***3 September 1996~Washington D.C.***

"DAMN HER!" his fury echoed through the room.

Kenneth had read the letter five times. His chambers at the consulate were in a state of ruin from his unchecked anger. The standing mirror was cracked, vases and statues were in shards. Even one of the posts on the large four poster bed was snapped in two like a matchstick.

Looking at the letter one last time, his face contorted with rage as her crumbled the parchment and threw it into the fireplace. He immediately cast an Incendio and stood and watched the perfidious document slowly burn to a cinder. As he did so, his senses returned to him.

So much for curbing Lucy's independent nature. Kenneth had hoped by isolating her from friends and family, she would come to depend upon him more. Perhaps if she were occupied with a family of her own, she would give up her fantasy of retaining her academic career and settle into her role as dutiful wife and mother. That plan had backfired into his face. Hopefully, when he returned to the U.K. he could bring Lucy to her senses and make her see the error of her ways.

He closed his eyes and let out a long drawn out breath, cursing the assignment he was on, but even more so the man he was about to go meet.

"An elf, please," Kenneth called out in mid-air.

Straight away a house elf dressed in white trousers and a short white coat popped into existence. In the States, house elves were free and paid for their work. They were still as discreet, loyal and hard working as their counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic, but one must remember to make requests and not demands of them.

"What is it that Hank can do for you?" The little elf asked in a strangely American accent. He did not even give a second glance to the carnage around him.

"Hank, I would appreciate it if you would make my chambers right again whilst I am out," Kenneth requested as he casually admired his high-end, Italian, black pin-striped business suit in the cracked mirror. Wizards and witches in the U.S. made it a point to blend in with Muggles.

Hank looked about as if he saw the room for the first time. His already saucer like eyes widened with surprise but he only said, "All will by right when you return Mr. Musgrave."

"Thank you, Hank," Kenneth said easily as he picked up his leather attaché case and went out the door. He was heading to his official Disapparation point, and a small university town in south eastern Ohio.

"Well…I can't say I'm not disappointed to hear that Luxemburg won out over London," said a medium built man with greying dark brown hair. He wore sunglasses, even on a overcast day such as it was, and he tapped a white cane before him. He strode along the side walk confidently. Dr. Richard O'Conner stood almost as tall as Kenneth.

Presently, he was leading Kenneth to a small outdoor café on the university campus. Every now and again Richard was addressed with a, "Good afternoon, Dr. O'Conner," and once they were stopped by an upper level undergraduate student who wanted to make an appointment to discuss his senior potion's project.

When they reached the café, they took a small out of the way bistro table and ordered their lunch.

"I lobbied hard for London…" Kenneth lied, "…but the Chairs of the Symposium thought Luxemburg a more central location," that part was true.

"That's understood," said Richard, "However the U.K. has more sufferers of Lycanthropy per-capita than anywhere else in the world."

Richard O'Conner's research team had just made a breakthrough in the improvement of Wolfsbane Potion.

Damocles Belby's potion allowed the sufferer to become docile during the phase of the full moon and lose their craving for human flesh. Richard and his team of graduate students had developed a formula that would allow the victim of the disease to retain their human faculties during the entire time of transformation. The buzz of excitement through the Potion's and Lycanthropic communities could be heard around the world. It was a giant step towards a cure. Richard O'Conner was assured the Order of Merlin First Class.

A waiter came out and served the two men their drinks. "One o'clock, Dr. O'Conner," the waiter said.

Richard easily reached out and took his glass, "Thank you, Will."

He took a sip from his lager and said, "I suppose Esther and I can take a week off early to visit her in Scotland…Esther would enjoy seeing old Abe again too…I for one would like to meet that young man Albus got his hooks into for his Potion's Master…Severus Snape…I've kept up on his work on pain potions. His potion to combat the effects of the Cruciatus shows real promise…could have made all the difference in the world to the likes of people like the Longbottoms."

Kenneth was grateful his future father-in-law could not see the scowl that formed on his face. As far as Kenneth was concerned, Snape had better hope that potion worked as well as Richard claimed it did. Here Kenneth was, 4000 miles from home, and that son of a bitch still dogged at his heals.

