Chapter Twelve: Winter 1976

Lily Evans had noticed a marked change in her sixth year at Hogwarts from her previous years. The group of Gryffindors that had taken almost every class together since they were eleven had now been split up, separated by exam results. Some friends were now enemies, unable to see past the jealousy that had consumed those who had failed. To top it all off, NEWT classes, in general, were much more academically demanding than Lily had thought they could be.

And, of course, there was the indisputable fact that her best friend—her partner-in-crime since she was ten and magic-less—no longer said a word to her.

"Lily?" Remus asked. He playfully shook her arm. "Are you with me?"

"Yes, sorry." Lily shook her head. "I was just distracted."

The two of them were in a private study room reviewing their Prefect schedules before the holidays. They were good friends, and Lily was thankful to have his calming presence in her life. Remus had been a boon to her soul now that she no longer had Severus to rely on.

Remus softened, gleaning that her head was in the clouds. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about your friendship with Snape. I can tell you miss him—even if you're good at not letting anyone else see that."

Well, she was thankful for Remus' friendship most of the time. He knew her better than she thought he did.

"Don't, Remus."

"Hey," Remus whispered. "I know it's not easy to lose friends." He bit his lip. "I lost a lot of friends when my parents decided to homeschool me. I wasn't allowed to see anyone anymore. Even if a friendship ends for a good reason, it's still hard."

"What was your reason?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowed. "Why would your friends stop talking to you just because you were homeschooled? It's not like you moved away."

"I wasn't allowed to talk to them. It's a bit different."

"Okay, then, why weren't you allowed?"

Remus looked at her warily. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?"

"Who would I tell?"

"Doesn't matter. If you tell anyone, I'll lose everything," Remus said matter-of-factly.

"All right," Lily said. She leaned across the desk intently. "What's going on?"

"I have been infected with Lycanthropy since I was ten," Remus told her.

Lily looked at him, thinking about the word. "You're a werewolf?"

"Yes," Remus said simply. "I was bitten, and once that happened, my parents decided to keep me at home. I was no longer safe to be around."

"Oh, Remus," Lily whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine." Remus smiled crookedly at her. "I wasn't going to come to Hogwarts, but Dumbledore intervened. He said he'd make it safe for me to attend school here, and he has."

"The Shrieking Shack," Lily said, realization dawning on her. "Wait, Severus was right?"

"Yes, but I'd like it if you didn't tell him and give him a reason to gloat. He's been surprisingly quiet since he discovered my secret."

"Oh, God, of course not!" Lily exclaimed. "No, Remus. Never. Even if we were still friends, I wouldn't tell Severus that I knew."

"I appreciate that."

"So...do the others know?"

Remus laughed. "You mean James, Sirius, and Peter? Yes, they know. So do McGonagall and Pomfrey. But that's it—and it can't go any further. If it does, I'll be kicked out of school, and Dumbledore would likely be sacked."

"We can't have that," Lily said determinedly. "I'll keep your secret. And if you ever need anything—like extra notes for the days you miss class—let me know."

"That would be nice." Remus grinned. "Your handwriting is a lot clearer than James'."

"I should hope so," Lily replied. She smiled. "Thank you for trusting me with this, Remus. Now, should we get back to talking about our patrol schedules? Honestly, I'm hoping we can switch some of our nighttime duties for the morning. I know it sucks to get up early, but if I find Marlene and Black undressing each other behind even one more statue, I will lose it."

Remus stiffened. "Yeah, I'm getting sick of it, too."

Lily observed him carefully. "What's wrong?

"Nothing."

"You're not telling me something." Lily took his hands. "Remus, you just told me you're a werewolf, and now you won't tell me why you look like you want to ram your hand through a wall?"

"It's nothing, Lily."

"Oh," Lily breathed. "You like Marlene."

Remus scoffed. "I don't have feelings for Marlene, Lily."

"Fine, then." Lily grinned. "You have feelings for Sirius."

She knew she was right when Remus looked away, blushing.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Remus," Lily said gently. "You can't help who you fall for."

"No, you can't. But I fell in love with my best friend, who is very much in love with Marlene."

"I'm sorry," Lily muttered. "I don't know what it's like to fall for someone who's in love with someone else, but I'm really sorry." She winced. "Is there anything I can say other than sorry?"

Remus laughed. "You can stop saying sorry."

"Right." Lily sighed. "Well, I'm glad you felt like you could tell me. It must have been hard keeping it a secret."

Remus cocked his head. "What makes you think no one knows?"

"I just didn't think you would have told any of your friends," Lily said quickly, "because of how close you all are to Black."

"I haven't told Peter. I have the feeling he'd tell Sirius if Sirius starts taunting him again." Remus rubbed his head. "I did tell James."

"Potter knows?"

"He's actually a good person, Lily," Remus said, with a hint of disapproval in his voice. "I know you don't like him because he fought with Severus—"

"—bullied Severus—"

"Fine, bullied Severus. But James is smart, kind, and a really good friend. He has let me vent to him about this whole situation more than once. And he hasn't told Sirius," Remus finished. "I know you don't love James, but he's one of my best friends."

