Chapter Eight
2000- July
Daphne lay on the edge of the Malfoy swimming pond, shading her eyes from the bright sunlight. It was the beginning of July and the sun was beating down on the grounds.
Pansy, Neville, Cho, Harry, Hermione, Draco, Daphne and William were all there, playing happily in the water, pretending that there wasn't a care in the world.
Pansy lay next to Daphne looking over a book filled with pictures of flowers.
"I have no idea what I want." Pansy sighed, "They all look so… perfect."
"Well heaven forbid things are perfect on your wedding day!" Daphne laughed, shuffling over so she could look in the book as well, "Those are pretty."
"Bluebells will be completely out of season in October." Pansy said, shaking her head.
"I know!" Daphne said, rolling her eyes, "But couldn't you get them magically grown?"
Pansy shook her head, "No. They wouldn't look right, besides, I think it would insult the centaurs if we had force grown flowers."
"Well not much is in season come the end of October." Daphne pointed out, "Why did you choose to get married then if you want fresh flowers?"
Pansy sat up quickly, nearly hitting Daphne in the face as she did so, "That's it!" she cried happily, "It's basically the last detail and I've been so struggling with it! But who said we have to have fresh flowers?"
"You've lost me." Daphne laughed.
Pansy ignored her maid of honour and crawled to the edge of the water, "William! William! Stop splashing around for a moment and come here!"
"Yes me' lady!" William called with a laughed, swimming effortlessly over to her, making sure to splash her slightly as he stopped.
"Thank you!" Pansy laughed, leaning close to him, "How do you feel about dried flowers at the wedding?"
William thought for a moment, "I like it. Very harvest festival. Which is fitting for October. You're brilliant."
Pansy grinned and knelt down to give him a kiss.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Nikka called over, rather breathlessly.
Pansy pulled away from the kiss and smiled at her.
"Not at all!" Harry called from across the pond, "The water is wonderful."
"I think at this point I would sink." Nikka laughed, lowering herself down to the ground with some difficulty, thanks to her ever growing stomach.
"How are you doing?" Daphne asked, handing her a cushion so she could make herself more comfortable.
"Well, less than a year ago I could run around the grounds and did so everyday…" Nikka sighed, "Plus ridding both my broom and the horses… and training… now apparently I can barely make it to the swimming pond without running out of breath! It can only be half a mile…"
"You are seven months pregnant." Hermione pointed out, pulling herself from the water, "You've got to take it easy."
"I know, grumble grumble." Nikka said, smoothing her hand over her belly, "It all feels so unreal."
"Well you look wonderful!" Draco said, blowing her a kiss, "And I am to have a cousin."
"Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Neville asked.
Nikka laughed, "Well my mother and her flower petals say girl, but my father and his needle say it'll be a boy. Sirius tells me to stop being impatient and wait… we've not long to go now."
Danica, while very happy for Sirius and Nikka, struggled to keep her mind from wondering to her upcoming Hogwarts letter.
She woke on the first morning of July and looked around at the piles of boxes in her room. It was strange, Grimmauld Place was the only home she'd ever known. She'd learnt to walk in the kitchen, holding onto the strong wooden table while Kreacher made dinner or baked.
She'd learned to write in the library, and sing in the sitting room.
It wasn't like she was never going to be able to return. Sirius and Nikka had said over and over again that they were welcome at anytime. In fact they were rather reluctant to see them leave in the first place.
Lily's mind was made up though. Harry was planning on moving into the Potter estate, doing up the big house and making a home for himself and with the coming baby, it was right that Nikka and Sirius had their family home to themselves.
Tavin had offered them a house up in Scotland, near the castle but Nikka hadn't liked the idea of having her brothers and parents living so close. Besides, she liked Grimmauld Place, it was quirky.
Kreacher had mixed emotions about them leaving. The news of having Master Sirius home was overwhelming for him and he kept breaking into joyful sobbing. Similarly the news that there was to be a new baby in the house filled him with joy.
He'd truly loved it when Danica was small and was already deep cleaning the house and repainting the nursery.
