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Ival Pythonica	By : MistressMalfoy2 Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 10032 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- 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
- 19
- 20
- 21
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter, any of its characters, etc. They are all the property of J.K. Rowling. For no profit of any kind, I am simply borrowing her characters for a short while. Only the Original Character of Megan Malfoy is my own, though her last name is borrowed from J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Readers, in this chapter you shall see another side of Lucius Malfoy but if you have read my story so far, then you know: in my version of the Magical World anything is possible! Also, I alternately capitalized ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ in different ways. If it is as a term or in conversation, it is lower-case but if Megan is addressing one of her parents the word is capitalized for significance as if it were a name such as ‘Severus.’

Megan looked around the room struggling to breathe in the rising level of tension in the room. Snape stood slightly behind and to Megan’s right, his arms folded across his chest and his face utterly annoyed. Lupin also stood slightly behind Megan but to her left. Lupin’s arms were at his side but his jaw was set firm and his eyes burned with defiance. Sirius had come to stand directly behind Megan. His hands were folded in front of him and a disgusted glare flared from his eyes at Lucius. Normally having the three men who cared about her the most in this world flanking her would be comforting. Right now, facing her infuriated father, she felt penned in, like there wasn’t enough oxygen. Megan closed her eyes and took shaky deep breaths.

‘I cannot do this. I cannot.’ Megan thought, fighting the urge to run again.

‘Yes, you can. Stop being so terrified of him, Megan. Say and feel whatever you need to but do let this man intimidate you. We both know if you can fight me, then you can fight your father.’ Snape’s voice sounded sharply in her head.

Megan opened her eyes and saw Snape glaring at her. She nodded and turned to her father.

“Father, I am glad to see you up and doing better. How are you feeling?”

“My daughter nearly broke every bone in my body, electrocuted me and bled me to death. She is also fucking a werewolf and my best friend, whose child she is now carrying, all against her will. How do you think I feel right now?” Lucius snarled in a harsh whisper.

“Lucius, really, is name calling truly necessary?” Lupin asked with an exasperated sigh.

“You do not dare address me by my first name, as if we have some sort of friendly acquaintance! Or do you believe having carnal delights with my daughter suddenly makes us great friends?” Lucius’ face was pure disgust.

“Well, well. It would seem the great Lucius Malfoy is still the biggest bastard walking. And to think I thought a distressed daughter on the brink of death and motherhood would show you had a heart after all. Glad to see I wasn’t disappointed.” Sirius face was twisted into a dark grimace.

“You!” Lucius jabbed a finger in Sirius’ direction. “You have no right to even exist, let alone speak to me in such a manner. If I could get away with it I would have wiped you off this Merlin-forsaken planet a long time ago. To think, Voldemort thought keeping you alive was a good idea to protect that half-breed, groveling rat.” Lucius practically spat the words out in fury.

Megan winced at the mention of Peter Pettigrew, Sirius’ and Lupin’s one-time best friend. Megan could feel Snape’s inward flinched at the reference as well. She snuck a glance at Lupin and Sirius who were each sad and shocked in turn. Sirius fist had become balled up at his sides and Lupin was trying to stay calm but his jaw was clenching and unclenching.

“I see I hit a nerve.” Lucius’ face broke into sick smirk.

“Lucius, we did not come here to engage in a contest of who can bait who into an argument the quickest. I think you have lost sight of the important matters at the heart of this situation. Megan needs . . .” Snape spoke calmly but sternly.

“I do not need you to tell me what my own daughter needs, Severus.” Lucius interrupted, acidly.

“I was under the impression you actually do.” Snape shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“As if he would know how to take care of Megan, after everything she’s been though he’s only added to it!” Sirius’ scoffed.

“Megan needs a father not a monster!” Lupin began to yell.

“You all think you know best! You think you know my daughter better than I?” Lucius howled.

“Yes!” Sirius yelled back.

“Absolutely!” Lupin cried.

“Without a doubt.” Snape snapped out.

All the men began to yell at once. Insults were flying through the air in all directions. Megan closed her eyes and began to feel the rage rise but suddenly the tattoo over her abdomen began to pulse lightly flooding her body with calm. The tattoo triggered a thought in Megan’s mind. She looked around at the men who had forgotten she was even standing there. She rolled up her sleeves and put the insides of her wrists together, closing her eyes. She felt a small tug at her heart as she whispered:

“Mother, I need you.”

