A/N: So, originally, this was going to be even longer of a chapter, but my beta DaughterOfAres said it'd take away from the final revelation. You can blame her. I do believe, though, I have answered all of the final questions here. If not, well, I apologize. I'm human, and being such ensures that I do make mistakes. :) So, please forgive me if I didn't answer something. I did my best. lol. Finally, thank you for all of your awesome comments and favs for this story. I know it's been a long wait, but thank you for sticking it out with me. Enjoy.

In the End

After the holidays were over and the world seemed to have balanced itself out again, the twenty-two-year-old Severus found himself once again standing in front of a class full of dunderheads who believed they were absolute geniuses. Seriously, he had thought (or rather hoped) some of his students wouldn't have returned from their break. His luck, clearly, wasn't that good yet.

"Since all of you claim to be well prepared for your upcoming OWLs . . ." Severus announced with a thin smile that proved he didn't believe his words for an instant. "For this lesson, you will pair off with anyone you so choose. However, each pair must be comprised of opposite Houses." He glared at the class when he heard their instant grumblings. "Yes, I'm certain some of you would enjoy working with a housemate instead of someone from an opposing House. Luckily for me, you don't get to decide that." He forced another thin smile when he caught several Gryffindors frowning at him. When he noticed a raised hand towards the back a few moments later, he sighed inwardly. Just once he would love it if his students just trusted him and set off to work after receiving their directions. Just once. He didn't think that was too much to ask for. "Yes?"

"Sir, what exactly is the point of this?" the young Slytherin asked before she glanced hesitantly across the room towards the Gryffindors.

"I would think the point would be quite obvious, Miss Lark." He caught her loud sigh instantly.

"Unity, I know, but, sir, you can't honestly believe forcing us to work together will somehow, you know, make us like one another." She then paused before she added a quiet, "Can you?"

He crossed his arms and stared down at the young witch in response. "Remind me again how dangerous it can be brewing potions?" he asked suddenly.

"Uh . . ." She seemed genuinely surprised by his question, blinking several times before she could speak coherently again. "Very dangerous, sir. One misstep, stirring anti-clockwise when the potion requires clockwise for example, could result in the castle coming down on us."

"Exactly." The young teacher nodded slowly. "So, by my pairing you with a Gryffindor, what would it force both of you to rely on, Miss Lark?"

She paused for a moment, thinking on his question. Several minutes passed before the metaphorical lightbulb turned on. "Trust, sir. It would require both of us to trust one another."

"Correct. Ten points to Slytherin." He noticed several Gryffindors' shoulders slump in defeat. "And why would trust be important here, Mister Dennison?" Severus asked a Gryffindor boy who sat in the very back, causing the young wizard to sit up straighter at once.

"Uh, because it would make us see each other as, um, comrades, I guess, not as mortal enemies."

"Well put," Severus replied, nodding. "Ten points to Gryffindor." He watched the young lions instantly perk up and show signs of life again. Maybe he was starting to get the hang of this teaching thing after all. "Trust. It can easily be broken, telling something told in confidence by a friend for example, but keep in mind trust is also so hard to earn back once it is lost," he stated, giving his students a hard look. "Luckily for you, I don't trust any of you enough to be near the dangerous potions yet."

He then motioned towards the simmering cauldrons in front of the confused pairs. "To prepare you for your upcoming OWLs, I've arranged a little exercise for us today. In each of the cauldrons before you, there is a potion inside simmering at various stages of the brewing process. Your task for the next hour is for you and your partner to discern which potion it is in your cauldron and what step I have stopped at. Once you have both of these answers, you and your partner will complete your potion, brewing it together." He saw the instant look of panic sweep across the room and sighed inwardly. Clearly, none of these brats understood that education was meant to challenge them, not be easy. "I assure you, all of the potions in front of you are ones we have brewed in this class before. You may refer back to your notes and your book, but not other pairs. Is this understood?" He caught several clipped nods from a few of his students. "Excellent. Then proceed." He watched the flurry of students take off, finding partners of the opposite House before they quickly started.

To make it easier on himself, Severus had brewed only three different potions: Swelling Solution, Pepperup, and Amortentia. Each potion had distinctive qualities that if anyone had ever been paying attention in his class would be able to identify immediately. He still didn't know why he had chosen Amortentia of all things, though.

As he zigzagged through the classroom, walking in between tables, he checked on their progress. Every now and then, he would stop briefly and make a comment to a pair about their potion. He tried to keep his usual nasty sarcasm he had reserved only for the students to a minimum this time. This exercise was as much as it was for them as it was for him. He needed to re-earn their trust as a teacher.

Suppressing yet another pain filled wince near the end of the hour, Severus started to seriously question his sanity. How on earth could he have expected his fifth-years to correctly predict the step he had stopped on after receiving little to no hints as to what the potions in front of them were in the first place? He glanced up at the clock, thankful when he saw class was almost over with. This was starting to become very, very painful for him to watch. So many cauldrons had fallen victim already.

