A/N: I know I killed off Luna's mom earlier than she actually did in Canon but this is the fun of writing non-Canon fanfics!

Remus never thought he'd run so fast in his life, and that included his time during transformation as a werewolf. As soon as he heard Padfoot's Patronus telling him that he was at Mungo's and that Alice was in bad shape, he dropped his glass of Firewhiskey at the pub, tossing Tom a handful of coin and apparated straight out.

His heart was beating fast and he felt like he would vomit any second, but his best friend needed him. He needed to be strong. As he came up the lift to the Magical Accidents and Curses floor, he thought of Neville and Aurora. They needed their mum. He prayed to Morgana that Alice would be okay.

The doors opened and he saw Sirius pacing. "Pads!" He yelled and the broken look on Sirius Black's face told him everything he needed to know. It wasn't good news. As he got to him, his friend collapsed and began to sob.

"I can't lose her! I can't! We haven't had enough time yet!" Remus hushed him and began to mutter positive words.

"It's Alice, mate. She's tough. Come on. Let's sit. What have they told you?"

Sirius explained what happened and that Dolohov was in Azkaban. "If I ever see that fucker, I'll Avada him!" He said in a shaky voice.

They sat and waited. Fifteen minutes later they heard footsteps and turned to see Cissa, Frank, Draco, Carina, and Auror Robards and Shacklebolt came rushing in. "Any news?" Frank asked as he hugged Sirius before Cissa comforted her cousin.

"She's in with a Curse Breaker and a team of Healers now. It's been over an hour and no news. The nurse over there said as soon as they know anything, the main Healer on the case, a Macintosh, will notify them." They sat and started talking about fun memories and proof that Alice Fortescue-Black was one bad ass mother. Another hour went by, then two until a falcon Patronus came soaring through.

"Mr. Black, your wife is going to be okay! We've found the source of the curse and Healer Jenkins and Mister Williams have worked together and found the counter-curse. We are cleaning up now and Mrs. Black will be in her private room within the hour!"

The falcon dissipated and everyone began to hug and shake hands. "Told ya she was tough!" Remus whispered in his best mates ear as he hugged him tightly.

"Shoulda known to listen to you, Moony! Thanks man!"

About 35 minutes later, Sirius was reunited with his love. "Alice." He simply said before breaking down in tears as he held her in his arms gently. "Don't ever scare me like that again, my love. Fuck, I love you." Alice sobbed into her husband's chest.

"I'm quitting." She whispered. Sirius pulled back and looked at her.

"But, you love your job, Al. You sure?"

"I love my family more. Babe, the thought of leaving you and the children? I never really thought about it before. But as I lost consciousness, the last thing I thought about was not living to hear Aurora's first words, her first steps. I thought of missing Neville's first day of Hogwarts. And I thought of losing this." She took his hands and brought them to her stomach.

Sirius looked up at his wife in shock. "You mean?" He watched as she nodded her head. "The baby is okay?" She nodded again and then they both sobbed.

"I found out the other morning but wanted to wait to tell you on New Year's."

"And why not Boxing Day?"

She huffed a laugh, "Come on now! You know Boxing Day's for breaking bad news!"

A few days later, Alice was back home. The Black family, The Potter-Snape family, The Malfoy family, The Tonks family and the Weasley family all gathered at a small cemetery in Ottery St Catchpole to support Xenophyllius and Luna Lovegood as they lay Pandora Lovegood to rest.

It was the first time Harry ever saw a grown man weep like a child as his actual child, Luna, stood strong and stoic. Her calming presence was keeping her father from completely collapsing.

Luna looked toward Mrs. Weasley and Harry watched as they had an unspoken conversation. Molly turned and whispered to her husband who then walked over to hold Mr. Lovegood up as Luna stepped toward her mother's casket.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate the life of my mother," Luna's voice cracked and by pure instinct, Harry walked over and held her hand. Luna took a deep breath and continued, "Pandora Willow Sanderson was born during a lightning storm at midnight on November 1st, 1964 in Appleby. The only surviving child of Lucinda and Harold Sanderson, she was a proud Ravenclaw through and through. She had a brilliant mind and a voracious appetite for reading. It was there that she met and fell in love with my father whom she called Xeno. Their love was so strong that they gave birth to a daughter halfway through their final year. Me."

