Deligo Sanguis

Author’s Note: Just a little clarification before we start: I know that in cannon Lily was in Gryffindor. Since this story is almost entirely AU, I don’t feel the need to keep to cannon, therefore I don’t feel the need to keep her in Gryffindor. I figured she and James were in the same year and were head boy and girl respectively, so it would be better for them to be in separate houses. Just my own little bit of reasoning. Enjoy!

Chapter Three

Extenuating Circumstances

ONE


Severus sat late in the night going over the documents Potter had left him. He couldn't believe the lengths Lily went to in order to keep his only child, his heir, away from him. If this was true, and Severus was definitely going to confirm the information Airy had given Potter, then he would have to take measures to resume custody of his child. At the very least, he felt that some kind of relationship needed to be forged between them if, and only if, these documents proved credible. His mission as a spy for the Order could not be jeopardized by a cruel joke played by a demented Irish woman. He hadn't seen Airy for many years, but that was partly because he never left the school for any extended amount of time and Dumbledore had forbidden her to ever show her face within the establishment.

His heart clenched at the thought that Lily would do something so devious, so Slytherin, to never inform him that he had a child. She was a Ravenclaw in school; she was supposed to be sensible; she was supposed to understand that you couldn't just steal a man's firstborn son without ever informing the man that the child existed. He also wondered if Airy had known all along, and the documents said that she helped to cast the charm, then why hadn't she told him before now that he had a child. If it was a promise, surely it didn't matter anymore after Lily was gone. Why had she waited fifteen years? Severus sighed, admitting defeat, and decided to give up his futile questions in favor of a stiff drink.

TWO


"Potter, how many times must I ask you to keep your eyes on your own cauldron?" Severus sneered at his possible offspring. "Surely your ears haven't been damaged by your romps about the grounds."

Potter sighed heavily. "Sorry sir," he muttered, stirring his cauldron with slow deliberate movements. Granger seemed worried about her friend, but dared not utter a word about it under Severus' careful watch of the room.

After the class had finished, Potter stayed behind.

"What is it, Potter?" Severus snapped at the youth. "Do you want detention? Because I would gladly assign you enough to keep you busy for the rest of the year."

"Did you read the papers?" Potter asked, rather bravely in Severus' opinion, considering the man's mood.

"I read your bloody papers, and I intend to prove their credibility before I blindly believe them. Don't tell me you actually believed that rubbish without proving them reliable?"

"Do I look like I believe it, sir?" Potter asked, getting his old temper back. "Or don't you know about the Dëlîgo Sanguis?"

"Of course I know how the bloody spell works, Potter! Get out of my sight before I make good on my offer!"

Potter shook his head in an almost disappointed fashion before vacating the classroom.

THREE

"I need to speak with you, Albus," Severus stated, seating himself in front of the old man's desk. "It is rather important."

"I'm listening, my boy," Albus replied, popping a sherbet lemon into his mouth. "What is troubling you?"

Severus pulled one of the documents from his robes. "Is this your signature?" he asked, passing the page across the desk.

Albus took the sheet and promptly looked very stern. "Where did you get this?" he asked sharply.

"That is a moot point, Albus," Severus replied evasively. "Did you sign it, or didn't you?"

Albus sighed heavily. "I did, Severus."

Severus' heart fell. Potter was his son. A boy he'd treated like dirt for the better part of five years was his heir. "Why?" he asked, unable to formulate any other words through his shock.

"I did what was best for all parties involved, Severus," Albus replied. "You were a spy for us. If the Dark Lord found out that you had a child with a Muggleborn witch, it would have cost all of your lives. He couldn't find out if even you did not know the truth. I felt that, considering the circumstances, it was the safest option for everyone. I'm sorry to hurt you so, Severus, but surely you can see the necessity for the mendacity."

"I want my son," Severus demanded. "You cannot keep him from me now that I know the truth. I demand that you return him to me."

