The Green Flame Torch

Grandmama had the most peculiar smile, like she had some source of intense energy that was trying to escape her.

"Follow me dear." Said Grandmama.

They both walked to the conservatory where Imogen was sitting in a whicker chair. She looked healthier. Her face had some of its color back and she was dressed in a long robe of mauve. Lilah felt jealous that she wasn't as light and fair as her mother was. Imogen smiled weakly at Lilah when they entered.

"Lily dear, sit down." Said Grandmama gesturing to a chair.

"How are you feeling mummy?" asked Lilah.

Imogen responded while directing her attention to a window.

"Fine."

Grandmama turned to Lilah and began to speak with a tone of urgency, "Now, Lilah, I have been talking over this with your mother and considering her condition, we thought it would be better for you to stay here."

"Excuse me?" asked Lilah.

"Well, you see your mother took it pretty bad this time and I think that, we think that staying here would be best for you two." Grandmama continued.

"What she means is," Imogen said still not looking at Lilah, "that she wants us to move here. I agree."

"But, we have already moved here." Said Lilah.

"I mean permanently." Corrected Grandmama.

"Really?" said Lilah feeling her stomach drop.

Lilah did love Abundantia, when everyone was getting along. But, leave her old house? Her friends? They wouldn't be able to visit. The house was too magical.

"I know you hate change love," said Imogen now looking at Lilah, "But, I can't take care of you anymore."

Imogen looked at the ground and continued, "You take care of me more than I of you."

Lilah jumped out of her seat and shouted, "That's not true! You're the best mum!"

"Lily please. This is very hard for me." Imogen said glancing at Bianca.

"No mummy! You always take care of me. You do a great job!" Lilah's voice cracked as he said this.

"Lily please." Imogen said as she tried to get up.

"You're letting grandmama think for you!"

"Lily, now stop it! It was my idea!" shouted Imogen who was now standing.

Lilah stood quietly clenching her fists.

"Lily, you could go to school if you were here." Added Grandmama as if this was the greatest thing ever said.

"I already go to school from here." Said Lily between clenched teeth.

"No dear, I mean to Hogwarts."

Lilah released her tension and fell into her chair.

"Hogwarts?" she whispered.

"Yes, your mother agreed that with you staying here you would be too, shall we say, distanced from the Muggle world. You would be lonely. If you went to a wizarding school you could be with children like you and finally be, well, be-" Bianca searched for the word.

"A witch?" Lilah said quietly.

"Yes." Said Grandmama uncomfortably, "It's not like you aren't already, it's just that you are, well, don't you want to go?"

"Of course." Said Lilah.

"Then why the long face?"

Ignoring her grandmother's question Lilah said, "Why all of sudden did you change your mind mummy?"

"I was scared before." Said Imogen.

"Of what?"

"The dark lord." Said Imogen slowly sitting down.

"Why? He's gone!" exclaimed Lilah.

"Sort of. It's just that when I was younger he instilled such fear in us. And the thought of you going to a place where I couldn't get to you terrified me. But, Dumbledore is powerful he could keep you safe." Said Imogen.

Lilah could feel her mother didn't believe what she was saying. Lilah had channeled her mother's feelings so many times; it came naturally to her now, like breathing.

"You see the truth is the Dark Lord is stirring things up again. You must know how to defend yourself." Said Imogen looking at Lilah intensely.

Imogen stared at Lilah waiting for a response, any response. Lilah just searched her mother's heart, searching for the feeling of truth. She could usually feel if her mother was lying. But, that feeling wasn't as prevalent as it usually was when they spoke of Hogwarts. Although the feeling of guilt and fear were lingering around.

"All right mummy." Said Lilah.

"You're positive?" asked Grandmama who was sitting on the edge of her chair.

"Yes," said Lilah.

Grandmama jumped up and started for the door.

"I'll write to Severus. He will talk to Dumbledore. " She said smiling the same smile she had at the stairs and hurried out the room.

Imogen called Lilah over to her and Lilah hugged her mother.

"What's wrong mummy?"

"Nothing." Imogen answered.

Lilah knew she was lying.

