Redemption

Okay, now that I've gotten more time, I'm able to write more. So hopefully I can get back to a more frequent schedule this time around.

I worked on this chapter for literally almost 8 hours. So I hope it pays off. Over 7,000 words and I am exhausted right now. But no worries, I still have the dedication to see this story and the series as a whole finished. I know where I'm going with it and I know how I'm going to end it.

This story is going to be jam-packed with a lot of things, so I hope it isn't too much for you.

Also, as a Disclaimer: "I do not own Harry Potter!"

Enjoy Chapter 21 and please leave a review for me! I love those!

Chapter Twenty-One:

More Questions Than Answers

Severus was stiffened by the embrace of the woman, he felt uncomfortable by her touch and emotion. He didn't know what to do, the only thing he did know was that he wanted to get away from her. But he was still too stunned to physically react.

She knew him!

But he wasn't in the physical form of Eric, or rather what he should look like as Eric, he was in the physical form of Severus Snape. Or the slightly improved form of Severus Prince now. It was starting to get confusing with how little focus he had.

Then his eyes widened at a realization.

If she was able to recognize him as Eric in his Severus form, then she knew more than he did about that night. About his parents. About him…

The woman pulled away, but kept her hands on his shoulders, tears running down her cheeks.

Melina was crying, her hand covering her mouth.

David was watching with interest and a hint of tears forming in his eyes.

It was too much for Severus. He'd rather deal with Felicity than this. Or even Li- Nope, this was definitely better!

"Eric!" she said once again, this time in a more controlled voice. "How- how are you alive? I saw the house in flames. Your uncle said that you died in the fire."

"Wait," he removed her hands from his shoulders, surprising and saddening her. "You know me?"

"Of course, I do!" she exclaimed, smiling. "I was the midwife who helped your mother bore you and Michael into this world- Wait, where's Michael?! Did he survive too?!"

Severus's eyes widened but quickly recovered, "He's safe. Though I would like to keep it that way."

The woman sighed in relief and nodded, "At least your mother's wish was honored. Let's take this conversation inside. You must have questions."

She walked away from them and climbed the steps of her porch to her door, disappearing inside.

Melina recovered from her shock and marched forward, her eyes staring at Severus, which only made him more uncomfortable.

"Is it true?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Severus withheld any temptation to lash out at her, "Is what true?"

"That you're… Eric?"

He remained silent, unsure of how to answer.

"Yes," the voice didn't come from him but rather his uncle.

They turned to David.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, a hint of anger in her voice as she turned back to Severus. "I told you that I played with you when we were children and you said nothing. You even lied to me about your name."

"I never lied!" Severus fought back. "My name is Severus. Eric was the name I had when I lived here."

"But why not tell me? After all the times we shared together-" she began to tear up. "We were best friends and then you up and disappear. Why didn't you ever contact me?"

His heart grew heavy as her words reminded him of- No, he refused to think about it. The only past that mattered was the one before he was Severus.

His silence surprised her, making her back away from him.

"I never contacted you because I don't even remember you."

He immediately regretted saying those words the moment her eyes grew wide with shock and hurt. He'd seen it before, and the memory he fought so hard to keep away from his thoughts made his heart grow heavy.

"I can't remember you because I have no memories of my life as Eric, except for the night of the fire. And even that is still a mystery to me."

The girl's eyes teared up, the hurt clearly visible to David, who looked away. She wiped her tears away, looking towards the ground.

"So you… really don't remember?" she asked. "Anything?"

Severus stared at her, "No."

The girl nodded, "I supposed its not your fault. I can't recall much either, except for my parents and you. And Michael, of course. He was so cute."

Severus rolled his eyes, "Melina, I can't remember because my memories were taken away from me for my own protection."

Her head shot up, hope reigniting, "What?!"

"My memories were taken away so that I could be protected from…" he didn't know how much to tell her. She was obviously a muggle, so he couldn't reveal much. And it isn't like he knew who the enemy was, except for one. "…whoever attacked my parents that night. If I had said the wrong thing, I would have been discovered."

Her eyes became more hopeful, though the hurt remained, "I guess that makes sense. Did you go through some sort of therapy? Amnesia?"

