob get stuck in her throat and chest, the emotional blockage had been building for days now, she refused to cry, she was never alone and she certainly did not want them to have the pleasure of seeing what they were doing to her. That they were winning. Marcus reached over, gently taking her hand

"He's going to come home, don't worry"

She looked at him, blinking tears away and taking a few deep breaths.

"You don't know that and if he does, that's bad news to you…"

Marcus shrugged

"I have lost my parents, it's not pleasant. They were distant and cold, I can only imagine what it's like to lose someone you care deeply about and not just a figure"

As he placed a small kiss on the back of her hand and bid her a good night she watched him leave. What had just happened? He seemed to be changing, right in front of her eyes or had she been blinded by hate? He cared about her, in some way or the other. Her thoughts brought her back to the Quidditch Pitch so many years ago. She had brushed him off, his question if it was true… Trying to recall the tone of his voice it seemed gone but had there been a shimmer of hope hidden in the words: 'You do?' Trying to relive the scenario she scoffed as her mind started playing tricks on her and deciding that enough was enough so getting up she stretched, about to wave her hand to turn off the lights before realizing that she was unable to perform magic. Grumbling she leaned over the chair to reach the switch, hitting it she pushed herself up as the light disappeared from the room. As she turned she bumped into a tall figure, she let out a small scream before a cold hand was clamped over her mouth. No! Before she could do anything an arm was wrapped around her torso, pinning her arms to her sides. The fingers of the hand over her mouth dug into her cheeks, making her whimper from the pain. Not a word was uttered as she was turned around and pressed against him, his hands still holding onto her with a strength bigger than her own. She was half dragged, half lifted towards the guest bedroom and pushed to the floor as the door closed behind them. Rolling over she scrambled to her feet. Was he actually doing this? Watching him wave his wand a few times she knew the room was silenced and locked, she stayed quiet, she didn't know what to say and she knew that putting up a fight or making a ruckus was a bad idea, it would only anger him further. Watching him gesture towards the bed, as if offering her to sit she was torn, should she do as 'told' and thereby give in, allow him to think that she was willing or should she sit down on the chair, disobeying and thereby adding more fuel to the fire. He was obviously angry about something and she could only think of the 'house elf' comment to be that. She should just have answered and not been cheeky.

Remaining standing she held her breath as he walked closer.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Giving him a questioning look she shrugged her shoulder, not knowing where this was leading to nor what the right answer would be.

"You do not know or you do not care?"

Opening her mouth to answer him she hesitated.

"I don't know what to say, where are you going with this?"

"It was a simple question"

She cocked an eyebrow at him, watching him sit down on the bed, patting the space next to him. Standing her ground she frowned

"I have no idea what you have planned for me nor do I see why you should be the one planning, I'm here, I am behaving and is utterly puzzled that you are still here. I see no reason for it not to mention, what's it to you? You sometimes act like Marcus is your long lost son or something, like you are protecting your own family"

He watched her for the longest time, a curious look in his eyes as he got up again, this time walking over to the window and looking out into the darkness.

"I have no family, no heir and no one to leave my legacy"

Inching towards the door she stopped again, knowing she had no way of escaping anyway.

"I thought you would grant me that"

Flinching she gave him a look of disgust and utter horror. What the … Not liking where this was going, at all, she scanned the room for other possible escape routes or means to communicate with people that would come to her aid. Nothing. Swallowing she noticed how dry her mouth had gotten all of a sudden. He turned and looked at her, a dark look in his eyes.

"Theo could have passed for my son"

A sharp intake of air was the only thing heard in the room.

"Right now Marcus has what I ever really wanted"

Clutching the sleeve of her robe she tried to steady herself, she was shaking to the core. This kind of talk, it scared her, not for her own safety but now for Marcus'. What was going on? Why was he acting sentimental, or was it just mental?

"Severus please don't-"

His roar of rage made her flinch, she dropped to the floor and scooted towards the wall, pressing herself against it firmly. He had not touched her, physically or magically, but the fear he awoke in her combined with this strange scenario scared her enough to cover.

"Don't beg me and don't try and smooth-talk me! I have always given everything for everyone else, I have made all the sacrifices, paid the ultimate price and is now left alone, in the dark so to say!"

She held her breath, barely daring to look at him. He was on some kind of ramble, one that concerned her and then again not.

"You must have … witches who are interested"

He scoffed

"Didn't I tell you not to smooth-talk me?"

