So, as i said, this is very (very) short and more a preview from what's to come in Winterdream than an actual epilogue.

I'm so sorry to end it like this, trust me I hate it as much as you, but as always, i do promise a happy end. Eventually...

Preview

o.O.o

"I am meeting Graham tomorrow," says Severus, placing cups on the table. The plate that used to be full of apple dumplings is half empty by now, unlike Weasley's stomach.

"Snape, this is real good," he comments after every two pieces he swallows with only three huge bites. Granger is still nibbling on her first.

Granger muses, "It's almost tastes like…"

"Molly's." Severus nods.

"How on Merlin's beard did you get your hands on my mom's recipes?" Ron laughs out loud, impressed.

Memories rush back and Severus stares out the window towards the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of a black stag, but of course, the animal is not there, he hides deep within the forest. He has not seen Harry since that night, but Eames or Allister brings news of him regularly. Their guard the stag like their Queen, and the white wolf moves not a foot away from him.

"She gave it to me for helping Harry," Severus says in the end. There is a tinge of bitterness in his tone that he is hopeful will go unnoticed.

There is silence among them for long minutes, all three of them watching the forest through the window. He leans against the sink, hand gently caressing the orange tabby cat that lazily lies on the sill, basking in the sunlight. He has not seen Aeris, since his guests has arrived. He is not worried, she probably just sleeps upstairs.

"Is there any news…?" Granger asks timidly.

"He is well," Severus answers. "Alive."

"I did some digging," Weasley says and when two pairs of eyes snap at him in surprise, he cries out indignant, "Oy! I am an Auror!"

His wife huffs a laugh, then pours each of them a cup of steaming hot Earl Grey. Severus takes a seat, folding his hands around the warmth.

"There's not much about naiads and forest spirits, but I did find something. This faun, it is said to have a pan flute and it travels-"

"Through music," Severus finishes suddenly remembering something. He jumps up from the table, and rushes to the living room.

"Yes, and you knew that already," Weasley sighs.

"Not exactly," Severus shouts back, rummaging through rolled up parchments and folded papers until he finds the one he is looking for.

"I believed it to be nonsense," Severus says as he walks back into the kitchen. He opens the parchment and places it down so that both Hermione and Weasley can read it. October mews on the sill, probably angry about them disturbing his piece.

"Higher power, travels through sound?" Granger looks up at her husband. "This could be the faun."

"Hold on," Weasley says reading further. "What do they mean resides in Spring? Is Spring an actual place now?"

"Would that still surprise you?" Severus says. "After what we had witnessed happened to Harry? I have seen a spring that brings life to the forest. Who knows where it comes from."

"It says here you can summon him with the pan flute of Syrinx."

October jumps from the sill and meows loudly at Severus' feet, reaching up with two front legs to be held, or more likely begging for some food, but Severus brushes him gently away. "Shush now, October. Go find Aeris." He tells the cat, then turns right back to the parchment.

"How on earth are we to find a dude with a flute when we-?" Ron asks looking up at them but then he suddenly freezes in the middle of his sentence.

Severus glances at him absentmindedly, but once he notices Weasley' wide eyes and slightly open mouth he suddenly becomes more aware of his surroundings.

There it is, something familiar but different, a lingering sensation of faint magic right behind him. He hears Granger's gasp as well once she, too, notices that they are not alone any more.

"Did you just shush me? Really, Severus?" Drawls a deep voice behind them. "When I am the only one who knows what is going on?"

Severus swiftly swirls around, eyes trained on a tall man who, undisturbed by the three wands pointed at him, is leaning against his kitchen sink, observing his sharp nails. He wears ragged, tattered clothes, the fashion closer to the previous century than this.

He looks up, calm and indifferent, not feeling threatened at all. Familiar golden eyes glint in the sunlight. He brushes his mess of a ginger hair that is streaked with lighter and darker stripes out of his face.

"You said yourself, Severus," he purrs with a deep tone, "You name something, you become attached."

"October?" Severus breathes the name out, astounded.

The pale man in front of him smirks, one side of his lips pulling up, sharp teeth poking out. "You're quick to catch up," he laughs. He tips his head to the right as he accuses Severus. "How long have you known my name and not once did you call me by it," his tone is reproachful and tinged with a bit of sadness. "Until now."

"What do you mean you are the only one who knows what's going on?" Granger asks.

"The flute," October says, nicking the last apple dumpling from the plate. "It was stolen. No one knows where it is, except, perhaps, the thief."

"You know who stole it?" Severus inquired.

"Oh," October chuckles, "of course. It was me."