Free Will and Fate

As they walked across the courtyard, Harry unexpectedly felt butterflies filling his stomach. He squeezed Hermione's hand unconsciously, nervous about meeting his younger sister for the first time. He didn't know why he was nervous. She was just a child, after all. If he could meet his mother without losing all nerve, a little sister who adored him shouldn't be too much more intimidating.

As they approached the table, Lily stood from one of the stone benches and welcomed first Hermione then Harry with a warm hug. He lingered in his mother's embrace. After the week he had, he didn't feel silly about needing a hug from her. He needed the reassurance that what he'd done wasn't for nothing and that all of the results of his actions had not come to disaster. When he realized Hermione was smiling at the picture they made, he released his mother, smiling as she ruffled his hair with one hand and slipped an arm around him.

"How has school been this week?" Lily asked. "I know the first week is always hectic, but the first O.W.L. year takes some getting used to."

Harry leaned his head against his mother's shoulder. "You have no idea. This week has been crazy. I'm so glad I could see you today."

She squeezed him close. "The professors were rough in my years too, but it's because they want you to really put in the work. It's the best way to learn. I'm sure you and Hermione will both do well once you get used to the new schedules and the increase in course difficulty." She held her other arm out and Hermione slipped under it. "How have you two been?"

"Great," they said simultaneously. Hermione giggled. "We've managed to get a lot of work done this week and still spend time together," she said.

"Time spent in well-lit, occupied areas?" Lily enquired.
At this, Harry blushed and pulled out of his mother's hug. "I promise nothing has happened that you would get too upset about."

Lily nodded, a knowing smile lighting her face briefly. "Right. That's what you said last term. Just make sure you keep the majority of your focus on your studies."

Hermione giggled again and then looked around. "Where are Professor Snape and Raven?"

"My husband had business to attend to," Lily said. "I don't think he'll be joining us for lunch. Raven went to the bathroom. She's been dying to see you, Harry."

"I want to see her too," he responded truthfully. "I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this weekend to come."

"Aw, Harry, I'm sorry this week has been so hard on you," Lily said. "If you're really having trouble with the work, I'm sure your teachers would be more than happy to help you with the assignments. You can always write to me if you have a question."

"It's not the work, Mom." He glanced at Hermione and noted that her bright smile had dropped. "Snape has been--"
"Harry, you could at least refer to your stepfather as 'Professor' before you go on to disrespect him."

Harry frowned in response to this. Hermione left Lily's side to put an arm around him.

"Professor Snape has just been giving Harry a harder time than usual lately." Hermione looked up at him and smiled. "He can handle it. Don't listen if he says otherwise, he's just having difficulty dealing with things for now. It'll get better as we all settle into our routines."

"But, Hermione, he--"

"Harry, it's not important," she said. She raised her eyebrows for emphasis. "I'm sure your mom would like to talk about happier things than your ongoing feud with your stepfather. Besides, he's not even here. I'm sure he did that so the two of you wouldn't fight in front of us."

"He's not avoiding Harry," Lily said. "He told me he had some things to take care of and it might take him a while to get back. But, while we're on the subject of the two of you not getting along, I do think we should talk about your attitude, Harry."

At Hermione's urging, he sat at the small table across from his mother, with Hermione at his side.

"You can't keep going on this way," Lily said. Her eyes dropped to the table and she began playing with the tip of her wand. "I know you're concerned about him, about us, but there's no reason to continue provoking disagreements with him. He told me you were defensive with him earlier this week when all he was trying to do was ask how things were going. Professor McGonagall had to pull you out of class this week and you didn't feel like you could come to him about it?"

Harry gasped. "I was not in trouble if that's what you were thinking. She was concerned that I didn't feel well Sunday and wanted to check on me. And she wanted to talk about how Professor Snape is treating me. It's not all in my head, Mom."

"I didn't say it was." Lily's eyes started to fill with tears. Hermione's hand slipped into his as his mother continued. "He only has so much patience when you won't give him any leeway." She wiped at a falling tear. "This is hard on me, you must know that. I've tried for years to get the two of you to get along, but you never seem to put in the effort." Lily's hand moved to cover Harry's other hand on the table. "He loves you as much as I do. If you would only try."

"I can't. I will never accept him as a part of our lives." He pulled his hand away from hers. "I will never see him as my father. I will not rest until you've left that man."

"Harry!" Hermione glared at him as his mother began to cry harder. "What is wrong with you? Can't you see this isn't the time?"

"It's all right, Hermione," Lily said. She wiped her eyes quickly and fanned her flushed face with her hand. "I'm sure he told you everything over the summer and this past week. These little outbursts are commonplace now, aren't they?" She looked at Harry, sadness weighing on her face. "I just wish you would grow out of this stage. This paranoia is pointless and you must see how it's hurting me. Don't you care about that?"