The sounds of the room stopped as a wind through the room, lilac perfume wafting in the wake of the wind. A bright light made Megan open her eyes. A silvery-white light stood next to Lucius’ bed. It slowly took the shape of Narcissa Malfoy as she had appeared in the garden in the dream Megan had the night before. She smiled at her daughter and then frowned as she surveyed the faces of the four men still arguing in raised voices.

“My daughter, you called and I have come, as I promised I would. I can see why you need me.”

“I don’t know what to do. How can I stop this madness?” Megan looked around at the men frantically, her voice filled with fear.

“The key is, Megan, where there is madness there is true emotions guiding it.”

“What emotions could possibly justify this insanity, Mother?” Megan yelled in frustration.

Suddenly, Megan realized all the noise in the room had already stopped. Snape, Lupin, Sirius and Lucius all stared at Megan. Snape and Lupin looked curious, Sirius looked confused and Lucius’ face was a mask of surprise.

“What did you just say, Megan?” Lucius whispered.

“I was talking to Mother. She is standing next to your bed by your right elbow.”

Lucius turned to Snape.

“Are hallucinations a side effect of this curse or has she gone mad?”

Snape shook his head and sighed.

‘No, Lucius, she is perfectly sane. It appears she had an encounter with the World of the Spirits through Narcissa appearing to her in a dream last night. Narcissa marked her in order to enable Megan to contact Narcissa when compelled by the need for a mother’s help.”

“Narcissa marked Megan from beyond the grave?” Lucius’ voice was incredulous.

Snape looked at Megan and nodded.

“Show him the marks, Megan.”

Megan walked over to the side of the bed opposite her mother’s ghost and pulled up her dark green sleeves to the elbows. She held out her wrists to Lucius whose eyes widened in shock. Lucius then grabbed Megan’s wrists turning them over and over, examining the marks closely. Letting go of her right wrist, Lucius reached over to his bedside table and produced a dark blue ribbon, which he laid over Megan’s hand, comparing the ribbon to her wrist. Lucius looked up in amazement at Megan’s face.

At her the look on her father’s face, Megan looked down at the ribbon laid just above her wrist. She studied how the ribbon’s embroidery of green vines with silver and white roses was identical to her marks. The blue ribbon looked oddly familiar but Megan could not place where she had seen the item. She felt Snape looking over her shoulder and felt his inward jolt of realization. She glanced over her shoulder at Snape’s face which was wide-eyed. He looked at Megan then to Lucius.

“This explains why I recognized the marks but could not place them at first. I have not seen that ribbon in over twenty-one years. I thought you said you had lost that ribbon long ago.” Snape searched Lucius’ face.

“I was sure I had lost it. It was brought back to me last night when I had my own visit from Narcissa. I thought it was all a dream, a side-effect of the medication and pain. Then when I awoke, the ribbon floated down into my lap. I had no way of explaining any of it, so I tucked the ribbon away and was not going to speak of it to anyone.” Lucius chuckled and glanced up at Megan’s confused face. “Leave it to your mother to pull this little trick on us.”

“Yes, it would seem Narcissa is just as crafty in death as she was in life.” Snape smirked.

Megan looked over at her mother who had a smirk of her own. Megan raised an eyebrow at Narcissa who then shrugged.

“Mother, what are they talking about?”

“Ask your father when he first got that ribbon and you will see.” Narcissa smiled lovingly at her husband.

“Father,” Megan asked, pulling her wrist back and straightening her sleeves. “Mother says to ask you when you first got the ribbon. It seems all three of you,” She nodded at her father, Snape and the empty space on the other side of the bed where Narcissa was standing. “know what’s going on.”

Lucius glanced at the empty space where he knew Narcissa was standing. He smiled at the air and sighed.

