Out of Nowhere

Disclaimer: The characters herein (save Leah) are the property of JK Rowling and whoever she decides to sell the to. I own nothing and I am not making any money from them. Also, any lyrics or mentions of songs are the property of the artist/lyricist/record company.

A/N:Thanks for the reviews guys! This chapter has another lemon (HOORAY!!) and a little Sev/Remy kissing. It also contains a bit of footplay, nothing really big, though. After this chapter, there\'s only the epilogue, but it\'s looking like it\'s going to be at least as long as this chapter. As always, leave me lots of reviews!!

Alauralen: The pair and spare thing, I actually had an old black lady tell me that once. LOL! I thought it would fit perfectly here. You get another threesome and some hot one on one action between our herione and our favorite potions master. Lemme know if you like this threesome better. Personally, I think it\'s much hotter than the first. I enjoyed writing it so much that I had to have a cigarette after I finished writing it. LOL!! Only the epilogue let now!! *gasp*

Jenn: I hope you had a fabulous vacation!! Many thanks for the review and I\'d gladly let you trade spot with Leah, but I don\'t think she\'d like it too much. LOL!! Here\'s another lovely chapter. Only one more to go and I can\'t wait to surprise everyone with the ending!!!

ON WITH THE LEMONS...ER...STORY...


Leah fell into an easy sleep, wrapped up in Remus’ arms while he lay in bed thinking about her admission. From the conversations the werewolf had had with her over the summer, he knew that she was not prone to be with any one person for very long. Her admission of wanting to be with him and Severus as long as it was forever was stunning to say the least. He rolled onto his side, trying to get comfortable to drop off to sleep, and Leah shifted, throwing her leg over his hip and getting as close as she could.

When morning broke, Remus had only slept a few hours. He decided to go ahead and get up, leaving the sleeping young woman in the overly large, empty bed. Several hours later, Leah stretched languidly in the empty bed, opening her eyes only because searching for Remus with her hands was not working.

She shrugged her robe on over her long nightgown and pulled her wild hair back into a low ponytail. With a smile as bright as the morning sun, she walked carefully down the stairs and into the kitchen. Everyone was up and sitting at the table filling their plates with breakfast. When they looked up, she cheerfully greeted them. “Good morning Weasley clan, Harry, Hermione!” She then walked around the table and gave Remus a peck on the cheek whispering in his ear, “Good morning beautiful.”

As she walked over to the percolator and poured herself some coffee, Remus chuckled, “Well, this is a far cry from yesterday morning!”

Leah’s eyes twinkled with mirth as she sat at the table and plucked a sausage link from Remus’ plate. “It most certainly is,” she answered taking a bite.

“Hey!” He cried.

She rolled her eyes, and put the sausage back on his plate with one bite taken out of it. “Fine! You can have it back.”

He looked at the sausage and made a disgusted face at the young woman who was grabbing a biscuit and some hash browns.

“Oh, yeah, like you…”

Remus eyes grew large as the saucer his tea was sitting on. He pointed his finger at her. “Don’t you even think about it!”

The whole table laughed uproariously. Leah just grinned at everyone and began eating. Soon, she was drawn into the boisterous conversation around the table. She couldn’t remember a time in recent history when a meal had been quite so fun. Remus asked Harry to throw him a biscuit, to which the quidditch seeker did, literally. In a move almost too fast to catch, Leah grabbed the biscuit, licked it, and put it on the edge of Remus’ plate. Everyone was completely silent, never actually witnessing anything like that before. She looked at Remus, daring him to say something, and he, while deliberately keeping eye contact, took a bite. The young woman burst into gales of laughter followed by everyone else. “I didn’t think you had it in you!” She gasped through her laughter.

He smirked in a way very reminiscent of a certain Slytherin and replied, “Well, I do know where your tongue has been.”

She had taken a sip of her coffee just before he replied and it ended up coming back out, through her nose. This elicited laughter from everyone, including a sputtering Leah. Soon, breakfast was over, and everyone retired back to his or her rooms to dress.

Leah was singing a snappy little tune about God being ‘one of us’ while she was in the shower. Remus couldn’t resist hopping in with her. She didn’t stop singing as she heard him stripping down. Leah would never admit it, but she hated showering with another person because rarely was there enough hot water for them both to stand under.

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and put his head on her shoulder. “You’re in a good mood this morning.”

She smiled and sighed a happy sigh. “It isn’t many mornings I wake up full of shit and glitter, but today was definitely one of those days.” She turned in his embrace and looked into his kind eyes. “I just…” Leah was at a loss for words, so she hugged the werewolf tightly.

“I know,” he whispered.

They bathed quickly and dressed, ready for a full day of preparing for a seventeenth birthday party. Leah and Remus helped Molly and Bill prepare for the event. The men did a bit or rearranging while the two ladies made a huge cake and decorated it, making small talk throughout the process. Finally, Molly asked the question that she’d been burning to ask since she met the young woman. “Leah, dear, are you…serious with Remus?”

Leah looked up and smiled at the Weasley matron. She thought about the question for a moment. “More serious than I’ve ever been with anyone in my life. If I knew that I would be here forever, then I’d definitely have him mark me as his mate, but since I can’t guarantee him tomorrow, we’re just doing this day by day. I’m already unbearably attached to him, so if and when I get home, it’s going to be hard to find another man to measure up.”

“What about Severus?”

Her smile grew tenfold. “Actually, Remus and I agree completely about Severus. He’s absolutely perfect.”

Molly looked at her funny. “I’ll put it this way, Mrs. Weasley, were I to stay here forever, I’d want them both until one or both of them decided that they didn’t want me.”

The red haired woman’s face grew bright red in embarrassment. “Oh,” was her only reply.

The women finished the party treats with Molly asking Leah about her life before that summer. Remus would come in every few minutes and pick at the finger foods and Leah would shoo him off or pop him in the butt with her dishtowel. The last time, he and Bill entered together and Remus grabbed Leah around her waist and swung her in a big circle as she squealed and laughed. Bill grabbed a couple of sandwiches while his mother’s back was turned. Leah kissed Remus chastely on the lips as he put her down. She put her hands on her hips. “Now, you and Bill have something to eat, are you going to let us finish or should I put you to work in here?” Despite her words, her tone was light and playful.

The werewolf took a bite out of the ham sandwich Bill handed him and grinned, shaking his head. His lover pulled the towel out of her apron string and snapped it as him and the red head. They both fled laughing. Leah shook her head. “How did you ever manage to get any food on the table with six boys running around the house?”