"And what, if you like him, he can't really be that bad?"

"Something like that," Remus teased. He tapped the schedule on the desk. "But no, I'd rather not watch Sirius ram his tongue down Marlene's throat. Morning duties are probably better."

"Noted," Lily said. "Let's go over this. Maybe the Hufflepuffs will switch with us."

Half an hour later, the pair were back in the common room.

"There you are!" Black exclaimed. "Where the hell have you been, Remus?"

"With Lily," Remus said. "We had Prefect stuff to go over."

"Bunch of nerds," Sirius laughed. "Come and sit with us, Remus. We're going over our next big prank."

"You prank people now?" Lily asked, disbelieving. "Wait, can all of the recent pranks be traced to you lot?"

"James won't let us tease Snivellous anymore, so we have to spend our time doing something." Sirius rolled his eyes. "Come on, Moony."

Lily looked at James, who got up from his chair and met her in the middle of the room. "What is it?" James asked.

"You actually are going to stop bothering Severus," Lily said quietly. "I almost don't believe it."

"Believe it." James shrugged. "Look, I told you I wasn't who you thought I was. Now I'm showing you. Just as I said I would."

"Interesting." Lily cocked her head. "You know, when I pair this with what Remus just told me...I have to think you're a better friend than I thought, Potter."

She walked up the stairs to the girls' dormitory, leaving James to gawk after her. When Lily was out of earshot, James whipped around to Remus and asked, "What the hell did you tell her?"

Remus grinned. "Don't worry about it."

Minerva watched as her sixth-year NEWT students filed into her classroom. "Come on in, and don't dawdle. We have a lot of work to do before the holiday break."

Her class was rather large for a NEWT-level class, and Minerva prided herself on that fact. She knew she had a reputation for being a rather no-nonsense professor, but she didn't mind. Her OWL pass rates were impressive, and many of her students chose to stick with her class after the mandatory five years.

When they had all taken their seats, Minerva began her lesson.

"I would like to spend today introducing non-verbal spells. If you've read chapter seven in the textbook, you will know precisely why intent is critical when casting non-verbally. Can anyone tell me why?"

The lecture portion of the class passed quickly. It always did for Minerva. She enjoyed watching the students bounce with anticipation. They truly enjoyed their first chance at attempting non-verbal spells.

"Now, find yourself a partner. You'll supervise each other attempting to turn the goblets on your desks into books."

"That's easy enough," Black muttered.

"While speaking aloud? Yes, it's quite easy, Mr. Black. However, this is your first time attempting a non-verbal spell. It won't come as easily, I assure you." Minerva nodded briskly. "Find a partner, please."

She watched, interested to see what would happen between Snape and Lily. Typically, Lily would always partner with Snape to save him the embarrassment of not being picked by anyone in his own house. Instead, she was shocked to hear Lily say, "Potter, will you be my partner?"

James grinned happily. "Sure, Evans."

Minerva bit back a smile and walked between the desks, carefully watching her students.

Three hours later, after her classes had finished and before dinner, Minerva went to her quarters to find her husband.

"Albus? Are you here?"

"In the bedroom, my dear."

Minerva followed the sound of his voice and saw that he was under the covers of their bed, a book in hand. "What on earth are you doing in bed?"

"I wasn't feeling too well after lunch," Albus admitted. "I went to see Poppy, and she advised me to stay in bed. I'll be eating dinner from here, I'm afraid."

Minerva frowned. "What's wrong? I don't feel anything." She reflexively placed her hand on her stomach. "I don't think I feel sick, at any rate."

"You wouldn't," Albus said carefully. "Come and sit beside me."

"Albus, you're frightening me," Minerva warned. She clasped his hands and tried not to wince at how clammy they were. "What's going on?"

"It would appear that the Vow I made with Lavinia is still affecting me. Poppy is attempting to discover why it flares up."

"Oh, Al," Minerva muttered. She squeezed his hands. "Is there nothing we can do?"

"It simply makes me feel ill, and requires that I rest. That's all."

"Oh, is that all?" she cried incredulously. "Do you remember when you said it felt like someone was 'siphoning your magic away'? Is that what this is? Are you losing your magic?"

"No. I don't have any reason to believe that," Albus soothed. "If I had to guess, I'd wager that it will simply affect me in lowering amounts until I no longer feel it at all."

"Albus, I'm worried. It's been—what, three, four months since Lavinia died? I don't like that you're still feeling the repercussions of the Vow. I'll reach out to Callum and see if he has any solutions. Perhaps he has encountered this on the field or in the Unspeakables department."

"Minerva, the last thing I want is to trouble your brother."

"The last thing I want is you getting sicker and content to be so!" She sighed. "We need Callum's expertise."

"Poppy wouldn't like to hear that."

"I trust Poppy," Minerva said, rolling her eyes. "But if this is rare magic, Callum might be of help."