"I don't know where you got this, Severus, but I must tell you that that is quite impossible. Your rights as his biological parent have been stripped."

"THEN BLOODY WELL GET THEM RESTORED!" Severus roared, jumping up from his seat to tower over Dumbledore. "HE IS MY SON! YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO KEEP HIM FROM ME!"

"Calm yourself this instant or I shall have you expelled from my office," Albus admonished. Once Severus was seated and silent, Albus continued. "It is not that simple. With Fudge still in office, it will be nearly impossible to restore your rights to you. He still believes you are loyal to Voldemort. He would never grant you custody."

"Why the Hell not? He believes that Potter is a liar and an attention seeker. Why not place him with his kind?"

"Because then he would be giving you what you want. I will do what I can, Severus. In the mean time, I shall see if we can't come up with a temporary arrangement."

Severus sighed heavily. "Very well, Albus," he said. "I'm going to get some rest." He went back to his rooms feeling rather depressed.

FOUR

"I'm so bloody tired of him," Harry complained to his friends two weeks into the term. "All he ever does is degrade me for no reason. It's really getting old."

"He's always been this way, Harry," Hermione said. "We only have this year and next, and then you won't have to see him again."

"Do you really believe that, Hermione?" Harry asked her, raising a very Snape-like eyebrow at her. "Unless the war ends before we graduate, I'll be seeing plenty of him." He sighed heavily. "I wish I could understand why he hates me so much."

"Yeah, but you hate him too. Don't you?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know what to think of him anymore. I know I look like Ja… er… my dad, but that's not my fault. I'm not him. I never was."

Hermione gave him a shrewd look, causing Harry to wince at his slip up. Ever since he had spoken with Arêthüsa, he'd been thinking of his dad as James. 'Snape is not my father, damn it! It's not possible!'

"Are you all right, Harry?" Hermione asked gently, placing a hand on his arm. "Something seems to be bothering you."

"I'm fine, Hermione," Harry replied. "Can we just drop this subject for now?"

"Of course, Harry. I'm here if you want to talk about it later."

Harry nodded his understanding, knowing that he wasn't going to talk to her about Snape if he could help it.

FIVE

Harry knocked on the thick wooden door, hoping that Snape wouldn't be there and he could just go back to his common room. He sighed heavily when he heard the sharp 'Come in!' on the other side of the door, pushing it open and seating himself quietly in front of Snape's desk.

Watching Snape, Harry wondered what made the man tick. His hair was long and greasy as ever, hanging limply in his face, shielding his eyes from scrutiny. He was watching Harry closely, as if hoping that he'd morph into someone else.

'Of course he wants me to be someone else,’ Harry thought. ‘Who would love me? I don't deserve anyone's love, not even his. After what's happened to the people around me, just because I exist. Sirius didn't have to die. He wouldn't have if only I had listened to Snape and learned the bloody Occlumency like he wanted.'

SIX

Severus watched Potter carefully as the silence in his office stretched on endlessly. The boy was observing him quietly, apparently scrutinizing his professor. Severus noticed the sad look in the boy's eyes, realizing that it wasn't something new. Potter's eyes had always held that sadness, that pain, only Severus had never really looked at the boy before. As he watched Potter now, he knew that he'd always seen that look there only he’d been too busy hating the boy to notice or care. What could have happened to make someone so young look so miserable?

"Erm, so what do we do now, sir?" Potter asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had descended on them.

"I am uncertain as to your meaning," Severus replied.

"I mean… well, did you get your proof?"

"I did. We wouldn't be here if I hadn't."

"So what do you want to do? We can't go back to the way things were. I don't think I could handle that."

"This isn't just about you , Potter."

Potter sighed. "I know that. You know, when I first came here, people always told me how much I reminded them of James, and how much I looked like him. I used to smile when they said that. I wanted to be like my parents, to have some kind of link to them aside from this scar on my forehead. Ever since last year, when I made the highly unwise, and illegal decision to look into your Pensieve, I realize that I don't want to be like James.