“A little over twenty-one years ago, your mother and I were married. It is customary for the bride and groom to each send the other gifts before the ceremony starts, one of which is an item the bride and groom will wear during the ceremony. I sent your mother a beautiful set of earrings among her gifts. They were designed with a diamond in the earlobe with a small trail of smaller diamonds which came down to wrap around hanging tear-drop shaped sapphires. It seemed appropriate since our wedding colors were white, silver and blue. In return, among the gifts your mother sent me was this ribbon. She knew I had planned to tie back my long hair, as I often do, in a ribbon. She left a note with the box informing me she had hand-embroidered the ribbon herself in an original design. I wore it that day when we wed. I wore it for our anniversary for the first couple years. Then about a year after you were born, I went to put on the ribbon for our anniversary and it was gone. I looked everywhere but I never found it. It seems your mother knew where it was all along or at least had the power now to find it.” Lucius stroked the ribbon with a sad smile.

“As to the reason I recognizing the ribbon, I was Lucius’ Best Man at his wedding and helped him put that ribbon in his hair that day. It is the job of the Best Man in our traditions to place the item to be worn to the ceremony on the groom. I also saw it for the first few anniversary parties your parents had. But long ago your father informed me it had disappeared and I forgot all about the ribbon” Snape explained.

There was silence for a moment then a voice broke the silence.

“So, you loved Narcissa after all. I never could fathom how she loved you until this moment. I take back what I said. It seems you do have a heart in there somewhere. I am sorry.” Sirius bowed his head for a moment. “I know we have always hated each other Lucius, but I did love my cousin very much and if I had known how you cared for her, I might have viewed you a little differently.”

Lucius looked up in surprise and blinked at Sirius.

“I . . . I thank you for your apology, Black. Yes, I did love Narcissa very much as the years went on. I also had no idea you felt anything of love towards your cousin. She mentioned you had been close as children but, that over time, the two of you had lost contact. When you went into Azkaban, Narcissa said nothing to me but I knew she was distraught. I heard her weeping in our bedroom the day you were taken. She said it was nothing but I knew better. She loved you still and probably did until the day she died. I resented it at the time because I hated you so much and for the record: I still don’t like you very much but I know losing Narcissa was just as painful for you as it was for me. It is a different love but love nonetheless.” Lucius nodded at Sirius solemnly.

“Thank you, Lucius, and I know you don’t like me but hopefully you can learn to tolerate me. I plan to continue being a part of Megan’s life and the life of her unborn child. I believe if Severus and I can learn to be civil to one another, you and I can try to do the same. It would be all for Megan’s sake, of course.” Sirius tiled his head and looked at Megan with a sweet smile.

Lucius screwed up his face and thought for a moment. He looked at Megan who placed a hand on her lower abdomen and looked imploringly at her father. He shot a glance at Snape who raised an eyebrow at Lucius and then gave Megan a sidelong glance.

“Please, Father, it would mean everything to me if you could learn to get along with Sirius and Lupin as well. Sirius loves me like a daughter and is one of my best friends in this world. He loved me enough to take the Unbreakable Vow with Severus to promise to get along with each other from now on, even though they have always hated each other. When it came down to it, it was lose me or make friends, and he chose to make friends, which with these two it is no easy feat.” Megan smiled at Sirius with pride.

“Yes, I can see he loves you.” Lucius said carefully, studying the look between the two.

“If it makes you feel any better, I berated the hell out of Remus and when I saw Snape kissing Megan, I beat the crap out of him.” Sirius smiled.

“You attempted to ‘beat the crap out of me’ but you did not succeed. Though your right hook is not an object I wish to make contact with again.” Severus frowned.

Lucius laughed and then winced in pain.

“I would have loved to have seen that fight.” Lucius’ face took a bemused look as he glanced at Sirius. “Yes, I believe you and I can reach a civil understanding for Megan sake. But there will never be a friendship between us, Black. Is that enough for you?” Lucius extended a hand out towards Sirius.

“It is plenty for me. Megan?” Sirius asked as he walked forward to take Lucius’ hand.

“Yes, it is more than enough.” Megan wiped a tear away from her cheek as she watched them shake hands.

Narcissa, too, was crying as she watched the men shake hands.

“This is all I ever wanted. It is what I always wished for but knew could never be in my lifetime.” Narcissa sighed happily.

“Mother is very happy. She says she always wanted this.”

“And Narcissa always gets what she wants.” Sirius laughed lightly, dropping Lucius’ hand.

“Yes, she always does.” Lucius echoed.

A voice cut in from behind Megan.