"Something… like that."

David laughed, "We better get inside and hear this woman out. Time to get the answers we came here for after these long days of searching."

Severus nodded and walked past Melina, heading for the steps of the porch.

"So, you're his uncle?" he heard her ask.

"Yeah."

"On which side of the family?"

"Oh, I'm the brother to Sev's mother."

"How come you never came to visit?"

"It's a long story."

Severus sneered as he entered the house, followed by the other two. He found the woman setting up the small table in the living room, which he guessed also made up as a dining room, considering how small the house was. He saw that cups of tea and sandwiches were already made, most likely by magic.

"Wow, you made those fast, Miss Delacour!" Melina exclaimed, earning a sneer from him.

"Family secret, dear," Miss Delacour smiled. "Let's sit and enjoy. I even made your favorite, Eric. Peanut butter and jelly."

Severus frowned, 'I used to love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?'

"And tuna sandwich for you, Melina."

"Thank you!"

"And I apologize for making yours the same as Eric's, Mr…?" she paused, not only for not knowing what to call him but because of his athletic body that his clothing was hugging against.

David waved her apology, "David Irons, ma'am. And no need to apologize, peanut butter and jelly will do for me."

The witch eyed him, a look of lust and desire in her eyes, "A looker and a gentleman. If you're looking for work, I could use the help around the house. I'll even pay for overtime."

Both Melina and Severus were mortified.

David laughed, both amused by the woman's sudden offer and by the two teens' facial reactions, "Well, I can definitely say that I am tempted and honored, but I am a married man." He held up his hand, showing the ring on his marriage finger. "I am officially the property of a woman I've found worth keeping.

"But I do have this fellow here," he slapped Severus on the back, making him gasp. "Single, young and smart."

Severus and Melina glared at him.

Miss Delacour laughed, "Maybe if he was around the same age, but I'm more interested in older men."

Severus cleared his throat, "Not to be rude but we were hoping you could answer some questions. More specifically… about my parents."

The woman froze, sadness replacing her mischievous smile.

"You wish to know about that night."

"And what lead up to it."

The woman sighed, "I guess the best way to begin is to start with me and how I know your parents."

Severus sneered, 'Great! A life story to tell another life story." He felt a hand squeeze his shoulder and making him look up at David, who was giving him a look that read, 'Be polite and patient.'

David took his seat, "Please, continue. You have our undivided attention."

Melina ate her food as waited for the story to begin.

Miss Delacour smiled and folded her hands together on the table, "I was born to a member of a very powerful pureblood family in France in the 1940s, known as the Delacours."

Severus's eyes widened, 'Wait, the Delecours?!'

"My full name is Demelza Delacour, unofficially part of the Delacour family tree."

"Unofficially?" David asked.

Demelza nodded, "It was because my mother got pregnant by a muggle in her teens. When she revealed the truth, she was cast out from the family before I was born. I didn't even learn my true heritage until I my final year at Beauxbatons. I went to go meet our family, foolishly believing they would accept me with open arms. But they turned me away, believing me to be tainted blood."

Melina started to tear up.

"After graduation, I opened up my own business of being a Healer and I occasionally got good clients. It was because of my discreet nature of work that attracted criminal, rich and poor alike to my business."

Severus nodded, "That's how you met my parents."

Demelza nodded, "Through your mother, actually. Your father came later. Your mother and aunt were clearly on the run from someone. Who? I don't know. I always assumed that the person was responsible for the night of the fire."

'Your not far o-'

"But I was wrong."

Severus' eyes narrowed at her, surprised, "What?"

David touched his shoulder again, "Let her finish."

The Veela nodded, "I met your mother and aunt when they came to Spain. Eileen had done something to her… womb."

Everyone stared at her with shock.

"Her… womb?" Melina asked.

Demelza nodded, "Eileen was trying to… sterilize her womb so that she would be unable to have children. I have a few ideas as to why, but they refused to tell me, warning me that it was for my own safety. Looking back, I believe it was."

She paused, taking a drink from her tea.

