The view outside of the large, opened window of the tiny, battered shack overlooking the choppy sea is one of dreams. The sun is high in the sky without a cloud in sight. The wind blows Danu's hair along her back, carrying with it the scent of salt and the faintest hint of smoke from the small village nestled among the cliffs and rocky shore. Teddy, whom Lorna had begged to bring along with them, tosses a stick out into the ocean for Dory to sprint after. Her long, whip-like tail held high, her tongue lopping alongside her face as she dives into the sea to retrieve her prize.
Lorna stands back a few feet from Teddy, her back to Danu, staring far out into the horizon. She is tall, far taller than Danu had been at eleven years old. Her hair, which she cut with a pair of kitchen shears when she was eight years old, remained cropped short with tight curls. Whether she was cutting it herself still in the dead of the night, or unknowingly using her magic to keep it from growing any longer, neither she nor Severus knew, and Lorna certainly wasn't saying. Behind her, crouched in the sand, Elsie and Josie are digging a hole. Elsie's hair glistens in the sunlight, the rays causing the color of her hair to take on a warm, auburn hue. Her soft curls dance in the breeze as she uses a sand coated hand to push stray pieces from her face. Beside her, smiling brightly up at her big sister, is Josie. Her hair had finally filled in when she was a year and a half old, yet remained thin, straight, short, and very black. She looked so much like Severus that Danu couldn't help but smile each time she raised her brow, or scoffed at something Elsie or Lorna had done to disgust her. While opinionated, much like Lorna had been at her age, she is also calm, kind, and not nearly as rambunctious as her eldest sister. She is the perfect companion for Elsie, who had been nearly silent and borderline reclusive since the day that she was born.
Danu basks in the sight of the children- her children, playing before her. Some days it still felt unreal. Some days, she questioned how she had gotten here. Her, a girl without a family, without friends, with no prospects for a future, with no real skill, and too many thoughts, had managed all of this. This life, this family, this very moment in time, was all hers. She had a mother who loved her dearly, even if she caused her to clench her fists and tighten her jaw due to the useless things Rose worried over. She had two sisters and a step-father who would move the Earth for each one of them, and his granddaughters as well. He had become everything that she had ever hoped for in a father; warm, loving, protective, and funny. Vincent did not need to refer to her daughters as his granddaughters, did not need to introduce her as his own daughter whenever they were in public, and he certainly did not need to call twice a week to catch up with them all. He was present at every event, every milestone, every holiday, and would drop everything he had going on if she were to call him with an emergency. He volunteered to take the girls to events, exhibits, and museums. He painstakingly picked out the perfect gifts for them for their birthdays and holidays, and although she had not seen it herself, had been told that he kept photos of each of them in his office at work for all to see. It did not matter to any of them that they were not the same skin color, nor that anyone could tell that they were not related by blood, to Vincent and Danu, he was every bit her father. In a strange sort of way, he had even taken Severus under his wing and served a fatherly role, despite the fact that they were the same age.
In the distance, Josie stands abruptly, dusts her legs off, and toddles over to the water's edge with a bright yellow bucket. Danu makes a move to go direct her back to the sand, when Teddy steps in, holding his arm out to keep her back, fills the bucket she had carried over with sea water, and points her back towards her sister waiting patiently by the hole they had dug. Danu lets out a sigh of relief and smiles to herself as Teddy and Lorna each watch carefully to ensure that the two younger girls remain further up the beach and away from the choppy sea. She hadn't been in the shack long, only stepped away from a moment to use the restroom, but stopped in the window to watch how peaceful the view was from inside. Behind her, Severus stands at the counter chopping fruit for their lunch before a large tray of ham sandwiches and pitchers of water and lemonade.
She turns slightly and watches him out of the corner of her eye. His eyes are trained on his long, nimble fingers that work the knife mechanically up and down as he slices bananas and strawberries. The sun filtering through the window illuminates the faint silver strands in his hair, and the salt and pepper stubble on his face where he hadn't shaved that morning. Outside of the crow's feet next to his eyes, his face remains untouched by time and is still smooth and full of life. Danu smiles to herself, caught off guard by how lucky she was to call this man her husband, and turns back to the window to watch the children.
Josie had dumped her bucket of water into the hole they had dug, and was making her way back towards the sea. Teddy stops her once more, points her back towards the hole she had been digging, and with Lorna's help, retrieves the discarded buckets, four in total, and begin hauling bucket after bucket back to Elsie and Josie who wait patiently in the sand. After three trips each, Elsie nods her head and sends Teddy and Lorna away. She stands over the hole with her hands on her hips, looking down at her creation.
"What are you doing?" Danu murmurs to herself as she watches Elsie study the hole intently.
