AN/- hey guys-just a quick update to cheer you up-lots coming up sooner than a firebolt!

Just though I'd share this with you-today morning-when i woke up my mom asked me to hurry into the balcony-when i did she I couldnt believe what I saw-It was a bloody white owl! HEDWIG! i actually said it out loud and my mum's like "What?" and I'm like-it's Hedwig!-and she said-ok-again witht the crazy talk-and i went all Krecher mode on her and muttered under my breath " flithy muggles-talking about things they do not understand!" and My mom's like "what?" I down right smirked and stalked away my extra large t-shirt bellowing behind -heh-heh (laughs like Voldemort's epic one)

Anyway-onward

Chapter 51

Dinner had been more than awkward; it had been an awkward silence as the only noise heard came from the clanking of the forks and knives with the cutlery. Rachel had brought some spaghetti from the nearby store along with some toasted garlic beard and cheese.

After dinner, she settled in front of the telly surfing through nothing in particular as she put on a funny French movie called 'Priceless' it didn't have any subtitles as Severus who was sitting next to her on the other end of the couch squinted his eyes and cocked his head a few times to try and decipher what these people were saying sometimes when Rachel laughed he didn't know what had happened. Another loud laughing fit set an already annoyed Severus off, he was uncomfortable, annoyed and over it all watching a stupid French movie without subtitles.

He stood up and walked up to the open French windows and into the balcony—as he dug into his pockets looking for his emergency pack he carried around, normally Severus would just take a swig of the ye old calming draught but sometimes when he was extremely apprehensive, he preferred to pull out the friendly cigarette, he pushed it into his mouth and looked for is wand but remembered he had left it in Audrey's room. He sighed frustrated.

"Here," said Rachel lighting it for him with her wand as he glanced into her eyes.

"Do you have another?" she asked softly as he nodded pulling another out of his new pack as she lit it.

"Looks lovely," he said as they looked at the skyline as the tower was lit up completely sent out the large revolving spotlight.

"We looked for a place in Moscow before this—even searched America—but then Mum said she had a flat in France that she hadn't used in a really long time, I fell in love with it the minute I saw the tower out of these windows," she said as they blew out the smoke in synch. Severus smiled.

"Do you want a drink?" she asked him as he nodded gratefully. She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and got two cans of beer, handing one to him as they opened it together, a little while later they walked into the living room as he sat down on the couch as she went into the kitchen to get some more booze. She was slightly tipsy and when she was tipsy she drank more.

Severus stood and walked over to the mantle over the fireplace, the flat screen was stuck to the wall playing the French movie. The mantle had a large cluster of photo frames on it. Most of them had Audrey and Rachel in them, one caught Severus's attention in particular. It had Rachel lifting a five year from her waist and twirling her from side to side as the child laughed along with her mother in the picture.

"Remus clicked that one," said Rachel as Severus jumped a little startled by her.

"Do you have any from when she was younger?" he asked wanting to see his child when she had been younger.

"I'll get them," said Rachel as she put the bottle of wine down while Severus poured it into two glasses, lighting himself another cigarette.

"Here," she said handing him a large leather bound book. He flipped it open; the first picture had been of his daughter when she was just a new born sitting in her mother's arms as a much younger Rachel smiled at the camera showing off her child rather proudly.

Severus went through the book page by page, stopping at least for half a minute at every page. An hour and two scotches and one wine bottle later, Severus and Rachel reached the final picture in the book, there were two pictures on that page, neither had Audrey in them. Severus sat up straighter, drunk himself, he asked her in a rather odd sort of way as she opened her heavy eyelids.

"Rachel?"

"Hmm..."

"When was this?"

"That day when we went to the bridge near Thames and then you said you wanted to go see Hyde park as well...we ended up eating a lot and I wanted to see the clouds and..."

"And you forced me to lay on the grass,"

"Yea—you don't look so happy,"

"I was—I was very happy,"

"You made me happy too," she said gently as he looked at her, she smiled softly. The French movie on the screen was now ending as he stroked his hand down the side of her face.

"We're so drunk it's not funny," he began as he laughed as she raised an eyebrow at him and swatted his arm.

"I am not drunk—I don't get drunk," she said exasperatedly as realization dawned on her.

"Oh, but you are," gave Severus leaning closer to her.

"I am?" she asked him a little worried as tears formed in her eyes.

"I am drunk!" she cried as Severus frowned, why was she crying?

"I am drunk Sev!" she said crying into his shoulder as he placed his arm around her and let her be there.

