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Stone Angels	By : StarlightSoul Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 12377 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Disclaimer-
Harry potter, all associated characters, and places belong to JK Rowling.

Author�s Notes-
It seems I�m going to be sticking with the longer chapters. For those people
that have been requesting regular progress updates on Stone Angels, you can go
to my Live Journal. Just remove the spaces.
http:// www .live journal .com /users /starlight_soul/

Stone Angels

For the Love of a Child

Pansy paced the length of her study
like a caged lion. Her hair and clothes were immaculately done as befit her
station. Her face was tear stained though and her eyes red from crying. The
rustling and shifting of her burgundy robes masked the effects of the
Cruciatus.

�Pansy,� said her mother as she
walked in, �what did she have to say?�

Pansy turned to her mother. �I have
to find Draco.�

�What exactly did she say?�
demanded the elder woman.

�Draco ran away but I don�t believe
her story about it being a silly tantrum. She did something to him that made
him run.� Pansy began pacing once again.

�What did she do to you, you�re
moving stiffly?� She questioned. When she received no answer she turned angrily
to her daughter. �Pansy Marie Parkinson answer my
question.�

�She used Cruciatus on me, I�ll be
fine,� she sighed.

�Pansy?� called a voice from the
fire.

�Come on through, Blaise,� said
Pansy�s mother. �Bring your mother if she�s free.�

�Yes, Ma�am,� replied Blaise. A
moment later he stepped through with his mother.

Blaise leaned heavily on his
mother�s arm and tremors wracked his strong frame. His mother, with her long
dark hair and bright green eyes, was pale.

�Blinky!�
called Pansy�s mother.

�Yes, Missus,� inquired the small
elf.

�Bring us two pain potions, two
healing potions, and tea for six. First summon Violet for us.� She waited until
Blinky was gone to continue, �What did you learn?�

�It�s worse than we thought, Willow,�
began Blaise�s mother, �She wishes Draco to take her husband�s place in every
way.�

�He�s already refused to take the
mark once,� said Pansy, �He�s the reason we all got out of it two years ago.�

�Maria, it�s time,� said Willow
Parkinson though tears shined in her eyes.

�I know,� responded the dark haired
woman, �We must find Draco too.�

�What are you talking about?� asked
Pansy. She took a step towards Blaise.

�We don�t want you to become Death
Eaters,� explained Maria Zabini, �We have a way to help you escape.�

�How, Mother?� asked Pansy, �He
keeps us on such a short leash.� To prove her point she pulled on the necklace
that kept her in the house.

�Mother, you wanted to see me?� A
young girl with ebony curls stepped into the room.

�Violet, come have tea with us. We
have some things to discuss,� said Willow
gently.

�What are you planning Mother?�
asked Blaise. The tray of tea and potions appeared and he plucked two off the
potions up. Handing two of them to Pansy he returned for his own.

�You�re both of Age,� began Maria
softly, �We�ll move your inheritance. Willow
can have the ceremony secretly. Once it�s finished we�ll move your inheritance
into an account that only you can access.�

�Lastly, I�ll sign all custody of
Violet over to you, Pansy.� Willow Parkinson refused to look at her daughters.

�Mommy?� questioned Violet. Tears
were evident in her voice and eyes though her cheeks were dry.

Willow�s
head snapped up at the hurt in her daughter�s voice, �I�m sorry, Violet, but
it�s the only way. I can�t protect you here. At Hogwarts, Pansy and Blaise will
be able to get help.�

�But they will kill you!� she
cried.

�No, Violet, they won�t,� Replied
Maria hollowly.

�They don�t dare anger the Dark
Lord.� Both women touched the serpent pendants that marked them as belongings
of Voldemort. Not event heir Husbands could touch them. Willow
continued sadly, �You should understand that we are very much Slytherin. Pansy
and Blaise understand what that means but you will learn. I do this because
first and foremost I am your mother. It is not our way to say it but I love
you. I will not see you be destroyed by a madman.�

�How Mother?� asked Pansy, as
desperate edge making it�s way into her voice, �How can we make this work?�

�We�ll need help. She offered us
help once; maybe she�ll help you instead.� Will approached the fire and tossed
the Floo powder in, �Serenity Snape.�

Serenity Snape reclined happily in
an overstuffed armchair. On the floor, by her feet, lay a menacing dog with
piercing silver blue eyes. She was just about to pick up a book when her fire
flashed green.