Holding her hands up, showing her empty palms she gave him a confused look

"What do you want me to say? I cannot help you, I cannot turn back time nor find you love, it's up to you. You're brilliant and Head of House, there is bound to be someone out there for you!"

"There was…"

The silence lingered between them

"She was brilliant too but muggleborn and a Gryffindor, not that I care about either but I did at that point in time"

She kept looking at him but nothing more came, she had no idea where he was going with this and more importantly: why was he telling her this? She had a question in mind but was afraid to ask it and even more: afraid to hear the answer should he give it.

"What do you want from me?"

He sat down again, folding his hands in front of him while looking at her.

"I could kill him, take his place"

BR

Oliver grabbed the arm of the sandy haired man as he passed.

"Higgs, I need a favour!"

The former Slytherin looked at him, obviously puzzled

"What?"

"I need to borrow Ninsy"

BR

Amanda starred at him, unable to speak, she wanted to tell him so many things, to ask him a thousand questions but the mere opening sentence cause her immense amount of trouble, should she be familiar and use his first name could it cause him to believe she felt closer to him than she really was, should she choose to use his title and last name she would create some kind of a professional distance between them and in his seemingly emotional state she doubted that was a good idea either. She decided on neither.

"You have to stop talking, right now, you are scaring me. What has driven you to this?"

His dark eyes pierced hers, they seemed deeper set than normal and much darker, he seemed lost in his own world, that the present time did not exist.

"I have wasted my life…"

She blinked, was this remorse?

"I have nothing to show for it"

She remained quiet, she knew that he expected her to speak, to argue against it but to be honest, she had no idea what he had done with his life or what he had to show for it and more importantly: she had no idea what he had wished for, what his dreams had been about.

"You have passed on wisdom"

She spoke softly, choosing her words carefully

"You have educated and inspired many young witches and wizards"

He still seemed lost in his thoughts and his own tormented world and she had no idea how she was going to bring him back to reality, how to make him snap out of his train of destructive thoughts.

"I want more…"

"Then go for it!"

She could have bitten her tongue off, right then and there. What was she thinking? Jumping to her feet as he too got up she grabbed his arm

"No, I didn't mean it like this!"

As he pulled his arm out of her grasp she almost lost her balance.

"Stop! Whatever you are thinking, don't do it"

She slid past him, blocking the door as he reached for it.

"Don't!"

He looked at her, his eyes strangely empty

"You do not love him so why protect him?"

"He's the father of my child, nothing can ever take that away from him"

Again, why did she have a voice? She should have been born a mute. She was digging the hole bigger word by word and standing on the edge of it, all he needed to do was give her a small push and she would be buried in the whole mess, an existence of darkness awaited. Placing her hand on his as he reached for the handle she looked him square in the face, her eyes piercing his

"Severus… please!"

As he grabbed hold of her, shoving her violently to the side, she collided with the wall and the blow knocked her out cold.

As she came to someone was shaking her shoulders, calling her name.

"Amanda come on girl, get up!"

Blinking her eyes till he came into focus she sat up straight, wrapping her arms around him.

"Oliver!"

As she was pulled to her feet she grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the bedroom.

"Where's Theo"

She shook her head

"I'm praying in his room"

As they made their way to the first floor she pressed a finger over her lips, indicating that he should be quiet which he of course already was. He knew how she was when it came to the boy getting his sleep. They both peered into the bedroom, seeing the slender frame of the boy in the bed, an arm slouched over his face and a leg dangling over the side of the bed. As he shifted she closed the door and ushed Oliver on.

"What? No… we have to go!"

She shook her head again

"We have to find Marcus first"

Oliver starred at her in disbelieve

"Are you mad?"

She looked at him, her face pale and eyes wide.

"No, but someone else is…"

He gave her a questioning look which she didn't respond to, she motioned for him to follow before checking that he was armed. Seeing his wand in his hand she nodded, more to herself than anything else.

"Amanda, get your wand out!"

She glared at him, holding up the bracelet in front of him. Oliver frowned for a second before it dawned on him which resulted in an irritated sigh. He needed to release her before she could leave, two ways of doing that, one not likely and the other one… well, good thing he was armed.

Hearing voices further down the hallway Amanda tip toed closer, it was Marcus and Severus and they were not seeing eye to eye, she was actually amazed that Marcus was still alive, something in her expected him to be dead at the hands of the Potions Master. Oliver was tugging at her arm but she ignored him, trying to shrug him off. When he finally grabbed hold of her forcefully and turned her around she noticed what he was pointing at. A small house elf. Smiling she winked at him. His father's son for sure, papa would be proud when he heard about this. Oliver pointed at the small creature once more

"What?"