"Fine."

"After nine years of marriage, you would think you would learn to trust me," Minerva said not unkindly.

"I do trust you." Albus peeled back the comforter. "Would you come and lay with me until dinner?"

"If you insist," Minerva replied, smiling. She removed her teaching robes and kept her shift on, settling beside her husband. "I have news. Well, I think it's news."

"Oh?"

"James and Lily are friends."

"That is news indeed!" Albus exclaimed. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Minerva said thoughtfully. "But they were partners during today's class. I presumed Lily would no longer choose Snape after their blowup in June, but I had thought she would choose Lupin."

"I wonder why she and James are now friends," Albus mused. "Ah, well. I'm happy if they're finally on good terms."

"Me, too," Minerva sighed. "I'm hoping things go more smoothly this year. Now that Snape and Lily are no longer friends, I wonder if James and Black will leave him alone."

"Isn't Sirius Black rather taken with Miss McKinnon? Shouldn't that take his mind off Snape?"

"How did you know Black and McKinnon were an item?" Minerva asked, amused.

"On some of my midnight walks to and from the kitchen, I've caught the pair of them canoodling in corridors."

"How many times?"

"Oh, about seven."

"Tell me you took away house points."

"I didn't the first four times. After that, I did. It was all getting a bit ridiculous," Albus confessed. "I've seen far more of either student than I ever needed to."

"Charming," Minerva groaned. "Would I be correct in presuming McKinnon was embarrassed, and Black was cheeky as all get out?"

"You would be correct, as usual."

"Hmmmph," Minerva snorted. "Well, I'd rather you be the one to catch them. I've caught enough students to last a lifetime."

"I'm sure."

Still uneasy despite the change of topic, Minerva toyed with a button on Albus' nightshirt. "Al?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you be all right if I visited Poppy after dinner?" Minerva asked. "I'd like to talk to her about your magic, if you're agreeable."

"I don't believe you'll rest until you find an answer, so go ahead, my dear."

"Thank you," Minerva replied gratefully. She settled deeper into his arms. "This is nice."

"It is," Albus agreed. "I hate feeling unwell, but if it means I get to spend more time with you, then I must admit that it has its upsides."

"Oh, Al. Don't make yourself ill just to spend time with me."

"How else would I justify my Sherbet Lemon purchases?"

"No more of those until you're feeling better," Minerva warned, but she had a smile on her face.

"Minerva!" Horace called after her after dinner.

Minerva sighed inwardly. She wanted to talk to Poppy, not listen to Horace drone on about Merlin knows what. Despite Minerva's time in his club whilst a student, and their many years as colleagues, the two rarely spoke.

"Yes, Horace?"

"I was hoping to talk to you about a student. May I have a word?" Horace gestured towards the staff room.

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Of course." When they were seated, she asked, "What is the problem, Horace?"

"Severus Snape has dropped out of my little club," Horace said. "He seems more sullen than I've ever seen him—and that's saying something."

"I agree that he seems...changed," Minerva said carefully. "He seems to have closed himself off even more. If I had to guess, Horace, I would suppose that the end of his friendship with Lily Evans has something to do with his change in demeanour."

"Ah, I was wondering what was going on there," Horace mused. "I am worried about him, Minerva. He has always been a bit of a loner, but he seems increasingly withdrawn. Whenever I visit the common room, Severus is sitting by himself, writing frantically. I can hope that he's doing schoolwork, but I believe he's corresponding with students who have graduated." Horace lowered his voice. "Death Eaters, to be precise."

"What evidence do you have?" Minerva asked sharply. She was never one to entertain accusations without proof.

Horace shrugged. "Other than Lily Evans, those students were his only real friends—or at least acquaintances. I don't know that you could say Severus had any friends, apart from Lily. If he and Lily have fallen out, as you say, then I could see that being the final push in Severus converting to the dark arts."

Minerva sighed. "That's the last thing any of us wants to see."

"I know," Horace agreed. "So, do you have any advice for me? You're always good at talking to your students."

Minerva thought she had perhaps misjudged Horace.

"Well," she said, "do you talk to Mr. Snape often?"

"Not often, no," Horace replied. "Not outside of class or my little club, at any rate."

"Then I would suggest you have a meeting with him—nothing formal, but perhaps keep him after class. Ask him why he has stopped attending your club meetings, and take it from there. Hopefully, he'll be willing to open up to you." Minerva made a face. "Of course, Albus or I could always try, but I doubt he'll open up to us if he won't open up to you. Snape seems to subscribe to the Slytherin versus Gryffindor rivalry that makes our lives so difficult."

"Thank you, Minerva," Horace said gratefully. "I'll do that."

Minerva nodded and rose from her seat. "Let me know if you need any more help. I hope the conversation goes well."

She left, and headed to the Hospital Wing.

Poppy knew why she was there as soon as she saw Minerva and ushered her friend into her office.

"Albus?" Poppy asked.

Minerva smiled grimly. "Albus."