"They came to me that night and I helped heal her, but the damage had already been done. She was unable to have children and she made sure that the effects could not be reversed."

Severus' eyes widened, "She used Dark Magic."

She nodded, "Only logical explanation for why I couldn't heal her completely. That was how powerful her fear was."

"But… what could she fear so much that she would throw away her chances of having children?" Melina asked, though more to herself as she stared down at the final piece of her sandwich.

"The world is a cruel place," thunder echoed in the background, foreshadowing of a coming storm. "I learned that the hard way. As did Eileen and Michelle. As I see it in you two."

She continued.

"Afterward, we became friends, which was one of my rules as a Healer that I broke. I always tried to keep a professional attitude with my clients. But for Eileen and Michelle, I couldn't help myself. That mother of yours was a party girl. She just lit up the room no matter where she went. And she refused to let anyone treat her badly, in any way."

David laughed, "Yep, that's Helena!"

Severus felt jealous about how they could recall her mother that way when all he had was the moments before her death. Then again, her worries were for her family, as opposed to herself. Anyone wouldn't be their usual self in a time of crisis. The only thing that came close was Eileen's memories, but they weren't truly his.

Demelza frowned, "Helena?"

David's smile fell, "Oh, yeah, you knew her by her alias. She was born Helena Prince. She, Eileen and I are from the Prince dynasty."

Her mouth fell out, shock painted all over her, "And she never told me?!"

David threw up his arms, "Hey, I'm not the one who lied to you."

She raised an eyebrow, "Says the man who calls himself 'David Irons'. If I recall correctly, the last son of the Prince family was named William."

"Pleasure to meet you."

"Wait, you're him?! What is with everyone changing their different names?! It isn't like I changed mine. Even Eileen at least kept her first name."

"Or me," Melina teased.

"Yeah, but you two never had to go on the run from a crazy father who wanted to marry you off to some pureblood."

"True," the two women said in union, making everyone laugh, except for Severus.

Once calming down, Demelza continued, "Not long after, the girls eventually met their respective husbands. Eileen wasn't around as much, having moved to London with the man she would eventually marry. I never could remember his name."

Severus sneered, 'How I envy you.'

"But Michelle and William had decided to stay in Spain, having fallen in love with the countryside by the sea here. I was happy about that. It meant that I could keep my friend and a client. Eventually, I helped give birth to you and Michael."

Severus remained silent as he listened, he felt angry. He felt cheated. He felt… sad. A life he had always wanted, which he would never admit, and he couldn't even remember it. Not that it would have been possible. A life that was taken away because of one night.

"Six years went by and everything was as normal it ever was, except for your mother's wild nights out with your father. That woman had a fire that she refused to be burnt out."

David smiled.

"But then, ten years ago, the night of the first happened."

Severus perked up, though he hid his excitement.

"I knew that your mother and father were planning to leave the country. They told me of their plans and that they were going to have to go-off-the-grid. I knew what they meant, that it would be a while before I would get to see them again. I was saddened by it, but I knew it was for the right reasons."

Severus prepared himself.

"But that night… I awoke to loud sounds in the distance and I could make out fire over the hills. So, I ran in the dead of night and found the house on the fire. I tried to get close, but the fire was too severe, and the house had already collapsed.

"And then… your uncle arrived."

Silence followed.

Severus' mind felt disoriented, his voice betrayed him, and his mouth hung open a bit. He felt like had been hit by a boggart. He couldn't make out his surroundings, nor could he realize that wasn't able to.

He tried to reason that she was talking about David, but he knew he wasn't there. There was no way. Then he remembered Eileen's memories, one in particular.

"Oh, you mean Mr. Jason Connor!" exclaimed Melina, who was wiping away the tears from her eyes. "I remember him well. A very mysterious man."

Severus and David turned to her, shock painted all over them.

"I… I have another… uncle?" Severus whispered, struggling to overcome his state.

Demelza nodded, "Yes."

"But… if that's the case… why hadn't he ever come for me?" his heart was conflicted. He felt amazed by the discovery and the hurt by the questions that came with it.

Demelza shrugged, "I don't know. He told me about the attack but didn't say who. He also told me that you died in the fire, including everyone else. I was a wreck after that night."