Molly laughed and shook the now washed wooden spoon she stirred the cake batter with. “It doesn’t matter how big they get, when you start waiving one of these around, they all run.”

Laughing at the Weasley matron, Leah began to put icing on the now cooled cake. Soon, the food was ready, the decorations up, and the first partygoers began arriving by floo. Leah sat in the sitting room with the other teens as everyone arrived. She, Hermione, and Ginny were all huddled in a corner conspiring against the respective men in their lives. The two witches decided that he wanted to really get Harry by putting him in the spotlight. The music for the night was Albus’ CD’s and his charmed player, so Ginny thought it would be brilliant if she and Harry danced the first dance, along with his two best friends of course. Then, Leah smirked. “If we can pull it off, I have the perfect plan. After cake and gifts, can one of you transfigure me a piano?” Hermione shook her head. “Good! I can play a few non-classical songs on the piano, and I have the perfect one for tonight. I wonder just how red we can make his face?\"

The two young witches howled with laughter. “Who are you conspiring against now?” Remus asked as he walked up and handed Leah a glass of white wine.

She smiled up innocently. “Now what makes you think that we are conspiring against anyone. Just so you know, we’ve been having a very spirited debate about penis size. They seem to think the longer the better, but me, well, I’ve got to disagree and go with girth. If it won’t fit in your mouth, then that’s too much.”

His jaw dropped open at the serious expression on Leah’s face while the two younger girls were giggling behind their hands. “I…well, I’ll let you get back to it then,” he stammered as his face went red.

He walked off and Leah took a sip of her wine before looking at her co-conspirators, all three bursting out laughing. “You see what I meant about men being easy now?” Both girls shook their heads, still laughing.

Before the party got started, it was time for Harry to open his gifts. It took nearly an hour, but Harry finally finished, almost. Hermione stood up and transfigured the empty couch into a beautiful baby grand piano. Leah nodded her head in thanks and moved toward the instrument. “Harry,” she said as she sat down, “I could have given you an American ten dollar bill from the year 2000, but after talking to Ginny, I thought this would be better. Happy Birthday.”

Ginny took the green-eyed teens hand and led him to the makeshift dance floor as Leah began to play a slow melodic tune. Her voice was the same low alto Remus heard on his first night back at Grimmauld.

“My gift is my song
And this one\'s for you
And you can tell everybody
That this is your song
It maybe quite simple
But now that it\'s done
Hope you don\'t mind
I hope you don\'t mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you\'re in the world…”

Harry’s face turned bright red as Ginny whispered something in his ear. He smiled at her and kissed her cheek. Before the song was over, Ron and Hermione were dancing, as were most of the other couples in the room. When Leah finished, everyone broke into applause. She stood up and Remus noticed that her cheeks were tinged pink as she waved off the praise. “Don’t applaud me! Direct it toward Harry and both of the lovely young women in his life. It was all their idea!”

Ginny and Hermione both turned red at Leah’s admission. The dark haired young woman stood up and Hermione transfigured the piano back into a couch before turning the music back up. Remus put his arm around Leah as she stood next to him, watching Harry hug his best friend and girlfriend. “You play beautifully,” Remus spoke.

“Well,” she answered leaning her head on his shoulder; “he wasn’t the one I was serenading.”

A kiss on her forehead was her only answer. By midnight, just about everyone had left except for Neville Longbottom. The bumbling young wizard had outgrown most of the clumsiness of his childhood and carried himself with a confidence that no one could mistake. “Miss Leah?” He asked.

She looked toward the handsome young wizard. “Please, call me Leah. What can I do for you?”

“I haven’t seen you dance with anyone tonight, and they’re about to play the last song. Would you care to dance with me?”

He held out his hand and she took it with a smile. “I’d be delighted to, Neville.”

By the end of the dance, everyone was watching Neville and Leah. No one knew the young man could move with such grace. When they finished, he bowed to Leah and kissed the back of her hand. She giggled, blushed, and thanked him for the lovely dance. With a quick happy birthday to the young man, everyone bid him farewell.

Remus and Leah assured everyone that it would be fine for them to go to bed, that they would clean up. It was well after two AM when they finished, and they were sitting on the couch, not inclined to sleep when the floo in the room flared green. The disembodied head of Severus appeared. The surprise on his face was quickly masked as he said, “Oh! You’re still awake!”

Remus smiled. “We are, Severus. Please, step through if you wish.”

He disappeared for a moment, then emerged, stepping gracefully from the fire. “I see Potter’s friends didn’t destroy the house,” he said sarcastically.

“The party was great,” Leah commented, pulling Snape down on the couch with her and Remus.

“Yes, Leah here revealed a talent she’s been hiding from us,” the werewolf said, poking her in the side.

Snape raised an eyebrow. “Really? And which one would that be?”

“It seems that she’s also proficient at playing the piano. You would have enjoyed the shade of red Harry turned, Severus.”

“You play piano?”

“Yes, I do. Mostly, I play classical pieces. My mother believed that every young girl should have some kind of training in a classical instrument. By my twelfth birthday, she had decided that I no longer needed lessons because I’d begun to write my own music.”

“You’re a composer?” Both men asked at once.

She waved them off. “It’s mostly depressing, dark stuff. Mother always hated it, but she couldn’t seem to understand that once a song was in my head, it wouldn’t leave until I’d written it down and played through it at least once.”

Remus winked at Snape. “She also dances as though she’s walking on air, just ask Longbottom.”

A mischievous smirk crossed the dark wizard’s face. “We shall see,” he said as he waved his wand and hauled Leah to her feet.

Immediately, the young woman recognized the song. She smiled up at her dance partner. “I’d never pick you for a Bryan Adams fan.”

They began to slowly make their way around the room. “Prince of Thieves just happens to be one of my favorite movies. There’s just something about the Sheriff of Nottingham that I like in that movie.”

The irony of that statement was not lost on Leah. She threw her head back and laughed. “I agree with you Sev…erus. Alan Rickman is not only one of the sexiest men on the big screen, but he could turn a girl to a turned on quivering pile of mush just by talking.”

Leah turned around in his arms and put his hands on her hips as they danced to the last verse of the song in silence. When the music ended, Severus leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You do dance divinely,” he said seductively in her ear.

She turned her head toward his voice and smiled. “As do you.”

“The two of you are beautiful together,” Remus said, his voice husky.

The two looked at him, sitting on the couch, eyes almost mad with lust. Leah smirked. “You two aren’t un-sexy together if I do say so myself.”