�Serenity, are you there?� She was
relieved to see the face of Willow Parkinson.

�Good morning, Willow.
Would you like to come through?� she offered with a smile.

�I can�t,� began the distressed
woman, �Would it be possible for you to come here?�

Sensing how upset the other woman
was, she placed her book on the table, �Do you mind if I bring Lobeta along?�

�Not at all, bring her,� gushed the
worried woman.

With a nod of acknowledgment,
Serenity Snape picked up Lobeta�s lead and they walked through the open
connection. The atmosphere of the room she entered triggered her instincts as a
healer.

�Serenity,� Willow
began hesitantly, �You offered to help us once��

�The offer will not expire.� She
quickly checked each person in the room for injuries. �Tell me what you need.�

�Help us get the Children out,�
began Maria, �We�re in too deep to escape. We can still save them though. If we
can get them to Severus or Albus, they would be safe.�

�Has something been done to prevent
you from leaving?� asked Serenity suspiciously.

�Pansy can�t leave without his
permission. Violet will be free of the tethers until her birthday in three
days,� responded Willow.

�Okay,� said Serenity softly, �show
me how he tethers you here.�

Pansy removed the necklace from her
shirt. Without touching it Serenity examined it closely. After a moment, she
turned her dark eyes on the young woman�s brown ones.

�Do you remember what he did when
he up this on you?� questioned Serenity.

�No, Ma�am,� answered Pansy.

�I wasn�t allowed at the Ceremony,�
explained Willow.

�They obliviated
her,� Violet spoke up though her voice trembled, �I saw men in robes and masks.
They were dragging Pansy out of bed. She was screaming and crying.� Violet
wrapped her arms around her small frame before continuing, �I climbed on top of
the book case and no one noticed me. Father cut his hand and her hand. He mixed
the blood with the silver. The Dark Lord made the pendant and then used
Imperius. She had to put it on with her own hands. Father promised us to him.�

�Do you remember the spell? Do you
remember the exact words?� inquired Serenity.

�I�ve never heard anything like it,�
she tried to explain; �His voice sounded funny, all breathy and long.�

�It�s impossible to remove them.�
Maria dropped her head into her hands.

�What do you know?� asked Serenity.

�I know what Violet was describing.
The Dark Lord is a Parsletongue. The only way to release her is for a
Parsletongue to do it. Voldemort�s the only one.�

�No, he�s not,� proclaimed Blaise,
�Harry Potter is a Parsletongue. I heard him in second year. He would help us,
I�m sure of it.�

Pansy looked up stunned, �Maybe
Draco went to him. I don�t believe that he ran away because he didn�t get his
way.�

�That doesn�t sound like Draco.� A
line creased Serenity�s brow, �If something happened he would go to Severus. Willow,
may I use some parchment and a quill?�

Willow
nodded and retrieved the requested items. They watched in silence as she wrote
a quick letter. Once she was finished, she rolled it and put it in the silver
tube attached to Lobeta�s collar.

�Take it to Severus Snape and wait
for a reply.� She watched as the large dog disappeared before returning her
attention to the two older women. �How long do we have before your husbands
return?�

�There is a raid tonight. They
won�t return until morning,� replied Willow.

�Good,� stated Serenity, �Go and
pack anything you are taking with you. Pansy, dear, I want you to pack as well.
Do not involve the House Elves; they will be forced to tell your Fathers unless
they are bound solely to you. Maria, Willow,
go to Gringotts and ask for Bill Weasley. He will know
what to do to. Have him create an account for each child. Tell him to create
Violet�s so it can�t be touched until she�s seventeen.�

�Come on, Violet,� said Pansy
quietly, �I�ll help you choose what to pack.�

�Blaise, you�ll need to go and pack
as well. My son should be here very soon, so don�t leave anything you may want
later.� Serenity surveyed the people around her, her Muggle psychology evaluating
each child. �Why don�t I help Violet so you can pack.�

~*~

Hermione reverently ran her finger
along the spines of the books. In the day since her arrival she had proven her
knowledge and passed the pre-test for Apparation. Madam Hooch, in her stunned
shock, declared her prepared.