Severus began to shake, tears forming as he struggled to control himself.

"Did he lie to you?" he asked.

"I don't know. If he did, it was most likely to protect me. To protect you. But if he didn't, then that means he doesn't know."

"Wait, William had a brother?" David exclaimed, finally catching up. "Eileen said nothing of the sort when I last saw him."

"I highly doubt that Eileen would have been able to tell you the entire story," said Demelza.

"But if he wasn't there that night until after, she would have had to have known he was still alive."

Suddenly, Severus' mind began to fail him, as he grew more disorientated. His sight began to darken, and he barely felt the ground rush up to greet him, nor the pain that came with it. Or the shouting of his name.

Darkness filled his surroundings as he struggled to regain focus. He felt powerless and disorientated. And his own body refused to obey him.

Then, everything changed around him, the darkness receding as his old family home took its place. A slightly better home than what it would turn out ten years later.

"You need to take him!" a woman's voice echoed from behind him.

He turned and saw a woman and a man in the shadows of the hallway.

"I'm not leaving without you!" the man touched the woman's arm. "If he's coming, then so are y-"

"Just do it!"

"No!"

He walked closer and the shroud of the darkness lifted, revealing the faces of Eileen and David.

"Max, just take him and go!"

David's younger face softened, letting go of her shoulder.

There was a knock at the door, making the two flinch as they looked toward the door. Eileen walked over and opened it, slightly. She gasped and quickly closed it.

"Everything fine?" David asked, worry in his voice as he reached for his wand.

Eileen turned to him and nodded, "I'll be right back. Just a neighbor." She opened the door just enough for her to leave, without showing the man behind it.

David sighed as he turned to living room, seeing a kid on the couch, hugging a crocodile pillow tightly to his chest. Sighing, he walked on over to the boy, sitting down next to him.

Severus looked towards the door and walked on over to it, turning the knob to look outside.

"You need to leave!" growled Eileen.

"Let me take th-"

She glared at the mysterious man, "You're not listening!"

Severus tried to get a better look at him, intrigued by his white hair.

"I may not know what happened, but I know it was because of you that they are dead! William was fine being retired from… whatever it was that you two did!"

"I know and I'm sorry!" tears rolled down the man's face. "I wish… I wish I hadn't asked him…" He wiped the tears away, his face turning serious. "None of it matters now! What matters is that th-"

"They're dead, Jason!" she exclaimed.

"I know they're dead-"

"No, all of them are dead! They're not here because they are dead!"

The man known as Jason was silent, his face softening as her words sunk in, "What?"

"I was there, Jason! I saw the whole thing! I watched them kill my sister and I watched the house collapse before I could get to them!" Tears fell from her chin, her face soaked and her eyes red. "You think I wouldn't do actually as you're asking right now if I had made it in time?! Hm?!"

Jason didn't reply, he didn't even appear to hear her words.

"Go search the rubble!" she shouted. "See for yourself!"

When he refused to move, she shoved him, nearly making him fall.

"As much as I want to blame William, I know I would have done the same if my sister asked! So, no, I blame you and whatever those damn 'shadows' are! Just leave and never come back!"

Jason's face was wet with tears as he stood there, watching as she turned and walked back into the house, nearly bumping Severus over.

Severus tried to get a better look at him but the door slammed shut and everything went black again.

Slowly, the darkness receded and light began to fill his vision, wakening him from his slumber. Taking in his surroundings as he came to, he recognized the hotel room that David and he were using during their stay. But if that's the case, then that meant that he was longer at Demelza's place.

"Drink this," he saw a glass of water, with some potions mixed in, in front of him.

He looked up and saw David, standing right next to him. Taking the water, he downed the liquid with a couple of gulps.

"What happened?"

"You fainted on the spot. Been out for twelve hours." He took the glass from him, retreating to the sink and washing it. "Demelza did her magic work on you and was able to determine that our conversation triggered something, that you would awaken once your mind was able to get through the process."

"How did you get me here?" he asked.

"Apparition."

"Oh."

