***25 December, 1986-Hogwarts School***

If it weren't for the thin vale of angelic song in the wind, Kenneth would not be aware that it was Christmas—not that he gave a damn.

He couldn't remember the last time he was so cold. But it could be worse. He could be in his human form and freeze to death. He had considered abandoning his new rookery and seeking shelter in the abandoned shack on the outskirts of the village, but as he did not have a wand, he would have to make fire to keep warm. That was out of the question. Fire produced smoke and smoke would attract attention. As a result, Kenneth kept to his Animagus form. As cold as he was, he was still more suited for survival amongst the elements, and he could keep watch for signs of Lucy and Snape unhindered practically outside their own window, as it were. That is if he knew which of the castle's hundreds of windows belonged to them.

For the time being, Kenneth was content to remain a bird. It had been so long since he had been a human; he could hardly recall what he looked like. He was certain if he were to see himself again, he would not recognise his own face. He could not recall the last time he shaved, or even showered. The closest Kenneth had come to bathing for quite some time was a quick dip of his feathers in icy cold waters. No doubt, he would reek once he returned to his old self, but he hardly cared. His body odour would be the least of Lucy's and Snape's worries once he made his way into the castle.

There were few students and a skeletal staff occupying the halls of the castle and Kenneth had seen no sign of Lucy or Snape since he arrived two days ago. Kenneth had assumed that they might have left on holiday, but nearly panicked himself with the thought that they would never return. Fortunately, earlier in the morning, as his murder descended upon the village to raid the previous night's rubbish, he thought to check in on Lucy's great-grandfather.

As Kenneth found a hiding place in the rafters of a dilapidated barn, the old man doted over his infernal goats. His even older brother came to pay visit. Funny...Lucy often mentioned how the two wizards could hardly stand the other's presence, yet there they were, amicably discussing some sort of building project they were collaborating on. From what little Kenneth could understand, it had something to do with Snape's home. Kenneth hoped to overhear a disclosed location, but no such luck. He did, however, discover another vital bit of information. Snape and Lucy would return from holiday on January 2nd. That gave Kenneth something he desperately needed—time to devise a plan.

As getting his hands on the Potter boy would prove to be near impossible and Snape was far too powerful for Kenneth to consider taking on in his current condition. That meant Lucy was Kenneth's most likely target. The rub was to get her separated from her wand. Lucy was deadly with her wand in hand, of that he had no doubt. But Kenneth could easily physically overpower her if he could manage an ambush.

He now had no delusions that Lucy would ever return to him and unfortunately for her, that left Kenneth with only one alternative.

Revenge.

***3 January, 1987-12:33 a.m.-Spinner's End***

It was good to be home again. Severus never thought he could equate that sentiment with this old place. But no longer was it an 'old place.'

When they had returned home that morning, Severus, Lucy, and Harry had initially thought they had stepped into the wrong house. If it wasn't for the fact that Lucy recognised her own furniture, they might have turned and left. Soon after they arrived, Albus and Aberforth had popped out from their hiding places along with the Weasleys, Remus, and Black. His family had been greeted with a surprise house warming party.

Severus had given Albus and Aberforth access to his home whilst he and his family were gone so the two brothers could build an elaborate play-set for Harry in the garden. Imagine the surprise when they come home to find not only Harry's new play set, but the house entirely remodelled.

Obviously Albus was not the only Dumbledore adept at trickery. Aberforth had silently Confunded Severus into leaving the plans to the house remodel at the pub. In an unprecedented show of fraternal solidarity, the brother's took it upon themselves to pool together their resources and magic to turn Severus' and Lucy's dreams into a reality. It was a combination Christmas and early wedding present. Even more astounding, due to Albus' amazing talent to manipulate Wizarding Space on a large scale, the house was actually larger than Severus and Lucy originally planned.

Severus and Lucy's combined home office was now large enough to accommodate both of their extensive book collections. That in itself was a truly powerful feat of magic in Severus' opinion.

The upper floor not only contained Harry's enlarged bedroom and their master suite with an attached nursery, but also two additional rooms for guests or additional children. Albus and Aberforth had left the nursery and two additional rooms empty. Lucy was looking forward to decorating the nursery herself and no one would take that joy from her. The use for the two spare rooms would be for Severus and Lucy to determine.