Severus had no wish to return to his childhood home. It was in a rough area and full of nothing but painful memories. Lily had suggested doing it up to rent out, which Severus had agreed to happily, and was going to look into builders to modernise the inside in the next few weeks.
Once they'd been to see the Potter estate for the first time there was a pretty four bedroom cottage, complete with a thatched roof, for sale just on the edge of the estate which Severus had immediately fallen in love with.
Danica loved it too. Her new room was large and had a bay window that she could turn into somewhere to read or draw. It was going to be painted purple and she was even getting a brand new bed for it; although she would miss the slightly squeaky springs of her old bed.
"Are you awake?" Nikka called, knocking softly on the door.
"I am!" Danica called, "I'm just coming!"
Nikka laughed, "Is this just coming and you're reading or actually just coming?"
"Ha ha!" Danica laughed back, poking her tongue out at the door, "I'm just coming!"
Danica pulled on her dressing gown and stuffed her feet into her slippers, trying not to yawn too much, before plodding down stairs.
"Kreacher has helped pack the last of Severus's Potions' Room." Lily said, handing out toast around the dinning room table, "We should be able to get everything moved over within the next week."
"There really isn't any rush." Nikka said, smothering her toast in butter and plum jam.
"I know." Lily smiled, "But… well I want to give Danica time to settle before she goes off to Hogwarts and you need time to settle before the baby arrives. You wont have long as it is."
"True." Nikka sighed happily.
"Will the baby be here before I get to go off to school?" Danica asked, sitting in her place and grabbing some toast and a glass of apple juice.
"No way to know for sure." Nikka said, "They're due middle of September so I doubt it."
"That's a shame." Danica said thoughtfully, "I would have liked to meet them when they're tiny."
Lily laughed, "Babies are tiny for a while. Don't worry there."
Danica grinned, and was thinking about asking if she could return home for a few days to meet the baby when they arrived when there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Sirius said, jumping up and giving Nikka a quick kiss on the top of her head on the way past.
Sirius brushed the crumbs from the sides of his mouth and made sure he looked reasonably presentable in the mirror by the door before opening it.
"Minerva, what a lovely surprise." Sirius grinned, "Please, come on in."
Professor McGonagall thanked him and stepped inside, taking off her hat and travelling cloak.
"You'll have to excuse us having breakfast still." Sirius told McGonagall, leading her through to the dinning room.
"Not at all." Professor McGonagall smiled.
"You're welcome to join us." Sirius offered.
"Thank you Sirius, that would be most welcome. You're the fourth family I've been to see today. Thankfully we do seem to have an increase in the number of muggle borns wishing to come to Hogwarts. Last year we had barely any. Good morning all."
Harry and the others around the table waved and greeted her. McGonagall slid into an empty chair, pouring herself a large cup of tea and helping herself to toast.
"I have come today, to deliver your Hogwarts letter, Miss Snape." McGonagall said with a kindly smile, "Congratulations."
Danica squealed with happiness as Professor McGonagall passed over the heavy parchment letter, "Thank you… Professor."
"You're very welcome." McGonagall smiled, "There are, however a few arrangements that must be made before you can start your education with us."
Danica felt a painful knot form in her stomach. She remembered being over in America, being told that she wouldn't be able to go to school over there, werewolves weren't allowed to attend schools.
She knew that wasn't the case here. Lupin had attended Hogwarts two decades ago without an issue. And now McGonagall was Headmistress there was likely to be even fewer issues.
Still, the worry was there.
"You can still attend, of course." McGonagall said quickly, seeing the worried look in the young girl's eyes, "We just need to make sure the you, and the rest of the students are safe. Would you rather discuss this in private?"
Danica waited for someone to answer, before realising that all eyes were on her, "No… it's fine. They all know I'm a werewolf." she said, managing to giggle slightly.
"You are?" Sirius said, banging his hand off the table, "Well! I never!"
"Sirius honey, shut it." Nikka laughed.
Professor McGonagall suppressed a smile, he may be older but in some ways, the good ways, Sirius hadn't changed at all.