�Hermione,� asked Snape, �Are you
ready to explore the Potions lab in the dungeon?�

�Yes, Professor,� she replied with
a sigh. When she turned around, she saw a large dog with icy blue eyes behind
him. �Professor!�

Snape spun to face the source of
her distress, �All is well, Miss Granger. It is only Lobeta, my mother�s
messenger and companion.�

�I thought that the apparation
wards were securely in place. How did she get in?�

�Lobeta is a very rare magical
creature,� explained Severus, �Like a phoenix, apparation barriers do not stop
them.� He deftly removed a small scroll from the silver tube. While he read the
note, the dog-like creature kept staring at her. Its eyes felt as though they
stared straight into her soul and Hermione didn�t dare look away. After a
dizzying staring contest, Lobeta blinked and moved to nuzzle her hand.

�Do you know where Harry and Draco
are?� asked Snape seriously.

�They�re with Professor Lupin and
Bill cleaning out the training room next to the lab. What�s wrong?� asked
Hermione.

�Would you please retrieve Minerva
from the third floor? When everyone is here I will explain.� He stalked off in
the direction of the stairs without waiting for her reply.

Hermione simply sighed and ascended
the spiraled library staircase. She was nearly halfway when she heard someone
coming towards her from above.

�Professor McGonagall,� called
Hermione.

�Did you need something, Hermione?�
Minerva asked as she came around the bend.

�Professor Snape needs us on the
first floor. Lobeta brought a message and it seemed to distress him.�

�What makes you think it distressed
him?� Minerva asked skeptically.

�He called you Minerva and used
Harry and Draco�s first names as well,� She answered.

�Did he say why he needed me
there?� asked Minerva.

�No, he rushed off to retrieve
Harry and Draco.� She stepped off the last step and turned to face Minerva
McGonagall.

�We�re probably going to hear
Narcissa�s explanation for Draco�s absence.�

�I wish it was something so simple,
Minerva,� interrupted Snape, �Willow Parkinson and Maria Zabini called upon
Mother earlier today. Narcissa went to each residence in search of Draco. She
questioned Pansy and Blaise with the Cruciatus. They are fine but trying to
escape. The only way for them to escape is for them to come here until the year
begins. Bill has already returned to Gringotts to help Willow
and Maria transfer funds for them. Mother is helping the children pack but
Pansy needs Mr. Potters help to escape. Her father has placed a necklace on her
to prevent her from leaving. The Dark Lord locked it with the promise of the
girls being given to him.�

�Why do you need me to unlock it?�
asked Harry.

�Violet described a spell spoken in
Parsletongue. There are only three ways to get it off; the password in
Parsletongue, her death, or a highly poisonous potion that will take too long
to brew,� replied Snape.

�Let�s go then,� Harry said.

�Minerva?� questioned Snape.

�It�s up to him,� admitted the
taciturn woman, �I would, however, suggest that you utilize your cloak.�

�Uncle Severus, Please let me go
too,� said Draco, �they�re my best friends and Violet is like a sister to me.�

�He can use my other cloak,�
offered Harry.

�Go get them, Now,� ordered Snape
before he turned to Hermione and Minerva, �Minerva, I�d like to talk to Mother
about talking to all of the students here. You know she has a degree in Muggle
Psychology and I�d like her to talk to at least Potter and Draco.�

Hermione looked down, letting her
eyelashes hide her eyes, �I� I think it�s a good idea. I� I think we should all
talk to her.�

�Set it up, Severus. She�s already
part of the Order and she helped us once before. I�ll work things out with
Albus. Go get them; we won�t turn anyone away that refuses to join Voldemort.�

�Bring them here, Professor. They
are welcome here,� stated Hermione evenly, �Though no one else knows it, Pansy
and I have been friends since sixth year.�

�We�re ready, Uncle Severus,�
sighed Draco�s voice from behind Hermione�s left shoulder.

�Be safe,� whispered Hermione as
the three of them left for the Floo room. �Professor, what did you find on the
fourth floor of the Library?�

�It was mostly texts on healing. I
suggest we have Molly take a look and possibly Serenity when she comes. She�s a
Healer for St. Mungo�s.�

~*~

Serenity Snape worked fast as she
helped Violet pack. The young girl, wrapped in her formal clothes and pureblood
lessons, trembled with the effort to suppress her tears. Her ocean green eyes
held within their depth the fears of a child loosing everything she�s ever
known. It broke Serenity�s heart to see such a young girl face so much without a
single tear.

�Madam Snape, I�m finished
packing.� Pansy stood in the doorway holding what appeared to be two small
jewelry boxes. She had changed into Muggle jeans and a tank
top, with robes pulled overtop, and her long hair was braided tightly.

�We�re nearly finished here.�

�Violet, why don�t you change into
the Muggle clothes Blaise brought for you last week,� suggested Pansy softly.

