Nokomis stood outside the school with her trunk packed, waiting for Severus to meet her so they could spend the long train ride back to London together. She was also hoping to introduce him to her parents when they arrived, she knew they would be waiting for her to get off the train. She noticed her little sister Mikahla, who was in first year, and her younger brother Corbett, who was in third year, heading towards her. She didn't get to see Mikahla too often, which made her sad, but she couldn't think of too many opportunities that a sixth year Slytherin would see a first year Hufflepuff.

"So, we gettin on the carriage now?" Corbett said rolling his eyes. "I mean, what's the point of waiting around, unless you are waiting for that half-blood you are wasting time with. You know mum and dad will be upset with you when they find out."

"They are not going to find out," she answered back, trying hard not to hit him in the back of his head. "Besides, why should it matter, it's not like I'll spoil the Lennyn name or anything."

"As if mum and dad won't figure it out. Snape is not a wizarding name, any first year in Slytherin knows that," Corbett answered back glaring at his older sister.

"The other three houses don't know though," Mikahla said, before flushing and looking back down. She should have learned by now not to interrupt her older siblings due to the many hexes she had received over the years.

Nokomis looked up and saw Severus coming towards them with his trunk dragging behind him. "I'm glad you waited for me," he began before stopping in his tracks when he noticed the other two. He raised his eyebrow and looked at her. "We're not going to spend the whole time with your little brother are we? And who's this little girl? His girlfriend?"

"Not all purebloods are inbreeders Snape," Corbett said with venom in his voice. "But being a filthy half-blood, you wouldn't know about that would you?"

Nokomis saw Severus flush and look down and she felt like killing her little brother. "Enough Corbett!" she said fighting back the urge to hex him into next week. "You need to learn one of these days when to keep your mouth shut. Did you know that Lucius Malfoy considers Severus his friend? Now if he's good enough to earn Malfoy's respect, he should get yours as well." She turned to Severus and closed the short distance between them. "This is my little sister Mikahla, she's in Hufflepuff, that's why you haven't seen her around."

"Oh," Severus said, flushing again. "Sorry if I offended," he said to Mikahla who was smiling at him. He seemed to like Noko's little sister, she wasn't as rude as Corbett was. He was sure that's what had landed her into Hufflepuff.

"Ok, let's get going," Nokomis said waving her wand and lifting her trunk into the carriage. She then lifted Corbett's and Mikahla's trunks as well. Severus had already put his in and he opened the door for Nokomis to step inside. He waited for everyone to get in before climbing in and shutting the door behind him. He sat next to Nokomis and looked over at her younger siblings. "Yes, you need to behave," she whispered to him as if she knew what he was thinking.

"Will they be on the train with us as well?" he whispered back. He didn't think he would be able to spend the entire trip back to London without kissing her a few times. He knew he would have to spend the next two months without her and that was bad enough.

"I doubt it," she answered quietly. "They normally find their friends on the platform and then ignore me the whole way to London until about thirty minutes before we arrive at the station and start whining that they are tired and hungry." Nokomis noticed that they were arriving at Hogsmeade station and she started gathering her things. When the carriage stopped, she made her way outside and waved her wand to bring down everyone's trunks.

"You know, I could have done that," Corbett said to her as he grabbed his trunk and dragged it towards the train. Mikahla grabbed her trunk and rolled her eyes before dragging hers to the train as well.

"Looks like we are alone now," Severus said to Nokomis with a smirk. He took her trunk in one hand and his in the other and started to take them to the train. "No, allow me," he said as she reached for her trunk. "You just worry about Narobi."

"Sev! Noko! Over here!" Alexxi said from the train. "I've saved us a compartment so that we'll be able to talk and stuff on the way home." She ducked her head back in after giving them both a smile.

"I think you spoke too soon," Nokomis smirked at him. She climbed up onto the train and found Alexxi and Ian and entered the compartment. "Thanks for saving us a seat you two."

"Not a problem," Ian said as Severus came in. "Are you going to have a party again this year for your birthday? It should be a major one, finally becoming of age."

"I can't help it I'm the youngest of all of us," Nokomis said with a slight pout. "But I'm sure that my parents will throw a huge party, and yes, you'll all be invited." She smiled and snuggled closer to Severus, making sure that she was comfortable for the long trip home.

"Will you have a problem getting to Noko's house Sev?" Ian asked him suddenly. "I mean, I'm not even sure where you live."

"I won't have any problems. I've been to Lucius's house before, so I should have no problems finding hers," he said looking down. He didn't want to admit that he lived in a run-down muggle neighborhood, especially since Nokomis's house was sure to be huge.