Yet another Pepperup became black sludge, he noticed after there had been a quick poof from a nearby cauldron. However, it wasn't the ruined potion that got his attention the most. It was the looks on the pairs' faces as they hesitantly met his eyes. To him, the failed pairs reminded him of kicked puppies.

"Enough," Severus called out, finally admitting defeat. He watched several more students glance at him. "You've all reached my quota on ruined potions for the next ten years, thank you," he dryly commented, crossing his arms across his chest again. He then exhaled. "Not a single one of you managed to brew your potion to completion. Why is that, I wonder?" Heads instantly bowed guiltily, as eyes lowered as well. However, one brave young man raised his hand slowly. "Yes, Mister Dennison?"

"Because we haven't been taking our studying seriously, sir," the Gryffindor answered honestly.

Not knowing quite how to reply to that honesty, Severus inclined his head. Normally, he would have made some snide remark, but he couldn't be that man anymore. "I take it then my point has been made, however?"

"Yes, sir" was the chorus he heard from his students.

"Wonderful." He then glanced up at the clock again and saw he had a minute left. "For those of you who are wondering what potions these were, it was Pepperup, Swelling Solution, and Amortentia. Since none of you brewed them successfully, I think three feet on them should do the trick. You have until our next class to finish your essay." He then waved his dismissal and watched his students leave. He was going to teach them something before the end of the year, or die trying he figured.

The moment the last student in the class had stepped into the hallway, Severus drew his wand and flicked it towards the cauldrons, making the majority of the contents inside each of them vanish. He then waved his wand a moment later and cast a cleansing spell in order to thoroughly remove all traces of anything that had been stuck inside. Once he was satisfied the cauldrons were clean, he headed into his office, closing the door behind him.

A part of him debated on marking his third-year exams. Seeing how much of his class failed to grasp basic concepts wasn't really any sort of fun for him, contrary to public opinion. Not like brewing was. And, truthfully, there was only so much of his students' idiocy he could handle in a day, which his fifth-years had just reached a bit ago. So, he turned away from the stack of exams and chose instead to work on a potion he had been developing. He knew he was close. There was just one last ingredient . . .

The short knock against his door a half-hour later, though, took him from his potion.

"Enter," sighed the young professor, setting aside his research immediately. Whoever it was had better be needing help or else, he grumpily thought, as the door slowly opened.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Severus," stated McGonagall as she stepped into the room.

"There's no need, Headmistress," Severus replied respectfully, politely inclining his head at the dark-skinned Auror who entered with McGonagall. "I take it there's been a development?"

"There has," answered Auror Shacklebolt. He then glanced towards McGonagall, who silently excused herself from the room soon after. Once the door had closed behind the headmistress, the Auror continued. "At roughly—"

Severus's hand shot up suddenly to stop Shacklebolt. "No. No long, distracting details like that. Out with it. Did you find my mother? Yes or no."

Shacklebolt paused, his eyes softening slightly, before he inclined his head. "We did, sir."

The young man drew in a sharp breath and closed his eyes. They had found her. Finally. "Where is she now?" he demanded.

"St. Mungo's."

With a determined nod, Severus whirled towards the door and headed for it. He clenched his teeth instantly when Shacklebolt grabbed his arm as he passed by the man.

"I understand your need to rush to your mother's side, however—"

"No," Severus snapped, yanking his arm out of the man's hand. "No 'however.' You found my mother, so I'm going to her. Now!"

"She was severely injured, Severus. She wasn't even conscious when we found her."

"Doesn't matter. My father and I have waited long enough." Severus then tried to brush past the man, but found that Shacklebolt seemed stronger than he looked. On second thought, he should've known, considering the man was an Auror.

"I understand. I truly do, Professor," Shacklebolt calmly said. "However, there are protocols in place we must follow, sir."

"To hell with protocols," Severus snarled, glaring at the man. "I'm getting my father and child, and then we're all going to St. Mungo's. Now, get out of my way, damn it!"

"I cannot do that, sir. Not without going over—"

"I don't have time for this!" The twenty-two-year-old man then whirled around and sprinted towards the nearest door. It was ridiculous, he knew, but he was going to be damned if he had to wait a second longer to see his mother. To apologize for all the years he had foolishly thought ill of her.

"Sir, stop!" Shacklebolt yelled after him, as the young man continued to flee the Auror. "By order of the Ministry, cease this instant!"

The portrait that hid Severus's rooms flew open a second later, and Severus leapt into it. However, the wand that appeared directly in front of him shortly after stopped him dead in his tracks. He was face to face with Shacklebolt's partner, Rigotti.