�Muggle clothes?� questioned
Serenity as the last of Violet�s belonging filled the boxes.

�Blaise and I originally planned to
disappear into the Muggle world. We were going to take her with us and travel
to the United States.�
Pansy watched as Serenity shrank the two boxes. Before Serenity could do
anymore, Pansy placed a rune covered stone on the dresser causing an illusion
to cover the room. �He will think we�ve gone unprepared this way.�

�Will Mother return before we
leave?� asked Violet as she entered. She was dressed in jeans and a cute pink
top.

�I don�t know, Honey,� replied
Pansy.

�Mother, are you here?� Severus
Snape�s voice rang through the hall.

Serenity ushered the two girls back
towards the study where Lobeta apparated from. When they arrived they were
slightly stunned to see Harry Potter standing beside Draco Malfoy.

�Violet, Pansy, are you alright?�
asked Draco. Worry was written on his pale face.

�We�ll survive now,� answered
Pansy.

When she moved to hug him, he
couldn�t help but flinch, �I�m sorry, Pansy Love. I just� I don�t want to be
touched right now.�

�Draco�� she began, realization
dawning in her brown eyes.

�Pansy, may I see the necklace?�
said Professor Snape changing the subject.

When she pulled it out, a barely
audible hiss was heard, �what are my orders?�

Harry looked closely at the snake
before replying in Parsletongue, �Release her.�

To Harry�s surprise, the necklace
dropped from around her throat and Draco caught it in a black silk cloth,
�We�ll save this for later, and that project we have to work on.�

�Madam Snape,� cried Blaise as he
stumbled out of the fire place, �We should go as soon as possible. Fathers
House Elf wouldn�t stop asking questions. I had to threaten her with clothes
just to lock my bedroom door to pack it up.�

�Did you put the illusion stone in
place?� asked Pansy.

�Yeah, but she promised to tear it
down. I just took my things and ran.� Blaise tried to hide the trembling in his
limbs but was unsuccessful.

�How long did she have you under
Cruciatus?� questioned Severus upon seeing his trembling.

�I�m not sure, maybe four or five
minutes.�

�Alright,� Severus began, �Everyone
in the fireplace. Hold on tightly to one another.� He removed some Floo powder
and wrapping one arm around his mother, he threw the powder down, �Rose Haven.�

When they stumbled from the
fireplace at Rose Haven, they were instantly ushered out of the private room,
across the entrance hall, and into a comfortable sitting room. The chairs they
were each given were soft and comfortable. The room was filled with hustle and
bustle as Mrs. Weasley rushed about checking each of them over. Once the red
haired woman was finished, Pansy was feeling very overwhelmed. Violet sat in an
overstuffed chair across from her, her knees pulled up to her chest as she
fought her tears.

�Pansy,� said Hermione softly.

�Hermione, what are you doing
here?� asked the dazed girl.

�This is my home,� replied Hermione
shyly, �We just moved in yesterday.�

�Oh,� replied the brown eyed girl.

�Why don�t we find you a room,
Pansy,� said Hermione in a worried colored voice.

�Find me a room?�

�You don�t choose rooms in Rose
Haven, they choose you. The house has a funny sense of humor. It paired Harry
and Draco to share a bathroom and a common room.� Hermione put her arm around
the girl and helped her to her feet.

�Hi,� Arianna greeted the nearly
forgotten little girl.

�Hi,� She replied dejectedly.

�I�m Arianna, What�s your name?�

�I�m Violet,� replied the girl.

�Do you want to find your room?�
asked the Arianna, �Maybe you�ll share a common room with me.�

�How old are you?� asked Violet.
She stood up and took Arianna�s hand.

�I�m Eleven.
I�m starting at Hogwarts this year.�

�Me too, but I don�t turn eleven
for two more days.�

~*~

Draco waited silently in the
background for news on his friend. As they stumbled out of the Floo, the only
thing keeping Blaise Zabini on his feet was his stubborn streak. Molly Weasley
had been waiting though and each one was checked over with a quick but
efficient spell. The most of her attention immediately focused on the dark
haired boy.