"What he did to you was just cruel, and I would never resort to such barbarism. I've never been more ashamed of anyone as I was of James when I saw what he did to you."

"You wouldn't have done the same to Mr. Malfoy then?" Severus asked skeptically, eyeing Potter quietly.

"No," he replied without hesitation. "Every confrontation I've ever had with him, he instigated. I don't look for trouble with him, but rather the other way around. I've traded words with Malfoy, but I've never tried to humiliate him. No one deserves to be treated that way. I'm sorry that James treated you that way, but please don't blame me for his stupidity. I wouldn't dream of treating anyone that way."

The oppressive silence returned as Severus considered the young man before him. Perhaps Albus' idea held some merit after all. "I think it would be prudent to begin Occlumency lessons again."

"Do you really think that's the best way to establish a relationship between us? We didn't get along very well the first time ‘round."

"I will make an attempt to be more civil towards you, but you must make an effort to learn what I am trying to teach you. You didn't even try last year. If we're going to do this, you must put forth the effort."

Potter lowered his head. "Yes, sir," he said softly.

"What is troubling you?" Severus asked, noting the change in attitude.

"I grew up with Muggles," Potter replied. "I haven't the slightest idea of how to clear my mind the way you kept insisting. Every time I tried, my mind would just fill up with thoughts I just couldn't get rid of."

Severus ran his finger lightly over his lip, thinking over what Potter had just told him. "We shall have to start there then," he said after a moment. "Meditation can be a wizard's best friend if done correctly. We will begin again on Monday evening."

"Am I still taking Remedial Potions?" Potter asked.

"I shall have to find a different excuse since you have already made it into N.E.W.T. level Potions. The Remedial Potions excuse won't work. I will think of something."

"I have an idea, if you'd like to hear it."

"I'm listening."

"I could do something excessively stupid in your class so you have an excuse to assign me detention for the rest of the year."

Severus blinked. That was an excellent idea. "Very well," he said. "Your next class with me is the day after tomorrow. Do it then."

Potter nodded. "I'll see you in class then, sir," he said, standing and moving to the door.

"Good night, Potter," Severus told him. Potter gave him a strange look.

"Good night, sir," he said after a moment, shaking his head as though to clear it. He left the office, closing the door gently behind him.

SEVEN

Harry walked slowly, his mind wrapped up in things he'd rather not think about. As he moved through the darkened corridors, he noticed a figure leaning against the wall ahead of him. He recognized the person as Draco Malfoy, his silhouette bathed in moonlight, making him look like one of the heroes in Aunt Petunia's ridiculous romance movies. The pale light glittered in Malfoy's platinum hair, his pale face shadowed handsomely as he watched Harry approach.

Harry pretended not to notice Malfoy as he passed, still deep in thought about the meeting he'd just had with his apparent father. Why the man insisted on calling him 'Potter' still, after having admitted that he thought the documents real baffled Harry; Snape didn't have to call him 'son' or anything so ludicrous, but was it really so much to ask for a simple 'Harry?’ Harry sighed, shaking his head in frustration, unable to come up with anything that could ease his mind.

"Ignoring me, Potter?" Malfoy asked from his spot by the wall as Harry passed.

Harry nodded absently, not feeling up for a confrontation at that moment. Malfoy grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around to face the irate Slytherin. "What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"What are you doing down in Slytherin territory so close to curfew?" Malfoy asked, sneering at Harry unpleasantly.

Harry stared at the blonde silently, unable to comprehend the immaturity that it must take to hold a grudge for so long. The only reason Harry disliked Malfoy so much was because the Slytherin insisted on acting like an idiot at every turn. Harry made the decision that he'd had enough of their rivalry at that moment. "Why do you care?" he asked, his tone remaining friendly.

"In case you've forgotten, Potter, you're a Gryffindor ," Malfoy sneered. "Has your fan club decided you're not worthy of its time?"