In two strides, Remus was off of the couch and roughly pulling Leah from Severus’ embrace, covering her lips with his in a passionate kiss. Snape stepped back and reached for the floo powder. It was obvious to him that he was no longer wanted around. Remus broke the kiss when he heard the tall man open the Floo Powder Box above the hearth. Grabbing his wrist, Remus asked, “Where do you think you are going?”

Severus looked into the lust fogged amber eyes and scowled, placing his mask of indifference firmly on his face. “I’m going back to the dungeons. It is obvious that I am no longer wanted here. The two of you have business.”

Remus face softened. His old rival was using a well-known defense mechanism… sarcasm. “The three of us, Severus.”

He threw them both a look that clearly said he didn’t understand. Leah stepped up and pulled Remus’ hand from his wrist, holding it, and taking Severus’ hand in hers. “The three of us, dear one. Why would we want to cast aside such a perfect…mate?”

With an incredulous look, Severus said, “I am far from perfect. My hair is greasy from my potions. I’ve got scars all over my body. My nose is too big and crooked…”

Leah cut him off. “You have flawless skin, beautiful eyes like flecks of obsidian, a sharp wit, and the body of a god. Michelangelo could not have sculpted a more perfect body for David had he used you for the model. Anyone who wouldn’t want you is a fool.”

He looked away and scoffed. “Anyone who would want me is a fool.”

Remus cupped his cheek and forced the other wizard to look into his eyes before softly saying, “Would you like me or Leah to wear the hat with bells?”

When Leah laughed, the tension that had been between them was gone. She ran her fingers down his cheek and under his jaw to his chin. “Please, stay. Come, be with us my beautiful Ares.”

Remus put his arm around the young woman’s waist. “He is reminiscent of Ares, isn’t he? So perfect.”

“Please, Severus?” Leah asked, taking his hand again, along with Remus, and allowing the blonde haired man to pull her, in turn pulling Severus.

He resisted only for a moment before Leah stuck her bottom lip out in a mock pout. He had the urge to suck her lip into his mouth and kiss her until she was breathless. As the trio walked up the stairs, Severus pondered what the fates had in store for him, sending him such beautiful creatures to be with.

He stopped at the door of Remus’ room and stared at the bed. “You didn’t?”

Leah stepped up to him and began to unbutton all of the little buttons on his robe. “No, we left it just in case. We both want you. Make no mistake about it. You are too perfect to let slip away. If you’ll have us, we’ll be here for you forever.”

He looked down into her pale eyes. “What about when you leave?” He asked as his voice cracked.

“If I leave, Severus. We’ll just take it one day at a time and if I leave, you’ll still have Remus. You’ll never again have to be alone, dear one.”

She’d finished unbuttoning his robe and begun on his shirt. Remus stood behind them and shed his clothing down to his boxers. He crawled on the bed, watching the two beautiful people at the end of it. His hand ghosted across the tent in his boxers and he hissed in pleasure.

The two looked at the werewolf. “Someone is rather impatient tonight,” Leah whispered as she leaned up and kissed her dark haired lover.

He passively allowed her to finish unbuttoning the sleeves of his tailored silk shirt before slipping it off of his pale, muscular shoulders. She kissed across is prominent collarbone paying special attention to the scars she found along the way, tracing them with her tongue. Remus moaned in lust and rose from the bed. Approaching the taller man, he ran his hand down one finely chiseled arm before stepping up to the other side of the young woman. He leaned in and as he was just about a hairsbreadth from the man’s pale lips, asked, “May I?”

No answer was necessary as Snape closed the distance and kissed the werewolf. Leah forced herself to focus on Severus’ trousers for fear that she’d demand they give her a show. His expensive linen trousers pooled around his feet and he quickly shed his boots, to get out of them, never breaking the kiss. Severus picked a good night to go commando. His cock stood proudly at attention under the ministrations of his lovers. He and Remus broke their kiss, both panting harshly. They looked at the still fully clothed young woman. She smirked as she ran a single hand over her breasts, tweaking her nipples through her shirt.

Both moaned in appreciation. Severus grabbed her and pulled her around with her back to his chest and he ravaged her neck. Remus worked on the buttons on her shirt, relishing in the gasps coming from her lips. When he finished with the last one, he pushed the offending article from her shoulders.

Remus kissed her with a fierceness rarely seen by anyone from the normally docile man. Severus reached down and began to unbutton her shorts. Before they could make it to the floor, Leah had them kicked off. She grabbed Severus’ naked hip to steady herself. Feeling his manhood rub gently across her exposed cheeks made the young woman moan in pleasure. “Where did you come across such beautiful knickers?” Remus mused as he ran his finger up the front of the deep green lace thong she wore.

“They are indeed beautiful on,” Severus agreed, “but I do believe that they’d be even more beautiful…off,” he finished, his baritone dropping to an even lower bass.

The raven-haired wizard picked Leah up and crawled onto the bed as Remus shed his boxers. He stood at the edge of the bed as Severus worshipped her body with his mouth. He kissed down her chest and with one finger, popped the clasp on her bra exposing the pert globes of flesh topped with hard rosy nipples. As he took the first in his mouth, she began to moan and writhe under his larger body.

Remus stood there stroking himself, listening to the pants and moans of the young woman under Severus’ skilled mouth. He could feel himself drawing closer to completion as he fisted his cock. He had never been much for voyeurism, but watching those two beautiful bodies dancing that sacred dance, all for him, was just about enough to push him over the edge.

Severus stopped teasing his lover just long enough to pull her knickers down before beginning again. He ran his tongue down her rib cage and kissed his way back up before doing the same thing again. The second time, he kept kissing down her side and over her hipbone. He looked up only when the bed dipped, announcing that Remus had decided to join them.

The werewolf kissed Severus’ shoulder before bending down and tracing her opposite hipbone with his tongue. He sucked on the pale skin, careful not to use his teeth, until it was marred by an angry purple spot. Severus looked at the spot and grinned, dipping down to do the same. Remus chuckled as he kissed his way down her thigh and across the side of her knee.

Leah’s whole body convulsed and she gasped, “Oh God,” as his lips ran across the sensitive flesh of her leg. When his tongue darted out to taste, she moaned loudly and thrust one of her hands between her legs, her middle finger sinking between her wet folds instinctively knowing her own pleasure spots. She was close, oh so very close. She was riding on auto-pilot from the sensory overload.

A deep rumbling chuckle, followed by long pale fingers wrapping around her wrist brought Leah crashing back down to earth with a disappointed groan. It was quickly followed by two appreciative groans as her finger disappeared between two thin, pale pink lips.