"Hello, Professor," drawled the veteran Auror who had his wand trained on Severus.

Huffing slightly in order to catch his breath, Severus stared back at Rigotti. "I just want to see my mother. Is that a crime?"

"No, but for the record disobeying a direct order from an Auror does tend to get one Stunned," Rigotti replied lightly, lowering his wand slowly. He gave a curt nod to his partner who entered soon after. "As I'm certain Kingsley informed you a few moments ago, your mother is currently being tended to by a mass of Healers at St. Mungo's. We are more than happy to escort you, your father, and your son there, Severus. But only after we follow the proper Ministry protocols. Is this understood?"

"Why?" Severus then scoffed, shaking his head. "Why do we have to follow any of that rubbish? My mother could be dying. Do you realize that?" He threw his hands up into the air. "And yet you still want to waste our time with such idiotic policies put into place by bureaucrats who know nothing."

"Be as that may, these policies are—"

"Mandated by the Ministry," Severus snapped. "Yes, I could figure that out for myself, thank you." He then pressed his lips tightly together when he caught his father's disapproving look. Well, he didn't see Tobias arguing about not being able to see Eileen right then and there.

"If, while you are there, your mother regains consciousness at any time, you must not ask her any questions regarding her capture and imprisonment," stated Auror Shacklebolt, standing a bit taller now.

"Understood. Now, may we leave?" the young man asked through clenched teeth. He caught the Aurors glance at one another before Rigotti finally sighed.

"This is very important, Professor. If you ask her any questions regarding any of that without authorities and/or legal counsel present, it will make things more difficult later on when your mother's case is being prosecuted. The policies are in place to protect people like your mother."

"He gets it, sir," Tobias quietly said a moment later. "We won't ask nothin'. Scout's honor."

Severus frowned instantly, glancing at his father. Scout's honor? What the hell?

"Excellent," the lead Auror replied. "When we arrive at St. Mungo's, you three will be directed by a member of the staff to the office of the Healer in charge of her case. It is our understanding you will then be briefed by the Healer before she will take you to see Eileen. It is vital you keep your word and ask Eileen nothing about her imprisonment. Not unless you want the ones responsible for her kidnapping to go unpunished."

At those words, the young man winced inwardly. Severus didn't want that. He wanted them to pay for what they had done. The time he had lost with his mother. He supposed then he could follow orders and wait to learn what had happened. If it meant the ones who did paid, then it was worth it. Silently, he walked over to Harrison, grabbing the young boy from Tobias's arms. A moment later, all of them had Flooed to St. Mungo's.

Tapping his long fingers against the chair's arm, Severus had done his best to remain distracted after Narcissa Malfoy had led them into the Healer in Charge's office. Severus had already tried bouncing little Harrison, but had quickly found that only annoyed the little boy greatly. So, Harrison was now happily in his grandfather's arms again.

"Son, it's okay," Tobias said for what seemed to be the hundredth time since they had arrived. "This lass will be here any minute. Ya just watch. Okay?"

"That's what you said an hour ago," the young man grumbled. He couldn't sit there for another moment. He needed to do something. Walk, maybe? He didn't know anymore. He stood up, though, and walked around the office, looking at the rows upon rows of books in the bookcases. The Healer clearly was well-versed in the classics, along with her medical literature. However, when he reached a shelf of photos, he paused briefly, his eyes narrowing on a photo of a curly dark-haired young woman near his own age dressed in her Slytherin robes and an older man who clearly was the young woman's father.

"What's wrong?" Tobias asked, quickly picking up on Severus's sudden mood shift.

"Nothing." Severus shook his head, turning from the Healer's family photo. He never would have guessed that would be her mother. He thought for a second how she must take after her father then before he brushed all thoughts aside. He couldn't think about her . . . about their supposed future together. Not when his mother was . . . was . . .

"Son?"

Sighing inwardly and closing his eyes briefly, Severus slowly turned back to his father.

"I been doin' some thinkin' and, well, maybe ya should go in alone. To see yer mum, I mean."

"What?"

"Well, it's just, you know, last she knew I was a bastard who abandoned her and forced her to raise our son alone. Ain't like she's really gonna be all happy to see me, Severus."

The young man's brows furrowed. "You don't want to see her?"

"Course I do. I just don't want the first thing she does upon wakin' is to have a heart attack or somethin' cause of my ol' face."

Without thinking, Severus argued, "She'd hex you, I think, rather than have a heart attack."

"Eh, ya knew what I meant." Tobias then glanced down at Harrison. "And, well, the jury's still out on how she's gonna react once she finds out about this little lad, too. So, let's be gentle with her. No sense in makin' her head spin any more than it already will, right?"

It made sense. And Severus had to admit that he, too, was worried how Eileen would take all the surprises. His mother was a strong woman certainly, but after years in captivity, who knew? She likely wasn't the same person he had grown up with anymore. Time was funny that way.