"What's there to cry about," he asked kissing her on the top of her head.

"I don't know I am just so upset!" she cried further as his face dropped, she was upset; he was going to be upset too.

"Why, why are you upset?" he asked her pushing her a little as she looked into his eyes, a small worried pout appeared around his mouth.

"Because you're here," she cried pushing her hands around his neck, getting onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around her protectively.

"I could go...if you wanted me to...if you're uncomfortable," he said softly into her ears nuzzling them with his nose as she moaned inaudibly.

"No—you don't understand," she replied in a muffled voice.

"I will if you told me what's wrong," he said running his hand up and down her back gently whispering directly into her ears.

"Everything is wrong-you being here—me acting like I don't care—truth is I do care—I couldn't stop caring since the moment I left," she said sobbing harder as he held onto her firmly.

"I wanted to run back once I shut the door—but then I remembered what you said—I was angry—so angry that you didn't want to listen to what I wanted to say—to tell you that we were going to have a baby," she sobbed. Severus stiffened.

"And what could possibly be more important than our friend's future?" asked Severus raising his eyebrows."

It had been such a simple statement then, that minute, in a state on inebriation, Severus Snape realised what a terrible mistake he had made. "What could possibly be more important than Lily?—Lily was dead—she never really did care for him—got herself killed and in all that he lost everything—he lost his chance to take a path down the good side of life—he lost his chance to love someone who loved him back so dearly—he lost his chance to be a good husband—he lost his chance to hold his daughter when she was born—he lost his chance to see her walk for the first time—he lost his chance to hear her say pappa for the first time—he lost his chance to play with her—to have her tiny hands around his neck—he lost his chance to hold his wife and child in his arms at the same time—he lost his chance of a good life—for what?—he lost several things—none had stung so badly as his realisation to what could have been his future—however the reality of the situation was that he was a defeated man—he knew it—what was he going to do about it now?

"I—I am sorry Rachel," he said as tears fell out his eyes easier than he had imagined they could, nothing was working, all those suppressed emotions came into play now, they were biting him—it was his fault—all his fault!

She looked at him as she sniffed while he looked back at her. She leaned forward and crashed her lips into his as he kissed her back with so much passion he pushed her into the couch as he lay on top of her, kissing her truly, madly, deeply all at the same time.

"I am sorry too Severus—I should have never left," she said as they broke the kiss for the need of air. She let her hand wander into his hair stroking her fingers through it softly.

"I tried to look—Rachel—I wanted you back—I tried to look for you everywhere—I asked everyone who I thought would know—I asked your parents—they refused to tell me—it wasn't easy to win them over," he said sighing as he aligned his forehead with hers.

"Winning them over?" she asked as he got up and pulled her up with him, he let her sit on his lap, his hands around her securing her there.

"I was angry when you left—enraged that you had betrayed me—broken my heart—I was such a fool!" he said disappointed as she snuggled into him kissing him again.

"I went over to the dark lord—thought it would show you that you weren't the only one who had a say in things, I was young—I was stupid," he said disappointedly—he hadn't said these thing to anyone.

"When I found out about the prophecy—I went straight to Dumbledore—telling him everything—I still cared—I couldn't let my friends down—I couldn't let Lily die—you would be so disappointed—she had a son! A son—if he got to her child it would kill her anyway," he said holding her close like she was life support.

"Dumbledore made me take the unbreakable vow—that I would be a spy for him—that I would risk my life and only then would he trust me," said Severus as Rachel stroked his chest lightly.

"I begged him to tell me then as well—but all I heard from him was that you were well," said Severus placing his head on hers again.

"I searched everywhere Rachel—took trips to deserted Islands look for you!" he cried as she shushed him with her mouth on his, but he pulled away, she looked disheartened but he spoke.

"I am a death eater Rachel—the lowest form of scum to walk this ground—you don't deserve someone like me—I could never give you what you deserve—I can truly never—"he began shaking his head.

"I don't care if you're a death eater, I love you!" she finished as he chuckled pitifully.

"We're drunk!" he commented tartly.

"I'm sure we are—but I promise I will not forget this tomorrow—ever!"

"I love you," she repeated wanting him so badly.

"I love you too," he said kissing her palms softly that lay on his chest. He then directed his lips to hers, letting his tongue enter her mouth softly as she let him take over from there.

"I've missed you so much Sev," she moaned softly into his ear as she kissed him behind the ear. He picked her up making her giggle slightly as he made his way into the bedroom shutting the door behind him.