After laving her finger in his mouth, cleaning it of all of her juices, Severus leaned down and kissed Leah. Tasting herself on his tongue would have sent her well over the edge into oblivion had she had friction of any kind. He pulled back and purred against her lips, “Sweet ambrosia, nectar of the gods.”

She might have kissed him again afterward, but her whole body arched as Remus ran his tongue up the arch of her foot. “Please…in me,” she begged.

Remus sat at her feet sucking each of her toes in turn so Severus settled himself between her legs and pushed slowly inside her dripping cunt. Remus stopped his ministrations when Leah stilled. He looked up to find a pale, delectable ass in front of his face.

His eyes traveled up the pale mounds of skin to the muscular back. He was truly awed at the way the muscles rippled and contracted. The werewolf kissed his way back up Leah’s legs and stopped as he came up behind Severus. He watched the sweat glisten off that perfect body for a moment before tracing his tongue from the man’s tailbone up between his shoulder blades.

Severus tensed as he felt Remus tongue at the top of his crack, only to relax when he stopped near the bottom of his shoulder blades. The blonde pushed Severus shoulder length hair to the side and nibbled at the shell of his ear. “You are so beautiful in the throes of passion. Let go and show us both your ardor. Make me see it on her face.”

Remus moved toward the head of the bed and kissed Leah. He smiled as he broke the kiss. “He’s so stunning inside of you. I want you two to make me come without ever touching you.”

As he settled, Severus began long slow strokes. Leah bucked and moaned and growled trying to make him move faster. Finally, her hand, shaking with need, snaked its way down her abdomen, almost to her clit. A large hand stopped it as it reached the top of her pubis. “Not yet,” purred the deep baritone.

Severus took both of her wrists in his large hand and pinned them over her head. He leaned in and kissed her neck, nipping at the tender flesh. “You’ll come when I tell you to.”

Remus watched the interaction as he softly stroked his own aching prick. As Severus’ pace quickened, Leah began to writhe and moan loudly. She was swiftly approaching her peak. The werewolf tightened his grip and sped up his own strokes, in time with theirs. In no time, Severus let go of her wrists and declared in his most seductive voice, “Come with me now.”

With his own orgasm approaching with lightening speed, Severus pumped harder and faster. Leah’s peak rushed through her. Her inarticulate gibberish was punctuated by moaned ‘Oh Gods’ and shrieks of her lovers’ names. Severus flooded her womb with a grunt and Remus chanted both of their names, spilling his seed all over his hand and the bed.

When they were done, the three lay on top of the quilt in post coital bliss, reverently touching each other, muttering sweet nothings. They crawled under the cover and drifted off into a sated sleep, Leah cocooned safely between the two.

When morning broke, Leah found herself wrapped up in two sets of strong arms. She sighed contentedly and shifted. Both men rolled over with their backs toward her. She struggled out of the bed and slipped into Severus shirt…again. This time, though, she made her way carefully down the stairs and into the kitchen to find it full. Everyone looked at her in the expensive button down white silk shirt hanging almost to her knees and nothing else. She made her way across the room to the cupboard and pulled down three cups. Two she filled with black coffee and the third she filled with water from the kettle before tossing a tea bag in. “Someone looks thoroughly shagged this morning,” Harry chuckled.

She didn’t even look from the cupboard as she said, “Someone is.”

All of the kids gasped and whispered while Bill chuckled. Leah heard him tell Harry, “Well, you asked for it!”

She turned around and asked, “Where’s the tea tray?”

“What do you need the tray for? You’ve got two hands,” Ron offered.

She smiled sweetly at him. “Does that mean you volunteer to take Severus his coffee? If not, I need a tray.”

The color drained from Ron’s face at the implication while Hermione and Ginny were stifling giggles behind their hands. Molly had a disgusted look on her face as she said, “The tea tray is to the left of the stove at the top.”

“Thank you Mrs. Weasley,” Leah replied as she glided over to the correct cabinet.

After grabbing a plate of fruit from the breakfast table she put the cups on the tray. Ron was watching her with a disbelieving look. She smirked and picked up a strawberry. Before popping it in her mouth, she mouthed the words ‘food play’ at him, causing him to pale further. She picked up the tray and left. As soon as the door swung closed, laughter erupted in the kitchen.

She made her way back up to Remus’ room and opened the door to find her lovers holding on to each other in their sleep. She smiled and tilted her head, softly speaking, “Awww, aren’t you two just precious wrapped up in each others arms?”

Severus opened one eye and looked at the young woman standing at the edge of the bed, holding the tea tray. He opened the other and looked down at the sandy blonde hair tucked under his chin. He smoothed it back, obviously a bit uncomfortable, and said, “Lu…Remus, Leah has so kindly brought us breakfast. I do believe that it’s time to wake up.”

The werewolf breathed deeply the scent of his lover and sighed before mumbling, “Don’t want to, Sev’rus. Want. Here. You.”

Leah giggled at his sleepy disjointed speech. “Remy, sweetheart, your morning tea will get cold if you don’t get up. So will Severus’ and my coffee, and I don’t like cold coffee.”

The tawny haired man cracked one eye open and rolled over, giving Leah her space back between them. She unbuttoned the expensive shirt and let it slip to the floor after Severus levitated the tray.

When the three got settled, the tray came to rest in front of Leah. She sipped her black coffee and popped a piece of melon in her mouth. Both men grimaced. “Oh, I suppose I should have brought sausage up here instead.” Remus grinned sleepily and shook his head while Severus just scowled.

The three sat drinking their morning brews in silence. When she was done, Leah crawled from the bed and rummaged around in her bag looking for some clothes and her dressing gown. She didn’t see the point in putting anything else on since she was going to shower.

When she returned from her shower, Leah was dressed in a short deep violet tank top that showed just a little bit of her belly, a pair of khaki Capri’s, and the same three inch platform sandals she wore on her first day at Hogwarts. Both men were freshly showered and dressing as she rummaged through Remus’ closet for one of the robes she’d brought.

Both men watched as she sang a few bars of a song neither knew as she pulled out a pale lavender silk robe and an almost sheer deep red cloak. She finished closing her robe and threw the cloak over her shoulders. “Could I pass for a tourist?”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “Tourist?”

She stepped across the room and buttoned the last two buttons on his robe for him. “Yes, tourist. We’re all going in to Diagon Alley today so the kids can get their school supplies.\"

Snape rolled his eyes. “I suppose you’ll need the glamour again, then?”

