The sound of laughter drifted into the hall as Severus descended the steps. As he drew closer, he began to hear the faint voices of his children and Draco drifting through the closed doors of the dinning room.

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you to understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins."

Draco was doing a fair imitation of Severus, down to the cadence and tonal texture of his voice. The gales of laughter that rang out from behind the closed doors brought a bitter-sweat smile to his face. He seemed to be smiling a lot in recent months, finding joy in his family's happiness. His pleasure was tinged, however, by the trepidation he felt about his family's impeding return to Hogwarts and all the dangers associated with the nearing war. He steeled his expression into the intimidating mask he often used during the school year before pushing open the double door and entering in a dramatic flourish.

"Bravo, Mr. Malfoy," he said, his voice smooth, almost silky with an underlying dangerous edge. Draco's eyes went wide. Harry and Hermione turned toward the doorway in which Severus stood wearing equally shocked and slightly nervous expressions. He sneered at them half-heartedly, slightly amused by their surprise. Harry and Hermione had no memory of his sharp-tongued professor persona; they only knew the father he had learned to be for them. The room was quiet for several long minutes before Harry and Hermione began to smile.

"Morning, Father. Did you sleep well?" he asked, acting completely nonplussed by the encounter.

"Quite," he responded as he glanced over his son, noting his appearance. "What," he added, pausing briefly to examine his son's apparel, "are you wearing?" Even as he spoke, he looked his son over again, amazed at how shortness of the sleeves of the boy's robes. Harry had grown significantly overnight - again. He was a good four inches taller and as skinny as Severus had been at that age, reed thin, in fact. Harry's chin hair hung limply about his face and was as inky black as his own, the roots of which seemed to be streaked with oil as if he had not washed his hair in a day or two. The thing that concerned him most was how pale and drawn Harry appeared. There were shadows under his eyes and their usual vibrant color had dimmed. He tried to assuage his concern with the knowledge that the hallow appearance and accentuated cheekbones was caused only by the growth spurt and the bodies consumption of nutrients and reserves to re-grow the bone and muscle structure. A few extra doses of the nutrient potion over the next day or two should replace anything lost and return his son to the picture of health.

Despite his mental reasoning, he couldn't quell the faint chill that ran down his spine, "How do you feel, Darrius?"

"Tired. I grew again," the boy stated, displaying his arms. "I asked Winky to bring me an extra glass of the supplement." Severus nodded, satisfied with Darrius answer. He offered Harry a faint, but proud smile as his son continued, "Oh, and last time I checked, Father, these," he said, gesturing toward his garment, "were called robes." Pulling out his wand, Severus casting the spell that would temporarily enlarge the boy's robes before turning and performing a rudimentary exam of Hermione.

Upon his inspection, he was relieved to notice that her growth had not been nearly as drastic as Harry's. While her hair and skin seemed a bit lackluster and her face was more waif-like than usual, she looked fine. Cast a quick inspection over her breakfast, he noticed the two glasses of supplement and nodded in approval. Taking his seat at the head of the table, he waited for the others to sit before questioning their conversation.

"Mr. Malfoy was telling you about Hogwarts," he stated. He knew they would have questions, breaching the subject himself would save time wasted by bush beating.

It was Hermione that spoke up first.

"Are you really that mean to Gryffindor, Father?"

Draco choked almost immediately upon hearing her words. Severus smiled internally at her forthrightness; Bella was much the same way. He wondered briefly if it was a trait she had learned over the past year or if she had always been so.

"Yes. Their insufferable," he said with only a slight edge in his voice. "The others have a tendency to cater to them. The Headmaster's darlings. Someone has to deflate their egos."

"So house rivalry has nothing to do with it?" Darrius said, smiling slyly.

Severus' response was interrupted by the sound of the front doors flying open, closely followed Bella's angry call – "Severus!" Putting his utensils down, he quickly rose from his seat and went to greet his wife. He hadn't expected her back anytime soon as she usually spent half the day with Remus after his final transformation of the month.

Bella spun around to face him as soon as he entered the hall. As soon as he saw her eyes, his felt tight bands of apprehension constricting around his chest. Her eyes glittered brightly with unshed tears that did nothing to mask the maelstrom of emotions that swirled behind them. The tight set of her lips and clenched hands were visible signs of how tenuous her control of her magic was at that moment. More so, he could feel how close to the edge she was; his skin tingled with the flaring energy that radiated off of her from across the entrance hall.