She smiled at this and everyone chuckled.

"After graduation, they moved around a lot as dad began The Quibbler and mum traveled with him to explore new and exciting places, things, and ingredients for her potions. It was her love of creating that lead to her death, but she died doing what she loved. I know I will see her again someday but until then, I will make her proud and so will dad." She hugged Harry and then squeezed his hand before letting go and returning to her father.

Molly then stepped forward and announced that a luncheon would be held at The Burrow. Harry looked over his shoulder as he walked with his mother's hand in his. He couldn't imagine losing his mum. He looked to his left and watched Violet bury her face in Sev's neck. Harry never really thought he'd ever see the brighter side to losing his father. He loved his dad; missed the relationship he never got to experience with James Potter, but he also could not imagine a life without his stepdad, Severus Snape. He reached his other hand towards him. It was immediately encapsulated by his stepdad's larger one. With one quick squeeze, he looked up and saw tears swimming in Sev's eyes.

Draco sat down next to Neville on the Weasley's patchwork couch. "So? You think your dad and my mum are ever going to tell us that they are together?" Neville chuckled.

"Could they be any more obvious ?" Neville replied. "Dad's happy." He looked to where his father was laughing at something Narcissa had whispered in his ear. "I don't remember ever seeing him this happy even with my mum." Draco nodded.

"He hurts her and he's a dead man." Draco said bluntly. Neville nodded and looked over at the pair. Draco scanned the room. He watched Luna's father as Molly and Lily spoke to him gently. They must have been asking him to talk about his deceased wife.

He saw his cousin Sirius babbling silly things to his baby Aurora as Alice looked on with a serene look upon her face. He watched as Nymphadora and the older Weasley boys, Bill and Charlie, discussed the upcoming Quidditch match after they returned to school.

Then he saw Harry holding hands with Luna as they talked to Ginny, Violet and Carina. His stomach tightened as he felt an unfamiliar feeling of jealousy come over him.

Harry could see Luna whenever he wanted. Draco could only see Hermione in his dreams or his memories of meeting her at the amusement park. He longed for her. He shook his head to clear it. He was going to be nine soon. He hoped she didn't forget about him. They still had a couple years before they'd be reunited for good. Draco sighed. "Soon." He thought to himself.

New Years Eve - Malfoy Manor

Remus stood outside the manor gates. He was too nervous to enter the grounds. She'd be there. He closed his eyes and thought back to Boxing Day.

Remus knocked on the robins egg coloured front door of a quaint seaside cottage in Torquay. He held a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand and tugged his collar away from his neck, the feeling of suffocating overcoming him a bit.

The door opened and Ted smiled at him. "Ah, Remus! Good afternoon. Meda said you were popping over for lunch today." His eyes darted down and he chuckled, "Flowers? For me? Oh! You shouldn't have!" He gestured for him to enter and closed the door softly as Remus entered.

"Reems!" He heard Andromeda call out as he came into view from her spot in the kitchen. The cottage had an open floor plan with only a half wall sectioning off the kitchen from the rest of the house.

"Meda, you look lovely as ever." The older woman giggled girlishly and smiled at her friend. "No Dora today?" He questioned. He could only pick up her scent slightly so it was lingering around the house, but she definitely was not here.

"She'll be along shortly. Had to meet her friend Cece Adams. They were having a remembrance for their friend, Rowan. She was killed earlier this year by that crazy witch Rakepick. Brave kid. Jumped right in front of a Killing Curse aimed at another friend." He did remember that. He'd heard about from his young friend Chiara Lobosca, a young werewolf in Dora's year, he wondered if she'd tell her about him.

"A shame that. Still have these nutters running about thinking they've got Voldemort to impress." Ted scoffed. Then clapped his hands together, "Enough of that talk. Lunch smells delicious my dear!"

It was now or never. "Listen. I need to talk to you both and maybe it is best that I do it before Dora gets home." He looked at them forlornly.

"What is it? Are you sick?" Andromeda came around the wall and sat down in a chair at the table.