"What do you know?" Poppy Summoned two Firewhiskys.

"Does this conversation really require alcohol?"

"It doesn't require alcohol, but it would be better with it. How often do we get to indulge ourselves up here?"

"Touché." Minerva clinked her bottle against her friend's. "So, please, tell me. How ill is my husband?"

"He's not ill, per se." Poppy sighed. "And he isn't in any danger, either."

"Then what's the problem?" Minerva asked exasperatedly.

"Min, do you know anyone who has lived through a Vow? Meaning, someone thought about breaking it, broke it, and then died, leaving the other involved party alive?"

"No, I don't know anyone other than Albus. What's your point?"

"Min. I'm trying to help, you know," Poppy snapped. "I'm not the one who told your husband to bloody magically tether himself to another person by performing the Unbreakable Vow!"

"No, but I am!" Minerva yelled. She met Poppy's eyes with a look of desperation on her face. "He only did it to protect us and our relationship."

A sudden look of understanding passed over Poppy's face. "Ah. Lavinia was worried You-Know-Who would attempt to get information out of her because of her close relationship with you and Albus."

"Exactly. And she wound up dead, and now my husband is ill!"

Poppy could see how frightened Minerva was and knew she had to be gentle.

"I sent an owl to Callum immediately after I assessed Albus earlier this afternoon. I know you, Min—I knew you'd have the same idea." Poppy gave her friend a knowing glance. "He came to the same conclusion I did."

"If you have a conclusion, why didn't you tell Albus?"

"Because he had already gone to bed, and he honestly didn't seem overly concerned. Merely...curious."

"Silly man," Minerva muttered.

"And perhaps because I knew you would come and demand the answer out of me yourself," Poppy added, the slightest hint of reprimand in her voice. "So, would you like to hear this conclusion?"

"You know I do."

"Albus is simply experiencing an overload of magical merging," Poppy explained. "Your soul bond with Albus means your magic is permanently merged; your magics are constantly interacting. I don't know the exact percentage, but let's say that eighty percent of your magic is your own. The other twenty percent, for example, flows through the bond at every moment. You are not always operating at your full magical capacity."

"How can—how can that be?" Minerva sputtered. "Albus is the most powerful wizard in the world—and if I do say so myself, I am not powerless. I wouldn't say either of us suffer for a lack of power."

"No, but you two have such strong magical cores that you don't notice. Use me as an example: my magical core at one hundred percent may only be seventy-five percent of yours." Poppy paused. "You must know that you and Albus have always had an awesome amount of talent and power. You just never realized how powerful you are because, well, you're measuring yourselves against normal folk on a daily basis."

"I'm sure Albus knows how powerful he is," Minerva scoffed.

"Perhaps, but I would wager that he rarely uses one hundred percent of his magical core," Poppy countered. "Trust me, Min. Callum and I still research soul bonds from time to time. Perenelle has helped, on occasion."

"Perenelle Flamel?" Minerva inquired, disbelieving.

"Hey, you're the one who told me to chat with Perenelle once you discovered she was a Healer, too," Poppy said defensively. "We got to talking, and we eventually decided to do some research on this topic of mutual interest. I wanted to be better equipped to help you and Albus, and Perenelle has one of the most inquisitive minds I have ever seen. We don't work with Nicolas, though," Poppy added quickly. "I know you're not his biggest fan."

Minerva smiled at how well her friend knew her. "What have you discovered that is relevant to Albus' current predicament?"

"Only wizards and witches with the strongest of magical cores can bond. You and Albus are two of the most powerful magical folks on this earth. It takes a special kind of power to be able to withstand consistently sharing some of your magic with someone else—that is, to upkeep a soul bond.

"Have you ever had a time where you had to draw on Albus' magic? During the war, for example?" Poppy looked at Minerva intently.

Minerva thought about the final duel with Grindelwald, during which she had used almost all of Albus' magic to defeat the dark lord. "Yes. I used so much of his magic that he fainted."

"Aha! See, during that time, you used so much of his power in such a short time that you made him ill!" Poppy said triumphantly.

"Poppy, I didn't make him ill."

"No, not intentionally, but the draw on his magic had ill effects. An Unbreakable Vow functions the same way. The sparks that fly around the hands during the vow process are the participants' magics interacting. It creates a slow draw on their magic, like a tiny, infinitesimal soul bond.

"When Lavinia died, the magic didn't have anywhere to go. As odd as it sounds, all of Albus' magic that was wrapped up in the Vow is trying to make its way back to him. He feels like someone is siphoning his magic because his magic is altering and adapting to take in the magic that he lost."

"But it's his magic!" Minerva exploded. "How much adapting could his magic possibly need?"

"Min, this magic has been melded with someone else's, and it has been away from his body for four years." Poppy shrugged. "Our magical cores are finicky; you know that. These things take time."

"How much longer will it take?" Minerva took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down.

After all, none of this was Poppy's fault.