“While I am thrilled you two have reached a civil agreement for Megan’s happiness, I have no family ties to this situation. I am only Megan’s friend and one of her mentors. I am here helping her because I do care for her as any true friend would and I am only participating in this curse to save her life. All I came for was to support Megan and to get assurances that after this curse is over, you or no one of your acquaintance comes to do me any harm.” Lupin stated matter-of-factly.

Lucius turned to Lupin who had stepped a little more forward and grimaced.

“I cannot promise anything.”

“Father!” Megan shouted in horror.

“Lucius . . .” Snape voiced dropped to a warning snarl.

“What, Severus? Do you really expect me to forgive this animal for what he has done to my daughter? If he had stayed away from her and kept the normal professional distance of a professor, the girls who cursed Megan would not have included him in this mess. He brought this on Megan and himself!”

Megan looked at the haughty expression on her father’s face and sighed in disgust. She turned and looked at her mother, shaking her head.

“What do I do now?” Megan asked Narcissa.

“This is so typical of your father. I wish he would drop this façade! Ask him what he used to tell me about life and fate.” Narcissa folded her arms in anger.

“Father, what did you always tell Mother about life and fate?” Megan turned to her father.

Lucius looked startled and grimaced at the empty space next to the bed.

“You had to go there, Narcissa?” He sighed and ran a hand through his blonde hair. “When things would go wrong, your mother would question why things happened the way they did. I would always tell her this: fate is what rules our lives and no matter what we do fate will always dictate life. No matter how hard we try we cannot escape our fate because our life is made up of all the little pieces of our fate. Whatever is fated to be will be, no matter how we live there is no escaping it.”

“Do you truly believe that, Father?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well then how can you be mad at Remus? Going on what you believe, none of us in this room could escape what has happened the last four days, no matter what we might have or might not have done differently. What happened was meant to be our fates and our lives shaped by those fates. If you truly believe that then you know this was not Remus’ fault. He was destined to be a part of this curse and a part of my life. I want him to always be a part of my life as my friend and a mentor, as he said he has always been. He is turning his life upside-down and risking everything to keep me alive! That deserves some respect and thanks!” Megan trembled with anger.

“I must choose to agree with Megan on this subject, Lucius.” Snape put up a hand to stop Lucius, who had opened his mouth to protest. “You and I both know I have no love for either Lupin or Black. However, I know Black cares deeply for Megan and has had the courage to stand by her side throughout, as well as take an Unbreakable Vow with me despite his loathing for my mere existence. Moreover, Lupin has done his duty by Megan in the matter of this curse to the possible detriment of his character and destruction of his life. He, too, I believe, cares for Megan as any decent friend would. He could have refused on numerous grounds and if he had, Megan would be dead by now. We came to a simple civil agreement, not unlike the one you just engaged in with Black, and he has been nothing but polite and respectful toward me. If I can manage to get along peaceably with Lupin, so can you, Lucius.” Snape stood his full height and glared down his nose at Lucius with determination.

Lucius glared at Snape but threw up his hands in defeat after a few tense moments.

“Alright, Severus, I see your point as well as Narcissa’s and Megan’s.” He turned his head and forced his features into polite lines. “I will extend the olive branch, Lupin, and I promise no harm will come to you during or after the curse is over. I will attempt, as with Black, to be civil but again I cannot promise friendship.” Lucius stuck out his hand again.

Lupin sighed with relief and stepped forward, taking Lucius’ hand and shaking it lightly.

“I can live with that agreement, Lucius. Thank you for your understanding.” Lupin dropped Lucius’ hand and stepped back.

“You’re welcome. Apparently I am just chock-full of understanding and politeness tonight.” Lucius made a distasteful face. “It must be the influence of Narcissa. After knowing the visit from your mother was truly real, I must take the things she discussed with me and told me to heart. Speaking of which, can we talk privately, Megan?”

“We had better go anyway. I want to check on Isabella.” Sirius kissed Megan on the head and walked towards the door.

“I had better go speak with my fiancé.” Lupin kissed Megan lightly on the lips and turned to leave as well.

“Goodnight, Megan.” Sirius nodded at Megan.

“Goodnight, Sirius. Tell Isa I said hello and I would like to talk to her tomorrow.”

“I will.” Sirius walked out the door.

“Goodnight, Megan. I will see you in a few hours.”