Audrey shifted her weight from one leg to the other as she waited with her grandfather outside four Privet drive, her grandfather looked at her swaying as he put his pocket watch back inside. Harry came out in a few minutes as he walked out pulling a bag pack over his shoulders it was a little larger than Audrey's.

"Now—we have just one more visit before you can be safely deposited at the burrow," smiled Dumbledore as they walked further as Audrey made an exasperated groan as Albus smiled at her.

"Hold my hand," said Dumbledore as Audrey made a sad face; Harry did what he was told as Audrey caught on to whatever wasn't being held onto by Harry.

The feeling of apparition took them over as Audrey didn't even feel it this time, Harry however seemed like he was going to empty his stomach, although he seemed to control it.

"Alright Harry?" asked Dumbledore as Harry nodded as they moved forward.

"Good lad!" smiled Dumbledore patting him firmly on the back as they walked into a small village settlement that looked like a ghost town, it was late in the night and it was almost deserted... there was a large cross at the entrance of the village as Dumbledore walked further away, he stopped at one wrecked looking cottage, the lawn seemed rather well kept for a worn down house. Dumbledore walked into the lawn his strides quick as the teenagers followed him; he unlocked the door with his wand and entered the creaky cottage.

"Wands out please!" he commanded as both of them whipped their wands out.

"Audrey... if you are asked any questions about your father...I would prefer that you did not let out the truth...it could destabilize some things we must find necessary to keep private," finished Albus as Audrey nodded earnestly.

They walked into the living room where the telly was on some news channel as a reporter was talking about a bridge collapse in central London. Audrey looked around the thrashed living room as something fell on Harry's head. It looked like blood; she reached a hand out for it as her grandfather held it back. He scooped a finger over Harry's head as he smelt the blood and then smirked, as he dashed out of the living room towards the kitchen.

"What is this place?" Harry asked.

"How am I supposed to know—he crazy—said he was taking me to the burrow—apparently this is the only way I am going to be getting anywhere," she sneered loudly hoping her grandfather could hear her.

"Crazy old coot," she muttered angrily glowering at the fat cushion armchair in front of her, under her breath, Harry smiled flakily, she reminded him of Snape when she did that.

Suddenly, Audrey moved her head from here to there and then snapped her head back at the arm chair, she looked at Harry who was looking oddly at her.

"Are you kidding me?" she scoffed as she poked her wand into the couch.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Harry asked her, she was acting odd.

"Homenum Revelio!" she said softly as the armchair shook a little violently.

"Merlin beard—there is no need to disfigure me!" exclaimed the head that sprang out of the armchair as Audrey jumped a foot away pointing her wand at the head in the armchair as Dumbledore came into view.

"Well—you don't make a very convincing armchair sir," commented Audrey tartly as the man frowned a little like he was trying to remember her from somewhere.

"Ah—lovely—I see you found him," smiled Albus placing his hand gently on Audrey's shoulder, she looked up at him. The head in the armchair suddenly developed legs the arm rests became the man's hands.

"What gave him away?" asked Albus his eyes twinkling merrily as Audrey looked at him.

"The fact that if the motive of the destroyers was to vandalise—why leave a perfectly comfy armchair untouched," said Audrey shrugging with a bored look on her face.

"It's only the upholstery, I come by the stuffing naturally," smiled the armchair man sarcastically.

"What gave me away?" he asked Albus as he smiled back at the armchair man.

"There was no dark mark—and the sheer waste of Dragons blood—could have used salamander," said Albus pitifully as the armchair man rolled his eyes and smiled.

"We are in need of introductions—children I would like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine—Horace Slughorn—Horace—this is Mr. Harry Potter you may know him as the chosen one and this is Ms. Audrey Snape—OWL topper in potions and transfiguration" smiled Dumbledore.

"Snape—did you say?" asked Horace frowning as Dumbledore smiled and shook his head.

"So she's Rachel's then?" asked Horace as Dumbledore nodded again, Audrey felt a little awkward as the Mr. Slughorn sized her up.

"So what is with all those theatrics Horace?—you weren't exactly expecting someone where you?" asked Albus slyly as Horace locked the door to the side that had opened up.

"Someone else I am sure I don't know what you mean—" began Horace as Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, that was when Horace spoke.

"Alright—death eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year—do you know what that's like?—I have said no these people so many times—that's why I don't stay anywhere for more than a week!" finished Horace annoyed.