"No, no-nothing like that. It's a werewolf thing. It's not so commonly known, but almost every werewolf has a mate; someone that they are meant to claim. Someone to love unconditionally and be with and protect."

He watched as Ted looked to him and then to his own wife warily before becoming agitated. "Are you trying to tell us that you're wolf has chosen MY WIFE as your mate?!?"

Remus laughed at that, "No, no, no! But you are still going to despise me for whom he has chosen for me." He watched as Ted looked confused but Andromeda suddenly looked as if she understood completely.

"Ted." She held her husband's hand, looked at Remus and calmly said, "It's our daughter, yes?" She felt her husband stiffen beside her.

Remus grabbed his head with both hands. "I'm sorry! The wolf chooses! I have no control over it but yes! Yes! It's her. It's always been her. I know I always felt very protective of Nymphadora. Ever since I met her eight years ago but it was not until she turned 17 in October that those feelings began to morph into something more serious."

Ted cleared his throat to get Remus's attention. "Listen, Remus. I understand. But you will not try to force feelings upon my daughter. If she feels anything more than friendship for you, I will not stand in the way, but if she does not want anything to do with you, then she makes that decision for herself, understand?"

Remus nodded. I mean, they didn't need to know that she already wanted to be his mate.

Shaking himself out of the memory, he finally walked through the gates. "Psst!" He heard come from the side of the Manor House. He walked towards the noise and was suddenly pulled around by his sleeve.

"Dora! What the bloody! What are you doing?" He whisper-screamed. He smiled as she started to giggle. "You're going to get me killed. If your father.." he was cut off by her jumping into his arms and kissing him. It was not a quick peck either. They kissed somewhat lazily as if they had all of the time in the world.

"I wanted to get my midnight kiss early since I know mum and dad would throw a right fit if we were to kiss at midnight in front of them." She cuddled into his embrace as he placed her back on her feet, subtly adjusting his tightened pants. Merlin, this Damn wolf's hormones.

"We'll have plenty of midnight kisses in the future. Oh, Chiara says hello. Saw her at the apothecary yesterday. Full moon next month."

Nymphadora nodded against his chest as he rested his chin atop her head. "When we move in together after I graduate, will we marry immediately or wait a bit?"

"You would want to marry me?" He looked at her with awe.

"Eventually. I'd want to give you a cub or two as well, but I want to get at least five years in as an Auror first." Remus couldn't fight the warmth growing in his chest at that moment. This beautiful, vibrant, spunky creature wanted to become his for all of the world to see.

"Dora," he whispered her name like a prayer, "You are incredible." He cupped her face in between his large hands and slowly brought their mouths together in a tender kiss.

"And you, Remus Lupin, are amazing."

"Sev!" Snape jumped up from the chair he was sitting on while waiting for his wife to finish dressing for The Malfoy New Years bash. Running up the stairs, he almost fell flat on his face in his rush to get to his pregnant wife.

"What is it? Is it the baby? Are you okay?" He saw her hands wrapped around her small bump. Come feel! He's kicking!" Severus breathed out a sigh of relief but then realized what he was about to experience.

Lily took his hands and placed them around her belly, placing her own hands on top of his. "I don't feel anything." He said, disappointment laced in his voice. Lily told him to be patient. Then it happened. A slight push at the pan of his right hand. "Was that?" His wife smiled and nodded at him, "That's spectacular!"

After a few moments, they kissed and Lily finished dressing. "Well, it's official. I'm not fitting in my denims any longer." The tight black gown hugged her figure and prominently displayed her growing body.

"You look unbelievably gorgeous my sweet girl." He wrapped his arms around her from behind and peppered kisses down her neck.

"Mmm, don't start something you can't finish." She moaned as he squeezed her breast and ground his crotch against her ass.

"We can be late. It's just Cissa." His husky voice made her immediately soaked. "Bless Molly and Arthur for taking the kids." He lifted her dress, gathering it at her waist before bending her over the bed. He wandlessly undid his belt and trousers, letting them drop to his ankles before slipping his cock into Lily's warm heat. "Fuck! You're ready for me baby."