Harry swallowed hard. "Of course I care how it's making you feel, but I can't just pretend like everything is right with him. It's not a stage I'm going through. He was never the right man for you and you'll be much better off without him. We all will."

This earned him another glare from Hermione.

"Would you be happy with anyone I'm with? Tell the truth, Harry. You'd rather me be alone with you and Raven as my sole focus. There isn't anyone who's good enough for me, is there?"

"Dad was," Harry responded.

Lily's mouth dropped open and she let out a small garbled cry.

"Stop, please, both of you. Raven is coming," Hermione said.

Harry turned in the direction Hermione was looking. In no time at all, his eyes caught the small body running across the grass towards them. She was a little skinny and prettier than Harry would've expected any child of Snape's to be. Probably because she took after their mother. When she stopped next to the table, Harry immediately thought she resembled a six-year-old female version of himself complete with his mother's eyes and the thick, dark hair they had inherited from their respective fathers. While his hair was a perpetual mess, hers hadn't quite attained the greasy look that had become her father's trademark. It fell in loose waves to just above her waist and appeared to be covered with glitter.

Grinning, the little girl climbed into his lap and planted a wet kiss on his cheek. His arms came around her in a hug. "I missed my Harry-bear." She snuggled into his chest then and Harry grinned, catching his mother's eyes across the table. She was smiling at them faintly, all traces of her few tears gone.

"Hi, Raven," he said. She stiffened and looked up at him, her bottom lip pushed out in a pout.

"Hi, Katie-pie," Hermione said from beside them. Raven ignored her.

"Harry, what's wrong? You never call me that. I've always been your Katie-pie," she said in a soft voice.

"I-I'm sorry. I forgot."

"Harry hasn't been feeling well," Hermione put in. Harry smile gratefully at her. "He didn't mean anything by it, sweetie. He probably just needs more rest."

Raven smiled at Hermione before returning her regard to Harry. "I hope you feel better," she said solemnly. "If you get real sick, you'll have to come home so I can take care of you."

Harry smiled at her serious remark. "I might just take you up on that," he said.

"Why haven't you been feeling well?" Lily asked. She turned her head to the side slightly and Harry knew she was looking at his scar again. "I didn't think you were a hundred percent the other day, but you assured me you were fine."

As Raven turned to look up at him again, Harry said, "Don't worry about it, it's just stress."

Lily pursed her lips together into a thin line at this, but said nothing.

"Harry's probably still exhausted from his Quidditch tryout yesterday," Hermione said, her enthusiastic voice ringing out over the silent table. "Everyone said they'd never seen anyone move that fast, especially on a school broom. He's going to be a great Seeker." Hermione leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'm really proud of you."

"Me too," Raven said. "I'm going to come for your first match and make sure you win." Harry laughed and squeezed his sister.

"I'm proud of you as well, Harry," Lily said. "I'm sure your father would be too." She cleared her throat and looked away then, fumbling with her robe. "I think it's time for lunch." She pulled a coin from her pocket and placed it on the table. "Everyone watch your hands. Sev tells me the Hogwarts kitchens have prepared something special for us." Lily tapped the coin with her wand and a few seconds later, lunch for four appeared on the table.

Severus Snape stood silent in the middle of the clearing. This was a part of the forest seldom traveled by anyone, or anything, as darker creatures tended to inhabit the area of the forest furthest away from the castle. Snape's eyes were closed, his body unmoving as he opened his senses to take in the subtle sounds that would be just audible over the wind. After several minutes of waiting, Snape heard the whispering hiss that signaled his arrival. He opened his eyes and acknowledged the snake at his feet with a short nod.

"I see you've had to change bodies again," he said. He knelt down and raised the snake on level with his eyes. "I apologize for that, my Lord. We are still attempting to recover the Key, but it will take some time."

Snape felt a sharp pain behind his eyes before Voldemort said, "Your continued failure angers me, Severus. I expected more from you."

He waited until the sound of hissing faded from his mind before responding. "Lucius's contact in the Department of Mysteries is researching the existence of a duplicate copy of the formula. Without it, we can still proceed with the extractions, but attempting to finish the reformation without the exact formula may result in...unfortunate circumstances. None of us wishes to cause you further pain."

"Why are there so many delays? If Lucius cannot do his part adequately, you will have to bring me to him. I can give him the proper motivation."

"My Lord, we are attempting to avoid the scrutiny of the Ministry. We could resolve the issue faster by using Dumbledore's memory to recreate--" A loud hiss interrupted his words and Snape stuttered to a halt as Voldemort used Legilimency again.