Anger rolled through Harry at the words 'fan club'. He'd had enough, and he was going to be sure that Malfoy knew it. He grabbed Malfoy's robes and pushed the boy forcefully against the wall he'd been leaning against. "Listen to me, Malfoy, and listen well," Harry hissed. "I've had enough of your petty hatred for me. There's no reason for it. If you're still peeved about the handshake from first year, get over it. I have the power and ability to make your life Hell, but I choose not to exercise that power."

He reached up a hand and ran his finger down Malfoy's jaw, amazed at the smoothness of the skin. "It's a shame," he muttered. "You're so beautiful to look at, but you're hideous on the inside. How can someone so beautiful be so ugly? I'm going to ignore your existence from now on, Malfoy. If you know what's good for you, you'll grant me the same courtesy. I'm tired of fighting with you when, frankly, I have more important things to worry about. Good night, Malfoy. Hopefully we won't have to relive this night." He pushed away from Malfoy, who was staring at him with undisguised fear, and resumed his walk to Gryffindor Tower.

EIGHT

Harry sighed deeply, doing his best to intentionally get his potion wrong. Luckily, some N.E.W.T. level Potions were done on an individual basis, so Hermione couldn't save his potion. He had to stop himself from smiling when the potion began to smoke, producing a most repugnant odor in the process.

"Potter!" Snape exclaimed, moving to Harry's desk in a flurry of billowing black robes. He doused the flame under Harry's cauldron with a wave of his wand, ladled a bit out, and then leveled a glare at Harry. "I would expect this level of incompetence from a first year, Potter, not from an N.E.W.T. level student!"

"Perhaps if you learned how to teach, Potions would be easier to learn," Harry replied, loud enough for the whole room to hear him.

"What did you say to me?" Snape asked, his voice dangerously low.

"I said if you were even a half competent teacher, I could learn something in here. As it is, you're completely in competent, and that makes it very difficult to brew a proper potion."

"Detention for a week, Potter, and fifty points from Gryffindor for your cheek."

"Only fifty, sir?" Harry asked, picking at his fingernails as though he didn't care what Snape was saying. "I thought you'd come up with new punishments by now. Honestly, detention is getting so boring! You're so predictable it's nearly frightening."

Snape's face was a very unpleasant red by now, causing Harry to smirk at him.

"You will learn respect, Potter," Snape hissed. "Detention for the rest of the year with me might help to instill that in you."

"A year!" Harry exclaimed, pretending to be surprised. "Are you insane? How am I supposed to do my homework?"

Snape sneered at him maliciously. "You might have thought of that before you caused a scene in my class. Get out. You get zero marks for the day."

Harry opened his mouth to retort, but Hermione kicked him under the desk from her place behind him. "Fine," he muttered, gathering his things and storming out of the room angrily. When the door closed behind him, he chuckled softly under his breath. He could just hear Hermione yelling at him after classes got out.

NINE

"Harry, what were you thinking?" Hermione raved in the common room that night. "I can't believe you did that! Snape is going to skin you alive when you go down for detention!"

"Is it true, then?" Ron asked eagerly. "I wish I could have been there to see Snape's face!"

"Don't you dare encourage him, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione shouted. "He'll be expelled next if he doesn't learn to control his temper!" She turned to Harry. "I'd assign you detention myself if Snape hadn't done that already!"

"Save it, Hermione," Harry interrupted. "I already have to spend the rest of the year in Snape's presence. Don't you think that's punishment enough?"

"Don't you dare complain, Harry Potter!" Hermione snapped. "You brought this on yourself!"

Harry sighed in what he hoped was a defeated fashion. "I know," he said. "I'll hold my tongue in the future, I promise."

"Be sure that you do, or you'll be serving double detentions!" With that, Hermione stormed up to the girls' dorms, Harry snickering behind her.

"I can't believe you're not in a worse mood," Ron said next to him. "I'd be seriously depressed if I had detention with Snape every night for the rest of the year."