***

Lilah sat in her room reading for the hundredth time her acceptance letter. Uncle Severus had explained Lilah's case to Dumbledore and she was accepted, for the third time. Lilah was fearful she would be put in with the first years. She was now after all almost fourteen, and what could be more embarrassing? It was bad enough she had never owned a wand. Uncle Severus had got Dumbledore to agree to put her in as a third year, considering she had been reading up on the classes for two years.

Her belongings were packed up in a large trunk covered in silver crescent moons. The trunk had belonged to Imogen when she went to school. Lilah was offered a new one but fell in love with her mother's when she saw it. She had everything she needed: her wand, her books, her mother's old cloak, and her uniform. Lilah felt a bit silly trying on that robe in Diagon Alley, among eleven year olds. Lilah went to the trunk and put her letter in it. Her wand was on top in a velvet-lined holder. She opened it and stared at it: eight and a half-inch ebony with a dragon heartstring. She ran around her room with it pretending to be turning her bureau and bed into animals.

"Lilah! It's time." Called Grandmama from the other side of her door.

"Alright, the doors open."

Bianca walked in as Lilah was putting her wand back. Lilah closed the trunk.

"All ready." Lilah said.

She had never been so excited to go to school in her life. Grandmama walked up to the trunk took out her wand, pointed it at the trunk, and said some charm Lilah didn't know, and the trunk disappeared.

"What happened?" Lilah asked.

"Just a disappearance charm. Don't worry, your trunk is in the back of the car."

'Oh," Lilah thought, "Car?"

"Yes, come on." Said Grandmama as she headed down stairs.

"But grandmama, you don't drive!" yelled Lilah as she grabbed Boo's cage and ran after her.

Grandmama headed for the drawing room where Imogen was waiting. Lilah ran in still wondering about the car. Imogen was, of course hysterical as she kissed Lilah goodbye. She wasn't going to the train station because the trip, she said, would make her ill. Lilah felt that her mother didn't want to admit she was going to Hogwarts and maybe letting her go now would be easier.

Grandmama went up to the fireplace.

"Mugwump," she said and the fireplace began to move.

The fireplace opened up to show behind it a long passage way, dimly lit by torches. Grandmama went in, followed by Lilah. There was a long spiraling staircase that went down forty feet. When they reached the bottom Lilah saw a ten-foot tall door with a giant "S" on it. Grandmama pushed the door open and it revealed a huge cave.

Lilah went in the cave to find something she had not expected. There was at least seven old-fashioned luxury cars primped and polished, lined in a row. Lilah resisted the urge of yelling out, "The Bat Cave!" She followed Grandmama to a shiny black Roles Royce that was older than Imogen, Lilah was positive. But, it still looked like new.

"Get in dear." Said Grandmama.

As Lilah got in she noticed her large trunk was in the back seat taking up all the room. She climbed into the front with Grandmama.

"Grandmama is this how you took mummy to school?" asked Lilah as she got situated with Boo's cage on her lap.

"Mmmhmm, oh where are those keys?" said Grandmama looking in the glove compartment.

"So you drive?" Lilah said looking for the keys, not sure where to look.

"Of course. Oh, keys show yourself!" she yelled out.

A pair of golden keys came walking up for behind the overhead mirror. It went to grandmama and ran around her hand.

"I know it's been a long time but we are in rush. Now no more games." Grandmama scolded.

The keys stopped, bowed the top part down to her palm in shame, then became stiff and lay in her hands. Grandmama stuck the keys in the ignition and began to back out.

"So, do you go driving around for fun or something?" asked Lilah.

"No, never the need. I haven't seen these cars in, oh, twenty years."

"Twenty years!" yelped Lilah.

Bianca smiled, slammed down on the gas and the car took off. Lilah gripped on to Boo's cage as they swerved through the dark caves towards a small bit of light ahead.

"Are you sure you should be going this fast in the dark?" gulped Lilah.

"Why? There are safety nets set up down here."