Turning toward the children who had followed him, he sent them off to finish their meal before moving toward his wife. Walking up to where she stood, he raised a hand to face, gently brushing away a stray tear from her eye before taking her hand and guiding her toward the library. Only when the doors were closed behind them and privacy charms placed, did he pull her into his arms. The turbulence of her emotions flooded into him as he attempted to use his own emotional control to calm her. It was several long minutes before she began to relay to him what Fudge – or rather the Ministry - had done. The harshness of her tone was unlike her usually rich, smooth voice.

He listened as she told him about the Ministry changing legal status of certain "non-human" groups, regulating where and when they may find work, where they could live. Her rage had flared as she described the Ministry's further overstepping of their legal jurisdiction by firing Remus from the position Dumbledore had appointed him, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professorship. He had to suppress his reaction to her pain and anger as it flooded his mind as she told him about Remus' expression and the defeat she had seen in her friend's eyes. Her anger at the MoM's audacity to interfere with Hogwarts autonomy and Dumbledore's seeming willingness to allow it left them both shaking from the effort to control her rage and frustration. The MoM declaration that they would be appointing a suitable instructor just added insult to injury. Somewhere under her rampaging emotions, he could feel his own disbelief and resentment growing.

He held her in silence, trying to reconcile what she had told him and figure out how to make the new situation work for them and their family. Bella finally pulled away and began pacing the confines of the room. Knowing better than to disturb her while she schemed, he quiet left the room and sought out Harry and Hermione, quickly finding them in Draco's room.

Hermione sitting beside the blonde boy on the bed, talking quietly to him while Harry glared at them from across the room. All eyes turned to him as he stood in the doorway; Harry rose from his chair walking over to him. He could see the anxiousness that glowed in the boy's eyes. In that moment, Severus knew that what ever had remained of the cocoon that had surrounded them this past year was in tatters at his feet.

"Is Mama okay? Who in hell does this Fudge prat think he is anyway?"

Severus looked at his son, eyebrow raised in displeasure at his tone of voice, hiding his surprise at the boy's knowledge. "Your mother is fine, alibi quiet displeased with both Minister Fudge and Headmaster Dumbledore." He paused for a moment, glancing between the three teens present in the room. "Our return to Hogwarts has been hastened. Livia, help Draco pack his things, then finish packing your own. Darrius, if you would accompany me, there are several potions that need to be finished and stored for transport."

With a final nod in his daughter's direction, he left the room with Darrius falling into step beside him. They walked in silence down several flights of stairs into the dungeon labs. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Harry as he kept pace beside him. Regret settled over him as the stray thought invaded his mind: the comfortable companionship that existed between them would disappear with Harry's returned memories if he didn't do something to stop it.

Severus glanced toward his son as they entered the lab and busied themselves automatically, each taking care of their own potions and tasks. Harry's comfort and skill in the lab usually brought him equal parts of pride and regret; the emotions were now – like many other things – tinged with fear. He was afraid of losing his son and even after a year of getting to know him, he still didn't know what to say to him or how to explain what he was about to remember. Looking away, he tried to bury his worries under the layer of concentration required to perform his current tasks.

"Father," Harry voice was hesitant, unsure in a way Severus rarely heard. Looking over at his son, he observed the boy's evasive behavior – how he refused to look up at him, acting busier than his potions would usually keep him. "Isn't there something we can do? For Remus, I mean. I know you don't," he hesitated again as he spoke, "like him, but," Harry looked up at him then and the betrayal and hurt Severus saw shining back at him from the bright green eyes not only pained and angered him on his son's behalf, but reminded him of just how loyal he was and how personal he took things.

"He is not alone, Darrius. He has powerful friends. He will be fine, I promise." Severus replied softly.

"And the others?" Harry replied, his voice stronger, more adamant.

"I can't promise Darrius, but I am fairly certain that, even now, steps are being taken to safe guard those who can not protect themselves."