"I'm hoping this is the last of it," Poppy said gently. "Or near it, at the very least. As I said, there's no real way to know. But it was a small amount of magic, relatively speaking, and four years isn't that long in the scheme of things. If I have to guess, he'll have two to three more bouts of feeling ill, but nothing terrible. I don't expect him to land himself in St. Mungo's—this isn't nearly as bad as that. I highly doubt there's any real need to worry here, Min."

Minerva paused to think about her friend's words, and suddenly gasped. "Wait, Poppy? What the hell does this mean for Albus and me?" Minerva wondered, a look of horror on her face. "Surely, one of us will die before the other. What the hell happens to our magic then?"

"That's a good question," Poppy admitted. "Seeing as you've been bonded for most of your lives, with higher percentages of magical interaction, I can only imagine the effects would be worse and longer-lasting."

"Bloody hell," Minerva muttered glumly. "Doesn't that just sound fantastic?"

"I'm sorry," Poppy apologized. "We could always try to find a way around it, if you like."

"No," Minerva said, shaking her head. "It can be an issue for later—after the war. I certainly don't plan on dying anytime soon. And despite his plans that often make me want to kill him, Albus will be alive for a very long time, if I have it my way."

Poppy grinned. "Of course. I'll drink to that."

They clinked their glasses together.

"Ah, that's nice," Poppy said appreciatively as she swallowed the beverage. "We need to have more of these nights."

"Without the medical mystery, if you please."

"Hear, hear." Poppy eyed her friend. "Will you be telling Albus, or should I?"

"Oh, I can tell him." Minerva waved her hand dismissively. "I think I have taken up too much of your night already."

"I always consider my nights well-spent if I've spent them with a friend."

"Oh, Poppy," Minerva said, laughing. "You're far too good to me. What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"We're best friends because we're too good to each other," Poppy said firmly. Then, she grinned mischievously. "Of course, we can always say that your husband saved my wife's life, and now I am firmly in your debt."

"Ah, so you're doing this for Albus."

"I'm doing it for both of you. Yes, it's my job, but I love you two. Even if Albus would never let me say the word, I do love you both."

"And I love you," Minerva said carefully. She rarely said that to anyone but Albus and her nieces since Dalton and Athena had left, but it was the truth. Minerva loved her friends, and it occurred to her that perhaps she needed to be more vocal in that regard.

Poppy grinned. "Do you have time for another drink before you have to go and tell your husband that he'll live to see another day?"

Minerva laughed. "Fetch me another. As you said, he'll be around for a while."

Minerva watched as Albus shrunk their luggage. Somehow, there weren't any students staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas holidays. It was a first in a number of decades, and it was a pleasant surprise that the entire Hogwarts staff sought to take advantage of by getting the heck out of dodge.

"It will be so nice to have Christmas with the family," Minerva sighed wistfully. "Are you sure it's not worth another try with Aberforth?"

"Minerva, my brother said no. I doubt he'd change his mind."

"I know, but I just thought that he may be more inclined if he knew that my entire family is coming."

Albus looked shocked. "You are talking about Aberforth, aren't you? Because I can assure you that Aberforth would much rather spend Christmas alone than with the entire family."

"I know that," Minerva said, lovingly exasperated, "but with my family, there's less obligation for him to speak to you the entire evening. And, despite our differences, I truly do feel bad leaving your brother alone over the holidays."

"He needs to deal with his ghosts, just like the rest of the human race," Albus replied. He rubbed his jaw wearily. "I can always send another owl if it would please you, but it won't make a lick of difference."

"Not to us, but if he decides to join us?" Minerva shrugged. "Then it was worth it. The cost is practically nothing for us, my love."

"I will head to the Owlery now, then," Albus decided. "On my way back, I shall do one last patrol before we leave for the holidays." He kissed Minerva quickly.

"Why? I have a patrol to do; there's no sense in both of us doing it."

"I rather thought I could do yours for you," Albus replied, embarrassed.

"Oh, I see," Minerva said, amused. "Well, I'm certainly not going to complain about that." In an uncharacteristic move of joviality, she jumped on their bed and laid back against the pillows. "I might take a little cat nap."

"You do that," Albus said. He laughed as she immediately transformed. Albus stroked her head and then headed to the Owlery.

Albus knew his brother would rather kill him than spend Christmas with the McGonagall clan, but he also knew it was important to Minerva to keep their family close.

He also knew that Athena loved his brother—her uncle—and he wanted to do right by his daughter, even if she had no idea what he was doing.

It was funny how love had changed him for the better when he had always been so convinced it would make him weaker.

On patrol, Albus was happily munching on a Sherbet Lemon when he heard a disturbance in the castle's pleasant calm. Someone appeared to be hiding behind a curtain—despite Minerva and Albus being the only ones left in the castle.

Supposed to be the only two people left in the castle.

"Hello?" Albus called softly. He expected a scared first- or second-year to appear in front of him.

He wasn't expecting Severus Snape.

"What do you want, Lestrange? I told you—I'm not getting on the train!" the boy snarled. Albus watched Snape's eyes widen as they worked their way up to Albus' face. "Oh. Headmaster."