Lilah noticed some light ahead as the car flew through the cave. They soared through a large opening. Lilah looked back at the exit, which was a small opening at the base of the hill Abundantia was settled on as it began to close in on itself. Grandmama speeded down the street, sometimes on both sides of the road. Lilah was glad to know the trip would be fast but, after two near fatal accidents, successfully avoiding the police, and riding on only two wheels, Lilah soon wanted out of the car. Grandmama screeched into the parking lot and slammed on the breaks. Lilah stumbled out of the car, almost dropping Boo's cage. Grandmama smiled cheerfully as she closed the door.

"Here we are," she sang.

Lilah was feeling her body to make sure she was still alive and in one piece. They put Lilah's trunk on a cart and headed for platform 9 ¾. As they approached platform 9 Lilah looked at her grandmama, confused.

"Where do we go now?" she asked.

"Now listen to me dear, You see that barrier over there?"

Lilah nodded.

"Now when no one is looking I want you to walk through it."

"Walk through it!" Lilah screamed.

"Lower your voice. Don't worry I will be right behind you."

Lilah gave Boo a worried look but he had apparently passed out from the car ride. Lilah placed his cage on top of her trunk and when no one was looking ran as fast as she could through the barrier. Her inertia kept her going even after she was through and she slammed right into three boys. They all went flying in opposite directions.

Lilah looked up hesitantly and squeaked out, "Sorry."

Two of the boys were exactly the same, with red hair and freckles everywhere. The other was a black boy with dread locks. The boy with dread locks spoke first as he tried to get up.

"Watch where you're going," he muttered as Lilah gave him her hand, helping him up.

He looked up at her and was taken aback.

"Thanks" he said with debonair smile.

"You're welcome. Are you alright?"

"No harm done." He said with a wink.

The twins got up with his help and smiled the same way at Lilah. Lilah was a bit confused. Maybe it was a wizard tradition to run into people. These boys seemed contented to have been airborne.

"Never seen you before." Said one of the twins looking her up and down.

Lilah was very pretty in her muggle plaid skirt and knee-highs, but going to an all girls' school had limited her encounters with the opposite sex. So the way they looked at her was a new experience."You look too, um mature to be a first year." Said the other twin with a smile.

Grandmama was now walking up to her. The boys noticed her and began to leave.

'See you later." Said the black boy with another wink.

"Get through fine?" said Grandmama staring at the boys as they left.

"Yeah."

"Alright dear, now wait here. I need to find the Malfoys." She said with a little smile, "I'll be right back."

Grandmama went off into the crowd.

Lilah had gotten a letter from Uncle Severus saying that he would have one of his best students show her around school so she wouldn't be lost. Lilah had hoped he would fall on his head and realize that Harry was that person, but she was stuck with some boy named Draco Malfoy.

Harry! She had almost forgotten. He probably would be here right now, if not on the train. Her heart began to beat fast. She looked around at all the kids and their families trying to find the same little boy she had met two years back. She saw a pair of Indian twins, an extremely attractive older boy, and the red headed twins again with their friend, and a ragged looking man, but no Harry. Her eyes settled back on the man as he boarded the train, his clothes were faded and his hair was unkept and slightly graying. She doubted he was a student.

* * *

As the Malfoy's entered through the barrier young Draco was being smothered by his mother, who was making sure, for the eighth time, that his hair and suit were straight and presentable.

"Stop mum." Said Draco as he tried to escape her arms.

"Remember boy, this is an honor. The Snape's are good blood. They're one of the most respectable and wealthiest wizarding families." Said Lucius as held Draco by the shoulder, helping Narcissa have better access to him.

"I know dad. Thank you for explaining the obvious."

"Make sure she gets in Slytherin. I promised she would be in good hands. Don't' disappoint me." Said Lucius leaning forward hissing in Draco's ear.

"Lucius, as you said, she is of good blood. She'll get in." Said Narcissa with a wink to her son.

"Besides how can I make her get into Slytherin. It just happens." Said Draco.

"Make her eat, sleep, and breathe Slytherin on that train ride. Make sure she is on our side. If she wanders in any sense I don't want to be blamed because of you."