They settled again into an uncomfortable silence. He wished there was something he could do to ease his son's discomfort. He knew there were lingering feelings of powerless from the past few years in his life and that no matter how buried his memories were, some things had left such indelible marks on his son's soul that they would never fully heal. Thoughts of his son's life before made him think again of all the hints Bella had sent him over the years about Harry's life, hints he had blatantly ignored. He had let some damn spell have more influence over his behavior than his faith, trust and knowledge of his wife. The reality of his son's life had left him with many sleepless nights wandering the halls of the ancient castle that was the Snape family home. It left him nauseous to think of all years he had lost with his son and all they years of love his son had lost out on. He couldn't help but wonder how different things could have been. At the very least, a bit of kindness to Harry – his student – could have made a large difference in what their relationship would be come September.

"What troubles you, father?"

A surprised Severus turned to face Harry and found solace in his son's unguarded and concerned expression. A small bit of hope grabbed him and he remembered what Bella told the other night – to speak from the heart and not hold back. Harry would remember the honestly later, and with all the secrets and lies in his life, that it would mean more to him than any other explanation.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Darrius, do you remember when your mother and I explained about de-aging your sister and yourself? Do you remember why we decided to do it?"

Harry nodded and Severus could see the faint bit of confusion and embarrassment swirl in his eyes. "Yes," he said, looking down at his work, "You said that Livi and I reacted badly to you. We were …"

"You were teen-agers. You felt like I was intruding and that you didn't need a father anymore. All of which are expected reactions under the circumstances." Severus paused, trying to figure out just how to continue. "But that isn't the full truth, Darrius. You, Livia and I met before I knew who you were. I taught you with a group of other students. You were under charms and I didn't realize who you were."

"You taught us? How? Privately?" Darrius interrupted, the surprise clear in his voice.

Severus gave a half-nod, not wanting to lie but not having another option and simply continued, "I was hard on you. Cruel. You both have good reason to hate me." He could feel his hands quiver and his chest tighten as he spoke. He closed his eyes for a brief second before continuing, "You where charmed, disguised when we met. You looked like a friend of your mother's that I despised. That hatred colored my treatment and opinion of you. Your sister on the other hand reminded me of your mother and, as a result, everything I had lost. I treated her badly. "

As he talked, he watched the hurt, confusion and disillusionment grow in Harry's eyes. Biting back against the dread that was expanding in his chest, he continued on, "My behavior was petty and I will regret it for the rest of my life." His voice was faint as if to echo the how paltry the apology sounded to his own ears.

Harry turned away from him and Severus reacted on instinct. He moved from his place behind his worktable to where his son stood and turned him back to face him.

"Darrius, you asked me what was bothering me. In a few short weeks, all those memories will come back to you and I," he stopped and just looked his son in the eyes, "I am afraid that despite this past year, I will still loose your respect and affection and that of your sister."

Harry's green eyes reflected the muddle of emotions churning within him, the uncertainty the most clear. Slightly shaken, he offered no resistance when his son pulled away from him and returned to work on his potions, playing close attention to the details. After a brief moment, Severus made his way back to his own table and his own collection of potions. Occasionally, he looked toward his son, watching for any sign that Harry was ready to continue their talk.

Harry's independent nature and tendency toward stubborn self-reliance and isolation was yet another thing so ingrained in him, it remained even after he was de-aged. It was a survival mechanism born of the neglect of his aunt and uncle. The longer the silence continued and Harry refused to even acknowledge his presence, the stronger Severus' worry that his son would shut him out and try to deal with the revelations alone. Every second that ticked by for him was like watching his son slowly drift away and out of his reach.

"Father?"

Severus had nearly given up on his plan of waiting for Harry to open up again when his son had spoken. Schooling his features in to a less eager countenance then he felt, he turned his gaze to see Harry's uncertain and almost fearful expression. For a brief instant, Severus wished his son were a small child again. Then, he could rush across the room and lift his son into his arms, reassure him that he was loved. But his "little boy" was no longer a little boy; he was a young man on the verge of being an adult. Simple displays of affection, like a kiss on a scraped knee, could no longer make the hurt go away.

"Do you still dislike me as a person?"

The world stopped and narrowed into a single moment.