“Goodnight, Remus. Please, tell Tonks I am sorry for this morning and that I would like to talk to her tomorrow morning, if she can spare the time.”

“I will, Megan. I am sure she will want to talk to you as well. I know her. That quick temper this morning and acid tongue she will already regret very much.” Lupin nodded with a tight smile and walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Severus walked over and took a small chair from the corner and set it by the fireplace. He swiftly took a seat. Lucius eyed Severus.

“I cannot leave Megan for more than a few moments and I will hazard a guess that this will take more than the amount of time I could leave. Talk as if I am not here, I will not interrupt unless asked to speak.” Severus folded his hands in his lap.

“Very well, Severus.”

Lucius took a deep breath and moved over on the bed. He looked at Megan and patted the mattress next to him.

“Come here, my daughter.”

Megan walked over slowly and sat down on the edge of the bed facing her father. She studied her hands in her lap, running her fingers over the edge of her sleeves. Lucius took a crooked finger and lifted her chin. He studied her face which had silent tears slipping down her cheeks. His face creased with concern as he wiped a tear away with his other hand. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, softly and a watery smile came to life on his own face. A few tears of his own began to escape his eyes.

“How you must be ashamed of me, Father.” Megan tried to look away but Lucius pulled her face back around.

“No, Megan, not at all. In fact, I am so proud of you and, frankly, astonished. I haven’t really looked at you in so long that I had not realized that my little girl had become such a beautiful young woman.” He studied her face. “You have grown so much and you are your mother’s mirror image.” His face became soft with love.

Megan began sniffed back tears. She had not seen her father look at her with such love for so many years that the sudden surge of love almost hurt her heart.

“I know. Everyone says I look like her. Though, I am told I have your eyes and your temperament.”

Lucius barked out a sudden laugh. He dropped his hands away from her face.

“Oh, there is no doubt on the inside you are my daughter, through and through. It explains why we always were so close. Our minds think very alike and it also explains why we butt heads so easily. We are both quite obstinate and our stubbornness can lead to an almighty temper. But you have your mother’s strength and I am sure that will come in handy the next few days and months. Hopefully my grandchild will have the same strength and beauty.” Lucius laid his fingertips gently on Megan’s abdomen and smiled in wonder.

“So, you aren’t mad?”

“Why would I be mad about my first grandchild?” Lucius was taken aback.

“Mother told me about the marriage you had planned for me to Frederick Vonosco. I know you wanted Severus to educate me in the . . . ‘ways of men’ and then ship me off immediately after I graduated to Italy for a wedding. I was supposed to give up University, my training and my skills to be a wife and mother.” Megan frowned in disgust.

Lucius looked crestfallen as he saw Megan’s face. He turned to the empty space by the bed and scoffed.

“You had to tell her everything, didn’t you, Narcissa? You couldn’t let me tell her myself.”

“You would not have told her everything if I hadn’t said something. She deserves to know the whole truth. You should also remember what we discussed. There are some things you need to tell your daughter and right now.” Narcissa glared at Lucius who could not hear her.

Megan repeated what Narcissa had said and stared at her father.

“What did you and Mother talk about? What else are you hiding from me?” Megan’s eyes narrowed at Lucius.

“I am not hiding anything else about your life.” Lucius put up his hands in defense. “The marriage and the plans for your life were all of the events I hadn’t told you about. What Narcissa is referring to are my feelings about you and actions towards you this last year.”

“I thought you hated me. No wonder you pulled away from me, I killed my own mother, your wife. It must have gnawed at your heart and soul every time you had to be in the same room with me. I hated myself at first, too, so I don’t blame you. It wasn’t until the vision last night where Mother forgave me and told me to forgive myself that I have been able to see it differently.” Megan looked over at her mother, who was looking back with a smile.

“I admit I did hate you, but it all began before Narcissa died and her death just made it easier to be angry with you.” Lucius shook his head and sighed sadly. “You and I were so close when you were a child. It is no secret that while I love Draco, you were the apple of my eye. As you reached your early teens, I felt you began to pull away from me. You were growing up and didn’t need me much anymore. I even was envious of your mother because you still seemed to need her, to want her around but with me it became less and less. I know that it was only natural. You were becoming a young woman and that means letting go as a father. I had to let you be on your own, learn to trust your own decisions and instincts. Then I saw how you cleaved to Severus and the envy I had for him, added to the envy of your mother, began to make my heart hard against you. I decided you weren’t just growing up, you were purposefully pushing me out of your life.”