"Mr. Snape." Albus nodded in greeting. "What are you doing here? The rest of your fellow students are in Hogsmeade. They are preparing to board the train—as you should be, since you didn't indicate you were staying in the castle over the holidays."

"I didn't sign the form because I didn't want anyone to know I was planning on staying here," Snape said self-righteously. "I had planned to stay here by myself."

"And why would you do that, Mr. Snape?"

"Oh, like you care."

Albus raised his eyebrow. "I care about all of my students, Mr. Snape, especially where their safety is concerned. Are you aware that all of the staff will be gone for the holiday break?"

The Slytherin hesitated. "I wasn't originally, no. Then I heard Professor Slughorn talking about it, and it made my life easier."

"Why is that? Wouldn't you like some company over the holiday season?"

"No. I hate the holidays," Snape mumbled. "I don't enjoy going home." He looked up suddenly, fear very evident in his eyes. "I don't know why I said that."

"I'd wager you said it for a reason," Albus said quietly. "Why do you not like going home?"

Albus could sense that there was something going on in Snape's brain. He desperately wanted to use Legilimency on the teenager, and then he remembered that the boy's mind was very well-guarded. It would require more than a quick, spontaneous attempt to break through Severus Snape's mind.

"Honestly, Professor, since Evans and I don't speak anymore, I don't much enjoy going home. I don't have anyone to talk to anymore. I don't have any reason to leave my house. I'd rather stay here; that way, I could at least get some schoolwork completed without visiting relatives bothering me." Snape looked at Albus, almost daring him not to believe him.

Albus could see that wasn't the whole truth, but neither did he think it was entirely a lie.

So, he decided to give the boy a break. It was the holidays, after all.

"While I can understand that falling out with a friend could change your feelings about the holidays, it does not give you permission to stay at Hogwarts all by yourself."

"I should have signed that stupid form," Snape muttered.

"You should have. You would then be permitted to stay at Hogwarts. However, I cannot ask any of my staff to change their holiday plans on"—Albus checked his pocket watch—"a half hour's notice. Surely you understand that would be unreasonable."

"It's unreasonable for me. I bet you'd ask if it were one of your precious Gryffindors."

"No, Mr. Snape, in this case, I most certainly would not," Albus said, raising his voice ever so slightly. "You are sailing perilously close to the wind. I would suggest that you discontinue accusing my staff of impartial treatment. Otherwise, I will deduct house points."

"I wasn't accusing your staff, Headmaster." Snape had the nerve to look him dead in the eye. "I was accusing you."

Albus ground his teeth together. How his daughter could have been friends with this boy, he would never know. He was insolent without being charming, and it annoyed Albus beyond reason.

"Come with me, Mr. Snape," Albus said sharply. "I'll be escorting you to the Hogwarts Express."

"What? No, Headmaster. I can go on my own."

"Do you expect me to trust you after you hid out here?" Albus sighed. "I'll walk with you, and then I'll have one of the elves drop your luggage off at your home."

The walk to the train was painfully silent. Severus Snape clearly hated him, and Albus was sure that the feeling was, if not mutual, well on its way to being reciprocated.

When Albus finally arrived back in Minerva's bedroom, he found her back in her human form. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her foot tapping impatiently on the floor.

"Where the hell have you been?" she all but shrieked once she caught sight of him. "Don't even think about lying to me, Albus. I know for a fact it doesn't take that bloody long to go to the Owlery and complete a patrol!"

"I found a wayward student and had to escort them to the train," Albus said wearily. "Trust me when I say the detour wasn't intentional."

"There was a student hiding here?" Minerva groaned. "Please, tell me it wasn't Sirius Black. That's just the kind of stunt he'd pull."

Albus chuckled. "No, but close. Severus Snape."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Snape? Really?"

"He told me he didn't want to spend more time at home now that he and Lily aren't talking. It clearly was a half-truth, but I didn't want to push. It is the holidays, after all, and I didn't want to spend more time away from you than was necessary." He sat beside her and pulled her close.

"Hmmm," Minerva said thoughtfully, ignoring Albus' kisses on her neck. "Did he seem all right?"

"He seemed annoyed to be caught."

"I hope he is fine," Minerva mused. "You don't think he has a bad home life, do you?"

Albus sighed and stopped his ministrations. "I honestly have no idea about his home life."

"It's our job to care about the home lives of our students, Albus."

"Yes, but he has given us no reason to think he has something to hide. You—and Horace—report him as a sullen and intelligent boy, if not slightly mean-spirited. I can't question a boy because he has a mean streak."

Of course, Albus knew the Snape boy clearly had something to hide if his Occlumency shields were anything to go by, but he didn't want to ruin their family Christmas by setting Minerva on a quest to save Snape from whatever demons he may or may not have.

"No, I know you can't." Minerva cupped his cheek. "I suppose I'll pay closer attention to him after the holidays. We can see how he's doing then. Remind me to check with Horace and see if the boy opened up to him."