She chuckled. “If you could. I would hate to know that one of your more unsavory associates recognized me.”

He raised his wand but before he could say the incantation, Leah stopped him. “Can I tell you what I’d like to look like?”

He nodded. “Ok, first, I loved having my hair dark last time, but could you make it longer? Also, I’ve got a cover story, so can you give me as fair of a complexion as you have and I want your eyes. Everything else is up to you, Severus.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you are going to be somehow distant kin to me?”

With a grin, Leah answered, “No, Harry Potter. I’ll tell you when I tell everyone else.”

He huffed indignantly and cast the spell. When she opened her eyes, her lovers were gaping at her. “I suppose you did a good job, then?” She asked as she stepped in front of a mirror.

Her mouth dropped at her reflection. “You did Severus! I’m absolutely the most gorgeous thing I think I’ve ever seen.”

Remus stepped up behind her and slid his arm around her waist. “You’re beautiful, but you aren’t Leah.”

“No,” she said, “I’m not Leah for the day.” Her voice became very soft and she assumed a very thick southern accent. “Today, I’m Cassandra Rose Potter.”

Both men erupted with laughter. “Very genteel, if I must say so, Cassandra,” Severus purred as he kissed her cheek.

She batted her long black eyelashes at the two men. “That’s what I’m going for. Schooled in the womanly ways of the southern United States, a true southern belle.”

Leah didn’t actually sound like anyone she knew from the south, as many accents as there were. She sounded more like Scarlet from ‘Gone With the Wind.’ Severus extended his elbow, “Shall we present you?”

“That’s a positively delightful idea, sugah,” she drawled with a grin on her face. He shook his head at her antics while Remus giggled behind the two.

When the trio stepped into the sitting room, everyone stopped and looked at the dark haired siren on Snape’s arm. Leah smirked as all of the males in the room gaped while the girls looked on curiously. Remus stepped up and said, “We’d like to present to you, Cassandra Rose Potter.”

Harry jumped up from his seat and the whole room exploded with questions and accusations. Severus raised his hand in the air and immediately the noise stopped. Leah assumed a bored expression on her face. “It’s me,” she said in her normal voice.

Everyone just looked at her. Bill was the first to speak up. “Why the disguise?”

She took her hand from Severus’ arm and strode forward confidently, almost gracefully. “I’ve had the displeasure to meet a couple of Severus’…associates, and it is easier for me to go into public wearing a disguise. Now, I want everyone to listen to the story I’ve concocted.”

The expressions around the room ranged from lustful to amusement to awe as she began talking and pacing, using her hands as she spoke. “First, I am a distant cousin of Harry’s. My family moved to the New World in the 1500’s and settled into a small wizarding colony in Connecticut. My grandfather four greats back was a brother to Harry’s grandfather four greats back. Yes, Harry’s grandfather four greats back brother did move to the states in the 1500’s. This information will only be divulged if it is imperative.

“Now, about me personally. I am a pureblood. I am also a squib because the pureblood gene pool is dwindling in the states and both of my parents’ families would not allow them to marry a half-blood or muggle born. I’ve been owling Harry for a little over a year now, and have decided to come to England on a fact-finding mission. I’m meeting him at the Leaky Cauldron today to exchange information on the Potter family. I will also find out that my roots extend to the Snape family, one that, according to the information that I have, died out here in England close to forty years ago.

“I am from Memphis, Tennessee. It is an old southern city right on the banks of the Mississippi River. My tone will be soft and my accent thick. Do not hesitate to ask me to repeat myself as you would a stranger whom you are curious about. Most of all, though, follow my lead. Most of this stuff I will be making up as I go so pay attention. Are there any question?”

“Just how do you plan on passing for both a Potter and a Snape?” Severus asked with a sneer.

Leah sneered back making everyone gasp. “Obviously I’m doing well passing for a Snape. You just leave that to me. I’ll have everyone eating from the palm of my hand.”

Bill looked skeptical and opened his mouth. “Yes, I’ve done this before, but mostly for shits and giggles. I’ve also directed a group of people while doing this.”

Remus stepped forward and took her hand. “I have faith that you’ll do well today, Leah. We will all be watching out for you.”

She looked down and blushed, stepping into character she said, “Thank you kind sir.”

Everyone laughed at this. She smirked at the group. “Yes, it really is that easy.”

Molly began herding everyone over toward the hearth and Severus stepped up to Leah’s side. “I must floo back to the dungeons to change but I’ll be in the alley today watching your performance. Take care of yourself.”

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “I will,” she answered as he wrapped a long arm around her waist and pulled her into a breath-stealing kiss.

Harry and Ron were stepping into the green flames as he grabbed her and didn’t see the kiss, but Hermione and Ginny watched the interaction. They could feel the passion radiating from their professor as he pulled back from the panting woman.

He kissed her bee stung looking lips chastely one more time before striding to the fire with a smile in his normally blank midnight eyes. Remus put his arm around her shoulders and whispered into her ear, “You look thoroughly debauched with your eyes only half open and your lips parted.”

“I could go for a thorough debauching about now,” she answered dreamily.

He laughed. “Maybe later. Now, let’s get your cloak on so people won’t see that you’ve arrived with me at the Cauldron.”

She threw the cloak over her shoulders and clasped it. Pulling the hood over her long black hair, Remus look ready to pounce. It was obvious that he lusted after the young woman as much as she did him. As he walked toward her he began to sing in his deep gravelly voice, “Hey little red riding hood, you sure are looking good. You’re everything that a big, bad wolf could want.”

He changed the color of the cloak as he kissed her one last time before stepping into the floo. They stepped out together and he quickly muttered a ‘Finite’ before stepping away from her and out into Diagon alley.

She immediately spotted the unruly black hair of Harry Potter sitting with Ron, Hermione, and the Twins. She strode purposefully over to the table and in a soft voice said, “Excuse me. Are you Harry Potter?”

He turned and looked at Leah as though he’d never seen her before. “I suppose it depends on who’s asking,” he replied coolly.

“I’m his cousin Cassandra Potter. I’ve come all the way from Memphis, Tennessee to see him,” she replied innocently, her southern accent thick.

He rose from his seat and gave her a brilliant smile. “Cassandra Rose! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you! Please, have a seat!”

She opened her arms and hugged the young man. “Harry, it’s wonderful to finally stand face to face with you. I knew it was you when I stepped through the floo. You mirror every man in the Potter family, except for your eyes. What a beautiful shade of green they are!”