“Merlin in Heaven, Father, I was not pushing you away! I was doing as you said. I was finding my own way in life. But I still needed you, I was just afraid to come to you because as time went on you distanced yourself from me. When I did try to speak with you or spend a moment with you, suddenly you were too busy or seemed annoyed. So, I began to stay away. If only you had come to me and told me! I would have told you how I felt pushed away!” Megan shouted in exasperation.

“I know that now. Your mother came to me just a few days before she died and again the night before the Final Battle. She implored me to talk to you, to explain to you how I felt, especially before the battle when I could die the next day. I resolved to speak with you that night but when I went out to the garden, I saw you in Severus’ arms. He was kissing you and I was shocked and angered at the same time. When I saw how easily you related to him and how you held onto him like he was the only thing in the world. I was intensely jealous again. Then I overheard what was being said, how he told you he loved you so much and you declared the same. When he said he might not be alive after tomorrow, you burst into tears and said you couldn’t live without him, begged him not to go into battle. It may sound strange and ridiculous now but at time, I wanted that to be me you were begging to stay out of danger. I wanted to be the one you needed to stay alive. I walked away after that moment and resolved myself never to speak to you about how I felt. The next day your mother was killed by you and it was the last straw my heart needed to become stone. As time went on I could not even look at you. Never visited your bedside at Hogwarts and spent as little time around you as I could. I put away all remembrances of your mother and even many pictures of you. I wanted to try and erase memories both you and your mother to ease my pain. I see that now.” Lucius looked away from Megan, shame-faced.

Megan blinked rapidly at her father in shock at his outpouring of feelings.

“I don’t know what to say, Father. I feel awful that you thought I loved Severus more than you. But I have to admit I have absolutely no memory of that event in the Malfoy Gardens or anything the night before the battle. Severus, what is he talking about?”

Megan turned, still blinking in confusion, and glanced at Snape. Snape cough and shifted in his chair. He was suddenly very interested in inspecting the stone floor.

“Severus?” Megan asked again with a sharp edge to her voice.

Snape coughed again to clear his throat and looked up from the floor. He was blushing slightly and had trouble looking Megan in the eyes. He stared at the fire next to him as he began to speak.

“The night before the Final Battle, Narcissa, Lucius and I had a secret meeting at Malfoy Manor. We knew the Final Battle would be the next day and there were preparations to make. Certain family treasures had to be hidden away and documents created, in case we were killed or arrested and our homes were raided. I wanted you to have all my belongings if I died and I asked your mother to give you a letter with them if I perished. In turn, your parents wished for me to take guardianship of you and watch over Draco. I was to make sure all valuables and documents were handed down to you both along with any property the Aurors did not seize if your parents perished or were arrested. I also made a promise that night to which I held: that if I saw you in the Final Battle, I was to get you out of danger immediately.”

“So, you took me down that alley to save me. I always knew you did that to protect me, Severus but to take me right from under Voldemort’s nose . . .” Megan chuckled nervously. “ . . . that takes balls of steel.”

“Voldemort had you?” Lucius came to attention, startled.

“When I was fighting, I was keeping my eyes out for Voldemort at all times, to see which direction the Battle would take. When I saw Voldemort had Megan up against a wall with his wand to her throat, I ran over immediately and begged to have her for myself. It was quite careless, actually, to just run through a battleground like I did. I could have been struck down at any moment because I was so focused only on getting to Megan. I let him think I intended to harm her and he instructed me to teach her a lesson, which you and I know only meant one thing to Voldemort.” Severus looked up from the flames and met Lucius’ face with haunted eyes.

“It meant Death.” Lucius returned the same haunted look.

Severus turned back to the flames not even looking at Megan. He continued to talk to Lucius as if Megan wasn’t there. He stared at the flames as if he could see the memories dancing in them as he spoke.