His son actually feared he didn't like him as a person. The sorrow that filled him was suffocating. His eyes burned. He found himself blinking rapidly as he stared across the room. Slowly, Harry turned away, his disappointment visible. The pained expression on that one face felt like a knife in his heart and seemed to snap time back into motion. With little heed to his earlier belief or his steaming potion, he dropped everything and moved across the room. Taking Harry by the shoulders, he turned him to face him. The water glittering in his son's eyes tore at him; he had caused that pain. Uncaring for decorum, Severus pulled Harry into his arms, embracing him tightly. "I have never disliked you, Darrius. I didn't know you. I do now and I do like you as a person. I am proud to call you my son."

After a few moments, he released his hold on the young man and stepped back. He could feel the muscles unclenching in his neck and back at the slight shy, chagrined smile that graced Harry's face.

"Thank you," Harry said softly. An odd but not uncomfortable awkwardness settled over them as they both stood there. "I didn't – I don't – know what to think," he continued. His eyes turned up to Severus and he could see the bewilderment in the boy's heart.

"All I ask, Darrius, is that you remember I love you."

===============================================

The old stone castle was still and silent.

Arabella slept restlessly in their bed despite the sleep potion he had given her. His unsettled emotions were only disturbing her further, so he had left it in favor of a large overstuffed chair that sat across the room.

He stared across the room and located to a large tapestry that hung on the farthest wall. The Snape Tapestry, the family tree. In the darkness of the room, he could barely make out any of the details, but it didn't matter. He knew exactly where to find 'his family' – Bella, Harry and Hermione. Rising, he walked to the tapestry and briefly let his fingers drift over their names. Breathing deeply in an attempt to quell the gnawing anxiety that gripped him, he glanced back at Bella before he slipped behind the tapestry and placed his hand against the cold stone.

"Let me pass," he breathed in an ancient tongue, closing his eyes as he felt his body move through the wall. He exhaled slowly before opening his eyes to the suffocating blackness that enfolded him. "Light my way," he said softly in Welsh older than the Keep itself. A lone torch mounted on one wall to his right flared to life, casting dancing shadows on the steps that spiraled along the walls up and down. Slowly, he began to ascend the stairs, flight after flight until he reached the top of the tower. Speaking the command, he once again felt himself moved through the wall followed quickly by the warm and gentle breeze that wafted about the high parapet. Walking to the barrier wall, he looked skyward and wished he could suspend time and keep the sun from rising.

The moon hung large and bright in the heavens - a waning moon. He felt his lips curl into a frown at the site of the bright disk in the sky; another reminder of the news that had torn away the protective cocoon that sheltered his family. He cursed the MoM for their stupidity and prejudice and simple-minded fears. He cursed them for the anguish and fury Bella felt; pain powerful enough to rip through him the moment he had taken her into his arms to comfort her. He cursed them for the disgust, rage, sorrow and fear the news had evoked in Harry. He cursed them for the tears of grief and concern that had welled in Livia's eyes for Remus and her mother, knowing there was nothing he could offer that would ease the pain of his wife and children. He cursed the disillusionment of his children who had been forced to recognize the ugliness of their world. He even cursed the bloody Ministry for the confusion and discomfort Draco had suffered while dealing with a teary-eyed Livia while they packed to return to Hogwarts.

He stood there and watched as the blackness of the night slowly grew grey and the faint red line that separated the sky and the earth grew brighter. The only comfort he could find in the nearing dawn was that the wait would be over. He would be able to act now. He would be able to take the steps to secure his children's well being, both mental and physical instead of just planning.

If there were a single bright side to the whole situation, it would be in Bella's plans for Remus. She planned to offer to buy a house in Hogsmeade for Remus. Officially, he would merely be "house-sitting" for her in exchange for his services in tutoring the children and bringing the up to grade level and preparing them to take their O.W.L.S. In reality, he would be helping with the extra-curricular studies he and Bella had mapped out for them.

With a sigh, he turned from the rising sun and re-entered the castle. There was one more thing he wanted to do before it was too late.

Quietly, he walked down the corridor. When he reached his destination, he opened the door and slipped inside. Harry slept peacefully in the middle of his bed, curled among the mounds of covers. Severus was tempted to increase the fire in the hearth as he shivered slightly in the chilly air but he knew Harry preferred it colder. So, instead, he sat in the chair nearest the bed – a chair his son had dubbed "father's chair" – and watched the boy sleep.

"Papa?" Harry's sleep voice mumbled. The barely intelligible word curled Severus' lips slightly upward.