He blushed and all of the other kids watched the exchange, smiling. “Thank you Cassandra. Oh! I’m being so rude! I’d like to introduce you to my friends Fred and George, Hermione and Ron. My girlfriend Ginny is around here somewhere, but I’m not sure where she went. Everyone, this is my cousin, Cassandra. You remember me telling you about the owls I’ve been getting from the States?”

‘Cassandra’ reached out and daintily shook everyone’s hand. She smiled brilliantly and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Harry talked animatedly to everyone while they ate a quick lunch. Leah sat quietly and nibbled at her salad while the other teens talked. When they were done, Harry declared that they were going out back into Diagon Alley. He offered Leah his arm as they passed through the archway into the alley proper.

He told her about each of the shops they went into. As they stepped out of Madame Malkin’s, Draco and Pansy walked up. “Well if it isn’t Potty, the Weasel, and the Mud-blood. Who’ve you got with you Potty, one of your adoring fans? Maybe your muggle girlfriend?”

‘Cassandra’ lifted her head and thrust her chin out in a dignified way. Her voice was soft and gentle despite the harshness in her eyes. “My name is Cassandra Potter and I’ll thank you to not insult Harry and his friends,” she drawled.

“Have to buy yourself an American wife, Potty?” Pansy jeered.

Before Harry could answer, ‘Cassandra’ spoke again, “Actually, Harry’s a distant cousin of mine, and at least he’s interested in someone of the same species.”

Both of the Weasley twins began barking at Pansy. “C’mon Cassandra,” Harry said over the noise, “we should be going now. I have nothing to say to either of these two.”

Fred and George both barked once more and ran to catch up with the small group. “Cassandra, that was brilliant!” Ron said snickering.

“Yeah, no one’s ever dared to call Pansy a dog to her face!” Hermione chimed in.

‘Cassandra’ put her hand in the middle of her chest. “Why I have no idea what you are talking about, Hermione!” She replied in mock shock. “Momma always taught me that if I didn’t have something nice to say that I shouldn’t say anything at all.”

The innocence in her voice caused all of the kids to erupt in laughter. With a grin, Harry suggested they all go to Flourentine’s for ice cream. The kids sat there for some time talking and Leah commenting on how much she was enjoying her trip and the company. Just before they were to leave, she spotted Severus. No one could miss his long ground eating strides.

“Who is that?” ‘Cassandra’ asked, pointing to Severus.

It took a moment for it to register with the kids who it was because his hair was pulled back in a black leather thong and it shone brightly in the sun. “He looks just like my Uncle Sebastian! They could be brothers!”

Harry screwed his face up in disgust. “That’s Professor Snape, the most awful teacher at Hogwarts.”

“Snape?” She asked before quickly trying to catch up with him.

“Professor Snape?” ‘Cassandra’ asked stepping to the side of him.

He stopped, mid-step, and looked at the dark eyed young woman. “May I help you?”

Smiling at the sour look on his face she replied, “Yes, sir, I believe that you can. My cousin Harry said you were a Snape. My grandmother’s maiden name was Snape. I believe that the information I was given about the English line of the family dying out has just been proved wrong.”

He rolled his eyes. “What are on about?”

She chuckled. “Definitely a Snape,” she drawled. “I’m afraid that I’ve been rather rude, Sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Cassandra Potter. I came here looking for a distant cousin, Harry Potter. I’ve been researching the Potter family for several years now, and when I came across his name, basically, I looked him up.”

“And exactly what does this have to do with the Snape family?” He queried with an irritated tone.

She blushed. “Oh, yes. Well, as I said before, my grandmother was a Snape. The information I had about that side of the family indicated that the line died out around forty years ago and that our branch of the family was the only left in existence. This changes quite a bit. Not only have I met a distant cousin in Harry, but I’ve also personally discovered that the Snape line is not dead, as we feared.

“The prominent Snape features haven’t changed a bit, either, Sir. When I saw you, I was certain that I’d just seen my Uncle Sebastian. If you have time this afternoon, I’d be delighted to spend a little time with you. I’d like to know what this branch of the family has been doing and if I’ll be able to contact you in the future.”

He snorted in disgust. “If I tell you no, will you go away and not bother me? I really have no interest in family, living or dead.”

Harry and all of the Weasley kids (save Ginny) watched the exchange. “C’mon Cassandra, Professor Snape is a bitter old git who doesn’t like anybody.”

He scowled at Harry and his friends then smiled at ‘Cassandra’. “I’d be delighted to share a meal with you this evening if that would please you, Cassandra. Where would you like to meet?”

“The Leaky Cauldron would be fine with me. Would five be too early?” She asked, giving him an innocent look.

“Five would be acceptable. I will see you then.” He strode off in the direction of the apothecary.

Leah giggled. “Harry that was awful! I bet you’ve been wanting to call him that to his face for years!”

Everyone chuckled. Leah spotted the magical musical instrument stop up the street and insisted that Harry take her in there. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of all of the instruments. “Oh, Harry! This place is amazing! It’s better than any instrument shop back home.”

She ran her fingers across the ivory keys of an ancient looking piano. “Do you play?” Hermione asked knowing full well that she did.

“Oh yes, Momma put me in lessons before I was five. Would you like me to play something?” ‘Cassandra’ asked.

Everyone agreed that she should so she sat on the bench. Thinking through some of the more difficult pieces she’d learned over the years, she settled on one of her favorites, ‘Flight of the Bumblebee.’

She began to play and quickly got wrapped up in the music. When she finished, she looked around at the small crowd that had gathered. “Oh!” She said in surprise before a blush crept across her cheeks as the quiet applause took her by surprise.

She immediately spotted Severus and Remus near the back in opposite corners. “Do you play anything other than classical?” George asked.

“Only a few songs,” she drawled softly. “Momma said that rock music wasn’t meant to be played on the piano, so I only know a few and I had to teach those to myself.”

“Will you play us one?” Hermione chimed in.

“I suppose so, but you all might not know it.”

‘Cassandra’ began playing a relatively easy melody. When she began to sing, her voice had almost an operatic quality as she held the notes. Those that had heard her the night before would never know that the rich sultry alto singing for Harry came from the same mouth as this song.

“…Always felt I was outside looking in on you. You\'re always the mysterious one with dark eyes and careless hair; you were fashionably sensitive but too cool to care. You stood in my doorway, with nothing to say, besides some comment on the weather…”

She poured her heart into that song and when she was done, several more people had stepped into the shop because they’d heard someone singing. When the last note was played, more polite applause rang through the store. ‘Cassandra’ was surprised to see even Draco and Pansy standing near the back with approving looks on their faces. She blushed again bowed her head a little. “Thank you all for your polite applause. I really shouldn’t be playing on a piano such as this though. It’s much to old and eloquent for my uncultured banging.”