"Unfortunately, we ended up exposing our magic to poor Melina. The girl has been worried sick about you," he raised an eyebrow at him. "For someone who didn't get much of a look from girls at Hogwarts, you seem to be turning over a new leaf here. Or maybe the girls in the UK just have weird tastes."

Severus sneered, "You wouldn't say that if you knew me two months ago."

"Yeah, yeah, changing your body and all of that," he shook his head. "Speaking of which, I had an idea."

Severus looked up at him, intrigued.

"If Eileen used glamour to change you into looking more Tobias, then she must have used the cheap stuff."

"Meaning?"

"Well, if she used the cheap glamour, then that means that reversing it should be a lot easier."

"So, you want to see if we can reverse my aunt's just to see what I should look like as Eric Connor?"

David shrugged, "Hey, you wanted to start over, right? What better way to avoid detection by changing your appearance back to what your natural self is supposed to be? And besides, the way how you went about it just seems… a little iffy. If you know what I mean."

"You think I shouldn't have forced myself into doing it," if he was fully awake and not having come out of a fever dream, a part of him would have been upset. "Why is that the world seems to like me ugly?"

David laughed, "Maybe it's your tragic life."

Severus moaned.

"Hey, while we're at it," he walked on over and sat down in a chair. "What were you dreaming about?"

Severus turned to him, "Was I talking in my sleep?"

"More or less."

"Yeah, I thought so," he leaned up. "I dreamt of your last meeting with Eileen."

David froze.

"I heard most of the conversation until Jason arrived."

"I… remember that… Eileen said it was some neighbor, but she was pretty angry and upset when she came back in."

Severus nodded, "She lied to him."

"About what?"

"That I was dead. I think he was there to take us away. But she lied to him and forced him to leave."

"So, he did lie to Demelza that night."

"Only to be lied to himself. Quiet, ironic."

"But… why would Eileen do that?"

"Because she blamed him for everything. I don't know what happened, but my uncle apparently got my father involved with something. Something that sent these 'shadows' after them."

David was silent, looking off into the corner.

"Severus, there's something I learned while you were out."

He turned his uncle again, frowning.

"After Demelza wiped Melina's memory of the conversation, she sat down with me and… told me something… odd."

"Odd, how?"

David swallowed, "She told me that after… Jason had left… someone else showed up."

Peaking his interest, Severus threw his legs over the side of the bed, "Who?!"

The two locked eyes, the silence adding to the suspension.

"Abraxas Malfoy!"

Severus was at a loss of words, he felt shocked and confused.

"What?! He came back after the fight at the house?! Why?!"

"Severus… I don't think he came back."

He paused.

"I think that was the only time he was there."

"What?! But… the memories… Crashwell's story… Cornelius's order to kill his own daughter… he was there!"

"He was! He just wasn't part of the fight. He arrived after."

Severus was on his feet, pacing around. His mind was running wild. Overloaded with questions.

"None of this makes any sense! If he was there, then what is his connection to the 'shadows'?! What about the deal he made with them?!"

"Severus, all of those theories you believed to be true, they were just that… theories! The dots you connected aren't the right lines to follow. I've thought about it and I've come to believe that we have the story all wrong."

Severus stopped, turning to look at him.

"Cornelius wanted heirs, Abraxas wanted whatever it was that Cornelius had. The connection with them was your mother and her family. He wanted her dead so that he could do what he wanted with you without her interference. Abraxas was after what he had, for whatever reason.

"But the shadows on the other hand… they wanted whatever it was that your father and uncle had. The connection there is that it's the other side of the family tree. Your father's side.

"We had this all wrong. We think it's one big connection, but its really two sides to a story."

Severus ran his fingers through his dark hair, more stressed than ever.

"So, if Malfoy really had no connection to the 'shadows', then that means that the possibility of Malfoy knowing of their existence is…"

"Highly unlikely."

"Then Malfoy never betrayed Cornelius. He just simply failed to retrieve any heirs to bring back to him, because he failed to arrive first."

"Though, one of many questions do remain…"

Severus turned back to his uncle.

"…if the 'shadows', as you like to call them, got there first… did they get what they came for?"