"Yes, Darrius," he replied softly.

"Is Mama still upset about Uncle Remus?"

Severus leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Yes, Darrius," he said, "and she is likely to remain upset for a good long time. Go back to sleep."

Harry mumbled before rolling over and burrowing deep into his covers. A few minutes later Severus heard a faint "Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight." Severus' whispered before shifting deeper into the chair.

The calm that set over him as he watched over Harry. After a short time, however, he rose from the chair and leaned over the bed. Gently, he kissed the back of his son's head before silently drifting out of the room. Following his usual pattern, he opened the next-door in the hall and looked inside to see the bed empty. It is what he knew he would find. He just shook his head and continued down the hall. He knew exactly where to find her. Two doors down, he pushed open another door to see an exhausted Hermione curled up facing a sleeping Draco, her hand wrapped around the blonde boy's. Out of habit, he entered and made his way to Livia's side. He stopped midway through gathering her blanket, before realizing just how close to dawn it was. After a moment of consideration, he wrapped the blankets more tightly around her and settled into a chair on the far side of the bed.

"She's been restless, sir."

Draco's whispered words caused him to raise his eyes away from his daughter's sleeping visage. The teen was watching both of them closely, his fingers still held, uncontested, in Livia's grip. "She feels so deeply, sir. I can feel her fear and anger … and the helplessness. It's like it happened to her, no Professor Lupin."

There was no bitterness or insult in Draco's use of Remus name and former title. It made him wonder just how strong the bond between the blonde and his daughter was. It was an unsettling thought, that he could be so attuned to her emotions.

"She is like her mother in that respect, Draco. She does not offer her affections lightly and once she accepts a person into her inner circle, she feels responsible for them. The healer in her makes her want to care for everyone, protect them and heal them. When she can not, it painful for her – emotionally and physically." He paused for a moment, looking pointedly at the joined hands.

"You are walking a fine line, Mr. Malfoy," he stared, forcing his tone to be both formal and polite, despite the protecting urges stirring in him. "You are both very young – emotionally. You lack the maturity to handle the bond that has inadvertently been forced on you both. You would be wise to not stray to far from the path of friendship. You will both have enough to deal with in coming years without adding love and all that comes with it just yet.

"Take my advice and be Livia's friend, a trusted friend, a companion – but not her boyfriend. Practice being a man; make your relationship mistakes with other girls - not my daughter. Just be careful not to make too stupid a mistake."

He watched as Draco slunk back a bit, shifting away from where Livia slept on the bed yet did not release her hand. Sitting back in the chair, satisfied he had made his point – at least for now – he closed his eyes until on a slit remained and guarded over Livia for the remaining hours until day would officially begin.

==================================

There was no smile on Bella's face as they walked together toward their new quarters within Hogwarts' walls, yet he could feel the faint breath of satisfaction she felt after their meeting with Dumbledore. A meeting that was met an untimely end with the arrival of Minister Fudge. His wife had smiled prettily at him, greeting him with the utmost propriety and totally thrown the man off his game. Fudge's face had paled immediately though he had covered it well. But then, how hard could it be to put on a façade of weak-minded ignorance and insecure, power-hungry greed.

"Is Lucius still planning on joining us for lunch tomorrow?"

"Yes, I believe so. Why?" Severus replied to his wife's inquiry. The curious but distant tone of her voice told him that her mind was turning over ideas in rapid succession. She could be as cunning and ruthless as any Slytherin he knew, the difference being in her motivation. Generation upon generation of High Priestess of Avalon, for that was in fact what Arabella was, had been trained to see the larger scope of the world and politics.

"Good. We need to make sure that Fudge doesn't see my return as threat to him in any way. I want him to think me the good little wife, concerned only with her husband and children."

"And you wish Lucius to drop a hint or two to that effect?" he said as they turned approached the staircase that would take them to the formerly forbidden third floor.

"Yes. It should be easily enough done so long as we make sure to remind him of Fudge's campaign against Avalon and the benefits Draco will receive from an Avalon education." Arabella said, her voice becoming crisp and formal, yet still smooth. Her words, or rather her voice, engendered a sense of confidence in her words. He often wondered if there was not some magic she had learned from her Grandmother – a Priestess tool used to guide and lead, to project faith and trust – or if perhaps it was just Bella. She paused in her step as soon as they crossed through the false door and into the long hallway.