"Fuck me, Sev!" Lily groaned as he buried himself into her cunt. They hoped their loud lovemaking didn't alarm the neighbourhood. Lily buried her hands into the duvet as Sev pounded into her at a punishing pace. "Oh god!" He could feel her spasming as she orgasmed. He always felt like a superhero when he got her to orgasm through purely just penetrative sex. He felt his balls tighten up before exploding inside of her.

Once they got their breathing under control, Lily smoothed out her dress and charmed the wrinkles out of it and did a freshening charm to fix her hair and makeup. "Ready?"

"Ready!"

The party was very intimate. Just family and close friends. Luna's father was still in mourning but allowed Luna to attend with The Weasley's. Harry was happy about that. Draco watched as his best friend dance like a goofball with his little love. He imagined what he would do if he had Hermione there. He'd show her the library. She'd love it. He wondered if she remembered him at all. Would she remember him when the saw each other at Hogwarts?

Little did he know that at that moment, that same girl was thinking about him as well.

Hermione was at a stuffy party held by her mum's best friend Alison and her husband Royland 'Roy' Byrne. They were nice enough people but their children were horrid. They made fun of her "bushy hair" and her big teeth. They picked in her for always having a book to read. "Hey, Nerd! Check this out!" She turned to see Jack, Alison and Roy's eldest son.

Hermione ignored him so he came over and grabbed her book from her hands. "Give it back!" Hermione stood up from her spot in the sitting room and marched over to where Jack had ran to.

"No, make me!" Jack spat as he raised the book in the air out of Hermione's reach. He laughed at her attempts to jump up and get it.

"Please, Jack. I don't know why you can't just leave me alone. I've done nothing to deserve this treatment." Jack scoffed.

"You think you're better than me? Than us? You should feel honoured to be in my presence." Hermione snorted. "You know I could have any girl I want? All the girls at school like me. All but one." He stepped closer to her.

Hermione gasped then backed away as Jack came closer. He caught her by the wrist and pulled her back to him. "Let go of me!" She tried to tear his hand off her wrist but he was too strong. She felt her anger bubbling up inside; could feel the familiar tingle in the tips of her fingers and then...

"Argh!" Jack went flying across the room. He crashed into the wall and crumpled into a ball on the sitting room floor.

"What the? What happened!" Alison came running in the room and saw Hermione crying on one side of the room and her son, Jack, knocked out on the other side.

"I...I don't know! Jack had grabbed me and I think I may have pushed him away too hard? I'm not sure! It happened so fast!" Hermione wailed as her parents, Richard and Jean, and Roy as well as a few other party guests came into the room.

"Call 999! Jack is hurt!" Alison called out to nobody in particular.

Hermione's parents checked over her; giving wary glances at each other. "He must have grabbed you pretty hard, Dove. Your wrist is all red and starting to bruise. Richard, look." Her father came over and saw the imprint of fingers bruising around his nine year old daughter's wrist.

"What the fuck did your freak daughter do to my son Granger?" Roy shouted as he marched over. Jack had stirred awake groggily.

"What did you just call her?" Richard shouted.

"You heard me ya fucking wanker! What did you do to my boy, you snotty bitch?"

Alison and Jean screamed as Richard pushed Roy hard. "If you ever call my daughter that again, I'll show you why I was boxing champ at Cambridge you son of a bitch!" He lifted Hermione's hand and showed Alison and Roy, "This is what your son did to my daughter. Stay away from her. Let's go Jean!"

Jean looked at her best friend apologetically before following her husband out of the Berne's home.

Later that night, she overheard her parents talking. "It's happening again. Her sudden outbursts? I think it's time we take up that lady's offer. She said she knew others like her. Here's her card." Jean said.

Hermione wondered who they were talking about. "Yes. I wonder what this 'H' stands for. Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. Okay, I'll write to her in the morning." A school? Hermione thought to herself.

That night, she dreamed of a castle and a boy with a handsome face and bright white hair.

And as the clock struck midnight in Wiltshire, Draco whispered into the night sky illuminated by fireworks, "Happy New Year, Hermione."

May came faster than anyone could ever imagine. Every day, Severus waited to here that it was time. And every day? Nothing.

"The Healer said it could be any day now. Harry is begging me to home school him so he can be here with me and Violet. He's been taking his role as temporary Man of the House." Lily giggled. "You still coming home Friday?"