"Hmm?" Severus inquires behind her.
"Was just wondering what Elsie was doing. She's dug a hole, filled it with water, and is just….studying it."
"Who can know." Severus replies without ever taking his eyes off of his handiwork. "She is a child; they do strange things."
Elsie raises both of her hands to chest level, palms facing down towards the hole, and suddenly raises them high above her head as though she were a conductor of sorts. As she does, tiny droplets of water begin to rise from the hole and travel upwards towards the sky as if it were raining in reverse.
"Severus." Danu whispers. "Come look, quick."
Severus drops the knife onto the counter and joins her at the window. He lets out a low chuckle and wraps his arm around Danu's waist as they take in the first sign of magical ability in their middle child.
"I've never seen her do this before, have you?"
"Never." Severus agrees as he kisses the top of her head.
"I wonder what made her do this."
"We have just begun studying science. Meteorology to be precise. Evaporation, precipitation, that sort of thing. Perhaps she took it a bit too seriously."
"I can't believe she's been holding out on us for so long."
"It was bound to happen one day." Severus replies as he makes his way back to the fruit and begins placing it in a large bowl.
"Yeah, I just sort of thought she'd be the one to stay home."
"You are still nervous for next week." Severus stats matter-of-factly and raises one brow at her.
"Don't pretend like you aren't nervous, too. Our baby girl is going to Hogwarts. This is big."
"I assure you; all will be fine. Now, stop fretting and come help me feed these children their lunch before they start a mutiny."
Danu takes a tray of sandwiches from Severus and watches as he carries the large bowl of fruit, and the jugs of drinks out of the door, calling the children to come eat as he makes his way down the beach. They had come here three days ago, a last-ditch effort to have some family fun and to calm everyone's nerves before Lorna's big day. They would be returning home the following day, and that would leave only five short days before the first of September.
Her and Severus had each been a nervous wreck for the better part of a month, knowing that their girl would be away until December. Lorna herself had been over the moon since the morning of her eleventh birthday, but the last three weeks had proven to be a bit much for her, and her nerves had finally taken over, though, she would be the last to admit it. She put on a brave face, especially when Severus and Teddy were present, but Danu saw the way her chin quivered when she watched the ever growing pile of school supplies on the dining room table, and the way she had run from the room the morning that her robes were delivered.
Danu and Severus had opted to slowly accumulate her school supplies over the course of the spring and summer months instead of doing one large trip at the last minute, hoping to avoid the crowds and potential stares as they parade through Diagon Alley. They had not discussed Severus' past with Lorna, yet. Severus kept putting it off, insisting that they had more time, that he was too tired that day, or that he wished to wait one more day. One more day, however, turning into two, and two quickly became seven, and before they knew it, it had been six weeks since Danu had even brought it up. It needed to happen; they could not send Lorna off to school without so much as warning her. Every other student would know, they would grow up hearing he stories from their parents whom had been Severus' students. As far as Danu knew, Lorna had never so much as heard You-Know-Who's name. They needed to prepare her for what would happen when she stepped upon the train, and everyone waiting on the platform below gawked at her father.
The six of them sit around a large quilt eating their lunch in the warm sun. The sound of waves crashing alongside them drowns out any potential conversation. Danu watches each of them in silence. Severus and Lorna stare out into the ocean, gazing at something unseen. Teddy helps Josie with another sandwich without being asked, he truly is a great child. Elsie stares at her hole, the water droplets she had levitated from it wetting the sand around the hole as though it had rained in only one spot upon the beach. Danu smooths the hair from her face and kisses the top of her head, Elsie leans into her touch and allows her to pull her into her arms and against her chest. She is slick with sweat and gritty with sand, but Danu doesn't care. She holds the child against her and rocks her gently back and forth as though she were still an infant. Her babies are growing up, and soon they wouldn't need her at all.
"Lorna." Teddy breaks the silence and nudges Lorna's arm to get her attention. "Maybe you'll be in Hufflepuff with me."
"No." Lorna state plainly. "I'll be in Slytherin."
"You don't know that for certain. You could be. You'll like it, I promise!"
"No, I wanna be in Slytherin like my dad."
"You will be in whichever house The Sorting Hat deems fit." Severus chimes in as Lorna leans over and rests her head on his shoulder. Severus wraps his arm around her and pulls her close against his side before kissing the top of her head.
"I wanna be a Slytherin." She mumbles and rubs her face against his shirt as though she were trying to dry tears.
"I think Elsie will be a Hufflepuff." Teddy states as he looks over at her and Danu still rocking back and forth. "And maybe Ravenclaw for Josie."
"I think Elsie will be a Ravenclaw, I'm not so sure about Josie." Danu answers with a smile.
