Snape's Daughter

Serena peered over the balcony on the first floor landing into the hallway below. There were six people down there, although one could not exactly be described as a 'person'. He was huge! A woman about half his size and wearing a pale blue dress stood next to him, her hand looking tiny and dwarfed by the man's. This must surely be Rubeus Hagrid, Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures Professor at Hogwarts.

The other people in the hall were Tonks, Dung, Uncle Remus and another unknown woman. She was holding Uncle Remus's hand, and looked very nervous. Serena narrowed her eyes, and strained her ears to hear what was happening.

"...This is Cath'rine, my fee-on-say. So, where's Beaky then?"

"He's just up the stairs, Hagrid. Tonks, could you show him?"

The Metamorphmagus nodded, and waited while Hagrid spoke too quietly for Serena to hear to Catherine. Then he walked towards the stairs.

They climbed towards the landing, and Serena stood up straighter. She bit her lip nervously as they approached - meeting new people always did that to her.

"How is Beaky this morning?" asked Tonks to the eleven-year-old.

"He's not feeling very well. He wouldn't eat the apple I brought him. They say you're good with animals, Mr. Hagrid."

"Jus' call me Hagrid," he replied, grinning through his long beard.

Serena stayed on the balcony as the half-Giant and Auror headed up the next flight of stairs and out of sight. Then she walked over to the stairs and went down them to her uncle, Dung, and the two women.

"Well, 's anyone 'ungry? I got lots'a food in the kitchen," said Dung, cheerfully.

"I'll just have a cup of tea, thanks," said the woman Hagrid had called Catherine.

"How about you, Hannah?" asked Remus in an unusually nervous voice to the other woman.

"I'll have the same, thanks. Steel spoon." The woman grinned, and Remus grinned back, his face less heavy than usual.

"I'll have what she's having!"

"Serena?" asked Dung.

"Coke please," she responded.

Dung walked into the kitchen, followed by Remus and Hannah, and Catherine. Serena was about to follow when the doorbell rang. Automatically, she braced her ears for the sounds of Mrs Black, but there was silence. She remembered that the Magical Law Enforcement Squad (MLES) had removed it after Muggles had complained to the police about the noise coming from the house next door. The Fidelius charm had finally been removed since it was no longer necessary. A witch in the police had reported the incident to the MLES and they had removed the portrait with part of the wall. Free of charge, they authorised someone to come in and repair it.

Serena opened the door. There stood Luke and his friend Cyndi, who was staying with Luke's family. They were lucky that the distance across the green was not too far.

"Dung's in the kitchen at the moment with Uncle Remus and two people that I've never met before. D'you want a drink?"

Luke and Cyndi hesitated, glancing in alarm at each other. Serena's eyes narrowed. "Look, just what is..."

Cyndi sighed. "We'd better get this over with. C'mon."

She walked slowly towards the kitchen, Serena behind her and Luke hanging well back. She pushed open the door, and entered. Remus looked up, and his mouth fell wide open when he saw Cyndi. Luke had stopped in the middle of the hallway, hidden from his view.

"Hiya Moony!" said Cyndi. Now it was Serena's turn to be shocked.

"Hunter," said Remus, who had relaxed slightly. "I see.. you got back alright."

"Yes, thank you," replied Cyndi. "It must feel like ages ago to you. It's odd, being young again."

"But to you... it must be even harder to cope with... with..." stuttered Remus, his eyes now filling with unshed tears.

Hannah put a reassuring hand on Remus' shoulder. He was standing up by now. Cyndi looked behind her, and noticed that Luke had not entered, but she said nothing.

Serena stood there, not saying a word. In total and utter shock, she slowly took a seat.

Cyndi turned to Serena apologetically.

"I suppose I owe you an explanation. Three months ago, I was given a time turner by Albus Dumbledore to go back to 1971 and start at Hogwarts. I have absolutely no idea why, and never will. By a strange twist of fate I became friends with the Marauders, but in 1978 I had to return back to this time. I was 7 years older, and had become an eagle animagus, but when I returned, I was back to my old age again."

"Right... but where does...?" Cyndi looked alarmed, and shook her head.

"Okay, shall I leave you two to... er... catch up then?" asked Serena nervously, wanting to get away from the freakiness of it all. Cyndi nodded, and Serena left the kitchen.

"And what have you got to do with all this, then?" she hissed at him in a fearsome whisper.

"I'll tell you later," replied Luke, even more quietly. "Let's go to your room for now."