"Yeah," Severus said quietly, his head dipping slightly.

Several more minutes passed by before the door finally opened. Both men instantly glanced at the blonde woman in lime green robes as she entered. Severus's stomach did a flip when the familiar icy blue eyes momentarily rested on him before she looked away.

"I apologize for the delay," stated the blonde healer, closing the door behind her. "I'm Healer Syra Sinistra, but you may refer to me as 'Syra." She headed to her desk then before she sat down. "I'll make this short since I'm certain you are wanting to see her as soon as possible." The witch then clasped her hands in front of her and stared at both of them. "She is severely malnourished, which I am attempting to correct as we speak through various potion regimens. With luck, she should be back to eating on her own in a few days. However, judging by the severe trauma she's so obviously underwent, it may take longer than that. It all depends on how receptive she is."

"They starved her?" Severus felt his stomach roll slightly. If he had only chosen the light instead of the darkness, this never would have happened. None of it.

"Yes, and beat her and various other vile actions that will certainly earn them all a well-deserved Kiss from the Dementors in the end," coldly replied the blonde healer.

"But she'll get better, yeah?" Tobias asked, keeping an arm wrapped protectively around his grandson who was wiggling.

"Physically, yes. However, mentally, that all depends on your wife, Mister Snape." Syra sighed quietly. "There is only so much a healer can do after all. The rest is up to the patient. Luckily for us, Eileen Snape is known for being a stubborn survivor."

Severus decided not to ask her how she knew that. "The Aurors stated earlier she wasn't awake."

Syra nodded slowly. "When she first arrived here yesterday, she was unconscious, yes. It was partly a result of the numerous mind-altering potions I found in her system. However, they have since been flushed out, and she's regained partial consciousness. It is mostly hit or miss right now, I admit. But I was able to carry on a five minute conversation with her earlier. Informing her about your presence actually to see if she felt up to visitors yet."

"And?"

"As I stated before, she's only regained partial consciousness so far. So, she wasn't able to answer me back fully, but we typically do allow family to visit in these circumstances as it assists us in helping our patients regain full consciousness."

Severus nodded slowly. He was glad to hear he could visit his mother.

"The Aurors, I take it, informed you that you cannot ask her any questions regarding her captivity?" When Syra saw their nods, she gave them a thin smile. "Then allow me to reiterate it. It is vital you do not ask her anything about it, as it will no doubt upset her. At this point in time, she needs all the rest she can get in order to heal fully. So, do not upset her needlessly, or else I shall throw you out of St. Mungo's in an instant."

"We understand."

Syra inclined her head respectfully towards Tobias a moment later. "I hope for your sake you do." She then stood again, reaching for a folder on her desk before she held it out to him. "Before we head to Eileen's room, this is for you, Mister Snape."

"For me?" Tobias frowned, slowly handing Harrison over to Severus before taking the file.

"I was told you wanted to know about your genealogy," she replied with pursed lips.

Tobias blinked. "You know who my mum is?"

"It wasn't hard once I had a sample of your blood to test against." She then motioned to the file. "That is the only copy I made and intend to make considering whom the players are."

"Players?" Severus tiled his head to the side. He then watched her draw her wand before she flicked it once, a soft crackling filtered around the room as the privacy charm was activated.

"If the Ministry learned of your father's lineage or anyone else for that matter, serious questions would be raised within the Ministry. The first being 'How on Earth it is possible for there to be a living descendant of a long-ago extinct family line?" When both men stared back at her in confusion, she sighed. "As I'm certain you can ascertain, the Ministry of Magic keeps tabs on all of the family lines. They claim it is purely innocent and merely for research. Anyone with half a brain knows, though, it is much more than that. It is a method to track its subjects. One of the many reasons I despise the Ministry with a passion."

"What does any of that have to do with my father, though?"

Syra sighed loudly again before she forced her smile a bit more. It reminded him of all the times he had to smile this past semester to his idiot students who thought Potions was nothing more than a class where one threw in random ingredients into a cauldron and waited to see what happened.

"Have you ever heard of the Ashmore family?" She paused for half a moment, glancing at either of them before inclining her head. "I see. Well, allow me to fill you in. The Ashmores were a powerful Wizarding family. They had tried everything known to man in order to conceive a child but to no avail. So they then decided to visit a local orphanage after years of trying. The moment the young couple saw this beautiful little girl, no more than a few months old, they knew she was the one they wanted. So, they adopted her and brought her to their manor, raising her as their own—even setting the girl up with access to their Gringotts account when she was older. They named her Ismerelda Ashmore, keeping the first name the orphanage had given this little girl. When their adopted daughter turned five, though, they learned Lady Ashmore was finally pregnant. The family was elated, as were all their friends. Yet, when the time came, Lady Ashmore unfortunately died in childbirth, which was the norm for the era.