It was the first time either of them had returned that day since the enchantments that had been placed on the third floor nearly a century ago to make them seem dangerous and foreboding had been lifted. The elves had made short work of the cobwebs, dust and grime. The fresco and murals that decorated the walls of the entrance hall had been returned to their full colorful glory and the polished white marble floors gave the whole area a feeling of life and an ethereal power. Glancing to see his wife's reaction to the change, he was surprised to see the bitter-sweat sadness on her face.

"What is it?" he asked.

She was silent for a moment as she stared at a mural depicting Ynis Whtryn – the Isle of Glass, better known as Avalon. Finally, she spoke, "I am going have ease standards, Severus. Allow in those unworthy to appease that self-important fool."

He remained quiet for a moment. There was nothing he could say; she was correct in her assumptions. The started walking toward their quarters again in silence, both isolated in their thoughts. As they turned the last corridor, he barely noticed the newly re-hung tapestries, a history of Avalon and magical Britain.

"Remus!"

The sound of his wife's happy cry at finding her friend waiting for her outside their door reverberated off the surrounding walls. He watched, agitated as she rushed forward, throwing her arms around the werewolf's neck. With the flash of jealousy and annoyance dimming, he walked forward and greeted Remus civilly.

"I got your letter," Remus said, pulling a think envelope out of his pocket after Arabella stepped back, "I don't know what to say."

"Say you will do it," Bella replied.

"It's too much," Remus began, his voice soft and hesitant.

Severus wasn't sure what it was, but the humble timidity of the man was something he had always found irritating. Remus, in his opinion, too often acted like a beaten dog. Grudgingly, he admitted to himself that the wolf had been treated atrociously on several occasion and despite all of it, he could be trusted to guard Harry's secret. And there was the fact that he knew that in a short time, Bella was going to reverse the spell holding Harry's and Hermione's memories at bay. When that happened, they were going to need a neutral person to lean on, to go to for guidance. They would be comfortable with Remus and their comfort was more important to him at that moment than his own.

"It is not too much, Lupin," Severus half-sneered, his agitation showing, "It would give Bella great peace of mind knowing you are assisting in our children's education. I know Darrius and Livia will be glad of your support and presence, as well." He was prepared to go on, but the sound of good-natured bickering drifting down the hallway grew louder with each second.

"Really! I don't understand your obsession with that stupid broom." Hermione said, her voice clearly showing her exasperation.

The sound of Harry and Darrius laughter was loud and clear and followed closely by Hermione's excited cry of "Uncle Remus!" A blur of black hair and the scent of white flowers breezed past him as Hermione propelled herself at Remus. "Mama said she was going to ask you to be our tutor. Please say you will!"

Remus smiled softly at her, his glance fleetingly toward Harry. Severus turned to see his son standing just behind him, a faint but genuine smile curling his lips. Draco, who stood beside Darrius, had a slightly hostile expression on his pale face. There was a flash of curiosity in the young man's eyes though; leaving Severus to wonder at what affect his words the previous night had effected his reaction.

"Hello Livia," Remus said then turning toward Harry and Draco. He greeted Harry with a smile, but only spared a cautious glance for Draco. Severus felt his lips sneer at the damned wolf's obvious slight toward the young blonde. "So, Darrius, what do you think?" Remus asked.

"I think that I would be foolish to deny something my mother and sister obviously have their hearts' set on," Harry said smoothly and seemed happy but Severus caught the flick of his son's eyes as he glanced toward him, confused about the slight to his friend.

Bella laughed at his statement, "Okay, you three. Inside and upstairs. Draco, I expect you to lie down and get some rest. Darrius and Livia, I want you to work on your mediations."

"Yes, Ma'am," three voices chorused and automatically started walking toward the stairs.

He and Bella followed the teens into their quarters and then left Bella and Remus to their discussions alone. Heading straight for his lab, he indulged his need for order and solitude by spending an hour inventorying his ingredient stores and drawing up a list of what he would need for the next few months. He then spent several hours working on simple, but useful potions for the infirmary. When he was finished, he felt much calmer, focused – in control. In short, he felt better able to deal with Remus, who was likely staying for dinner.

"Ah! You're here!"