*~*~*

They headed up the stairs to the second landing, and entered Serena's now permanent room. During their time as friends, they had got a black and white photograph taken of them by Tonks. It now hung on the wall of the bedroom, framed in eternity. As she paused to look at it, she thought of the day when it had been taken. That day had been so different from this one, when they had been messing around all day in the green with some local Muggle kids. Now, everything had changed. What on earth could Cyndi mean? Hunter?

She had gone loads of years into the past, met her father's worst enemies, and befriended them. She was one of them, she was even an animagus like them. But how come Uncle Remus recognised her when her parents did not? Surely they could not both be lying? It was far too weird for that.

She wondered how her parents were getting on at Hogwarts. She suddenly wondered why Hagrid was away from the school when all the other teachers were already there.

*~*~* Meanwhile, at Hogwarts *~*~*

"I wonder how Serena is getting on at home?" wondered Severus to his wife Katherine as they sat in the empty Staff Room. All other members of staff were out doing things, and no-one knew or cared where Binns was - except Dumbledore of course.

"Oh, she'll be fine. She's probably talking to those two new friends of hers, Cyndi and Luke."

"Cyndi?" asked Severus, suddenly alarmed. He leapt to his feet. "I recognise that name..."

"It's probably just a - wait a minute!" Katherine's eyes widened, as she came to a similar conclusion to her husband. "Remus had a friend called Cyndi. Cyndi Brock..." She made the connection in an instant, and stared, wide-eyed, at the dark-haired Potions master.

"Dumbledore," they said together, standing up. They turned to the door, and made towards it. As he reached towards the door handle, Severus was knocked off his feet by the force of the aged headmaster pushing it open quickly.

"Does the name... Cyndi Brock... mean anything to you?"

*~*~* The Department of Mysteries *~*~*

The keeper of the orbs of prophecy walked down the long rows of the dark hall. He bore no wand, no quill, and no parchment. His hair was grey from long years of toil, his eyes a milky blue. He was blind, but could see everything about this place. Two months ago on this day, six children and many Evil Ones had come and destroyed many of the prophecies, kept for centuries. Yet he knew the words to them all, to the ones that had been spoken, for as they had been woven into the fabric of time he had heard their voices, all of them. None knew how long the keeper of the orbs of prophecy had lives for, but by no Philosopher's Stone, no Elixir of Life, had he lived as long as the earth. None remembered his name, but all felt the presence of one far greater than they when about him.

"When the name is uttered of one who has been before,

When all know the truth of what has been,

Another truth will come.

The one who fell and was thought to be no more,

The one who did not know but now does,

Another way will bring."

There was silence in the hall, a silence that reverberated into the distance. The steady footsteps of the keeper of the orbs of prophecy had fallen silent. CST to OTB about ? read the inscription that had formed itself below the orb, but the keeper did not know this. But the echo of a hundred-year-old prophecy inside his mind meant only one thing. That something had caused it to begin to come true. Something was disturbing the rhythm of life, and bringing these ages words into being. For in the last sixteen years this was the fourth. The oldest came from a time when he could see. The youngest was but a few hours old when the orb glowed brightly and the words echoed.

The keeper began to walk forward again. Down row 1 he headed, turned, and headed back up row 2.

*~*~* Number 12 Grimmauld Place *~*~*

Luke was growing impatient, waiting for Cyndi to come back. He knew it would take a while, and kept biting his lip. At intervals, he would make as if to get up and walk to the door, but then he relaxed again. Serena was trying to read, but she too was fidgety, wanting to know what was happening.

Eventually, Luke stood up.

"I'm going downstairs," he said.

"I'll come with you," said Serena instantly, standing up.

"No!" barked Luke, sounding almost dog-like.

"You can't stop me," said Serena. Luke raised his wand.

"You wanna test that fact?"

In an instant, Serena had transformed and hissed menacingly at Luke. To her surprise, he dropped his wand and started shaking madly. Quickly, she transformed back, thinking that he was scared. Yet her poor eyesight had failed her again. He was laughing madly, doubled up not in pain, but with glee.

"Y- Y- You can c- come with m- m- m- me!" he stuttered through the tears of laughter running down his face. Serena, although surprised, nodded. She followed Luke, still laughing, down the stairs.

When they were half way across the hall to the kitchen, Luke hesitated. All traces of mirth had gone now, and he looked solemn. He took one long, deep breath, and started to walk slowly, more silently than Serena had ever thought possible, towards the door. Then he pushed it open.

One word was spoken, followed by a loud crash.

"Sirius!"