"The muggles who live here are in the Canary Islands!" commented Horace.

"Well—I think we should put it back in order for them don't you?" asked Dumbledore looking around deciding what wrecked piece of furniture went where as he waved his wand in a zigzag sort of movement as every tiny piece started moving and shaking on the floor, trying to set itself back to its former self, fixed and dainty looking, the chandelier, the piano, it's keys, the curtains, the sculpture of the woman with a flower vase, its head, along with the strewn books and the broken grandfather clock and many other items started to move back and set themselves right. The plaster broken away from the ceiling fit itself back in place as the fireplace cleaned and lit itself, the broken mirror over the mantle did not wish to be cracked anymore and nor did the stereo next to the telly. The photo frames were restored and their photos returned into them of the smiling muggle family as the couch and other armchairs upholstery was sewn back on its own, the house all in all looked like it should have. Even one of the glass pieces from the chandler which was under Harry's foot wanted to be back with its brothers so as soon as Harry moved, the glass piece flew back into place. The look of wonder on Audrey and Harry's face was not missed by Albus, he smiled to himself.

"That was fun," he announced, as everyone turned to look at him.

"Mind if I use the loo?" he asked Horace as Horace smiled and shook his head, Albus moved forward; he reached the door of the living room when Horace spoke out loudly.

"Don't think I don't know why you're here Albus!—the answer's still No—absolutely and unequivocally, No!" repeated Slughorn as Dumbledore left the teenagers and Horace alone in the room, which now stood in an awkward sort of silence, as Audrey's shoe sole squeaked a little on the hardwood floor as she moved her weight from one foot to the other unconsciously showing of her uncomfortable demeanour to the other two, she stood when she noticed the silence, blushing as the two others stared at her one sniggering while the other studying. She raised her head a little as Slughorn smiled at them, she smiled back awkwardly.

"You both are very like your fathers,"

"Except you Harry—your eyes— you have..."

"My mother's eyes...yea I know," Harry said smiling a little.

"Lily—lovely Lily—she was exceedingly bright your mother...even more impressive if one considers she was muggle-born," said Slughorn a slight sort of nostalgia in his voice but Harry didn't catch it.

"One my best friend's muggle born and she's the best in our year," said Harry as Audrey nodded.

"Oh! Please don't think I am prejudiced...no...No...No...Your mother was one my absolute favourites—not from my house like Severus...but she was a lovely girl,"

"So how is your father?—still teaching Potions at Hogwarts," asked Slughorn smiling as Audrey looked a little uncomfortable before she answered after a long interval in a rather awkward voice.

"My father and I—we don't—let me put it simply—my father and I are not on terms that I would wish to discuss him or—well—care enough to know about him," said Audrey as Slughorn frowned a little.

"Although—to answer your question sir, yes, professor Snape does teach potions," said Audrey smiling as faintly as she could.

"Oh! I see—I wasn't aware," replied Slughorn but that did not make him stop about it.

"Severus was one the smartest in my class—he and your mother Harry—were the brightest in their year—look they're right there in the front," smiled Slughorn pointing to a photo frame. Harry inched towards it, pulling it into his hands so Audrey could see it as well. It seemed like the occupants off the photo were at a party of sort with a banner on the back that they couldn't read properly, they looked like they were fifteen or sixteen not older possibly fifteen. They all held glasses of what looked like wine. Slughorn and his large belly were in the middle of the picture with at least ten or more students flanking him.

Audrey recognised Harry's mother as the one in the blue dress robes with long diamond earrings and flowing red hair, it was true she did look quite lovely, she definitely looked way prettier than her mother, she didn't mean to be rude but what was true was true—Lily Evans aka Potter was beautiful no wonder so many had fallen in love with her and if Audrey saw closely, she could see Remus in there as well behind Lily along with Neville's parents in the back ground a few others as well, two off which looked like the Weasley twins. On Slughorn's other side were a more stuck up looking lot, there was a boy much younger than the rest possibly fourteen or thirteen who looked a lot like Sirius although his face was more regal and his eyes were light blue than the stormy grey eyes Sirius did. Besides him there was a woman who looked like Malfoy's mother, platinum blonde hair, dung under the nose, green robes and all, a more serious looking woman stood beside her. Audrey could tell from that woman's knee length hair and eyes and the serious gesture that reminded Audrey off Astoria Greengrass, there was a man next to her with his hand on her waist as Audrey spotted her father in a far corner dressed in black robes with a green tie around his neck. She tried her best to hid her smile, he looked quite bored to be told the truth as he rolled his eyes in the picture his lips slanting down in one direction, he looked like all he wanted was to get out of there.