It was a bold step taken by the brothers. It was quite possible that Lucy and Severus would not have appreciated the changes made. But Albus was almost as familiar with Severus' likes and dislikes as Aberforth was certain of his granddaughter's. The remodel had taken a huge burden off of Severus' shoulders and he was especially grateful to his new family. All that was left for he and Lucy begin their new life was the wedding and the birth of the baby.

Severus turned over in bed, his arm propping his head high enough to watch Lucy sleeping. She lay on her side with her back to him, looking beautiful despite the drool that seeped into her pillow. Her belly had grown to the point that she had some difficulty sleeping on her back. Poppy had assured him that Lucy and the baby were doing quite well. Esther had conducted her own examination on her daughter and confirmed Poppy's diagnosis. Yet Severus still could not help but worry.

Lucy was a small adult. He doubted her five foot one frame weighed nine stone if she were to emerge from the Black Lake fully clothed. She was only just approaching her third trimester and Severus thought she looked as though the baby would make an appearance any day now. As of late, and much to Lucy's frustration, Severus treated more like the fragile china doll he thought she resembled. If by some miracle she managed to carry Felicity to full term, he feared the birth would be a difficult one on both mother and baby.

Severus reached around Lucy and rested his hand over the baby. He could feel her little movements coming deep from within and smiled. More often than not, Severus actually forgot that he had not fathered her. Severus had been there from the moment Lucy realised her pregnancy and he had been there for her every step of the way. He had seen every image as the child developed in Lucy's womb and he knew every nuance of the unborn child's face almost as well as he knew Lucy's and Harry's.

It was unfair that Musgrave had any claim to the little angel. He did not deserve to claim her. Yes, Felicity would be given Severus' name but she would know someday that she was not wholly his. Severus hated that. Musgrave may have provided the seed, but Severus had provided, and would continue to provide, everything else that would matter to Felicity for the entirety of her life. Severus did not want to share his roll with his daughter with Musgrave or anyone else.

Severus had not realised how tightly he was holding Lucy until she began to stir. She turned her head to face him, her eyes barely open, "Hmm? Severus?" she asked sleepily. "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

"Nothing, darling. I did not mean to wake you. Go back to sleep."

Severus realised at that moment it would never serve any purpose to keep his thoughts from Lucy. She was now wide awake and adjusted her now damp pillow so she could lean back. "Something's bothering you, I can tell. What is it?"

Severus' head was still propped as he looked up at Lucy. "I don't want her to know."

Lucy looked slightly confused. "Who to know what?"

"Felicity," Severus clarified as he adjusted his own pillow and joined Lucy against the headboard. "I don't want Felicity ever to know about Musgrave. I want my name on her birth record."

"The Ministry already knows Kenneth is..."

"No. Don't say it, Lucy. I am her father. We can claim that our relationship started earlier and there was a mistake in paternity. Musgrave doesn't deserve any claim to her."

Lucy was obviously concerned over this. "Severus, it's not that I give a damn about what this would do to my personal reputation, but you are talking about falsifying the official record."

"Do you honestly believe the Ministry will care who is listed as father and the bureaucrats won't know one record from the next, so there will be no investigation. Poppy will be filling out the papers. She only believes that Musgrave is the father because you told her as much. If we tell her otherwise, she will believe our story. Musgrave deserves no part in our little girl's life and I won't have her questioning my love for her simply because I had no part in her conception."

Lucy's face softened at Severus' declaration, yet she was still sceptical. "I totally agree with you, Severus. But what if Kenneth doesn't feel that way? I know he has lost his paternal rights, but what if he comes around in the future looking for her? What will we tell her?"

"That he lies," Severus stated adamantly. "We tell her I am her father, I have always been her father and always will be, and it will be the truth." The only flaw Severus found in his logic was if a medical situation arose, but that would be an obstacle to address if it ever crossed their path.

Severus knew he was being jealous and selfish, but he did not care. His heart had claimed Lucy's daughter just as fiercely as it had claimed Lucy and there would be hell to pay to anyone who threatened that claim.