"I don't want to do this! Ever since Snape wrote us that damn letter (Narcissa gasped) you both have been acting weird!" Draco yelled while getting loose from his mother.

Lilah turned around to see the bickering family.

"Listen to me boy, no more lip from you. You will do it. You should feel . . .. honored." Said the Lucius.

"But, why me? Blimey. If Snape's niece is entering now, she is probably an idiot! Oh what an honor!" yelled Draco.

Lilah walked over to them.

"Actually I am in the top of my class." She said looking amused with Draco.

If it was possible for Draco to get any paler it happened. Lucius looked at his son with daggers, then looked at Lilah and contorted his face into the scariest smile Lilah had ever seen.

"You must be Lilah." He said, "It is so good to meet you, at last."

He took her hand and they shook. Lilah went to go shake hands with his wife, but he didn't seem to want to give back her hand. She politely said hullo to Narcissa, after successfully retrieving her hand, and then to Draco. The whole situation was so formal that it made Lilah uncomfortable. Draco gave out his hand, and gave her the once over like the twins had. Being almost fourteen Lilah was naturally taller than him. He looked quite odd looking up at her while they shook. She looked down and held back a laugh, suddenly thinking that he looked like a small version of a Muggle actor, Leo something.

"Lucius! Narcissa!" cried Grandmama.

"Bianca!" called Lucius as he waved to Grandmama.

"It has been so long." Said Narcissa as she kissed Bianca's cheek.

"Yes. This little gentleman must be Draco." She said with a gasp.

"Isn't he handsome?" gloated Narcissa.

Draco rolled his eyes. Lilah observed him. If she was too be stuck with him she better check him out. She stared at his white face and channeled into his heart; soon she felt a sense of nervousness, resentment, embarrassment, and a tiny bit of attraction, she assumed for herself. Draco stared back at Lilah and smiled. Which brought her out of her trance. Apparently he thought she was checking him out, in another sense.

"Now, Draco has volunteered to help you get around school. No doubt you will be put in Slytherin with him." Said Lucius pushing Draco towards Lilah.

"Volunteered?" giggled Lilah but only Draco heard her and didn't seem to think it was funny.

"Now the train is leaving in a couple of minutes. Goodbye Draco, "said Lucius quite business-like.

Narcissa hugged Draco and kissed him over and over again on his cheeks.

"Mum!" he whined backing away.

"Now, Lilah once you get there don't forget to write. I'm so proud of you." Bianca said.

Lilah didn't know what she had done that need congratulations, aside from holding back vomit after witnessing Lucius' unconvincing performance as the "family man."

"Pleasure meeting you," Lucius said followed by a forced, "Lilah."

"You too Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." She said with a polite fake smile.

Then Lilah headed towards the cart holding her things and began to push it towards the train. She heard Lucius urging Draco to help her. She hastened her steps. Draco caught up with her.

"Where's your trunk?" she grunted while trying to lift the trunk and holding Boo's cage.

"On board," he said, then looked back at his father who mouthed something at him. He turned back and while rolling his eyes he mumbled, "Do you need any help?"

"No-I'm-fine." Said with a grunt with each word.

Draco grabbed the other side of the trunk and they both entered. They made their way passed several other students. Draco dropped his side of the trunk and began looking in compartments until he seemed to find what he was looking for. He motioned her over. Lilah dragged the trunk and entered the compartment where two boys, tall, strong, and ugly, sat playing cards. They both looked up at her with a confused look and looked at Draco for an explanation.

"This is Snape's niece, Lilah," he turned to Lilah, "This is Crabbe and Goyle."

"Oh." Said Lilah trying not to laugh at the funny names.

She went up to each and shook their hand. They seemed to still be confused even though they had been introduced.

"Crabbe pick up her trunk." ordered Draco as he sat down.

Lilah stood amazed as Crabbe got up and did what Draco asked.

"Handy," she said as a joke.

Draco seemed to think she was impressed and tapped the empty seat next to him for her to sit down. She hesitated at first but sat next him. Goyle was still looking at her with this blank look.

"Stop staring you git! She's a girl, not You-know-who!" yelled Draco.