“I tried to protect her but I discovered very quickly how Megan was quite capable of protecting herself. When she realized it was me, she even had a cure on her to ease my pain and cloaked me in protection spells until I could move enough to defend myself. Tried to beg her to stay by me but I was unable to speak yet. She had cursed me soundly and thoroughly. She left and by the time I got out of the alley, she was kneeling over a Death Eater. I recognized the blue dragonhide boots and attempted to save her from the sight, not knowing at first that she had been the one who struck Narcissa down. When I knelt there and watched her bang on Narcissa’s chest, I realized the horror of it all. I felt so helpless when Megan begged me to bring her mother back and then she passed out in my arms. I panicked and tried every spell I could to awaken her but it was no use. I sat by her side in the Hospital Wing for nearly a week. I was terrified I had lost her. When Megan finally woke up, she had no memory of anything. The last memory she had was from the morning before the Final Battle. It was decided, as you remember Lucius, we were to tell her only that final Battle had happened, Voldemort was dead and, unfortunately, so was Narcissa. We told her that we had no idea who cast the curse which ended her life. How, in such a melee, it was impossible to tell. Our friendship dissolved into a polite acquaintance which hurt me, Lucius, for you were once my greatest friend in this world.” Snape looked up again at Lucius with the same disturbed look. “I felt I deserved your treatment, for I had failed to protect Megan. It was my failure led to Narcissa’s death and subsequently, Megan’s turmoil. I am so sorry, Lucius.”

Lucius shook his head.

“No, you didn’t fail me. I had no idea what took place that fateful day. I didn’t want to know the details, it was too painful. You did all you could to help Megan. You fulfilled your promise to Narcissa and me, Severus. I thank you for what you did. If you had not risked taking Megan from Voldemort, she would be dead right now. I would have lost a wife or a daughter that day, who knows maybe both. I still have my daughter, Severus and that is all her mother and I wanted.”

“I forgive you, too Severus.” Narcissa said, crying softly.

Megan repeated what Narcissa said. Snape looked up in shock at Lucius and the empty air by the bed. Then after a moment, he nodded and a small smile of relief graced his lips. Megan looked between them both and raised her eyebrows.

“Okay, not that I am not grateful to be learning all these secrets and happy to see us all getting our feelings out in the open but . . .” Megan looked between the two men. “ . . . . what happened the night before in the Malfoy Gardens?”

Snape got up and paced in front of the fireplace.

“After we had the meeting between us, your parents walked off to talk privately. I went for a walk in the Gardens to clear my head of the fears which were culling up inside me. Plus, I always loved the Malfoy Garden and thought it may be my last chance to experience them. I came cross you about halfway into the garden, sitting on a bench, watching the stars. You were wearing my cloak I had loaned you at a previous party a few weeks before. I remembered the kiss we had shared that particular evening. I decided in that moment I had to tell you everything no matter how you felt or the danger it put me in. I realized I could die the next day and you would have to learn my heart from a letter I had left behind. I walked right up to you and told you we had to speak privately about a serious matter. I told you the Final Battle would be the next day and I could not risk my life without telling you the truth. I expressed my long standing love for you and kissed you. The rest is as Lucius said. You cried and said you returned my feelings. You were afraid I would die and leave you alone. You begged me not to go but I told you I had to go. As Voldemort’s right hand it would look suspicious if I did not appear at the Battle. We embraced and kissed feverishly. Unbelievably, I actually thought for a brief moment of running away and taking you with me, not caring what happened. I finally pulled away from you and with pain in my heart, my soul heavy, I walked away. I left the Manor immediately before I did something rash. When you awoke a week later, you had no memory of our confessions of love. I had to act as if it never happened, which was the hardest acting I have ever done in my life and you are well aware of all the acting I had to do for many years.” Snape stopped pacing and looked up at Megan with wet cheeks.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Megan whispered tears of her own flooding her vision.

“It would not make any sense unless I told you everything you just heard, Megan. I could not risk the pain such knowledge would bring you, so I endured the pain for you. I felt so alone. I looked at you every day with the knowledge you loved me as I loved you but did not know I knew. It was akin to a starving man having to stand in front of a delicious banquet but unable to eat one morsel. It was torture at times.”

“I had no idea you loved Megan so much Severus. I guess I was so blinded by my ambitions I couldn’t see what was right in front of me.” Lucius stared in wonder at Snape.

“I always knew but I also knew better than to interfere. Love must find its own way and I knew your paths would be united eventually. Nature just had to run its course.” Narcissa sniffed back her own tears as she glanced between Megan and Severus.