"No one ever wants to be a Hufflepuff." Teddy pouts.
"There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff." Danu reaches out and ruffles his hair and pulls him in for a hug of his own, which he allows with no fuss.
"Thanks for letting me come with you." He smiles up at Danu and hugs her back quickly before righting himself and digging back into the sandwiches.
"We love having you. You're always welcome here."
—
"First years aren't allowed brooms, remember?" Danu asks Lorna as she helps her pack the freshly washed laundry into her truck.
"Oh yeah. I forgot." Lorna says shakily as she puts the broomstick back into the corner of her bedroom before coming and sitting on the end of the bed next to Danu. "Mum. Were you scared when you first went to Hogwarts?"
"A bit, yeah. But I didn't grow up knowing that magic was real like you did. I only found out a few days before term started."
"How come?"
"Well, that's what dad and I are going to explain to you tonight."
Severus had dropped Elsie and Josie off with Rose and Vincent earlier that morning, so that he and Danu could spend all day with Lorna before they dropped her off at King's Cross Station the following morning. They had let Lorna decide what they did together all day, which included a matinee of a child's film about talking toys, which Severus had hated, followed by ice cream, a walk around a park with a stop to feed some ducks, a trip to Diagon Alley to look at owls, which Severus had still not purchased for her, and finally a pizza shop for dinner before returning home to play several games of Gobstones. Severus had stepped out for some air and to chain smoke cigarettes in preparation for the conversation with their daughter, and had instructed Danu to get started.
"Lorna." Danu begins with a sigh. "Have you ever heard of…The—The Dark Lord?"
Lorna shakes her head slowly and raises one brow at Danu in confusion. Danu pats the end of the bed for Lorna to sit next to her, and slowly begins the tale.
"He was a bad man—a very, very bad man. He wanted only pure-bloods to have magic, he didn't want any half-bloods, or Muggle born children allowed in our world. He had these followers, people who thought the same way he did. They were called Death Eaters, and they hurt so many people. That is why you and you sisters aren't allowed to go to Draco's house, and why Harry doesn't like Draco coming over when he's here, it's because Draco's father was a Death Eater, and they would all meet at his house."
"But Draco wasn't a Death Eater, so how come Harry doesn't like him anymore?"
"Well, honey. That's the problem. Draco was a Death Eater. He changed his mind though, he didn't want to be like them, but he had to pretend to protect himself."
"Well then it isn't very fair for Harry to be mad at him, is it?" Lorna asks, her childlike trust and compassion warming Danu's heart.
"Lorna, it isn't that simple sometimes. Honey, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it. Your dad was a Death Eater, too."
"Daddy—my dad was a bad guy?" Lorna's eyes widen with the realization, and she jumps from the bed. "No, you're lying. Daddy would never be the bad guy."
Severus clears his throat, and each of them turn to see him standing at the top of the stairs, leaning against the railing and fiddling with his fingers. He sighs once more, runs his hand down his face, and takes a step towards Lorna.
"Daddy, tell mum you aren't the bad guy."
"You mother speaks the truth." Is all he says, his voice strained and cracking.
"Why were you the bad guy? Did you have to pretend like Draco?"
"No, I joined on my own volition." Severus lowers his eyes to his hands still knotted at his waist, feigning interest in the way his thumb slid over the nail bed of his middle finger. "After a bit of time, however, I changed my mind."
"You dad was a spy for the good side, but he made The Dark Lord believe that he was actually on his side. No one knew, though. It was a secret, and a lot of people were really mad at your dad for a long time."
"How come?"
"Because, they believed that he was lying to protect himself from going to Azkaban. Harry believed him though; Harry knew that he was telling the truth and he helped him stay out of Azkaban."
"Then why can't he tell that Draco is telling the truth, too?"
"There is far too much bad blood between Mister Malfoy and Mister Potter for either of them to forgive the other." Severus finally raises his eyes to meet Lorna's, as she stood still in the middle of the room, taking everything in.
"What does this have to do with you and not knowing magic though?"
"Well, my dad was Sirius Black. He was friends with Harry's dad, James Potter. They fought against The Dark Lord, and they tried to help defeat him. They thought that I would get hurt, so they erased Grandma Rose's memory, and they left me far away, so that The Dark Lord couldn't find me, or her, so that we would be safe."
"Where did they leave you?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is—"
"No, it does matter. Where did they leave you?"
"You mother was raised in an orphanage. It is where-"
"I know what an orphanage is." Lorna interrupts and cuts her eyes at Severus before turning back to Danu. "Is that why you said that you didn't know your dad before?"
Danu nods her head slowly and pats the edge of the mattress once more for Lorna to sit down. She shakes her head and paces towards the window overlooking the garden and places her hand protectively over Sirius' record player.