"So, Lord Ashmore raised the children, Ismerelda and Caleb, alone," Syra continued. "When Ismerelda turned eleven, her adopted father was convinced the owl that had her Hogwarts letter had gotten lost. So, he took her to Hogwarts, only to discover that poor Ismerelda could not see the castle. You see, she was a Muggle. The house elves stated he loved her no less, though, for this."

Syra then shook her head.

"Naturally, when the so-called 'cleansing the earth' came a few years after Caleb's birthday, the Ashmores and their house elves were reported to have all been massacred in their home. Thus, the tragic tale we know today was born. And yet…" Syra gave a short laugh. "We have evidence that proves that young Ismerelda did not die with her father and brother. Well, at least not that day."

"I don't understand."

"Ismerelda is your mother," Syra stated to Tobias. "The mitochondrial DNA proves it."

"The mit-a-what-a?" Tobias blinked rapidly before he glanced towards his son helplessly.

Severus's frown deepened, as he absentmindedly rubbed gentle circles against Harrison's back. "How is that possible?"

Syra shrugged slightly. "I would imagine the Auror who reported her death lied." Her lips quickly turned upwards as she stared back at the young twenty-two-year-old. "Certainly not the first to do what's best for the child, of course. Wouldn't you say?" As soon as she got her desired reaction from him, she turned away from the young man.

"So, yer sayin', what exactly, lass? That some guy was checkin' rooms and found my mum and snuck her out somehow?"

"Yes." Syra's head dipped forward. "The Ashmores and etc. were murdered by dark wizards, which required the Ministry's usual involvement in such crimes. One of the Aurors likely came across your mother and decided to hide her away so no one could come and finish the job."

All of this sounded strangely familiar to the young man, which he knew it should. Harrison had underwent the same thing. As he listened to Syra continue, he couldn't help but wonder if Syra had been the one to save Ismerelda, as the blond healer had done for Chloe all those years ago.

"Was she one of yours?" Severus finally asked, catching Syra's ice blue eyes narrow minutely.

"Before my time, actually," she answered with a mock smile. "However, the practice dates back to long before any of us were born. It's only recently we've advanced enough that we can rediscover these so-called 'lost' children and, if desired, reunite them with their parents."

The young man nodded slowly, unable to think of anything to say in response to that.

"Was there anything else?"

Tobias instantly scratched the back of his neck before he inclined his head. "Yeah. Uh, it's sorta foolish, but . . . ya said earlier she died later. Did ya find out what happened after I was born?"

Severus noticed Syra's shoulders slump slightly.

"Please, lass. Tell me."

"Unfortunately, Mister Snape, there isn't much to tell you. The Aurors who were tasked with finding out your missing background reached out to their Muggle counterparts in Cokeworth again." A look of pity crossed Syra's face briefly before it once again disappeared.

"And . . . ? Come on, lass. There's gotta be more than that."

"The surviving people in your neighborhood were re-interviewed by the Muggle authorities, and they still cannot recall ever seeing a woman living with you and your father after you were born."

"So, what, I was hatched then?" Tobias drawled sarcastically.

"Hardly," Syra replied with a snort. "It is more likely the case that after you were weaned off your mother's breast, your father killed her, as she was of no more use to him. However, all that is idle speculation at this point."

"Based on what evidence?" Severus inquired, his eyes narrowing on the healer. Syra seemed awfully certain of herself for some reason.

Once more, Syra's 'You're a certifiable idiot' look was directed at Severus. However, she answered him a moment later.

"It's based on how none of the other Muggles can recall seeing a woman there except one time. It was a pregnant woman who had been attempting to leave the house only to be caught by Tobias's father and promptly brought back inside. The neighbors had recalled Tobias's father claiming the woman was delirious and quite ill, so they thought nothing of it because nothing ever happened in that neighborhood ever." Syra held a hand out. "Clearly, she had to have been locked up somewhere after that attempt if no one else saw her ever again. Then we have the last item, dated a year after your father's birth, found with the same initials, IA, as the ones on Tobias's birth certificate. It was a Christmas card addressed to an orphanage in London. The authorities checked out the orphanage but naturally dismissed it as being a dead end."

Syra's eyes then sparkled slightly, as her smile turned even more predatory. "So, adding all that together, my long history as being a healer and experience has shown me that these are all classic signs of abuse. She tried to escape, which the neighbors witnessed but did nothing as they foolishly took the abuser's word for it. She wasn't seen after that escape by any of the neighbors according to the Muggle authorities. Though, that's not at all surprising considering how most abusers then will reassert their dominance over their victims in order to remain in control. The card bearing her initials, if I were to guess, was his reward for good behavior. Yet, once she lost her use to him, having provided the necessary nourishment for his child, he would have no other option but to kill her in order to remove the unnecessary variable. Add to the fact that Tobias later suffered abuse from his father as well, it is all very clear then what happened. Isn't it?"