"They look like Fred and George," said Harry as Audrey's eyes snapped from her father rolling his eyes at her to the two red heads in the picture.

"Yea—might be related—they have that goofy grin they've got most the time," smirked Audrey as Harry chuckled nodding.

"So are you two dating?" asked Slughorn smiling as both of them snapped up together looking embarrassedly at him as they shook their heads both equally red in the face.

"Well—you give out the impression that you do—you're quite close," smiled Slughorn as Harry ran his hands through his hair while Audrey inched away slightly.

"Just like your parents—inseparable they were—I thought it was only understandable to think that you two were—you know—," smiled Slughorn as his stomach heaved while he chuckled lightly.

They shared another awkward silence as Harry looked a little boggled as to what Slughorn was talking about; Audrey on the other hand looked just as uncomfortable as she had before.

"You know you look a lot like your father—anyone ever tell you that before?" asked Slughorn studying Audrey closely as she raised her head.

"Everyone I know has," snapped Audrey as she put on a fake smile on her face although her tone was missed by Slughorn seeing that he was still smiling like an old uncle looking at his niece and nephew after a really long time.

"That's a good thing right?" smiled Slughorn.

"Truthfully—I believe it to be much of a curse," said Audrey as Slughorn frowned.

"So, you were raised by your mother?" asked Slughorn.

"Obviously," said Audrey in a silky way making Harry remember Snape making him scoff inwardly.

"A lot like him..." said Slughorn again as a small sneer crossed Audrey's face.

"Rachel was a nice girl—I didn't know her so well but she seemed nice—always polite—used to live with Albus and Minerva," said Slughorn as Audrey smiled at him awkwardly.

"And—you must live with your—?" asked Slughorn looking at Harry.

"My godfather—used to live my uncle and aunt—but now I can live with Sirius," said Harry explaining as Slughorn nodded understandingly as Dumbledore entered the room holding some sort of magazine.

"Horace—Horace do you mind if I take this...I do love knitting patterns," said Albus cheerfully as Audrey stepped away from Slughorn and walked to stand next to Albus as she slipped her hand into his good one. Harry followed behind and stood next to her.

"Yes...yes...but you're not leaving are you?" asked Slughorn a little disappointedly that his company had decided to leave.

"Oh, yes...believe me... I know a lost cause when I see one...most regrettable... I would have considered it a great personal triumph had you consented to return to Hogwarts...ah...well...however you're like my friend Mr. Potter here one of a kind...well...bye, bye, Horace, bye" smiled Dumbledore as the two teenagers threw him a faint smile. Audrey's hand was pulled towards the door and then let go off as they departed in the flurry of the moment their feet humming on the hardwood floor as they made their way outside the room leaving Slughorn alone.

Audrey didn't see the point of this visit...it had turned out to be useless, but she didn't say anything, she just walked slowly behind her grandfather and Harry as they crossed the house's lawn. But in a few minutes, Audrey heard a loud scuffling coming out of the house as the door that had been shut last by her was opened by Mr. Slughorn as he stood in his pyjamas and night shirt and cushion slippers.

"Wait...Wait...alright—I'll do it... I want Professor Marythoughts old office and not the old closet I had before, but I demand a raise...these are mad times we live in mad," shouted Slughorn as Audrey's mouth dropped a little as her Grandfather smiled and waved at the man.

"Indeed they are," said Albus as the children followed him towards the big cross near the beginning of the village.

Audrey couldn't believe it, the social visit was actually her grandfather playing hardball, letting Slughorn think he won the argument but then making him feel so insecure and guilty that he would be left with no choice but to comply with Dumbledore's wishes. It was impressive at the same time pitiful if you were Slughorn.

The group walked forward as Dumbledore spoke to them quickly.

"Professor Slughorn as you may notice likes taking interest in famous and bright young students...seeing he knew both your parents as stars of his class...Professor Slughorn will be trying to collect you too...you will be his crowning jewels...that is really why he is returning to Hogwarts and it is crucial that he returns," said Albus stopping right besides the giant cross.

"Now...I believe our final destination is in order, hold my hand," order Albus as Audrey jumped at this as Harry smirked and followed suit; with a loud pop they were gone.

AN/- Thanks for reading-hope you'll review-wanna know what you think of it so far. =)