Secrets and Protection

First Visit- The End

Three Years Later

The graveyard extended further than the eye could see. Grave after grave, most of them looked the same from a distance with the exception of the few eccentric ones that glowed in various colors. This graveyard was specially designated for witches and wizards who valiantly sacrificed their lives. Raven carefully looked around, shivering as a cool breeze swept over the area. This was the first time Raven was setting foot on these hallowed grounds. Still, three years later, she was unable to get that image out of her mind. Her dreams were no longer haunted by premonitions, but now night after night the image of the cold face of Lucius Malfoy dominated her dreams. And those two words he spoke, "Avada Kedavra" as his wand was pointed at her. The green light emitted by those words was about to hit her when her father pushed her down to the ground letting the curse hit him. Dead in an instant. His limp body slumped on top of hers. It was the same dream night after night. There had been many nights where she had considered making herself a dreamless sleep potion, but now at eighteen, Raven did not want to forget what had happened back three years ago. Today would be the day she would be able to put those dreams behind her and focus on moving forward. Raven knew she had to live with the memory, and not let it haunt her life. Finally visiting the grave of the man to whom she owed her life was the final step in obtaining closure for that day-- three years ago to the minute.

"Ra, see daddy," a small boy of two tugged gently on Raven's robes. The small boy had pale skin that matched that of his companion, short spiky black hair and eyes that were almost dark as tunnels.

"Yes, we are Severus," Raven said as she picked up her brother. Raven had not known that when she had run away from Hogwarts with her father that he had shared a night with her mother earlier. It was not until she came back four months later that Kylean had informed her daughter about that night and the pregnancy which had come of it. Raven did find that helping with her brother made the memories a little easier to deal with, but it was also hard because she could tell that the boy would grow into an exact replica of their father.

"Want daddy," Severus begged his older sister, as he wrapped his tiny arms around her as they approached his grave. Raven knew he wanted to hear about their father. She would tell him the sorry tale knowing he would not be able to understand it until he was older.

Raven stopped at the grave and put her brother back on the ground. The saddened girl could feel her throat tighten as her eyes began to sting from unshed tears. This was the first time she had visited. Three years ago, Raven could not bring herself to attend the funeral. Many people showed up to show their respects even if a large number of them were not on well terms with him. They felt it in them to respect a man who gave his life for his child.

Raven knelt down, reached out and touched the cold stone tablet that lay in front of her. It was a simple headstone with no ornamentation. It only bared the inscription:

Severus Snape

Born March 15 1960- Died June 12 1996

Staring out at those words caused an eruption of tears, "Oh, daddy."

Severus looked over at his sister, "No cry Ra." The tiny boy reached out and wiped a few tears off his sister's face. Raven sat down on the firm earth in front of the grave and pulled the toddler onto her lap and kissed the top of the boy's head.

Raven sat motionless for a few seconds before she found any words to speak, "I know I should have come sooner daddy, but I couldn't. I could not bring myself to truly believe you were gone. For a long time I had myself convinced that you would come back. It was that belief that kept me sane for a while, but then I realized you weren't coming back. I had to find a way to deal with it. Help with that came in the form of little Severus here," Raven paused as she looked down at her brother who looked like he was ready to doze off.

"Mum never got a chance to tell you about him. She told me you two had a night together before we took off. You were the only one who did not have any doubt that I did not kill Hermione and Colin. Mum even doubted me until we took off. It was mum's idea to name him after you. Severus, he looks a lot like you, daddy. You would be really proud of him, he is already showing signs of magic. Just the other day he sent a bar of soap across the washroom when mum was trying to give him a bath. Mum wanted to get mad but she couldn't help herself from laughing. I just wish that he would've had the chance to know you like I did. He would have loved the holidays we went on. He would have loved you...." the now shaking witch noticed that her brother was not paying attention to one word she was saying but he had found interest elsewhere.

"I finished school was last week, daddy. I wasn't the top of my class like I used to be. My grades did drop quite a bit, but I did get top marks in Potions and Charms. Mum was ecstatic at that. I hope you are proud of me, daddy. I've been talking to Professor Dumbledore; he offered me your old position. He tells me he hasn't seen some one so apt for Potions since you were a student. Dumbledore knows I am still young but thinks I can do well at the job. He says that I had the best teacher and that I can be the same. I don't know what to do. I want to make you proud of me by following in your footsteps, but I don't want to be horrible at it and be a big disappointment," Raven finished, taking a free hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Daddy here," little Severus said as he looked behind his sister and tried to wriggle out of her arms. Raven turned around and saw nothing.

"There is no one here," Raven turned back around. She then felt a comforting presence, like a hand on her shoulder. Raven turned around again and saw nothing, but she still felt the presence.

"You can never be a disappointment to me kitten," a voice barely above a whisper echoed in Raven's ear.

"Dad?" Raven asked as she turned around and still nothing was there, but she felt a warm sensation bubbling up inside her. Her father was the only one that ever called Raven kitten. This was her father's way of reaching out to her from death to tell her something. A smile began to spread across her face, "Thank you." Raven reached out and traced the inscription on the headstone. "I won't let you down daddy," she said as tears streamed down her face.

"No cry," Severus began to fuss. "Ra, no cry," he empathized the point even more. Raven stood up her brother still tightly in her arms, "Daddy!" he explained pointing off behind a nearby tree.

"There is no one here," Raven tried to explain as she went to check out behind the tree. "See, there is nobody here," the young woman pointed out. Raven could not see anyone in front of her although... she did feel a familiar comforting force around her.

"Home," the small boy spoke moving past what he saw before.

"Yes, we are. You can help me pack, too. I am going to be teaching at Hogwarts in the fall," Raven smiled to herself, knowing her brother could not comprehend what she was saying. It didn't matter, though. It was just something she had to say aloud for herself to hear.

The End...