Severus remained silent, turning back to the window, looking out towards the darkness.

Demelza sat at her table, reading a romance book before bed, until she heard a knock at her door. Sitting the book down, she went and opened the door, finding Severus on the other side.

"Oh, Mr. Connor," she smiled. "Or is it Mr. Prince. It's getting confusing what to call you."

"Mr. Prince will be fine," he replied. "Going by Mr. Connor might stir up trouble I do not want."

"Very true! Come on in."

After coming inside the house, two sat down at the table.

"I believe you have more questions for me," she chuckled. "At least I'm useful for more than just eye-candy and Healer work."

Severus ignored her small talk, "You told my uncle about Malfoy being there."

"Yes, I did. Have to admit, that was a surprise, though it barely registered with me at the time."

"Why didn't he kill or mind-wipe you?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Perhaps I was too beautiful or maybe he thought that my state of mind at the time wouldn't cause worry for him. After all, he is rich and powerful. What's a depressed, witch's word against the word of a powerful, pureblood?"

Severus nodded, "Aside from Malfoy and… Jason, was there anyone else there?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, did you see anyone? Or anything else, during or after that night?"

Most people would have missed it, but Severus was not most people. He saw it in her eyes, the look of fear that penetrated through her walls. A fear he's seen before. But something told him that this was different. Something that he's never experienced before.

Demelza got up and walked to a drawer, opening one of the containers to reach inside.

"I wasn't myself after the night of the fire. I even believed that Malfoy was just a hallucination. I even thought that Jason was a hallucination. Looking back… I still remember that night well. I remember seeing them as I see you now.

"But… three nights after the fire… I experienced something else. Something I can't explain."

She continued to face away from Severus.

"I awoke in the middle of the night, unable to stay asleep. The room… it felt… it felt like someone else was there with me. But I saw no one. Until it came from the literal shadows of the corner of my room."

She paused.

"At first, I thought I was dreaming. I believed that there was no way that what I was seeing could be real. Not this. Even now I question what I saw that night."

Severus stood up and walked over to her. He reached out but withdrew his hand.

"What did you see, Miss. Delacour?"

She turned around to face him, her face covered in fear, her body shaking. Tears threatened to pour from her eyes. And like the night before, lightning flashed overhead, echoing across the land and the house.

"I saw… this darkness… this literal form of darkness. It wore a black cloak and a hood, with a dark mist radiating off it. But that captivated me the most was its eyes."

Fear pierced Severus' heart. He knew what was coming and he was terrified of it.

"Its eyes… they were purple and blue. The most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen, but its face was indescribable. It was hidden in the hood of the cloak, only its eyes to be seen."

It took everything he had not to panic, forcing the memory of the dream he had months ago to he furthest parts of his mind.

"And… it spoke to me."

Lighting flashed again, striking somewhere far away, casting their shadows across the floor.

"What did it say?" he reluctantly asked.

Demelza stared into his eyes, a clear battle from within being waged.

"It stood at the edge of my bed and said, "The next time you see him, tell him that his efforts have done little to fix his mistakes. Tell him that it is already too late. That the echo has already been sung. And we've heard it. We will unleash him, find them all and reclaim what was taken from us."

Her tone was soft but frightening. Her eyes were filled with fear and dread. The memory was well remembered, despite the time that had past since. And Severus knew from the bottom of his heart that there no faking any of it.

Demelza reached for his hand and placed a device in his palm.

"What is this?" he asked.

"It belonged to your father," she replied. "Muggle technology, though nothing I've ever seen before. He came to me the night before the fire and told me that if something happens to him, I was to give this to you. I have Michael's, but he will have to wait."

Taking it, he placed the small, round device into his pocket.

"Demelza, the… message that you received… was it intended for my uncle?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Did he ever hear it from you?"

"Yes. He came back a few days later, apologizing for everything and that I would never see him again. Once I told him what I heard, he… had this look of fear in his eyes. But also, relieved."

Severus nodded, "Do you know where he is?"

"No. I never saw him again after that."

Severus forced himself to reach out with his hand, "Thank you for your help, Miss. Delacour."