He had discussed with Dumbledore at length and he'd gotten permission for a sub to finish out the year so he could be home for the birth of his son. "Everything is set. Bill Weasley is going to student teach along with some bloke from Gringott's Curse Breaking division. Hopefully he did a better background check on this guy. That Rakepick was psychotic. Still can't believe little Rowan Khanna is gone. She was my top student"

"Oh, Sev. I'm sorry." They talk for a few more minutes before the kids said their good nights.

"Love you dad!"

"Love you Vy!"

"Love you Sev, um, I mean dad!"

"Love you too, Harry. Thanks for keeping an eye on things. See you in two days!"

"Two more days. I hope this little guy stays put until then."

The morning of May 20th, 1989 began like most days in the Snape household. Lily woke up and went down the stairs following the smells of cinnamon rolls and coffee. She could hear the laughter and sweet giggles of her children and husband coming from the kitchen. She stopped in the hallway to catch her breath. Her back was on fire. She should have stayed in bed. Instead, she continued into the kitchen.

"There's my beautiful wife! Good morning, we've got a full spread here. But I know you and our little prince will want the cinnamon rolls." He presented the plate in front of her. Usually she would gobble it up but she felt off. "You okay, Lils?" He cupped her face and she leaned into his touch.

"I think I should go back to bed. It's my back. Ooh!" Lily hunched over, grasping her stomach. "Call Molly, Sev. I think I'm going into labour." Severus jumped up and ran to the Floo. Harry and Violet got off their chairs and went to their mother.

"What do you need, Mum?" Harry asked in a calm voice. Violet was jumping up and down in excitement.

"Harry, can you go to mummy and daddy's room and get my small case from the closet. The one with the lion on it? That's mummy's hospital bag. It has everything mummy needs for your brother and mummy, okay?" Harry ran from the room to fetch his mother's bag.

"And what about me, Mummy? I want to help too!" Violet squeaked. Lily groaned when another contraction came along. Violet rubbed her back in comfort.

"Oh, sweetheart, what you're doing now is helping immensely, Love." Lily smiled softly at her little girl. I can't wait for you to help me with baby brother." Violet gave her mother a small hug and then kissed her belly.

"I love you Mummy."

"And I love you my sweet girl." Lily caressed her daughter's face. Severus and Harry entered at the same time. Harry had the correct bag and also grabbed Violet's baby doll so she had something to play with as they waited

"Molly says that they will meet us at St. Mungo's. Ready?" He was attempting to sound calm but it came out too chipper causing Lily to chuckle.

"Yes, dear. Thank you Harry." She went to grab for the bag but Harry insisted on carrying it. Severus packed up the cinnamon rolls with a flick of his wrist.

Lily looked at him, "What?" She shook her head and smirked at him. "I just made these. I'm not waisting them." He chuckled.

"Silly of me to think otherwise. Let's go. Ahh!" Another contraction. "Oh, he is ready to meet you all." Severus grabbed his wife's hand and walked to the Floo.

"Okay guys. You know the drill. Floo to Uncle Sirius and Aunt Alice's house then we can walk together to the store front to enter Mungo's." They had gone over the route multiple times. It was the most direct route since the Black's lived in the Islington section of London only two blocks away from St. Mungo's.

"Here we go."

Alice and Sirius had just cleaned up breakfast when they heard their Floo go off and the wards notified them that people had arrived. "Sirius went out to greet whomever it was and saw Harry Potter holding his sister's hand. "Hey! Good morning you two!" He smiled at them and Violet excitedly told him that it was baby time.

"Mum and Sev are coming through next." Harry explained as he brushed soot from his clothes.

Lily came through next. "The kids tell you?" She asked as her friend came over to hug her.

"Yes. Do you need anything?" He asked as Alice came into the room holding Aurora.

"No. All set." Severus came through the Floo and immediately grabbed her hand.

"Black. Hey Alice. Miss Rory." He was grinning now, the excitement of the impending arrival of his first born overcoming his emotions. "Hate to run, but," he pointed to Lily's belly.

"Of course! We'll be there soon. Let me change her and grab her diaper bag. I'm sure Molly and them are waiting." Alice chuckled. Sirius walked them out; kissing his best friend's cheek and telling her that he would see her soon.