"Good idea. There's no point in stalking him at his home," Albus said cheerfully. "Now, let's go and get the Manor ready!"

Five hours later, Minerva looked around the Manor, impressed with what she and Albus had accomplished in conjunction with the Manor elves.

"It looks like a winter wonderland in here." Albus looked around. "And that tree is almost too huge for the library."

"It's perfect," Minerva whispered. She turned to Albus with stars in her eyes. "I've never seen it like this."

"You've celebrated Christmas here before, no?"

"Of course, Al, but...they were always without magic. We never had anything like this." Minerva waved her arms. "This? This is like Hogwarts."

He kissed her temple. "Well, then it's like home away from home, no?"

Minerva smiled. "I suppose so."

"Aunt Min?" A voice rang out from the fireplace.

"Iolanthe!" Minerva cried. "Welcome home, darling."

Iolanthe stepped out of the fireplace with her ten-year-old, Esmé, in tow.

"Auntie Minnie!" Esmé screamed, running into her great-aunt's arms. "We missed you!"

"And I missed you, little one," Minerva chuckled. "Where's your sister?"

"She's coming with Papa!" Esmé tugged Minerva's robes and nodded towards the fireplace. "See?"

Sure enough, Charlus Potter and the couple's youngest, Eléa, came tumbling through the Floo.

"Bonjour, family!" Eléa announced, her arms wide. At four years old, Eléa was precocious and full of laughter.

It was no surprise that she ran straight to Albus.

And, to Minerva's delight, Eléa had bestowed upon Albus a nickname of his own.

"Uncle Albie!" Eléa shrieked. She jumped into Albus's arms, trusting him to catch her. "Do you have any bonbons?"

"They say candy here at home, El," Charlus said, chuckling. "Sorry, but they're a bit hyper. They were so excited to see you two that they actually behaved all day. I think the energy will just pour out of them now that we're here."

"Well, we're happy to have you all here," Minerva replied, meaning every word. She patted Esmé's head. "Are the rest of you on the way?"

"Mum and Dad will be here soon. They're helping Alice and Aoife wrangle the kids together," Iolanthe explained.

"I can imagine going from one to three children was a bit of a challenge," Albus laughed as he swung Eléa around in his arms.

After it had taken Aoife and Alice so long to adopt Stephen, they were surprised when they ended up with twins only four months after deciding to apply to be parents again.

Isabella and Liadan McGonagall were two years old and incapable of sitting still.

So, when the twins made it through the Floo, each carried by one of their parents, Minerva swept in to relieve Alice of Isabella.

"They've grown so much!" Minerva gushed.

"You just need to come and see us more," Aoife teased tiredly. "Honestly. We miss you, and truthfully, we'd love the help."

"Just let me know when, and I will be there," Minerva promised. "Oh, look, here are your parents and Stephen!"

Stephen immediately walked out of the fireplace and hugged Eléa. He was a year younger, but he stood a head taller than his cousin. Callum and Lucy were shocked that they were close—what with one living in France and one in England—but everyone agreed it was a good thing.

"I'm so happy to have the family together," Lucy said, hugging Minerva. "It's been far too long since we've all been in the same place at the same time."

"And who knows how long it will be again," Callum muttered. "What with the war going on."

"And that's why this Christmas is so important," Lucy said firmly. "We need to spend it together, and enjoy the time that we've been given."

"Hear, hear!" Minerva agreed. "Come on, Lucy; I'll show you all of the food that we have for tonight." She gently put Isabella on the floor. "Our kitchen is full."

"How much food can there be?" Lucy asked, laughing. She followed Minerva into the kitchen. "We'll be here for five whole days. We can't just eat you out of house and home on the first night."

"The elves went a bit overboard," Minerva admitted, "and I didn't discourage them. I want this to be a happy holiday season for all of us."

"It will be." Lucy smiled at her sister-in-law. "How are the children?"

Minerva knew that Lucy was referring to Lily and James.

"I think they're friends now," Minerva said, and she told Lucy about the latest development in their children's lives.

"Is it odd?" Lucy's voice was soft. "To watch them live another life?"

"It was in the beginning. Now, I just watch them as they grow into really wonderful people. James gave me good cause to worry for a while, but now I think he has finally settled." Minerva hesitated for a moment. "Honestly, Lucy, the only time it's ever hard for me anymore is during family get-togethers like this."

Lucy groaned. "Oh, Min, you should have said something."

"No, I shouldn't have." Minerva shook her head. "I cannot keep myself from living my life—or keep my family from living theirs—simply because of my past experiences. I love seeing the entire family, and I love being an aunt. I love the girls and their babies. You know that."

"I do."

"It's just...it's the only time I really see what I'm missing out on. Like the grandchildren I'll never have, or the fact that I won't see my son become a father." Minerva chuckled lowly. "I know all of this, of course. I'm simply never confronted with it until it's literally staring me in the face."

"I know it's not the same at all," Lucy said quietly, "but my girls love you with all their hearts."