Demelza smiled and instead pulled him into a hug, "You're welcome here anytime, Eric."

Though uncomfortable from her embrace, he let it slide and quickly moved to the door, closing it behind him as he Apparated back to the hotel.

As noon approached, both Severus and David prepared to head back to the United States. Though this time they would be heading directly for Salem. It was high time for David to get back to his duties as a teacher at the school, or rather get everything set up for the coming school year. Not to mention the fact that he also had a worried wife waiting for him.

As they exited the hotel and checked out, they found Melina waiting for them outside.

"Well, look who it is," David smiled. "Here to see us off?"

Melina smiled, "Hey, it's the least I could do, especially after falling asleep. Thank you for carrying me back home after that."

"Hey, no problem. Just glad you're okay."

Melina turned to Severus, the two locking eyes.

David laughed, "I'll be waiting by the light. Take your time."

Severus rolled his eyes as he walked away.

"So, um… I'm glad you're feeling better. Funny how we both passed out at the same place. Must have been the tea."

"Maybe," he replied.

Melina folded her hands behind her back, moving her feet around, unsure of herself.

"Look, Eric, I know that you don't remember me, but I am happy that this happened," her eyes widened. "Not the fainting and getting tea poison or whatever it was, I mean… it was just good to see you again. Even if it was for a short time. I remember our time as kids, surprisingly well. You had a big impact on my life and ever since that night… it just stuck with me. Maybe it was the trauma of losing my friend but I'm happy that I found some sort of closure from this."

"At least one of us did."

She laughed, "Yeah, I guess not knowing what happened that night and finding out you have a relative out there, aside from the one with you right now must be far from closure. But I guess… it's better than nothing."

'She's not wrong.'

Her face lowered, "You really don't remember, do you?"

He shook his head, "No."

"You used to be a lot more cheerful," she looked up at him. "What happened to you?"

"I've been asking that question in many different ways," he chuckled, though more towards his inner thoughts. "Seems like I have more questions like that than I do answers."

Melina laughed, "Well, I can see a bit of the old Eric in there."

She paused, "Will you come back?"

"Maybe."

A smile formed on her face, "Well, when you do, come see me. Be like old times."

As she turned to walk away, she stopped and stood there for a few seconds before turning around and running right towards him. He reached for his wand but failed to reach it as she threw her arms around him, giving him a tight hug before making a run down the street.

His face feeling red and his stomach feeling like it has butterflies flying around in there, he quickly turned and walked towards David, who was smiling like a kid on Christmas.

"Well, now, that was a new development."

"Shut up!"

The two began walking towards the alleyway, where a new Portkey was waiting for them.

"Hey, not much of a breakthrough in the case, but I think we may have found something else here."

"I said, shut up!" he exclaimed as he reached for the Portkey, nearly leaving David behind as he struggled to keep up with him with his luggage.

The two disappeared from the alley, landing directly in a discrete location in Salem, immediately making their way to David's home.

Once they had arrived at David's house, which in Severus' case was more like a mansion than it was a house, they were greeted by Felicity, Nora and Ben. Though he declined to stay for dinner, Felicity ignored his refusal and nearly dragged him to the table, where he was pretty much harassed by Nora with questions until Felicity brought out tacos and chips, plus the salsa.

Though he didn't eat much, he did enjoy Felicity's cooking. Part of him really felt that she should open her own restaurant, though he didn't bring it up.

When asked what they were doing in Spain, they passed it off as just a dead end in a lead, which only fueled Nora's curiosity. Thankfully, Felicity was able to keep her from grilling them with questions.

Once done helping clean up, Severus was about to head on out and get a hotel room, until he was literally forced to spend the night in one of their rooms.

"I will not have it!" declared Felicity. "You are not spending a single galleon on a hotel room when you can spend the night here. Pick any room, it's yours."

Her fierce determination and strive reminded him of Professor McGonagall, just with fewer freckles and wrinkles.

Once everyone else had gone to bed, Severus sat up everything he had, which wasn't much, and sat down at the edge of the bed, holding the small device in his hand.

It was round, grey and felt like a small stone, reminding him of the time he and Li- He shook his head, refusing to allow her back into his mind.