Lucy leaned over and took Severus' face into her hands, then gently kissed his lips. "I love you so much, Severus Tobias," she said as she warmly smiled. "You are the best husband and father a woman could hope for."

***7 January, 1987***

For once, Lucy was thankful for Severus' impatience with his students. It was only the second day of the second term, and Severus had already assigned detention to two of his students. It would not be the first time Hufflepuffs paid for their loyalty to their House mates and it certainly would not be the last.

Two of Severus' O.W.L. students had made the unforgivable offence of walking in ten minutes late to Severus' lecture. They attempted to excuse themselves by claiming one of their second year mates had misplaced her wand and they had been held up in the search.

Predictably, Severus was hardly sympathetic. He caustically asked why, as fifth year students, had they not cast a simple Accio and summon the wand rather than conduct a fruitless and time consuming manual search.

The teens admitted that in their panic, such an obvious course of action had not occurred to them. They meekly told Severus that if their House mate had not found her wand by the time they returned to the common room, they would try the spell.

Unfortunately for the two, confession of ignorance had done nothing to ellicit Severus' sympathy. They would spend their evening pulverising the eyes of dart frogs for the school's stores.

In the meantime, Lucy would pick up Harry from the Weasley's and make a special trip to Diagon Alley. Severus' birthday was the coming Friday. Lucy had a custom Potion Encyclopaedia made for him. It was ready and she and Harry would go together to pick it up this evening. The cover was green hand-dyed leather with sliver leaf and Severus' full name embossed on the cover. The book binder promised it would be one of a kind and quite exquisite.

Although Lucy had tried to talk them out of it, the staff was planning a 'small' party for Severus at the Hog's Head, Friday night. At least she had talked Minerva into telling Severus what they had planned. Lucy wasn't certain if Severus wanted a party at all, but the last thing he would appreciate was to be surprised with one.

She walked down the flight of stairs and into the dark dungeon corridor that led to Severus' classroom. She rarely came this direction. Though they lived in the dungeon and she often visited Severus in his office, she normally used the inter-school Floo system. But she had just finished meeting with Albus and the Board of Governors in order to attempt to reinstate her class outings now that Sirius Black no longer posed a threat to the students. She chose to walk to the dungeons to give herself some time to think.

Severus had been opposed to Lucy supervising any outings off castle grounds and he would not be happy that the governors had approved her request. She had to assure Severus that she would take necessary precautions.

There had still been no word of Kenneth and Lucy had to admit, she was a bit scared. But she could not let her life be dictated by 'what ifs.' If she remained cloistered away from the greater world, then Kenneth would still be controlling her life and she would not give him that power.

She had learned a bit of interesting information. Lucius Malfoy had not heard from Kenneth. He had pulled Lucy aside and asked her to have Kenneth contact him should she hear from her ex-fiancé. Lucy had no desire to hear from her ex, but she assured Mr. Malfoy she would pass on the message on the off chance she spoke to Kenneth.

A part of her was concerned. What had happened to Kenneth? She did not wish to see him, but neither did she want to see him hurt. It had been over two months since the last time anyone had seen Kenneth alive and the more time passed, the likelier it was he had met a sticky end.

She hoped that it wasn't the case. Hopefully, he had chosen to forget her and start a new life for himself elsewhere. The hope of that happening was slim, but slim hope was better than no hope at all. She shuddered to think that he had died alone on the ocean or had silently fallen prey to some beast in a far off forest. Lucy had fallen out of love with Kenneth long ago, but she could not help but to still care what happened to him.

She slowly opened the door to Severus' classroom. His charges had yet to arrive and he was taking a working super at his desk up on the dais. He did not see Lucy enter.

"Good. You're eating."

Severus wiped his mouth with his serviette. He had not been surprised by Lucy's arrival. He asked with a small frown on his face, "Did they approve your request?"

"Yes they did." Severus did not seem thrilled at the answer, but she knew he had not expected otherwise. "The budget had already been approved last term. Now that the students are no longer in danger, there is no reason not to return to the original plans."

Severus arose from his desk and went to Lucy where she was now seated at one of the student works desks. He calmly voiced his own concern. "How about you, Lucy? What of the danger to you?"