"Extracting a memory forcibly from Dumbledore will draw attention we do not need. I wish to surprise him when I am ready. Do as much as you can until the Key is recovered. In the meantime, proceed with the extractions. I shall expect results before long. Or I will take action personally."

Snape shuddered briefly as the thought of Voldemort possessing his body, even temporarily, to carry out their plan flashed quickly through his mind. Perhaps he could convince him to control Lucius that way instead. Malfoy could do with a bit of heavy-handed guidance.

"What of the boy?" Voldemort asked. "There is a child with the Key?"

Snape cursed himself silently. He'd forgotten to block that particular memory. "Th-there is a small possibility of my stepson knowing where it is, but I do not--"

"Kill him," Voldemort said. "Get it back at any cost. I expect to be out of this body in a reasonable amount of time, Severus. And not to inhabit another snake. You shall be rewarded for your service, but if you cannot do as you are bid..." Several quick images flashed through Snape's brain, his worst imaginings, things he knew were quite possible if Voldemort was not restored to body soon and resorted to taking over his.

Knowing their conversation was at a close, Snape lowered the snake to the ground and turned to walk through the forest back to Hogwarts.

An hour after they'd finished lunch, Harry and Lily sat laughing as they watched Raven and Hermione twirling in circles in the courtyard. Raven held Harry's wand, giggling as purple bubbles shot out from it in long streams. Hermione was filling the air with pink bubbles from her own wand. Before, Harry might have felt the way they were drawing attention from other students was embarrassing, but in recent memory, he couldn't recall a time when he'd seen Hermione laugh and smile so much. And to watch his sister...it still seemed nothing short of a miracle that he had someone else he could love as much as his mother. She was nothing like her other parent, but Harry didn't see how he could've held it against her if she were. As he could well remember, children had no choice over the type of people who raised them.

"I think it's time for us to go," Lily called.

The three children made noises of dissent at the same time. "One more hour, Mom," Harry pleaded. "We've hardly had time together."

"Yes," Raven said, climbing into his lap. "One more hour."

"I'm sorry guys," Lily said. "I asked your father to let me know when it's almost four so I can get back to Bathilda. He's coming now."

Harry looked up and frowned as his stepfather made his way towards them.

"Oh, I forgot to ask earlier. How is she?" Hermione asked.

"Better, but still not a hundred percent," Lily responded. She turned to her son as she stood. "Don't look so sad, Harry. We'll try to stay longer next time."

"Can we stay the whole weekend?" Raven asked. She jumped up to stand next to her mother and tugged on her arm. "I promise I'll be extra good."

"I'm sure you will be," Lily said as Snape finally reached them. "We'll try to make plans later. Bye sweetie," she said, leaning over the kiss Harry on the forehead. She brushed her fingers over his scar. "Get this scratch looked at Harry." Turning, she joined Raven in hugging Hermione goodbye.

Snape watched the entire scene from a few feet away, arms crossed, not quite frowning.

"Oh! Before I forget." Lily turned back to her son. "We've got to go shopping for a racing broom. Isn't it wonderful that Harry's made the House team, Sev?"

He cleared his throat, startled at being addressed. "It is something of an achievement for him," he said coolly.

Lily started to respond to him but addressed Harry instead. "I want you to think about what model you want. I know there are catalogs with--"

"A Firebolt," Harry responded. He grinned as his mother gasped. "It'll be perfect for me."

She shook her head, laughing at his expensive request. "We'll see. If things keep going well at school, I'll think about it. Stay on top of everything, Harry."
"I intend to," he said. Harry stood as Raven came over to him for a final goodbye hug. "I'm going to miss you."

She squeezed tight around his middle, her eyes closed. "I love you my Harry-bear."

"I love you my Katie-pie." After one last squeeze, she released him and walked off with Lily and Snape, back into the castle.

Harry stood watching them until they were gone from sight. They really hadn't spent enough time together. He knew he'd feel that way even if they had stayed the entire weekend. He was never going to get tired of having a loving family around him, even if the whole school could see them playing around together.

"Hermione, is there a reason I call her Katie-pie? She was really upset when I didn't."

Hermione walked over to where he stood, twirling a lock of her hair with one hand. "Sorry, I had completely forgotten about the name thing or I would've told you. Raven's middle name is Kathleen. You gave it to her. You've been calling her Katie-pie since she was born."

"Am I the only one?"

"She only answers to it from you." Hermione shrugged. "Well, me too sometimes, starting last year."

"Is there a reason I never call her Raven?" Harry asked.

She smiled. "Her father gave her that name and you've always hated it."

"Does it bother him that I call her something else?"

She giggled, knowing where this was going. "It does annoy him a bit."

Harry smiled and put an arm around Hermione as they made their way back into the castle. "That is a good enough reason for me."