Severus looked up as he entered the rooms at the sound of the cheerful voice. Dumbledore.

"I was just talking with the others about this coming term." The older wizard motioned with his hand to Bella, Remus, Harry, Hermione and Draco. "I have brought the children's letters for the coming year," he said. "Now, as I was say, Draco, your parents informed me that you'd be receiving instruction with Arabella. I believe it would be wise to drop one of your electives to allow for the extra workload. That is, however, up to you and your head of house." Dumbledore's eyes moved from Draco toward Severus.

Annoyance flared within for a split second before Severus exerted control, squashing the reaction. "Of course, Headmaster," Severus said in a glacial tone. "Bella and I have had several discussion with our children and Draco about their studies this year and what is expected of them. When final decisions are made, we will be sure to inform you."

If Dumbledore was in the least taken aback at the coldness of Severus' tone, it was not openly evident. Severus' did notice that he seemed to hesitate just a fraction before smiling widely back at them, "Ah, good. Then I will leave this all in your capable hands. Now if you will excuse me, there is much I must attend to before the students return." With a nod of respect to Arabella, the Headmaster of Hogwarts left.

"Stupid old codger."

Draco's barely audible mutter drew his attention. For a moment, he had to suppress a smile. While he had immense respect and a certain fondness for the elder wizard, Severus had to admit there were moments – like now - when their personalities clashed strongly, leaving him feeling extremely vexed. With a mental sigh, he turned toward his young charge, prepared to reprimand him.

Arabella beat him to it.

"Draco Lucius Nigellus Black Malfoy!"

It was almost amusing how Bella's voice, both strong, adamant – almost viciously - and - ironically – soft, could have such a profound effect on the young blonde. Instantly, his shoulder's had straightened, his posture becoming perfectly erect and yet still Severus had the impression that he was retreating into himself. He had seen the boy react in the same manner before – when he was preparing himself for a dressing down by his father or by Severus.

"I don't ever want to hear such a comment from you again, young man. I don't care what you might think you know of the Headmaster; he is an intelligent, powerful and cunning wizard. He has seen, done and capable of more than you can imagine. You are in no position to disrespect him, especially when your opinion of him isn't even truly your own. I suggest, Draco, that you spend some time thinking about your opinions and determining which are truly your own and which have been bequeathed to you and influenced by your parents. "

Severus watched as Draco bristled like a cornered animal, hackles raised. "Are you suggestion my father is wrong?"

"I am suggesting, Draco, that you should learn to form your own opinions based on your own experiences. I have known your father for most of my life and I have known your mother all my life. I was there when they formed their opinions and in some cases, let the opinion of others dictate to them. I do not see them, or anyone, as infallible. I may not always agree with your parents, but I do respect their opinion in most matters." Bella's expression softened as she moved closer to Draco. With a half-smile, she said, "You have great potential, Draco, but you will only reach it if you are allowed and encouraged to grow beyond the walls set around you. You must know your own mind and heart and you cannot do that when it is clouded by the opinions and dictates of others – including myself. Do you understand?"

Draco nodded grudgingly, though his eyes were still weary and bitter. Severus could see him fighting within himself; the child within wanting to believe his parents – his father – knew everything and were always right and the man within pushing him to take his first steps toward being an adult. Glancing towards his children, he was a similar struggle in their eyes and knew Bella's reprimand had not been lost on them.

"Don't be so hard on him, Bella," Remus unexpectedly said, "He is young and has led a sheltered life. He is also very intelligent. All he needs is the chance to learn for himself."

"And I just want to make sure he takes that chance."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Remus nod. Severus' attention, however, was still locked on Draco.

"I will do my best, Lady," Draco finally replied to Bella. His voice was strained and it was easy to see how he was struggling with his pride.

Livia rose to her feet and walked over toward Draco. As soon as she took his hand, Severus could see Draco's body begin to relax. "Do we have time for a short walk around the grounds before dinner?" she asked her parents.

"Of course," Bella responded, "We will be having dinner in the Great Hall with the other staff members. Draco, will you make sure she arrives on time?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he replied, a faint smile of relief tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Severus waved them out, but not before giving Draco a sharp glare – one he hoped would remind the young boy to be careful with Livia. As he watched them leave, hand in hand, he found himself oddly grateful that his children or at least Livia would have their memories back shortly.