Goyle quickly looked down at the floor. Lilah searched the compartment with her eyes, looking for a topic of conversation.

"You know you'll probably be in my house." Draco said, trying to break the silence.

"Probably. My uncle is the head of it."

"You'll like it. All of us are purebloods and. . . .they're a fun lot." He finished with a nervous smile.

Lilah could feel her stomach begin to tense up. She knew the Slytherin's usually were prejudice against Muggles and half Wizards. She was prepared to ignore their comments, but if any of them called anyone of the Muggles a Mud-

"So why are you starting so late?" asked Draco breaking Lilah's train of thought.

"Um, my mum was scared to let me grow up," she lied.

"So she made you stay home? I'd kill my parents if they did that."

"Well, I went to school with Muggles, so I didn't stay home all the time."

Draco shot her a look of shock.

"But I thought you were a pureblood?"

"I am." Said Lilah as the train began to move.

Lilah didn't know if this was true, for all she knew her father could have been an Orthodontist, for all she knew he could have been Merlin. But, Draco seemed to be contented with her answer so she didn't go into details.

"Wow, I feel sorry for you. Having to go to school with Muggles." Said Draco.

"It wasn't so bad." Lilah said to the floor.

Draco looked up at her and slowly smiled. Lilah felt alarmed and didn't like the way he was looking at her.

"You're probably just too nice." He said.

Lilah could tell it was struggle for him. Crabbe and Goyle began to laugh.

"Shut up!" he yelled and they immediately did.

Lilah sat there in awkward silence with Draco. What could she possibly talk about with a wizard boy? He obviously didn't like Muggles and that was most of what she knew about. She barely knew anything about the school, who went there, or-. Then it hit her. Harry Potter! Of course, everyone knew him.

"So Harry Potter goes to Hogwarts?" Lilah asked even though she knew the answer.

Draco shot her another look then struggled into another smile.

"Yes, why?" he said as his mouth twitched.

"I was just wondering. Do you know him?"

"I don't think I know anybody but him!"

"Really!" said Lilah. "Could you introduce him to me?"

Draco sighed as he lay back in his seat.

He bit his lip and said, "Sure."

"Could we go now?" asked Lilah trying to stand up.

Draco slowly got up and headed out the door with a groan. Crabbe and Goyle followed with Lilah in tow. Draco opened several compartments without any word or apology until he came to the last one on the train.

"Well, look who it is, Potty and the Weasel." He smirked.

Draco, Crabbe and Goyle all entered, but Lilah was too nervous. Draco walked back to the door and closed it with an odd wink to Lilah. Lilah leaned against the compartment door and heard voices, something about someone's father getting money and a new teacher. Lilah tried to make out whose voice was Harry's. Then Draco said he was leaving. Lilah banged on the door wishing it was Draco's head. But he sighed and spoke again.

"But first Potter, someone here wants to meet you. Don't know why. But, just say hi and we can go." He said.

"I don't have to do anything for you." Harry said.

Lilah was sure it was Harry and almost giggled out loud.

"Listen Potter, she's new and she just wants to see you."

"I am not going to be your freak show for your little Slytherin girlfriends!" Harry yelled.

Lilah felt guilty and slowly opened the door and stuck her head in.

"It's okay Draco. If he doesn't want to we can go." She couldn't believe she had said that, she hoped her voice hadn't cracked.

Draco shrugged his shoulders.

"Whatever, I don't care." He said as he left the compartment followed by his goons.

Lilah tried not to catch Harry's eye from embarrassment of forcing him to see her but couldn't help it. She looked up at him and saw he was standing next to another boy with red hair, a girl with curly brown hair, and the ragged man from earlier asleep on a bench.

"Sorry." She said softly as she began to leave.

"It's okay." Said the red haired boy.

He had the same stupid smile that the twins had. Lilah wondered if they were related to him.

"Stay." He blurted out.

Harry shot him a look, as did the girl.

"What? She just wants to say hi. She said she was sorry." He said shrugging.

Harry sat down with a huff, "Whatever, stay."

Lilah looked ahead of her as a shocked Draco stood gesturing her to follow.