When they didn't say anything, Syra gave an approving nod towards them. "In case you wish to reach out to the orphanage I mentioned earlier, Mister Snape, I must inform you that it was destroyed not long ago in a fire. Everything else you wish to know is in that report."

"Thank you, lass," Tobias quietly replied, closing his eyes as he brought it closer.

"As you can see, sometimes it is better not to know what happened. It is easier that way," Syra stated with a sigh before she headed to the door and opened it. "If you'll follow me . . ."

Severus rose a moment later, resituating Harrison against him, and followed after his father quietly. It may have been easier not knowing the truth, but it certainly didn't mean finding out the truth shouldn't at least be attempted. His father now had a possible explanation of what had happened to his mother. He wouldn't live a lifetime of wondering. That was worth the pain, wasn't it?

A few moments later, they all came to stop in front of one of the rooms. Severus watched Syra knock gently against the door before she opened it slowly.

"Eileen?" Syra called out, her voice low and almost gentle now.

Peering around the healer soon after, Severus finally saw his mother. And what he saw nearly caused him to drop Harrison.

Skeletons looked better than Eileen did at this point. Her cheeks, which had always been somewhat sunken in, were now giant craters. And her eyes . . . the dark eyes that were so full of love once were now dull and vacant-looking. It sent chills down Severus's spine. How could this . . . this thing be his mother?

Numbly, Severus felt Tobias pull Harrison out of his arms. No. No this couldn't be his mother.

"Eileen?" Syra repeated, still standing at the doorway and blocking the men from entering.

There was a quiet sound, not quite a whimper but not a 'yes' either, from the other witch.

"I have your son Severus here with me. Is it all right if he comes in?"

The young man noticed his mother's head move slightly, as if she was turning to look at him. He then saw Eileen's long, bony fingers move just a bit.

Syra stepped aside instantly, allowing the young man into the room.

Severus glanced towards his father, though, realizing that there was no way his mother was strong enough for that quite yet. Luckily, Tobias understood without Severus having to say a thing. His father gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze that meant it was all right and then stepped back with Harrison. Severus stepped inside a moment later before he strode across the room to his mother's bedside. He looked back at Syra briefly, as if to ask if it was okay to take her hand. Once the healer gave him the nod, he did just that, gently slipping his hand into his mother's. He felt his breathing hitch the moment his mum's hand closed around his soon after.

"Mum," he whispered, his head falling forward as the tears suddenly fell from his eyes. "Please forgive me. I . . . I'm so sorry." He lifted his head up slightly, seeing the tears in his mum's eyes as well. "Oh, God, what did I do to you?" He felt the instant painful squeeze of disapproval then. "No. No, Mum. You can't. Not this time. I did this to you. Me," he argued. "I left you with him. I-I abandoned you, Mum. I . . . I'm sorry." He leaned towards her, bringing her hand up gently to kiss it. However, as soon as he was close to her hand, she lightly tapped him. He was certain if she'd had her strength, that tap would have been a slap instead. He frowned in response. "You didn't do anything to deserve this, Mum." He needed to make that clear to her.

After all, if there was anything he had learned these past few months, it was that no one deserved to feel pain or suffer. Nothing one could do would ever deserve that.

A flicker of her old self reappeared for a brief second in the form of a mild glare directed at the young man. Severus, however, shook his head.

"Mum, please. You didn't do anything to deserve this. I, I should've been stronger," he stated, his voice faltering slightly. "I should've told you the truth. Protected you like you had done for me all those years. Oh, Mum . . ." He leaned towards her, gently brushing back a stray strand and hooking it behind her ear. "Please, forgive me." The moment he felt her cool hand against his cheek, his eyes closed and he turned into her palm. He hadn't known how much he had missed her until right then.

For four years, he hadn't spoken or seen her. With Roger in her life, he hadn't thought it was sensible for him to do so. For four long years, he had left her alone and abandoned, held and clearly tortured by Death Eaters—his so-called brothers and sisters. For four years, she had suffered because of him. Because he had failed her. Just as he had failed Lily.

His breathing hitched again. The tears streamed down his cheeks, the salt soaking onto his lips. How on earth could anyone love him? Could want to be with him? No. No, his future self had to be wrong. There was no such woman like that. There couldn't be. What woman would ever want to be with a man who had failed to protect two women he had loved? Two!

"Oh," his mother moaned, causing him to glance at her. She sounded like a wounded animal, dying. "My sweet boy," she mouthed, love finally beating the terrible pain in her eyes. "My Severus."