Harry shrugged. "I'd better go before I'm late," he said, standing up and heading for the portrait hole. "See you."

"Bye mate," Ron replied with great gravity.

TEN

"Come in!" Severus barked when he heard the knock at his door. Potter entered, sitting in front of Severus' desk without waiting for an invitation. "That was a very brave display today, Potter," he said.

"It was all I could think of that would warrant this kind of punishment," Potter replied with a shrug.

"Hm," Severus replied. "It was adequate. Now, to work."

"Yes, sir," Potter said softly, obviously making an effort not to get on Severus' nerves.

"How much do you know about meditation?"

"Er, that it's called meditation."

Severus stared at the boy incredulously, wondering if he was actually serious. "I see," he said, running his finger lightly over his lip as he thought. He needed to start with the very basics to get Potter to an acceptable level of relaxation before they could make any progress with Occlumency. "Close your eyes."

Potter made a strange face before closing his eyes, as though wondering if Severus had gone mad.

"Breathe rhythmically," Severus instructed. "Concentrate on only your breathing."

Potter's breathing became cadenced.

"Picture something pleasant," Severus said softly. "A beach, a garden, the Quidditch pitch, it matters not."

Potter's face grew very relaxed as he did as he was instructed.

ELEVEN

Severus sighed as Potter left his quarters looking extremely relaxed. The meditation lesson had gone well, and Potter had instructions to practice at every free moment he found. He would begin with the actual Occlumency the next day. Severus moved to his desk to ponder the situation in which he currently found himself. He did not like Potter in the slightest, however he felt cheated whenever he thought about losing his only son to James Potter. He couldn't believe that Lily had had it in her to deceive him in a matter of such importance.

"I don't understand, Lily," he said to the empty office. "We loved each other so. How could you do this to me when you knew how much I wanted a child? I would have raised him. I would have treated him with the love and respect he deserved. Why couldn't you just tell me that I had a son? Was it so terrible that I left you to spy for Albus that you would take away my one hope for happiness?"

"Ya sound bitter," a woman said from the door. Severus looked up to see Airy leaning casually against the closed door, a sad expression upon her face.

"I hate it when you do that," he informed her, referring to her inhuman ability to enter a room without making a sound.

"I know," she said gently. "How are things with Harry?"

"Ambivalent," Severus deadpanned. "He is gutsy, I'll give him that."

"Oh? What did he do?"

"He talked back in class… rather forcefully, I might add."

"Why is that?"

"We needed an excuse for him to have detention every night so that I might continue tutoring him in Occlumency. I must say, Airy, that I find this entire situation extremely disconcerting. What made you keep this secret for so long after we lost Lily?"

"I'd promised her that I would never tell, so I did," Airy replied, a hint of regret entering her tone. "I never did it to hurt ya, Severus. Lily was the closest thing I had to family, so she was, and I felt that it would have been an insult to her memory to betray her trust in me." She was speaking at a more normal pace than she usually did, which indicated to Severus just the amount of despondency she felt at her circumstances.

"If that is the case, then why reveal the truth now? Why reveal it at all?"

"I knew how much ya always wanted children, Severus," Airy said, holding his gaze. "I felt so guilty for keeping this from ya for so long, and now I feel guilty for breaking Lily's confidence. I simply couldn't justify it anymore. Lily is gone, and both you and young Harry are left alone and unhappy. What would you have done?"

"I would have said something before now," Severus replied icily. "I do not take to deception well, Airy. You were one of my closest friends. I trusted you as much as I trusted Lily, but I can't ignore that you kept something like this from me. I hurt, Airy, more than you could possibly know. I hurt every time I look at him because he still looks just like James. I'm not so dense as to not realize what that means."

"Give him time, Severus. You've given him no reason to accept this right off, and you know it. You've made every effort since he's come here to make him hate ya. Ya canna undo that with one night of civility, so ya can't."

