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Chapter 15 And so it Begins

Severus approached the window, hearing the familiar tapping sound of his tawny.

Letting it in, he took the parchment and unrolled it eagerly.

It was from his wife.

Severus,
I worry I may not be well enough to survive this war. I am at my residence in Ireland. Hopefully, this will get to you, uninterrupted. I am watching P, G and A are coming to you, to help protect the school. They wouldn't take no for an answer. The Trio will be at Hogwarts tonight, I know it. Good luck.
I love you,
Eliza

He sat back into his chair, resting his head in his hands.

Eliza was safe, watching their granddaughter. Garrett and Annalise were on their way to the school.

***

The woman watched her grandchild sleep peacefully a moment longer, before turning back to the room and sitting in the rocking chair.

Everything she had said in her letter, she meant. If the Deatheaters didn't come for her, surely she would die of sickness or fatigue.

She was weak and she knew it.

Oh, Eliza... What has become of you?

She sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity, before seeing the first glimpse of sunrise across the horizon.

She kept her eyes on the scenery, slowly drifting into an uneasy sleep.

***

Garrett pulled his girlfriend behind him by the hand.

"Are you sure she'll be alright?" Annalise asked, worry in her voice.

Garrett nodded. "There's no one I trust more than Professor Barron."

The blonde stopped abruptly, causing her lover to stop as well. "Yeah, I was meaning to ask about that. How is it that you trust her so much? We've known her no more than a year."

Garrett sighed, attempting to come up with an excuse. Suddenly, it dawned on him, he wouldn't have to make one up. He would tell her the truth. Well, some part of the truth.

"She knew my parents."

Satisfied with that, the girl decided to trust his judgment.

Garrett pressed a tender kiss to his lips and started walking again, down the street and around the corner, disapperating mid-stride.

***

A furious knocking came from the other side of the office door.

Severus pulled it open, yawning. The night had been difficult. He hadn't gotten much sleep, worry keeping up all night.

"Mr. Bornean-Rasp, a surprise." He drawled, seeing the boy at the door.

His former student clung to his son's arm, shying away from the Headmaster.

"Miss Blackburn." Severus acknowledged.

She blushed and looked down. Suddenly embarrassed.

"Professor Snape, we heard that Hogwarts is in need of assistance." Garrett spoke, easing the tension.

Snape exhaled. "Now where, Mr. Bornean, would you have heard such a statement?" Malice oozing from his tone, picking up his classroom façade to keep Annalise from suspicion.

"Professor Bar-erm, Snape, came to us. She said the school needed our help." The girl spoke up shyly.

Go to your mother's old chambers in the dungeons. He silently told his son, all the while listening to Annalise. Hide Miss Blackburn for the moment. You can go back to her afterward. Come back when she is asleep, I'll show you where to place the protection spells.

"Very well." He said aloud. "Now, I assume Mr. Bornean-Rasp knows where to take you. I will see you both later today."

Annalise's blue eyes shot open. "But sir!"

Severus closed the door and returned to his room. He knew he wouldn't be able to get any sleep, but little was better than none. Besides, Garrett was here to help, his wife was safe with the baby.

"Garrett!" Annalise exclaimed. "You're just going to let him do that? After we've come all this way!"

The young man raked a hand through his jet black hair and sighed. "I know, Anna. Look, the man has been worried sick about the school since the beginning of term and things are only getting worse. His wife is in another country, far away from him and he has to keep an eye on all the students, staff, infiltrations and Dementors." He paused, waiting for it to sink in. "I'd want to get some rest too, were I in his place."

The girl looked away. "I never thought of it that way. I don't think I could bear to be away from you in a time like this."

He smiled and pressed his lips to hers briefly. "And that's why you're here,  with me and Persephone is back home with Professor Barron."

She swallowed thickly and nodded. She met his eyes, her own filling with worry.

"Garrett, what if we don't live through this? What if I never see my baby again?" Tears threatened to pour from her blue eyes.

Garrett's heart sank. She was entirely right. There was always the possibility that they would perish.

They might not live to see their daughter's first words, steps or Christmas.

Life was cruel.

They had been gifted with something precious and wonderful, only to have it taken away because of war and hate.

Garrett then understood why his parents had married when they did.

They didn't think they'd live either.

It is a frightening thing to understand that your parents would welcome death with open arms, if what they fight for stands a chance in surviving the second wizarding war.

It is even more frightening to find yourself in the same position.

Instead of alarming his partner, he merely smiled softly and whispered: "Now is not the time for tears, beloved. Today is a day to be thankful for, for it may be the last normal day of our lives."

And he was right, in a sense.

May 1st, 1998 would indeed be the last.