She hissed at him

"Ninsy can take Theo back home, I need him to be safe"

He was actually making sense so with a nod from both of them the house elf disappeared with a crack, something that apparently caught the attention of the men in the room further down the hallway.

"Who's there?"

A thud was heard

"You idiot!"

Amanda tried to hide a giggle, as always Marcus ruined the element of surprise that Severus had hoped for and he earned a punishment instantly, this time a physical one. Oliver readied himself, hiding in the shadow of a huge wardrobe as she took a few hesitant steps towards the door.

"I'm sorry but… er… "

She nervously chewed her lip, she had not had enough time to think this one through.

"I…er…"

Severus stepped out, his wand pointed at her and his eyes gleaming.

"Amanda, how good of you to join the party"

He took a few steps towards her, she waved her hand at her brother behind her back, hoping he would get the hint and stay hidden. She needed her wand and her freedom before he could join the battle.

"Actually, I am ready to leave"

The utter surprise was carved into his face as the former Captain entered the hallway as well.

"Did you hear that Marcus, she's ready to leave…"

He laughed coldly

"If anyone is leaving it's-"

He turned and pointed his wand at Marcus

"-you!"

Amanda dropped to the floor with her hands over her head as her brother stepped out from the shadows, casting a few selected spells at the Professor's back, all of them hitting their target and in a mix of gold and red sparks the older man was tossed down the hallway, landing in a heap on the floor. Getting to her feet Amanda ignored the confused Marcus who had jumped out the line of fire just in time, passing him she reached the Professor and grabbed his wand, yelling out as it burned her.

"Curse it!"

Oliver joined her quickly, taking the wand and muttering the spell that would release her. Seeing the bracelet fall to the floor she smiled before hugging her brother once more. Marcus got up, pointing his wand at the two of them.

"What's going on?"

Amanda sighed, slowly moving herself in front of her brother. She was unarmed, true, but Marcus would never hurt her, her brother on the other hand… Seeing the smirk spreading on his face she sneered. This reminded her too much of the night so many years ago, he had seen it as well.

"He was going to kill you…"

Marcus shook his head

"No way…"

She nodded

"He lost whatever was left of his mind, he envied you for having a family, he's out of friends I guess and for some reason he seemed to believe that Theo could pass as his son"

Marcus gave a shudder and a sneer, glaring at the still form of his former professor, still sprawled on the floor. For a few seconds they stood in silence as suddenly something dawned on the former Slytherin.

"You saved my life…"

He glared at Oliver who returned the gesture

"Not on purpose I promise you"

Amanda rolled her eyes with a sigh

"Get over it! Marcus, my wand if you please?"

He glared at her for a second before a flash of hurt crossed his face.

"You'll leave and never come back…"

She looked at him for the longest time, eyeing his face several times.

"No, I'll come back… once he's out of here!"

She nodded towards the older man on the floor behind them. Oliver gaped at her

"Have you lost your mind now?"

She shook her head

"No, but think of Theo, he's learned about his father, I can't do this to him. Marcus and I will have to make things work and along with time comes trust right?"

Oliver shrugged his shoulders

"Are you sure about this? I mean, it barely makes sense to me…"

She nodded as she took the wand that was handed to her. Putting it in her pocket she smiled at the dark haired man in front of her.

"We'll be back next week, plenty of time for you to childproof the house and make it a bit …"

She chewed her lip as she looked around the dark hallway

"... a bit more family friendly"

Giving him a quick kiss on the cheek she followed Oliver down the hallway and out the house.

"Are you going to keep your word?"

She looked at her brother, she honestly didn't know. Theo was the most important thing in her life and she had to be honest, Marcus had turned out to be a better father than she had imagined and even hoped for. He would be a great asset to secure the boy's future.

"I don't know…"

Oliver looked at her for a few moments before grabbing her arm and she threw a last glance over her shoulder. Should she return as promised?

((A/N: cliffhanger anyone? I have had severe problems deciding where to go from here, should I, for once, write a happy ending? I mean, the girl deserves it right? Or should I stick true to my form of writing and close the deal once and for all? To be honest, this story has been going on for waaaaay to long now and I will never get to finish my other stories if I keep returning my attention to this. So I am sad to say but I give you guys (and gals) a couple (amount is not decided just yet) of alternative endings and you get to choose which you like and want to keep

Melissa over and out! ))