Everyone chuckled and began to file out of the store, some passers by buying some little knick-knack before leaving. As she and the kids left, they were all telling her that she’s played beautifully and going on about it. They spent the rest of the afternoon just wandering the streets. At 4:45, Molly and Remus started rounding them up to floo back to Grimmauld. Harry leaned over and hugged his ‘cousin’ telling her to be careful waiting for Snape. She vowed that she would and wished Harry a happy birthday.

‘Cassandra’ settled into a booth near the back of the pub and ordered herself a steaming mug of tea. She’d truly missed her lovers all day and was excited at the prospect of eating with Snape.

He showed up at precisely five. They talked in hushed tones over their meal, which he paid for, and then made their way back out into Diagon Alley. “I have some place that I would like to take you, Cassandra,” he declared in his deep baritone.

“Really?” She asked, “Where?”

He smirked. “Ollivander’s.”

She rolled her eyes. “You and Remus both are bound and determined, aren’t you? He tried to get me to go when we came the other day, but I refused. I suppose you’ll bully me into it, won’t you?”

“You will find, dear cousin, that my powers of persuasion can be most effective, so yes, even if you refuse, we are going.”

She sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with so you can be proved wrong.”

They walked to the other end of the alley and into Ollivander’s. “Hello Severus!” The old man behind the counter greeted. “I was just about to close up shop.”

“Evening Ollivander. I have a bit of an odd request for you this evening, so if you wish to lock your door, please feel free.”

The small man quickly spelled the door locked and looked at the tall man and his companion. “What can I do for you that is so odd?”

Severus motioned toward Leah. “My friend here claims to be a muggle, yet I have seen with my own eyes some amazing wandless magic, including the casting of a perfect circle, complete with guardians at all four corners. I would like for her to try a wand or two, simply to prove whether or not she is a witch.”

The diminutive man sized Leah up and pulled several different wands down. The first he opened and handed to her, “Ebony, thirteen inches, unicorn hair core,” he said.

She rolled it around in her hands before making a face. “I don’t like the feel of it in my hand. Feels disgusting.”

He raised an eyebrow at her and then at Severus before taking the wand back and handing her another. “Cherry wood, eight inches, dragon heart string core.”

“This one feels…heavy,” she mused.

Before she could wave it, Ollivander snatched it from her hands. “It’s not for you then,” he said with a smile.

The third was a deep, dark wood. “Mahogany, fifteen inches, Centaur tail hair core.”

From the moment it touched her hand, Leah knew intimately the feeling in that wand. She smiled dreamily and looked at her lover. “Severus, it feels like you.”

He took the wand from her hand and flicked it at the large book on the counter. Immediately, it levitated just a couple of inches from the surface. He released the spell. “It seems as though you have found my replacement second wand for me, Cassandra. Now, shall we try another?”

Severus paid for the wand and stowed it up his sleeve. Leah tried several more to no avail. Just as they were ready to leave, Ollivander stopped them. “I want you to try one more wand, Cassandra. My grandfather made this wand as an experiment and in over three hundred years, it’s never chosen a witch or wizard.”

He walked to the back and came out with an old, finely carved wooden box. Inside, on a bed of black velvet, lay a beautifully carved, aged oaken wand. “Solid oak freely given from an ancient oak tree, twelve inches, no core.”

She lifted the wand and smiled. The feeling of connectedness she got from it was almost overwhelming. “This is it,” she whispered.

Severus smirked triumphantly. “Well, wave it,” he said impatiently.

Leah did a simple flick and swish movement with the oak wand and…nothing happened. Severus scowled. “Well?”

She shrugged and flicked it at the wall. Still nothing happened. “I told you, Severus. I’m just a muggle with no special magical ability.”

“That’s not entirely true,” Ollivander chided. “You have the rare ability to recognize the wizard in the wand before it’s chosen. You could make a fine craftswoman one day if you so chose to take up wand making.”

She smiled at the man and said, “Thank you, Sir.” She tried to hand him the wand back but he wouldn’t take it.

“No, no dear. That wand has been here for over three hundred years. It’s yours.”

She blushed to the roots of her hair. “I don’t have anything to pay for it with.”

“You don’t have to pay for it. With a talent such as yours I want you to have it. Carry it with you so that other wand makers will know of your abilities. You see, that particular wand is infamous. When my grandfather made it, everyone thought it to be a dud, if you will. But, we in the Ollivander family have never made a wand that was unusable. We all knew that it was just a matter of time before someone came and the wand claimed him or her.

“So, you take that wand and if a wand maker asks your opinion on a certain wood or tree, give it freely to him and remember me and my family.”

He didn’t give her a chance to question him or protest as he boxed the wand back up and ushered the two out of his store. “Well, that was…interesting,” she drawled, slipping back into her ‘part’.

“Indeed,” Severus commented.

They flooed to his chambers in the dungeons for a drink before going back to Grimmauld. He immediately dropped the glamour and grabbed both of her cheeks between his hands. Severus leaned forward and whispered, “I don’t know where you learned to do what you did today, but you were amazing. I almost forgot you were Leah instead of Cassandra there for a while.”

He leaned in and kissed her urgently. His tongue tangled with hers in that beautiful mouth. He jerked at the clasp of her cloak and it fell from her shoulders. “You were so amazing today. I don’t even know where to begin.”

Severus began unbuttoning her robe and trailing kisses down her neck. Leah moaned in under his talented hands and mouth. She ran her hands through his hair and untied the leather strip. It fell to the floor as his raven locks tumbled forward in a shiny curtain around his face.

She steered him toward the burgundy leather couch in front of the hearth. He sat, never breaking the kiss, and she straddled his lap. Her nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons of his robe and she opened it, revealing a pale blue tailored silk shirt, almost identical to the one from the night before.

Leah broke the kiss and looked into his dark eyes, searching. He licked his lips unconsciously. “Do you think they’ll worry about us?” She asked.

He looked down and then back into her eyes. “Not if we’re quick,” he answered.

Enthusiastically, she kissed him again, slipping button after button out of its hole. He broke the kiss only for a moment to slip her shirt off. Their hands explored the exposed flesh with a burning need. Soon, Leah slid off the couch and pulled her Capri’s off, along with the blue silk thong she wore. Severus smirked and pointed his wand at his trousers and they disappeared, leaving his whole body naked.