It was a full house in the waiting room of the maternity ward at St. Mungo's. It was close to noon now and Molly unpacked a basket full of sandwiches for everyone to eat lunch as they waited for news. "Ugh! How much longer?" Violet whined as she clutched her baby doll.

"Sometimes these things happen quickly other times very slowly. We must have patience dear." Molly tried to explain to the rambunctious seven year old. "Go play with Ginny. Maybe I have something, ah yes! Here we go!" She handed her a tin of her famous biscuits. "Share, okay?" Violet nodded with a big smile on her face as she turned to skip over to Ginny and her brothers.

Another hour went by. Then another until finally!

"IT'S A BOY!" Severus came bustling into the waiting room. "Oh! He's just perfect! Full head of black hair and he's got his mother's beautiful eyes. Come kids!" He picked up Violet and held Harry's hand. "Ready to meet your new brother?"

They entered the room and Violet immediately burst into tears. "I'm not the baby anymore!" To which her mother and father laughed. "Sorry! It just hit me." Harry shook his head at his sister's antics. He then stood next to his mother's hospital bed.

"Harry? Violet? Meet your baby brother, Alexander Sirius Snape." Harry's eyes widened.

"Uncle Sirius is going to be so excited!" Harry said as he looked at the pink face of his brother. "Hi, Alex. I'm your big brother, Harry James Potter. Can I hold him?" Severus had Harry sit in the armchair with a pillow propping his elbow up, then took the baby from Lily's arms.

"Now, be gentle, okay?" Severus said with a calm voice and a huge smile. Harry was a natural. It brought an even bigger smile to his face. "Look at that; my two boys." He felt the tears welling up in his eyes. Lily choked on a sob.

"Look at our little family." Lily took the handkerchief her husband gave her. "Thank you for this beautiful life we've built together, Sev." He bent down to kiss her. "I love you."

"And I love you; I love us." He turned to see Harry holding Alexander as Violet had the baby's hand wrapped around her finger and smiled. "Always."

An hour later, Sirius and Molly came in at the request of both parents. "Oh, Lily! He's beautiful!" Molly coo'd at him as she cradled Alexander in her arms.

"Thank you. Would you like to know his name?" Lily asked and watched as both friends nodded their heads. "Sev?" She smiled at her husband as he rolled his eyes at her. She'd wanted him to be the one to announce the baby's name to Sirius. A way to bury the hatchet, so to speak.

"May we introduce, our son, Alexander Sirius."

Sirius looked up from staring at the child; a look of surprise on his face. "You? You named him after me?"

"Of course. Wouldn't feel right if he wasn't named after his Godfather." Lily explained. Sirius walked over and hugged her. "I know you're already Harry's but I want you to be Alex's Godfather as well. You're my best friend, hell, you're more than that. You're my brother!"

They were a sobbing mess and Severus just shook his head and smiled.

"Where do you think you're going, Batman!" Sirius tackled him in a bear hug and laid a kiss to the side of Snape's face.

"Ugh, gerroff me, Black!" Although he shoved him off, he couldn't stop the small upturn of his mouth as he did so. He walked over to where Molly was sitting, holding Alexander and humming a soft tune. "And Molly, we want you as his Godmother."

"I would be honoured."

Later that night, as Severus lay in a magically widened hospital bed with his wife, he thanked her. "And why are you thanking me, my Love?"

"For this. All of this. I never dreamed I could ever live with happiness. With so much love in my heart. You gave me purpose. Peace. Love. You gave me a family. A beautiful family and I love you so deeply and the children? My god, these children are everything to me." He then kissed her. He kissed for their past. He kissed for today and all the days to come. Because although he wished that one day he would have love, he had never thought it possible. And here was laying, his best friend, wife and the love of his life next to him while their child slept in a cot next to them. His other children, children from his childhood bully and nemesis, that he loved as if he'd always been their father. Love truly does conquer all, doesn't it?

A/N: Okay! This is the last part of the first half of our story! Time jump next! We are transitioning from mostly our adults to focusing more on the children. But, do not worry! We're going to still see more from Lily and Snape.

Coming next: First Year at Hogwarts!