�Severus, take him directly up to
bed, I�ll follow shortly,� ordered Molly, �Hermione dear will you take care of
the two girls please. Harry, Remus said he�s sorry he couldn�t stay longer but
he has some things that he must finish before the start of term. He�ll try to
be back before then but he loves you and will owl you later. I�m sorry, Madam
Snape, but I must tend to Blaise. Minerva is in the library third floor, she
can explain as much as I can.�

Severus Snape resorted to carrying
Blaise when his exhaustion became evident. To his amazement, the doors before
them seemed to open of their own accord. Up the first flight of stairs, to the
left, and next door to Harry and Draco, Blaise found his room. Severus laid him
gently on the bed just as Molly entered.

�He said he was under the curse for
four or five minutes, so add two. I have to speak with Mother about staying to
talk with the students. Let me know how he is, please.�

�Mrs. Weasley?� questioned Draco as
soon as his godfather left, �Is Blaise going to be okay?�

�He just needs to rest and a couple
of potions to ease the pain,� she answered. She turned just in time to see the
young man flee the room.

My fault. If I hadn�t run away he would never have had to face that. Not from
her. He�s my friend; I was supposed to protect him. As he left Blaise�s
common room, he turned left into his common room and into his bedroom. He made
sure, as he entered the bathroom, to lock door to Potters bedroom before he
leaned against the sink. I should have
gone to Dumbledore sooner. Last year, before all of this happened. With
trembling hands, he took the knife from his pocket and rolled up his left
sleeve. The pale skin was flawless until he ran the blade across it. He watched
in rapt fascination as the blood rushed to the surface. It wasn�t a deep cut or
even a long one but as the blood dribbled down his arm he felt his calm
returning. After a few minutes, and a sigh of resignation, he took out his wand
and healed the skin.

~*~

Serenity Snape walked with a
silence most associated with her son as she crossed the black marble floor of
the library. Once she reached the center, she carefully examined the gold and
burgundy seal. She examined it closely for only a moment before making her way
to the gilded spiral staircase that lead to the next floor. On the next level,
she made her way towards the center of the room only to come up against a rail.
From the edge she could look down upon the first level and see the rose design
the shelves created. With a sigh, she took one final glance before returning to
the gilded stair and entering the third level.

�Minerva, are you here?� she
inquired as she entered the well lit floor.

�Serenity, it�s so good to see
you,� greeted Minerva before sweeping her friend into a hug. �The children
traveled without issue, I hope.�

�Molly is with Blaise right now. He
kept up a good front for me,� she replied.

�Would you like some tea?� asked
Minerva leading Serenity to a table and chairs.

�Yes, thank you,� accepted Serenity
before turning to business, �Molly said that you would tell me more about
what�s happening. Honestly, Minnie, they are involving children.�

�I know, Reni. I fear that this war
will be fought by children. Harry Potter is only seventeen and we depend on him
to destroy a madman,� Minerva said in distress, �I�m actually very glad you�re
here. Has Severus had time to talk to you?�

�I was just coming to speak with
you,� interrupted Severus, �Mother, how are you?�

�I�m well, Severus, I only wish we
were together under better circumstances.� She moved to give him a slight hug
despite his dislike of public shows of affection.

�That is something I wish to speak
with you about, Mother.� Severus was grim as the house elf brought their tea.

�Is it about Draco?� she asked
seriously, �His reaction to Pansy worried me.�

�All of the children in this house
are here under disturbing circumstances, Reni.� She prepared their tea
distractedly, �It�s been a difficult summer. You know that Arthur Weasley was
killed in a Death Eater raid.�

�I heard that he saved the children
in the orphanage.�

�He did,� Severus sighed, �I was
unable to return in time to save him.�

�Severus, you can�t save everyone,�
said his mother placing a hand on his arm.

�Would you be willing to stay and
speak with the students?� asked Severus changing the subject.

�What am I facing?� she asked
cautiously.

�More than I could have imagined,�
admitted Severus. He sipped his tea before continuing, �Hermione and Arianna
were locked in a basement, beaten, and poisoned. Arianna has been poisoned for
at least five years. Their Father was going to try to get them out but their
Mother killed him. Hermione has refused to speak of it since initially relaying
the story to me.�

�I don�t know her yet but what was
your assessment of her then?� asked Serenity worriedly.

�She was distraught. Hermione is a
brilliant student, but she is so completely terrified of the dungeon now that
she panics,� answered Severus.

�How badly?�

�Complete panic attack,� answered
Minerva.

�What about Arianna?� asked
Serenity as she mentally noted their responses.

�She was ill enough from the Fairy
Caps that she has very little memory of it. She had some initial fear of the
dungeons but we were able to over come it.�

�I�ll most definitely need to speak
with them,� affirmed Serenity. �What about the other students?�

�Draco�s situation is touchy,�
began Severus.