"What happened to him?"
"A Death Eater by the Name of Bellatrix Lestrange killed him." Severus answers, his voice sharp and clear.
"And The Dark Lord?"
"Harry defeated him. He's dead." Danu whispers as she watches Lorna carefully.
"Is that when you found Grandma Rose?"
"No. It was a very long time after that. You were little, but I'm surprised you don't remember meeting her for the first time."
"I think I do, but I didn't know that it was the first time I met her." Lorna sighs and walks up to Severus. She takes his hand in hers and leans her head against his arm. He wraps her up and pulls her tight against him, his throat bobbing and he swallows harshly. "Why was everybody mad at you when they found out that you were a good guy?"
"There were things that I needed to do, a certain way that I needed to act. I had to play the part, convince others that I was actually a Death Eater. It was the only way to ensure that He trusted me enough to allow me to continue bringing information to the other side."
"But, if He didn't like half-bloods, and mum is a half-blood, then how come you married mum?"
"I am a half-blood as well. You truly did not know that?" Severus asks as he pulls her away from his leg and looks down into her eyes.
"No. Wasn't Grandma Eileen a witch?"
"Yes. My father, however, was a Muggle."
"Mum only said he was a bad man and you didn't like to remember him. I didn't know he was a Muggle."
"He was a Muggle, and also a bad man." Severus confirms as Lorna breaks away from him and moves to sit on the bed next to Danu.
"The Dark Lord married your dad and I because your dad saved me from a bad person, and lied to Him and told Him that I was special."
"You saved mum?" Lorna chews on her lower lip, taking everything in.
"I was under orders. I was told to help her, and so I did."
"But you love mum, right?"
"I love your mother very much. Just as I love you, and your sisters."
"Nothing like that will ever happen again, right daddy?"
"No, nothing like that will ever happen again."
"Okay."
"Do you have any more questions?" Danu asks as Lorna continues chewing on her lower lip, a far off look in her eyes.
"No, I don't think so."
"If you do think of anything else, you can always write to your dad and I and we'll answer anything."
Severus takes this moment to depart without a word, and stalks down the stairs. He returns a moment later, holding out a golden cage with a large tan short-eared owl perched upon a branch. Lorna jumps from her spot on the bed and rushes towards her father, a huge smile plastered upon her face.
"I told you I would purchase an owl the day you left for Hogwarts, and not a day sooner. However, I thought you would like to get to know her before you left tomorrow."
"What's her name?" Lorna asks breathlessly.
"Whatever you wish it to be."
"Hmmm…What about Oleander?""
"Oleander?" Severus asks, raising a brow at the absurdity.
"It's a poisonous flower." Danu smirks up at Severus.
So, Lorna had been paying attention to all of her Herbology lessons after all.
—
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters bustles with excitement as Danu hugs her eldest daughter tightly to her chest. She need not even bend down on one knee to do so as she would with her younger two daughters, Lorna towered over other children her age. Next to her is Severus, trying his best to look, and act, like he isn't shaking with anxiety and sadness at sending their child away. He had shed more than one tear the night before as he held her in bed, but played it off as allergies, and kept her head pinned to his chest so that she wouldn't see. Elsie and Josie stand behind them, each clutching Rose's hand Vincent blows his nose in a tissue. Vincent had taken Lorna's leaving for Hogwarts harder than any of them had, even going as far as begging them to keep her home. Several feet away are Molly and Arthur consoling each of Harry and Ginny's children as they sob. James for being left out, Albus because James was crying, and Lily because she certainly couldn't be left out of the commotion. Next to them is Harry and Ginny, accompanied by Missus Tonks, each trying to speak over the other to instruct Teddy of something.
The train sounds it's whistle, indicating that it was nearly time to depart. Teddy steps forward, offers Lorna his hand, and smiles up at Severus before wrapping one arm around his waist and hugging him quickly. Severus pats him on the head tenderly, then bends down on one knee and pulls Lorna tight to his chest. He whispers something in her ear, wipes a single tear from her cheek, and kisses the top of her head.
Danu's heart skips a beat as she watches her baby girl climb aboard the train and wave down at them all waiting below. She blows a kiss up at Lorna, who pretends not to notice before looking around to ensure no one is watching her, and blowing her own kiss back down at her mother.
They stand there until the train is out of sight, hoping that Lorna knew that they waited until they could see no more of her before departing.
"What did you say to her?" Danu asks as Severus offers her his arm.
"I told her that she will make a fine addition to Hufflepuff, should she ask to be sorted there."
"We both know that she's going to insist on Slytherin to be like you."
"Precisely why I told her that it did not matter which house she is sorted in to."