"Severus, it's been over two months. Neither Sirius Black nor Lucius Malfoy have heard from him and they were the closest he had to friends. I don't think I have anything to worry about from Kenneth anymore, but I promise to take every precaution nonetheless." Lucy thought if she kept telling herself there was nothing to worry about, she would come to believe it.

"Do you have the doll?"

Damn it. She had left it in her desk.

Severus must have noticed a guilty chagrin on her face.

"Just promise to take it with you when you and Harry pick up my birthday present."

"How did you kn..."

"Don't worry," Severus said in amusement. "I don't know what it is. But what other reason would you have to take Harry to Diagon Alley so soon after Christmas?"

"I suppose I've been caught." Lucy arose and lifted her head to meet Severus' eyes. "Anything you want me to bring back while I'm there?"

"Nothing you can purchase in the presence of a six year old boy," Severus answered with a suggestive quirking of his eyebrows.

"Perhaps I should let you go shopping." Lucy stood on her toes so she could reach Severus' lips with hers...just in time to hear adolescent tittering at the door.

Lucy and Severus quickly regained their composure, but there was no arguing that the two fifth year Hufflepuffs had just caught their Potion's and History professors in an intimate moment. Severus was the first to find his voice.

"Mister Ramsey, Miss McGillicutty. If you do not wish to make personal donations to my Potion stores, I suggest you put your eyes back into your heads—now!"

The teens sobered hastily, "Yes, Sir!"

"I believe you know what to do."

Mr. Ramsey and Miss McGillicutty scrambled over to the work bench where several buckets of slimy dead frogs awaited them before they could acquire anymore of the Potion professor's wrath.

"I should be picking up Harry now," Lucy said, still feeling the slight prickle on her skin from her embarassment.

Severus turned back to Lucy as if the incident never happened. "I'll be home by nine-thirty," he said then planted a quick peck on Lucy's cheek before he swept back to his desk.

Before Lucy left the room, she glanced over to see two heads hurriedly turn their attention to their unpleasant task.

One thing was certain. The gossip mill would be in Hufflepuff would be running full steam tonight.

Lucy was as bad as Severus' Hufflepuff detainees. She had been so flustered over being caught kissing Severus by his students, she neglected to use his Floo to get to her office.

Although it was only five o'clock, with the exception of the sconce lighting, the entire castle was cloaked in darkness. Not only had she left that blasted voodoo doll that Severus insisted that she carry, she had forgotten the claim ticket for Severus' gift. She was running late, but she still had plenty of time to pick up Harry then make it to the bookbinder before he closed shop at six-thirty.

The corridors around the Great Hall and library were still abuzz with student activity, but the halls that lead to that lead to the classrooms were eerily quiet.

With a simple wave of her hand, the door to her locked classroom recognised her magic and admitted her entrance.

There was enough moonlight streaming through the windows to allow her to continue to her office without bringing up the lights.

"Cuthbert?" She called out. It was too quiet. Lately the old ghost had taken to haunting the library and offering his unsolicited help to students with their homework. Oddly enough, the classroom seemed to feel even more haunted without the phantom's familiar lingering presence.

As she entered her dark office, there was a definite chill in the air. When had she opened the small window behind her desk?

Lucy walked the open expanse of floor to close the window, when her office door slammed shut behind her, leaving her in near total darkness as her only window did not face the moon.

It had only just dawned on her that her office lights did not automatically come up when she entered. She supposed the old spells must be fading. When Cuthbert had inhabited this office, he had no use for such spells after he died. As a result, many of the offices imbedded convenience spells had been not been updated and were now unreliable.

Lucy was about to pull her wand from her robe to cast a Lumos, when a pungent, sickly sweet odour accosted her. She moved to put her hand over her mouth in an attempt to keep from vomiting, when to her horror, she realised she was unable to talk or move.

"Tut, tut, tut...now we mustn't have any of your wand waving, my dear."

Lucy's heart froze. She knew that voice.

She couldn't see him, but she could feel the heat of his stale breath on her neck...and she was at his mercy. She prayed that he had mercy left in him.

"Hello darling," Kenneth whispered seductively into her ear. "Did you miss me?"