�He�s like a grandson to me, Severus.
I can only guess what made him run. I only know for certain that Draco has too
level a head to run in temper.�

The door to leading towards the bedrooms
where Pansy and Blaise were sleeping opened to reveal Hermione Granger. Her
face was pale and her hands trembling. As she approached, Severus moved to pull
out a chair for her. Once she was seated, she dropped her head in her hands and
rubbed her eyes.

�Hermione?� asked Severus.

�I�m sorry,� She sat up straight
and extended her hand to Serenity Snape, �Welcome to Rose Haven, Madam Snape.�

�Thank you, but please, call me
Serenity.� She studied the girl before her with a professional eye.

�Where did Pansy and Violet end
up?� asked Severus redirecting the conversation.

�Pansy�s sharing a common room with
Blaise. Violet is with Arianna. Pansy is sleeping; Mrs. Weasley gave her a
sleep draught. She was going to check on Blaise one last time before joining
us. Draco was very upset but decided to go help Harry finish clearing out the
room in the dungeon.� She bit her lip for a moment before continuing, �Will you
stay and help us?�

Serenity assessed the young woman
again, her first assessment sinking gracelessly beneath the water of the
question, �Do you believe I�m needed?�

�Yes,� she answered, �Harry and
Draco worry me the most. Draco has lost the spark that he�s always had. He used
to be self assured and he�s lost that. Harry is just Harry. He�s faced too much
for someone our age. He still blames himself for the deaths of Cedric and
Sirius. He�s worried about his Aunt too. They�ve only had one another to depend
on for the last two months. Pansy�s mother planed to secretly have her marry
Blaise and sign over custody of Violet to them. She�s scared for her mother and
what she has to do. She says that she�s seen what happens when Voldemort�s toys
upset or bore him.�

�Do not judge them for what they
do, Hermione,� warned Severus darkly.

�I don�t judge her or any of the
women that go to his bed,� Hermione snapped at him, �Survival blurs the lines
of right and wrong, Professor Snape. What they do in order to survive is their
choice. What they did for their children defines who they are.�

�And what, Miss Granger, would you
do to survive?� asked Severus.

�A lot of things, Professor,� she
spoke clearly, never letting her eyes waver from his.

�Like the DA?� he questioned.

�The DA was the very beginning,�
she replied defiantly, �I�ve been studying spells and several other types of
magic. I�ve created several spells that are ready for testing.�

�It�s dangerous to create spells,�
said Minerva stunned.

�We need an edge if we are going to
win this war.�

�I do hope you�ve been working on
spells that are more than just defensive,� sneered Severus.

�Several of them border on dark,�
she replied with a straight face.

�Before we get any further off
track,� interrupted Serenity, �let�s finish what we started. Severus, I�ll
help. I need to return home and retrieve several things.�

�What made you decide to stay?�
asked Minerva softly.

�She did,� Serenity sighed, �Severus,
would you walk me to the Floo, please.

�Certainly,
Mother.�

Hermione watched as Severus Snape
helped his mother up, offered his arm, and walked her from the room. Once they
were out of sight, she turned to Professor McGonagall, �They look so much a
like.�

�Yes, of all of her children he�s
the most like her,� replied Minerva.

~*~

Serenity Snape studied her son as
they walked down the stairs. His baby fine hair was long and hanging in his
face. What she could see of his skin was pale and his eyes lacked the luster
she knew should be there.

�How have you been, Severus?� She
asked softly.

�As well as can be expected,� he
replied in his usual manner.

�It�s taking its toll on you. Do
you always act like this, so cold and distant?� she questioned in concern.

�It�s easier to keep up the fa�ade all
the time,� he admitted softly. �There are always people who watch me. During
the school term there are even spies among the students. If I only wear one
face, there is less chance of failure.�

�I understand, but, Severus, don�t
forget who you are. As much as it hurts, as much as you blame yourself for what
happened, there was nothing you could do.� Stopping in front of the huge
fireplace, she reached up and touched his face, �Don�t deny yourself
happiness because of one mistake made twenty years ago.�

�I�ll see you when you return,
Mother.� He knelt down next to Lobeta, �Protect her. If anyone enters the
grounds, bring her directly here.�

�Is that necessary?� she asked in
annoyance.

�Yes.� He kissed her cheek before
offering the Floo powder.
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Stone Angels