Leah ran a hand up his long length before straddling him again, slowly sliding down his prick. She kissed him again as she began to move. Her hips gyrated in a circular motion slowly, not thrusting in and out, but moving him around inside her. His hands moved over her body constantly as though he wanted to touch every piece of her at once.

He cupped her taut butt and began sliding her up and down his rigid length. Their love-making quickly morphed from slow and easy to needy and hard as their kisses slowed down and became more languid. Soon Severus stiffened and moan, his orgasm enveloping him in blissful, sated nothingness.

Leah collapsed on his chest when he finished, not brought to her peak, but not unsatisfied. He carded his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head. “You are amazing,” he panted, his baritone still laden with lust.

She kissed his bare chest, right above his heart and got up. “Are you ready to face the borage of questions I’m sure we’ll get when we get back to Grimmauld?”

He scowled at the question. “I do not even want to think about the imbecilic questions that will be asked from the Weasley’s and Potter and Granger.”

“Severus, they really aren’t that bad. I mean, they’re good kids and Hermione’s actually brilliant. The other two-thirds of the trio are just typical teen boys. You really should look at how resilient they are, considering…”

The dark wizard knew exactly what she meant, and he also knew that she was right, even if he’d never admit it to a soul. He’d slipped his trousers on during their conversation and silently buttoned his shirt. He reached for his robes and Leah stilled his hand. “If you don’t want to suffer through their questioning, why not shock them into silence.” She grinned wickedly. “Leave the robe.”

He smirked at her request. “Well,” he rumbled, “if that won’t do it, I know something that will.” With that, he grabbed her around the waist, threw floo powder in the hearth, announced the destination, and kissed her as they stepped in the fire.

The duo stepped out into the sitting room as they broke the kiss. The whole room went silent as they stood there, forehead to forehead, gazing into each other’s eyes.

Hermione and Ginny both almost melted into the floor at the sight of their potions master in a pale blue silk shirt and no robe. The way the material clung to his skin left nothing to the imagination. Molly had never known Severus to tip his hand at anything, but it was obvious that he cared for this woman as much as Remus did. She didn’t particularly care for the situation, but the light in the dark haired man’s eyes was unmistakable. All of the Weasley boys in the room were flummoxed, including Bill. Harry just looked plain angry.

The bespectacled young man jumped from the chair he’d been sitting in. “What in the hell are you doing? What about Remus?”

Both looked at the anger etched all over his face. Leah smiled at Remus as Severus sneered at Harry. She playfully slapped the man in the chest with the back of her hand and muttered, “Behave!”

Remus got up and stood in front of the two. “Everyone’s been afraid to say anything. Shall we address it now?”

Severus paled at the question. The young woman turned her back to everyone and spoke softly to the dark wizard. “I know you don’t like to feel on display. If you want, Remus and I can do this.”

He shook his head and then raised himself to his full height. “No, I will not abandon the two of you to the wild accusations that are no doubt going to be tossed around. I may not be a Gryffindor, but I will not back down from this, not my one chance at a bit of happiness and contentment.”

Remus smiled and nodded at his lovers. Leah turned to face the curious group and looped one arm around each man’s waist. She took a deep breath and smiled, “Ok, I’m going to try to make this a quick and painless for all as possible. Have any of you heard of polyamory?”

Everyone shook his or her heads while Hermione looked as though she was dissecting something. She looked up and grinned. “Poly is many and amory is love. Polyamory is the practice of having many loves!”

Leah laughed. “You really are too smart for your own good lady! And yes, that is correct. Personally, I’ve never been in love, but if what I feel for these two isn’t love, then I can’t wait to find the right person or people. I won’t deign to speak for Remus and Severus, but we are making the best of the time I have here.”

Remus spoke up. “In times of war, sometimes it’s crucial to find one thing to hold on to. With friends, mentors, and foes falling daily, sometimes it’s that one ray of hope that keeps you from going insane. Believe me when I say that I know this first hand.

“When the Dark Lord fell the first time and Sirius was sent to Azkaban, I thought I’d lost everything. That one bright spot, one hope was you, Harry. Knowing that I would get to see you grow up is what kept me going day after day.”

Harry smiled at this admission and then scowled at his professor. “Oh Potter, get over it!” Severus drawled. “If Remus is happy, who are you to tell him it’s wrong?”

Leah elbowed the tall man in the ribs. Throwing him a dirty look, she said, “What he’s trying to say is that with all the evil in the world, who doesn’t deserve a bit of a reprieve from the weight of an escalating war? When you play an active part, like Severus, it’s not hard to get caught up in the part you have to play and forget that life still goes on. I’m sure it’s nice to know that someone will be there to take care of him after a particularly viscous bout of Crutacius.”

“We’ve found comfort in an otherwise bleak world. Don’t think you can take it away just by frowning and protesting,” Remus said with finality.

Harry still scowled but everyone else looked thoughtful. Ginny was the first to speak up. “Well, I think it’s sweet. I mean, think about it, Harry,” she said to her boyfriend, “Remus is happier than I’ve seen him since your fifth year. It’s nice to see him so…exuberant. And Professor Snape, you’ve well, wow!”

Leah chuckled at the young red head’s statement. “I’m glad someone sees it.”

The room got quiet and everyone was left to their own thoughts before Ron piped up, changing the subject, “Leah, you were brilliant today! I still can’t believe you called Pansy a dog!”

Fred and George began barking and howling as Leah laughed and slipped into the thick accent she used earlier, “Ronald, I already told you that I have no idea what you are talking about. I merely stated the obvious. Harry prefers women of the same species.”

Severus looked at the young woman next to him with a horrified expression. “You what?”

She waved him off as everyone laughed. “Draco and Pansy came up and tried to taunt us, asking if Harry had to buy himself a girlfriend. So, I did what any self respecting woman would do, I turned it around on him.”

“Draco’s my godson! I can’t believe that you’d insult him!”

“Draco’s a spoiled little snob is what he is. He deserved what he got,” Leah stated simply.

The conversation turned lighter and went well into the night. Soon, everyone was making their way to bed. “Will you be joining us?”

“Not tonight,” Severus replied. “I have a potion to brew and I must be up well before first light to begin it.”

Remus smiled at the other wizard. “I…we understand, Severus. Since everyone is going to be here for the rest of the summer, this is where we’ll be. You are more than welcome to stop by any time, for any reason.”

Severus nodded curtly and kissed Leah gently before flooing back to his dungeon quarters. She and Remus made their way back upstairs. It wasn’t long before they were both sleeping peacefully, wrapped up in each other’s arms.