"Is it a crime to know that, but still want to be loved as a mother in my own right?" Minerva whispered. "I thought that, at some point, the loss would get easier. In some ways, it has. I enjoy seeing Lily and James, and talking with them. I think of them now as their own independent people. What hurts is knowing that I will never be called Ma again."

"We miss him, too," Lucy said, pulling Minerva in for a hug. "Both of them." Minerva could hear the smile in Lucy's voice as she added, "And I may be ruining a surprise, but wait until you see what the girls got you for Christmas."

"Will it make me cry?" Minerva asked suspiciously.

"Oh, undoubtedly."

Four days later, on Christmas, Minerva sat on the couch beside Albus, her nieces' gift to her in her hands.

"You two are looking at me with an Albus-like twinkle in your eyes," Minerva said warningly to Iolanthe and Aoife. "What is going on?"

"Just open it, Aunt Min," Aoife pleaded. "We think you'll like it."

Esmé chose that moment to pull on Minerva's robes. "Aunt Minnie, do you need help opening it?"

Minerva chuckled. "All right, then, lass. Come and join me."

Albus picked Esmé up and placed her carefully on his knee. "Are you ready, Esmé?"

She grinned. "Oui."

Minerva and Esmé ripped off the wrapping paper, Esmé doing so with a bit more gusto.

"It's a book," Esmé announced, frowning a little. "I thought adults would get better gifts."

"Open it," Iolanthe urged her aunt.

Minerva's eyes watered instantly as she took in the first page. "What on earth?"

Each page contained a memory that the girls had of their cousin, Dalton. Iolanthe and Aoife had written stories beneath the memories so that Minerva could know the context of each memory.

"Uncle Albus and Dad helped us with the sound," Iolanthe informed Minerva, beaming.

"I can hear these?" Minerva whispered.

"You can project the memory so that it plays in front of you, almost like a motion picture," Albus explained gently. "You can simply watch it, or using an incantation that Callum and I created, you can hear the memories, too."

"There are some funny ones," Aoife added. "There's one where Dalton is teasing Iolanthe because he caught her with McLaggen—"

"Aunt Min can watch them all later," Iolanthe interrupted. She shot her sister a glare. "Honestly, Aoife."

"What's this about McLaggen?" Charlus asked. He grinned. "Who is he? Should I be worried?"

Iolanthe rolled her eyes and ignored her husband. "We hope you like it, Aunt Min. We realized we had so many memories of Dalton that you've never seen, and that you would probably love to see them."

"This is truly the best gift," Minerva murmured. "Thank you, girls."

"It's a shame it took us so long to think of this," Aoife said. She shrugged, but she was happy her aunt was pleased. "After becoming mothers ourselves, Iolanthe and I realized how much this would mean to you."

"It means the world to me," Minerva admitted. "Now, come over here and give your aunt a hug."

Later that night, Minerva was in bed with Albus, running her hands over the scrapbook.

"I can't believe you kept this a secret," Minerva said. "How on earth did you do it?"

"Magic." Albs grinned. "Our nieces asked me to keep it a secret, knowing that the end result would make you happy. They were clearly successful, and I'm thrilled to have played even a small role in that."

"I don't know which one I should watch first," Minerva whispered. She stroked the book almost reverently. "There are so many memories."

"At least thirty," Albus agreed. "That's what it felt like, anyway." He hesitated. "I hope, Minerva, that this gift will be a blessing and not a way to lose yourself in the past. I hope it wasn't a mistake."

"No, it could never be." Minerva closed the book and sent it to rest on her bookshelf. "This way, I can learn more about my son when I thought that part of my life was over. Perhaps it will help, in some small way. But you," she added, poking Albus' ribs, "really need to stop telling me to live in the past. I'm not Aberforth."

"I'm sorry he didn't come tonight," Albus said, deftly changing the subject.

"All that matters is that he knew he was welcome. I'm not going to force anyone to spend time with me if they don't wish it. Life is far too short for that." Minerva eyed him amusedly as she stroked his cheek. "I'm sure that this book went against your better judgment. Thank you for indulging my nieces despite your reservations. It truly does mean the world to me, Albus."

He smiled at her. "Would you indulge me tonight?"

Minerva watched him watch her, that unique, only-for-her smile on his face. Ever since they had gotten married, they had made love on Christmas Eve. It was their way of paying homage to their first Christmas together, when they were on the frontlines in France fighting in the war against Grindelwald. It had become a tradition of sorts.

They usually repeated the deed a time or three on Christmas because, well, why not?

"I always do."

Albus' face hardened slightly. "I don't want you to do anything because it's what we always do."

"Al, I love you. I said I always do because it's something that I do out of love, not out of obligation." Minerva raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Now, I'm in a very good mood after the day we had, and I'd like a happy ending."

"Using a double entendre, hmmm? How unlike you."

"Oh, shut up." Minerva rolled her eyes, and kissed him until he had no choice but to do exactly what she wanted.