"I'm sorry Lucy could not make it with me this time around," Kenneth said, changing the subject. "I tried to convince her to come, but she said she was too involved with her preparations for the upcoming term."

"Are you alright, Ken?" Richard inquired. "You sound a little tense all of a sudden…Lucy's alright, isn't she?"

Kenneth damned Richards heightened senses. He took a sip of his wine so to get a chance to steady his voice. "Yes…she's fine…I simply miss her."

Richard nodded his understanding, "As do her mother and I…but Lucy was always headstrong like her mother, and the only thing she ever loved more that learning was teaching and ancient manuscripts."

"How did you do it?" Kenneth asked suddenly.

"Do what?" Richard's head tilted with curiosity.

"Rein in Esther's impetuous nature."

Richard shook his head, "I didn't…Kenneth if you haven't noticed by now…Lucy can give a mule lessons on stubbornness. For the sake of you both…don't try to force her into something she can't in good conscious agree to…You'll come to regret it."

Just then their lunch had arrived. Kenneth found he had no appetite.

Back at the consulate, Kenneth's chambers were once again intact. He was pacing back and forth in front of his Floo, wondering what he was going to do about Lucy.

He still wanted her. Kenneth was accustomed to getting what he wanted and he was determined that was not about to change now.

One thing Kenneth was certain of. Everything had changed the day Lucy ran into that Snape bastard…or was it the Potter brat?

Kenneth thought that the only reason Lucy associated with Snape was to get to endear herself to someone as famous as the young Harry Potter. What history fanatic wouldn't?

Severus Snape on the other hand was slippery enough to take advantage of that situation. Kenneth knew that was exactly what Snape had done. It was exactly what Kenneth would have done.

Kenneth had made his decision. When he returned home he would see Lucy at Hogwarts and try to convince her to see reason. If she would not…he would see that the two instigators of his misery would rue the day they ever laid eyes on Lucy O'Conner…and as for Lucy…she may come to regret a great many things.

No one rejected Kenneth Musgrave.

***4 September 1986~Scotland~7:48 p.m.***

It was story time again in the Snape household. Once again, Harry was snuggled securely in his daddy's lap. But this time there was a noticeable difference.

Severus' usual pale continence was now even paler than the Bloody Baron's. Yes…the book Molly had loaned him was simple enough for a child Harry's age. The book used many descriptive euphemisms. Severus just hadn't expected it to be so…accurate.

He had no idea how the Weasley's had managed to read this book to their entire brood without the children becoming emotionally damaged for life or Molly and Arthur emerging certifiably insane. Severus was sure he was going to need several years of counselling after this night.

Harry looked up at his daddy. "Yuck," he commented.

Severus shook his brain back into reality and took a sip of water to soothe is dry throat. "Is there anything you don't understand, Harry," Severus asked painfully.

"I understand it," said Harry. He seemed to grasp the part about mummies' and daddies fitting together like puzzle pieces to make a baby. "It sounds a little icky to me."

Severus hoped it would sound 'icky' to Harry for quite a while. "Well…when you're grown up…you are likely to think differently," Severus said nervously.

"Well grownups are just weird," Harry said assuredly.

"Harry…I couldn't agree with you more."

"Does that mean Miss Lucy loves Mr. Musgrave?" Harry asked with a hint of fear.

"I'm sure she did when they made the baby, Harry," Severus explained, "But I don't think she does anymore," he honestly elaborated.

"I kind of feel sorry for the baby," Harry said sadly.

Severus looked curiously into Harry's eyes. "Why is that?"

Harry said knowingly, "Because it's sad not to have a daddy."

Severus pulled Harry up to him and gave him a reassuring hug. "Yes...yes it is Harry."

Harry sniffed and pulled back out of the hug. He had both hands on Severus' shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes and said, "It's sad not to have a mummy too."

Severus' eyes nearly popped from their sockets at that statement. He sprang out of the chair with Harry. The book tumbled to the floor.

"Time for bed!" Severus said abruptly.

"But I'm not tired," Harry protested.

"Yes you are," Severus hoped.

He really needed a stiff drink right about now.