Severus sighed, casting his eyes toward his meticulously clean desk. "You think I don't know that, Airy?" he asked sadly. "What would you have done in my place? I loved Lily with all of my being. I was extremely disheartened to learn that a man that I should have been able to consider an ally, at the very least, had impregnated her. It felt as though I had been cast aside without a second thought from either of them. Harry should have been mine. She should have told me the moment she knew that she was pregnant. Didn't she know that I would have turned away from spying the moment I knew about it?"

"Ya have to consider her point of view, Severus. She didn't understand why ya left her. She didn't understand why ya couldn't have stayed with her and spied for Albus at the same time. She was hurt, and confused when she married James. All she knew was that she couldn't let her son be seen as a bastard by the wizarding world. He needed a father to take his name from. She didn't think ya wanted to have that distinction any more."

"Then she didn't know me as well as I had hoped," Severus said sadly. "I will make my sincerest attempt to repair things between Harry and myself, but I am not a patient man. Perhaps it was better, in the end that he grew up away from me. It would have been a terrible disservice to him if he had grown to become the man that I have become."

"Yer a very brave and noble man, Severus," Airy assured softly. "And I'm sorry to have wronged ya so. All I can hope is that the damage can be undone with time. Please be gentle with him, Severus. He's been through so much so fast, I'm afraid that he's not as stable as he pretends to be. He needs to know that his father cares for him, if only a little."

"You do not realize what you ask, Airy," Severus sighed. "It will take a great amount of effort from both sides. I do not know that he wants to have a father if it means that I must be it. Perhaps he's happier believing that he's Potter's spawn. I know I would be."

"Tha's nonsense, Severus. Don' sell yerself short."

"How did you get in here?" Severus asked suddenly. He'd been under the impression that Albus had altered the wards around the school to prevent Airy from entering.

"I'm not without my tricks, so I'm not," she replied evasively. "I needed to make sure that the both of ya are gonna be all right."

Severus nodded. "It says something about you that you would risk Albus' wrath by coming here, and I commend your bravery."

She shrugged. "Ya tend to lose some of your inhibitions when you've lost everything."

Severus nodded again, saddened for his friend. He'd known her since they were both first years at Hogwarts, and he couldn't think of anyone he would wish her fate on. "Ravenclaws and Slytherins have always been alike in that way," he said.

"So they have," she agreed. "Might I ask a favor of ya?"

"Of course."

"I'm wantin' to see Harry during the day, maybe this weekend. Could ya make me the potion?"

"If I recall correctly, you were quite the potion maker during your time here."

"You'll find that most people are reluctant to sell me the ingredients I need," she replied.

"I see," Severus said. "Give me a week, Airy. I'll have it for you next Friday."

She nodded her understanding. "I'll be goin' now. I haven't ate today, so I haven't. Sleep well, Severus."

"Have a good night, Airy," Severus replied. With that, she was gone, the slowly closing door the only indication that she had ever been there. Severus watched the closed door silently for some time, wondering if he could talk Albus into letting her visit openly once he'd given her the potion. If only Albus was as opened minded about her people as he was about everything else.

TWELVE

Airy moved through London like a shadow, none of the Muggles even noticing her as she passed. She was grateful for her magical abilities remaining intact after she'd turned. She didn't know what she would have done without at least her ability to Apparate.

She sighed, shaking her head to clear it. She didn't understand how she had remained so human for so long, but she sincerely hoped that it would always remain so. The situation with Severus and Harry weighed heavily on her heart; it had done since the day Lily had asked her to perform the spell. Sighing again, she pushed open the door of a small clinic.

The sterile scent of the place bombarded her immediately, reminding her why she never came here. Clinics were terrible, unnatural places that Airy liked to avoid whenever possible. She hated the necessity that had brought her here.

"May I help you?" the young man behind the desk asked. Airy groaned inwardly; another bloody new receptionist.

"Is Dr. Kotzin in?" she asked in the most pleasant voice she knew. She ambled up to the reception desk, leaning against it just so, her ample cleavage showing clearly for the young man to see.