"What sort of precautions do you think would be appropriate?" Lily asked, topping up McGonagall's cup of tea.
"Well, I'm sure that Severus would be willing to make Wolfsbane Potion, the cost of which will of course be covered by the school." Professor McGonagall said, slowly pulling out a piece of paper.
"Of course." Severus smiled, "I would be happy to continue to make the Wolfsbane Potion."
McGonagall nodded, "I would also like… I would like to suggest that you use one of the empty classrooms, for the nights when you transform."
Danica thought for a moment, trying desperately not to let the heavy silence that had suddenly filled the room worry her too much, "I think… I think…" She took a deep breath, "Maybe it would be best for me to come home, after lessons, during the nights that I change."
"Are you sure?" Lily said softly, "I'm sure you'll be alright at school."
"I'm sure I would be." Danica said quickly, "But I've rather gotten used to having Uncle Remus with me and I'd get rather lonely…"
Professor McGonagall thought for a moment, "Well, it's certainly something to think about. We do not usually allow students to return home apart from at the appointed holidays. However, I will put it to the other teachers. It would be more comfortable for you, I am sure."
"I'd have no trouble apparating home with her." Severus said, smiling at his daughter, "I come home most nights anyway, and Danica is used to apparating with me."
Lily nodded along, she wouldn't ever admit it to Danica as she wouldn't want to worry her, but she would feel far happier knowing her daughter was under her roof come the full moon.
"Do you have a list of ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion on hand Severus?" Professor McGonagall asked, "I think it would probably be easier for you to make the potion at Hogwarts still."
"Yes." Severus said, rising to his feet, "No…" he sat back down, "Forgive me Minerva but we just this morning packed up my Potions' room. I will send the list on to you as soon as possible. If the ingredients are slightly delayed then it is of no matter, I can always bring in some from home. Understandably I make sure they are in good supply. I also make the Wolfsbane Potion for Remus, which I plan to continue to do."
"Of course." McGonagall said with a nod, "We can discuss further details the week before school."
Severus nodded in agreement, "Of course. I look forward to being back."
McGonagall nodded, "Well I think that was all, and I have several more houses to call at today, as I'm sure you can imagine… I shall see you at the beginning of September, Miss Snape."
"Yes Professor, thank you." Danica grinned, bursting to open her letter.
"Severus, would you mind walking me out?" Professor McGonagall said, standing up gracefully and draining the last of the tea from her cup, "Thank you so much for the breakfast, Sirius. And congratulations."
Severus led McGonagall from the dinning room and towards the front door.
"Is everything alright with Danica coming to school?" he asked in a hushed whisper, "I know there will always be some risk but she's never shown any sign of hurting anyone…"
McGonagall raised a hand to stop him, "I have no doubt that young Danica will be an exemplary student. She has remarkable genes after all." she smiled, "I just wanted to make sure that you are ready to return, as a matter of fact."
Severus sighed and nodded, "Ah, I see."
"You went through so much trauma Severus." McGonagall said kindly, "Not just the final battle and… your injury. But the time you spent undercover…"
This time it was Severus's turn to raise his hand and stop her from talking, "Thank you Minerva, but I am quite recovered. My physical wounds are all as healed as they will ever be and for the emotional ones, well… I think it would be best to get back to normal."
McGonagall nodded, "I understand. It's just with the betrayal from…"
Severus's face hardened slightly, "Professor Dumbledore no longer resides at Hogwarts. Even all of his portraits have been removed. Yes the betrayal was great, and… and caused a lot of pain but life must go on."
"If you are sure." McGonagall said firmly, "And if you change your mind, or need any sort of help, you must tell me and we will sort it all out."
"Thank you, Minerva." Severus said, "I am truly grateful."
McGonagall smiled and nodded, "Well, I really should be off. The next few days will be rather hectic I'm afraid. Please get that list of potion ingredients to me and I'll get them ordered. Now, give my best to Harry when you see him, and go and enjoy this happy day, with your beautiful little girl."