I don't own Harry Potter.

She looked up at the towering Castle in her line of vision, the battle had taken place four months ago but it felt like just yesterday. She could still picture the large holes made in the castle walls. She could still see the faces of the dead. She shivered and pulled her robe tighter around herself.

"You ok Ri?" She turned to one of her best friends and smiled tightly.

"I'm fine Mione just remembering I never expected to be back here but here we stand ready to embark on the last year of Hogwarts. I guess better late than never right?"

"Yeah, Hermione sighed looking up at the castle "It will be really strange to go back. She looked to her side at Ron who was standing with a look of trepidation on his face. "You going to be okay Ron?"

"What?" Ron shook his head and looked over at his girlfriend. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. It's just this is the last place Fred was alive you know."

Hermione pulled him into a hug. "We'll make it through she whispered throwing a glance over at Riley. The carriage stopped as they disembarked on to Hogwarts grounds. Hermione hurrying to the front too do her duties as Head girl. Neville at her side as Head boy.

Ron took Riley's hand and squeezed it. "We'll make it." He whispered as they walked through the doors and made their way to the Great hall. Sitting at the Gryffindor table Riley let her eyes travel up to the head table her eyes catching with the headmaster. She sucked in her breath and forced herself to look away.

"Ri you okay?" Ron asked noticing her paler then usual face.

"Yeah I'm fine I promise." Her eyes flicked again towards the head table and Ron followed her gaze as Hermione slipped into a seat beside him.

"I can't believe he was allowed to keep his position as Headmaster." Ron shook his head.

"I can't believe he lived." Hermione said looking down at the golden plate in front of her. "That was one nasty snake bite he received."

"Madame Pomfrey has been known to preform miracles before." Riley said just as Professor McGonagall brought the first years in and set up the sorting hat.

"You'll all put this hat on and be sorted into your houses." Minerva looked over the sea of new faces before looking out into the crowd and smiling slightly it was so nice to see so many of her older students back after last year. Her smile dropped a little when she noticed the empty spots that littered the room. She turned as the hat finished his song and unrolled her list. "When I call your name please come forward."

The Trio watched the sorting with Avid eyes clapping for everyone not just the Gryffindor's. As the last child was sorted. Professor Snape stood up and looked over the sea of faces. He didn't really want to be here right now but alas Minerva and all the other teachers refused to take the post so he was stuck with it. Though he'd refused to give up his potions job and absolutely refused to sleep in the headmaster towers they just gave him the creeps. No he thought to himself as he looked over the faces of the children, He'd keep his dungeon rooms. As he was about to start his speech his eyes caught hers and he felt like the wind had been knocked out of him as he stared into her electrifying green eyes. He had to pull himself away. Clearing his throat he started his speech.

"Welcome to another year of Hogwarts, please remember that the Forbidden forest is in fact forbidden. Here he cut a look at the both the golden and silver trio's. Riley just looked at him her eyebrow raised daring him to say anything. He pulled his gaze away from her disgruntled that just a look from her could stop him in his tracks. "A list of all banned items is posted on Filches door and if you need me please tell a professor who will contact me. And now onto the feast." He spread his hands wide and the glittering plates were filled with some of the best food around

"Hogwarts food oh how've I've missed you." Ron sighed happily as he dug into the pile of mashed potatoes.

Riley chuckled as she took a slice of ham. Though she couldn't blame Ron even four months later it didn't seem she could get enough food to satisfy herself. Hermione must have been thinking the same thing because the bushed haired girls plate was piled high. "You're getting your own room right?" Hermione asked turning towards Riley. "Yeah." The red haired girl said. "Snape and McGonagall agree it will be better for me to be away from the general population. Especially Lavender you known she likes to gossip."

"I've also been pulled into my own room." Ron said. "though it's strange because with Neville it's only Dean and Seamus."

"I'm sure they just wanted to give you privacy also Ron." Hermione sighed. She thought of what her own year as Head girl would entailed as the dishes were cleared and everyone stood to head towards their rooms.

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Potter please stay behind well I show you to your rooms." Minerva called behind them stopping them in their tracks.

"I'll see you guys later." Hermione waved as she headed towards the hall to help Shepard the students with Neville.

"Follow me you two." McGonagall led through winding paths to two separate pictures one a landscape and the other a picture that made Riley stop in her tracks it was a picture of Lily and James Potter. "James Lily, she looked around where are the others?"

"Inside but we couldn't wait. Hello Sweetie." Lily looked down at the daughter who was almost a spitting image of herself except for the curls and the slightly hazel eyes.

"mum." Riley sputtered.

"Yes it's really us dear." She smiled down at her daughter before turning her attention to the red head by her side. "And you must be Ron Weasley a pleasure to meet you."

"How?" Riley breathed.

"Complicated magic." James spoke up for the first time. McGonagall smiled. "Lily's Marauders." She smiled as the picture opened and a still stunned Riley and Ron climbed through the door. "Miss Potter your room is over there." She led her to a door which opened onto a pale purple room. "Mr. Weasley you're room in on the opposite side." She opened another door which led to a brightly orange room. "I really should ward your rooms against each other but I know that you two don't see each other that way. Don't make me regret that decision." With those words she climbed back through the portrait and Ron and Riley wondered into the common air Riley gasped and felt like she was going to faint as she looked up at a picture on the wall. This one didn't only hold James and Lily Potter but also Sirius Black and Fred Weasley.

"How?" Her world was spinning. "Once upon a time the Marauders placed a spell on themselves that if they died unexpectedly they would be put into paint form and live together." Sirius said grinning at his goddaughter.

"And wives were included as for Fred Sirius and Remus told the twins the spell but I think George forgot about it." Lily said.

"Its' good too see you guys." Riley smiled tightly as she looked at the picture in front of her. She knew she'd have to get Remus and George here. Remus was supposed to be at the feast but before they boarded the train Teddy had spiked a fever and last she'd heard Remus and Tonks were in the hospital wing with him.

Ron just nodded as he looked at the portrait. "Yeah good to see or meet you."

"I'm headed to bed." Riley sighed shaking her head. "This had been a trying day she glanced back once more as she slipped into her own room and changed into her night clothes. Slipping into bed she felt a tear slide down her face. She was happy to see her parents Sirius and Fred but at the same time she was horrified. Especially after what had happened at the final battle. As she'd stared into Snape's eyes he'd held her face in his hands and kissed her. The best and worst moment of her life because she'd loved Severus since she was fifteen years old but the worst because she knew he was seeing her mother seeing Lily Potter and now Lily Potter was back if even just in Portrait form and Riley's heart was shattering because With Lily Potter staring at her at them for the rest of their lives Severus Snape would never move on never see Riley for herself never see that she wasn't her mother, that she was her own person so much more than the carbon copy of Lily Evans Potter.

A/N so this is a Fem Harry/Severus Snape story. Where Riley Josephine Potter looks just like her mother as you can see it starts after the war yet Remus and Tonks along with Severus Live. Flash backs will be part of this story to explain details. Please review if you want to see more.