"Er, certainly," he said softly, forcing his eyes away from her chest. "Just a moment." He rose from his seat, disappearing into the heart of the clinic. A moment later, he came back, followed by a tall man with deep black hair, and dark stunning features.

"Arêthüsa," the man said pleasantly, coming around the desk to shake her hand. "It's been awhile. I hope everything is all right."

"I'm doin' fine, Scott," she replied, smiling warmly at her long time friend. "Ya got time fer a chat?"

"Of course," Scott replied, turning to lead her to his small office. "My last patient just left. I was getting ready to close up, in fact." He unlocked the office, turning on the lights as he made his way to his desk. The office was small, appearing very bright to Airy's sensitive eyes due to the florescent lighting. There was a large, immaculate oak desk near the window in the center of the room, two large bookcases to the right, and framed licenses and awards around the walls. She closed the door behind her, casting a silencing spell before seating herself in one of the large leather chairs. Scott sat in the seat next to her, fixing her with his curious gaze.

"How's business?" Airy asked lightly.

"Fine," Scott replied. "Is everything all right, Arêthüsa?"

"I've told ya to call me Airy, Scott," Airy admonished.

Scott waved away her irritation. "What brings you here? Has the Bank stopped working?"

"No, nothing like that," Airy replied. "I've just had a rough day, and I wanted to see an old friend."

Scott looked at her searchingly for a moment before saying, "What's happened today to make you so sad?"

"Am I really that easy to read?"

"Only if you know what to look for."

Airy sighed heavily. "I've been to see Severus," she said. "He never gets easier to deal with, no matter the time that's passed."

"Severus Snape? I was under the impression that you hadn't seen him for some years. Sixteen, if I'm not mistaken."

"No, yer not mistaken about that." She paused for a moment, thinking about all the years of pain she could have spared Severus and Harry if she'd only ignored her pesky sense of honor. "I've told him about Harry."

Scott's eyebrows rose in surprise, his dark eyes searching for some explanation in Airy's expression. "I thought you'd never break your promise, no matter what."

"I know that's what I said," Airy replied. "It became too much of a burden, so it did. I couldn't take it anymore, so I told them both the truth of things."

Scott whistled. "That couldn't have gone down well," he said.

Airy shook her head. "That's puttin' it lightly. Severus exploded at me something fierce. I've never seen him so angry."

"You did hide his only son from him, Arêthüsa. Surely you expected it?"

"I did, but that doesn't make it sit easier with me. I hate what I've done. I hate that Lily put this on my shoulders. She knew I'd never say no to her, and she took advantage of it."

"She was frightened and all alone, Airy. What would you have done?"

"I certainly wish people would stop asking me that," Airy muttered, putting her face in her hands. "I don't know what I'd have done, Scott. I'll never have children, so I honestly can't say I'll ever find out."

"I understand, Airy," Scott said sympathetically. "You did the right thing in telling them. You never should have kept it secret for this long. It'll be better for all involved this way, Airy, you'll see."

Airy looked at her friend quietly. "Thank ya, Scott," she said after a moment. "Yer quiet council means more to me than you'll ever know."

Scott smiled his pleasant smile, patting Airy's arm gently. He rose to get a drink from a cabinet under his desk. "I'd offer you a drink, but well you know."

Airy smiled. Scott's antics always lightened her mood, no matter how down she felt. She wondered briefly why she'd waited so long to come see him. It was a shame he was a human though; he would have made a wonderful companion.




Author’s Note: Many thanks to Katy for beta reading for me. She’s such a big help, you’ll never know. Hehehehe. I’d also like to explain why things are taking longer than they should. I have carpel tunnel pretty bad in my left wrist and it’s been flaring up a lot recently, so typing has become difficult. I’m going to look into getting the Dragon Speech software, but funds are tight right now, so I don’t know how long that will take. I thank you for your patience with me.