Megan repeated what Narcissa had said. Snape turned away and Lucius scoffed.

“Narcissa always knew what was going on. She was the most observant woman I ever knew.” Lucius muttered.

“I am so sorry you couldn’t tell me and you had to carry that pain, Severus. I love you for all that you did.” Megan got up to go to Snape but he back away toward the door.

“I need some air. I will see you in my rooms in a short while. Do not be too long here.” Snape’s voice was officious and cold. He didn’t look at her as he walked toward the door. He turned back to the room and nodded at Lucius. “Thank you for your forgiveness, Lucius. I am glad to have my friend back. Please let me know if you require anything at all while you recover.” His voice was clipped and matter-of-fact.

“Thank you, Severus. I am also glad to have my friend back. I will let you know if I need anything. Just take care of my Megan for right now. Goodnight.” Lucius nodded in return.

Snape nodded again and turned in a swirl of robes, slamming the door on his way out. Megan stood there, her arms falling to her sides slowly. She stood completely confused and then began to cry.

“I . . . . I don’t . . . . he’s never . . . .” Megan stuttered, her voice thick with emotion.

“Come here, my child.” Lucius opened his arms to his daughter.

Megan stumbled back to the bed and crawled into her father’s arms. She grabbed onto him and sobbed like a terrified, lost child. He held her tightly, despite the pain in his ribs, and stroked her hair. She looked so small and fragile in his arms, like she had so many years ago when she came to him with a nightmare or a skinned knee.

“It okay, sweetheart, let it all out. Your father’s here. It’s going to be alright. I forgive you for everything that ever happened in these last few years. I love you more than I ever have and I am never going to let anything come between us again. Your mother is right, it is time I become a father again and take care of you. It seems I was very wrong, you still need me after all.”

Lucius looked down at Megan who just began to sob harder.

“I love you, Father. I always needed you, especially now.” Megan managed between sobs.

Narcissa smiled at the pair and patted Megan on the arm, which Megan felt and looked up over Lucius’ arm.

“My job is complete. Do not worry about Severus, my child. He is only scared right now. He needs a moment to gather himself together. He will be back to himself when you see him again tonight. I love you both. Take care of each other.”

With that Narcissa tear –streaked, smiling face disappeared with a gust of lilac perfume.

“Narcissa’s gone, isn’t she?” Lucius asked softly.

“Yes, Father, she’s gone.”

With that realization, Megan began to sob so hard her body shook violently. Lucius held her tightly as he could and rocked her while still smoothing her hair.

“It’s going to be okay, Megan. Just let it out now and it will all be okay.”

Lucius closed his eyes and rocked his daughter softly, letting her cry.

***************

Meanwhile, outside on the grounds of Hogwarts . . . .

Snape walked towards the lake and paused to lean against a tree. He looked out over the nearby water and began to shake uncontrollably as he felt Megan’s despair and sadness tug on his heart down the invisible line that somehow connected them. He tried to control his emotions as memories flooded his mind from long ago. He collapsed against tree and slid to the ground, his head in his hands. He began to sob uncontrollably from feeling Megan’s sadness and his own welling up. He felt like his insides were being ripped apart. He let out an anguished howl of pain.

A voice wafted through the quiet, cold winter air

“Oh, Severus, look what has become of you. I always told you if you opened your heart fully you would understand the joy and pain that come with true love.”

Snape’s head snapped up and his mouth opened in total shock. His skin crawled with goosebumps. He closed his eyes tight and shook his head back and forth violently.

“You are not really there. I must have fallen asleep and be dreaming or worse hallucinating.”

A sigh floated through the air and a hand touched the side of his face.

“Oh, I am certainly here. We made a promise once long ago: no matter what if one of us needed the other, we would help each other. And Severus, in all the years I have known or watched you, you need me more than ever right now.”

Snape stopped shaking his head and leaned his cheek into the palm holding it. He let out a shuddering breath and opened his eyes.

“But it cannot be. This is impossible. You are dead.” Snape voice shook.

“Nothing is impossible if the bond of love and friendship is strong enough. You should know by now Severus, anything is possible in this crazy world.”

Snape swallowed another sob as he looked up into the face of Lily Potter.
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