"I'll go in a minute," she said to Draco who rolled his eyes and left.

She entered the room and the red haired boy went to shake her hand and tripped. He looked at the girl next to him. She smiled as she adjusted her leg away from him. He gave his hand to Lilah again still glaring at the curly haired girl

"I'm Ron," He said enthusiastically, "And that's Harry and Hermione."

The girl shifted in her seat like she was having trouble getting comfortable.

"I'm Lilah." She said looking at Harry.

Ron sat down still smiling and looked at Harry. Harry looked back at him confused. Ron threw a glance at Lilah. Harry sighed and stuck his hand out.

"Hullo, I'm Harry Potter." He said shaking her hand.

Lilah felt her stomach flip-flop and didn't want to let go of his hand. He looked a little taller than last time and a little stalkier. But his hair and glasses were the same.

"Sorry about Draco. He has to take me around. Uncle Severus-"she stopped as all three stared at her.

"You're Snape's niece?" said Hermione almost laughing.

"Yes." Said Lilah not amused.

Harry looked at her like she was a bomb ready to blow. Hermione looked out the window stifling laughs.

"What's wrong? My name is Lilah Snape. What is the problem?" Lilah was beginning to not like that Hermione girl.

"Nothing." Said Ron while glaring at Hermione.

"Well Lilah," said Harry as he got up, "I don't mean to be rude..."

"I understand," said Lilah as she got up, "But, I want you to know that it is such an honor to meet you. And I know you here this all the time, but I really feel that . . . . ", Lilah took a deep breath, "well you see our mum's were friends..."

Harry almost smiled.

"Your mum knew my mum?"

"Yes, they went to school together," it was only in her fantasies that she had told him this, "But who do you think I was named after?"

Harry let out a nervous laugh. Hermione kept her eyes on the tracks as Ron watched Harry and Lilah.

"That's amazing." Said Harry sitting back down.

Lilah followed his example. She couldn't help it but she had to know what he was feeling. Did he believe her? He seemed to. She stared at his face as he began to talk about his mum. She felt a small sense of happiness, distance, nervousness, and hope. Just then the train stopped.

"Great," said Ron

'We can't be there already, "said Hermione.

Lilah looked at them as Harry got up and looked out the door. Then the lights went out. Lilah couldn't see a thing. She felt her stomach becoming tense, she knew from her newspaper clippings that some mad man was looking for Harry. She couldn't move, then she tried to find Harry. She tried channeling him in the dark; he was brave she could hold on to that. Other people Lilah had never met began to stumble in sitting on each other. The man who was asleep got up and flames appeared in his hand. Lilah tried to concentrate on Harry. Soon she got him and didn't notice when the hooded figure appeared at the door. Harry was just nervous, and then suddenly Lilah could feel herself being engulfed in great fear and helplessness. She griped onto her seat. What was happening to Harry? She couldn't' handle it anymore and let go of Harry's emotions as she began to shake and cry. The lights turned on and Harry was on the floor having some sort of fit. The man shook Harry, who soon was out of it. But Lilah was still shaking ferociously as the tears flowed.

Ron looked over at her with concern as Lilah began to notice all the other people were upset but not as much as Harry and her. She tried to stop herself from shaking. Harry was helped into a seat. The man pulled out some chocolate, and started to give it out. He gave a large portion to Harry. He walked up to Lilah and began to break off a piece for her.

" I think I heard you say you were Snape's niece?" he asked her with a soft smile.

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" Lilah asked.

"Professor Lupin. So," he seemed to be struggling with the chocolate, "You are Vivian's daughter?"

Lilah stared at him for a moment as he finally broke the chocolate piece. Her family was well to do in the wizard world, but she was still astonished to find a man who knew them.

"Um, no I'm Imogen's daughter." She said reaching for the chocolate.

Lupin dropped the chocolate looking dazed.

"Sorry." He said coming out of his daze and fumbling for the chocolate.

Just then a very pale Draco ran in. Everyone looked up at him as he tried to collect himself.

"Lilah, come on." He said grabbing her wrist, not waiting for her to react ,and dragging her out of the room.