Late spring soon descended onto the magical castle that was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had seemed (at least to Severus that was) that with each sunny day of warmth, yet another milestone had been reached by his mother. Her physical therapy had ended a month back, as she was strong enough now to walk without assistance. But it was clear she would be needing mental therapy for years to come in order to properly deal with her trauma. To which his father had, unfortunately, joked that they would be doing it all together as a family for the three-for-one special. His mother had rightly smacked Tobias for that remark.

Once his last class for the week had finished, Severus had quickly stalked across the courtyard full of students towards the laughing trio of Snapes who were carrying on without a care in the world. Where he once would have complained that his parents and son were ruining his reputation, he now was thankful for the break. It had been a breath of much-needed fresh air in his life, he found.

"Good afternoon, Professor Snape," called out one of his students as he passed her by. He inclined his head towards the young Hufflepuff fourth-year, but continued towards his family.

So what if he wasn't the bastard of the dungeons anymore? He was something much better. In fact, he felt calmer now than he had ever felt before.

"Toby, I swear to God," Eileen groaned loudly, slight amusement in her voice as she shook her head at something her husband was doing. "It's not 'Alohobora.' It's 'Alohomora.' MORE-A."

"Yeah. That's what I been sayin,' woman. Alohobora!"

Severus winced inwardly, debating with himself if he should turn around and mark his sixth-year essays. Oddly enough, the essays were sounding more appealing to him than watching his father practice his magic. However, once Harrison saw him, the young man knew there was no escaping.

"Dadda!" shouted the little boy before he ran full force towards Severus and launched himself into his dad's waiting arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around Severus's neck as he embraced him warmly. "Wook. Wook." He pointed at Tobias, who was holding a wand in his hand.

"Yes, so I see," the young father replied with a faint smile. It was practice day again for Tobias.

Harrison's hazel eyes sparkled brightly, the specks of intense green shining brilliantly every now and then in the sunlight. If there was one thing Harrison truly loved, it was seeing someone practicing his or her magic. Typical child behavior, he knew, but his son was so not the typical child, though.

"She's right by the way, Dad," Severus quietly remarked. "You keep saying 'Alohobora' when it's 'Alohomora."

"Har, har, everyone's a critic," Tobias grumbled before he flicked his wand. "Lumos." The very tip of his wand suddenly lit up as a result with no hints of scarlet in it this time. "See? I ain't as dumb as ya two think I am. I can at least cast that one pretty good now."

"Yes, so we see," Eileen replied quietly. "If we ever need a light, we now know whom to call."

Severus couldn't keep the snort from escaping. Even Harrison giggled at that.

"Ya know, just for that, I ain't gonna show you anymore," Tobias grumped, putting away his wand. "But I'll have ya know that Flitwick said I've improved immensely this week in our lessons."

"Of course he told you that, Tobias. He tells all his first-years that," Eileen quipped, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she glanced sideways towards her husband.

Severus felt his own lips tug upwards as well. Ever since his mother had been released from St. Mungo's, he had found his parents acting playful with one another. As if all the fights he had witnessed growing up had been erased from their minds. He knew the memories were still there, but these past few months Tobias had proven time and time again that he wasn't the same man they had known all those years again. He, too, had changed.

Other men would have moved on, stating it was too hard for them to deal with all the unexplainable emotions that came with their situation. But not Tobias. At first, he kept his distance out of respect and not wanting to hurt his wife anymore. But once it was clear Eileen had regained most of her strength and had been informed of the real story of what had happened, Tobias let her make the first move if she wanted to see him or not. Three days he waited before she answered. Severus still wasn't certain all that had been discussed between his parents that day, as he had been with Harrison in another room, but his parents had somehow reached a mutual understanding of starting over. That had been the first day his mother had laid eyes on Harrison as well. She had fallen for the boy just as quickly as Severus himself had.

"Yeah, well, not all of us got to go to a fancy magic school when we were younger, El. Some of us had to have Orkers tell us it first."

"Aurors," she corrected with an eye roll, as she always did whenever Tobias said a word wrong.

"Yeah, that's what I said. Orkers."

She sighed instantly. "Never mind." She then glanced at Severus and smiled faintly at him. "Class went all right today?"

The young man shrugged, his teaching robes waving in the slight breeze. "As well as it can with a bunch of hormonal adolescents, I suppose." He had noticed strangely enough that his mother had developed a habit lately of asking how his classes were. As if the answer mattered for some reason.

Letting it drop again, Eileen nodded slowly, her hand soon coming up to ruffle her grandson's hair affectionately. She gave a quick laugh the moment the little boy's face scrunched up as a result. Even Pomfrey had said that Harrison was having a positive effect on Eileen's continued improvement.

"So, what shall we do today, hmm?" she asked, reaching for her grandson and plucking him out of her son's arms. "Walk by the lake again? Visit Hogsmeade? Or shall we have some tea in London?"