He felt excitement and fear in his mind, fighting for dominance as he struggled to decide to listen to it or wait. Until he finally sighed and stood up, tracing his hands over it, trying to figure out how it worked or if anything was inside. He placed his thumb over it and pressed down, thinking that maybe it would cause it to break and reveal its contents, but instead, a light traced over his finger and lit green.

"Match confirmed. Commence message."

Startled, he dropped the device and it landed on the rug. Backing away, he watched a light appeared from it and a figure emerged, though not solid enough as he was about to see through it a little bit.

He studied the figure, trying to recognize him as he covered his eyes from the blinding light until it receded. Removing his hand, he gasped as he recognized the face of William Connor.

"Eric," the figure spoke, the voice matching exactly how his father sounded from his aunt's memories. "If you're hearing this message, then it means that my mission ended in failure and that I did not survive. Or maybe I'm still alive and just unable to contact you. That… could be a possibility too."

His heart felt like it skipped a beat as he listened, he couldn't believe that he was hearing his father's voice, addressing him.

"I'm… so sorry for all of this. I never wanted to go back but your uncle… I've always struggled with saying no to him. I remember the day I told him was going to marry your mother. He was so angry and upset that we didn't speak for two whole days. But like all brothers, we work out our differences and struggles. One time we literally kicked the shit out of each other, while drunk. All because we argued over who got to take the bartender out."

He began laughing, almost making Severus do the same.

"Oh, the good old days. But I was ready to settle down and give up my journey for vengeance. As for my brother… well, he never could let go of the past like I could. Stubborn, arrogant, but loyal. Above all, he was loyal. I just hope he one day learns to calm that anger of his.

He paused to take a deep breath.

"I'm making this recording for you, Eric. Because if I am going to die trying to accomplish this final mission, I want you to heed my warning… do not seek vengeance. I've lived with it, I've chased it! And it brought nothing good into my life… until I met your mother on that beach that day.

"I never thought I could find happiness again, let alone one that was a mission. But I did and it's amazing. I learned to let go of my anger and move on. My brother had trouble understanding, despite his willingness to let me go through with it. After tricking him into a couple of beers, of course.

"But I need you to let whatever happens go and live your life, to be happy. I only hope my brother does the same, if he survives too. And I hope your mother moves on, same as Michael. Life is worth living, you just must find something worth living for. And you are one of the many reasons why I want to continue living.

"But I know that I need to do this. My brother and I made a mistake. We trusted the wrong people and we need to resolve this before it gets worse. I hope we succeed and come back from this.

Severus closed his eyes, feeling the tears building up.

"I've designed this to hold questions I've stored in the memory. I can't promise that it'll answer everything you want to hear, but I hope it brings closure to you and helps you move on. Just ask and it will respond with an answer. Remember, the responses are limited, so be sure you ask the right questions.

Excitement raced through him, hoping to whatever God there was that this was real and not some dream.

"Remember this, Eric… as cliched as this may sound, 'I love you'. I'm happy that you are my son, and I'm happy about that day at the beach. Make sure to tell your mother that I love her and that I'm grateful she chose me.

"I'll see you again… this side or the other."

The light of his father disappeared back into the device, making Severus fall to his knees as he struggled not to lose control. He couldn't. He wouldn't allow himself to be such a drama queen.

Picking himself back up, he approached the device and place his thumb over it, reactivating it.

"Request an order," it spoke.

Swallowing, he replied, "Answer my questions."

"Accessing memory files," it declared. "Ask your questions."

"What do you know about the 'shadows'?"

The light of his father appeared again, this time within a foot of him.

"While I am sure, or hoping, you will never run across these things, I think it's safer to tell you what I known about them. What do you want to know?"

Determination filled him, "What are they?"

"They call themselves the-"

Haha! I just couldn't help myself!

Hope you guys enjoyed this newest installment. I'll try to get a move on for the next chapter.

Jut a fair warning, I am making updates with the previous chapters, writing them and trying to make them better. Plus correct any grammar errors and continuity errors.

Have a good night and see you guys in Chapter 22!