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Are you up for traveling, then, Mum?" He looked down the moment he caught his mother's instant disapproval. He just didn't want her to tax herself so soon. That was all.

"I'm not some glass doll, I'll have you know, young man," Eileen brusquely replied. "And I hardly think one visit is going to set me back. I'm not weak after all."

"Ain't no one's sayin' ya are, El," Tobias cut in gently. "We're just worrying about ya."

Severus winced inwardly, knowing from experience just how his mother would take that now.

"Well, don't. I'm fine." Eileen then gave a bit of an annoyed huff. "And if things become difficult, then we'll return. Simple as that. So, quit fussing over me."

"Yes, Mother," Severus replied instinctively.

"Good." She nodded curtly. "Now, then, let's get out of here and enjoy ourselves, hmm?"

If Severus had thought Eileen had spoiled Harrison rotten earlier with an ice cream cone full of sprinkles and other assorted toppings, he hadn't seen anything yet clearly. Six bags of toys later. Six! He wasn't even certain he had space for all of them. Yet, Grandmum Eileen had dismissed all of her son's arguments against the outrageous amount of toys and bought them anyway, going so much as to tell Severus that he'd just have to deal with it.

"Oh, stop moping, my silly boy," Eileen drawled, glancing out of the corner of her eye towards her son who looked positively miserable as he walked with the grinning little boy in his arms. "I'll buy you something at Slugs. Promise."

Severus glanced back at her with an unamused look. As if that was what he was upset about.

"Hey, El. Question for ya," his dad asked. "When they say I gotta polish my wand nightly . . ."

Almost instantly, Eileen quickly replied, "I'll show you later, Toby."

The young man stopped soon after and glanced at his parents. This. This right here was why he wished desperately he could tell people he was adopted. He glared back at his dad when he caught Tobias's cheeky grin as the man waved his newly-bought wand from Ollivanders. It wasn't funny the first time, and it certainly wasn't any funnier the second either.

"Look, Harrison," Eileen suddenly said, causing Severus to start. "There's your father's toy store. Shall we go in?"

"I think not. After all, bribing me never worked when I was younger, and it surely won't work now either, Mother," the young man bristled. He caught Harrison's look and gave him one in return. Life was not all about having it all. The sooner the little boy realized that, the better. It would save him from a lifetime of bitterness.

"Someone's Mister Grumpy today," Tobias remarked quietly before he turned towards Eileen. "Is there a spell to make someone happy? Cause I think you should cast it on our boy."

Severus glanced up at the clouds and silently counted backwards in response. Wonderful. His father was already convinced there was a spell for everything. He continued to walk down the crowded alley with Harrison, though, walking away from his parents.

With a wave of one's wand, money would grow on trees. While it sounded wonderful at first, it would quickly lose its value. Everything usually did when it came with little effort. Severus grumpily kicked a loose rock soon after. Nothing ever came easy for him.

"Severus?" a strangely familiar voice suddenly called out near him.

The young man frowned instantly. He knew that voice. Stopping, he turned to look for the voice's owner. He couldn't recall the person's name, but he knew he had heard that voice before.

"It is you," the voice happily declared from somewhere off to his right in the thick crowd.

Severus's eyes narrowed even more. Where had he heard that voice before? Was it someone from Cokeworth? His eyes darted about the busy alleyway, looking for the person who was talking to him. All he saw, though, were annoyed people who were pushing past others and going about their way. Well, that was until he finally saw a small hand peeking over the top of the crowd, waving at him.

He didn't recognize the hand nor the young curly-haired witch attached to it at first, but she hurried towards him anyway. As she got closer and he saw more of her, a strange sensation started to come over him. Recognition of her features took root in his brain, yet a name refused to be unburied. He knew he knew her. Just . . . where?

"I can't believe it," the witch declared with a wide grin, clearly excited about running into him. "What are the odds you'd be in London the same time I am?" Her warm brown eyes then passed over the curious young boy in Severus's arms, who seemed suspicious of her. "Oh." Her face fell just a bit at the realization of something. She then drew in a slow breath and looked back at Severus, a smile once again reaching her lips but one that was clearly more subdued than before. "Is this sweet little boy yours?" She then gave a quiet laugh when he nodded. "He's truly gorgeous, Severus. Congratulations."

And just like that, the strong sensation spread. The tentacles that had rooted in his brain earlier now easily traveled with every beat of his heart to the rest of his body.

". . . let me tell you about my wife . . ." The words from his future self's letter echoed in his mind as the young man continued to stare at her. "She has always stood by my side, even when I did not know it. She is the light to our darkness. And she has always been with us."

Before he even could think of anything to say, her name fell from his lips. "Aurora . . ."

A/N: For those of you who have been awaiting for the sequel to the Tragedy series, I'll have something for you real soon. ;) Until next time.