"Yeah Ian, he'll be fine," Nokomis said. "And what should it matter where Severus lives? The party will be at my house like normal." Nokomis hoped that he would let her know where he lived eventually. She'd really like to meet his mum someday, from what Severus had told her, she was a very talented witch and a wonderful woman.

They continued towards London in relative quiet. Once in a while the four friends would talk about something or other, but the majority of the time was spent in silence as they contemplated what they would do over the summer. Nokomis enjoyed the feeling of having Severus hold her in his arms and hoped that the trip home would last forever.

"How much longer is it?" Mikahla said as she barged into the compartment and climbed up on Nokomis's lap. "I miss mummy."

"I know," Nokomis answered, holding her little sister close to her. "It shouldn't be too much longer." She turned her head and gave Severus a look as if to say "told you." "Mikahla, do you want to see some fun magic?" Nokomis asked her with a smile on her face.

"Sure!" Mikahla said as her eyes lit up. "Can you show me what you learned this year?"

Nokomis smiled and turned to look at Severus. "Would you care to show her something?" she asked him while running her hand through her hair. she hoped he would get the clue of what she wanted him to try.

Severus smirked and waved his wand before tapping Nokomis on the head. Suddenly her hair changed from black to green with silver streaks. "Wow!" Mikahla said, her eyes wide open. "That was cool! You can do stuff without words just like mum and dad can. Can you do my hair too?" Severus smiled, waved his wand and tapped Mikahla. Her hair was changed to a golden yellow with black streaks. "Aww, can't I have fun colors like Nokomis?" she asked a little disapointed.

"I thought you would like your house colors," Severus said to her. "What colors would you like instead?"

"She loves purple and pink," Nokomis said with a smirk as she tapped her own head and returned her hair back to black. Severus raised his eyebrow, shrugged and then tapped Mikahla again. Her hair turned a vibrant shade of purple with pink streaks in it.

"Is that more to your liking Miss Lennyn?" Severus said to her as she checked herself out in a mirror.

"It's great!" she said cheerfully. "Thank you Mr. Snape. You are too cool." She got up and ran out of the compartment with a huge smile on her face. Severus looked after her, wondering why she had left so suddenly.

"She probably went to go show it off to her friends," Nokomis said with a smile when she saw Severus's confused expression.

"If they start queueing up outside for makeovers, I'm hexing her," Severus said in a worried voice. "That's the last thing I need right now."

"Sev, you would be the last person I would go to for a makeover," Ian said as everyone started laughing. Severus rolled his eyes and smirked at Ian before laughing himself.

"You know, I'm glad Mikahla made some friends," Alexxi said to Nokomis after a few minutes passed. "The trip to school this year was the longest one ever."

"It wasn't too bad," Nokomis said, defending her little sister. "You were just upset because you couldn't snog Ian on the way to school this year." Severus chuckled and kissed Nokomis on the cheek. Nokomis turned her head and kissed Severus on the lips gently, causing him to return the kiss passionately, forgetting that they were not alone.

"Well, you are one to talk," Alexxi said, causing Nokomis to flush remembering who else was there. A sudden jerking sensation told them that they were now back in London. "C'mon, time to go," Alexxi said, getting up and grabbing her trunk.

Nokomis felt a sudden sadness when she stood up and turned to look at Severus. "I'm going to miss seeing you every day," she told him as she buried her face in his chest.

"I'll miss you too," Severus said as he put his arms around her and held her tight. "I'll send owls though, as often as I can."

"I'll hold you to that," Nokomis said to him as she stepped back and gathered her things. "Will your mum be meeting you on the platform?"

"Yes, she always does," Severus said forcing a small smile. "I would be honored if you came to meet her." When she nodded her head, his smile grew and he took her hand and led her off the train. He saw his mother right away and he made his way over carefully.

"Hello Severus," Eileen Snape said when they finally reached her. She put her arms around him and gave him a squeeze, releasing him again quickly. "Who is this young lady?" she asked, looking over at Nokomis.

"Mum, this is Nokomis Lennyn," Severus said as he gently brought her closer. "This is the special friend I had told you about in my letters."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Snape," Nokomis said as she curtsied. "Severus has told me about you and I am glad to finally meet you."

"Severus, you never told me that you had found yourself a girlfriend," Eileen said as she smiled at her son. Severus flushed and looked down quickly, his hair falling in his face. "Don't be embarassed, you are a handsome boy, clearly Miss Lennyn sees it also."

"I do agree Mrs. Snape," Nokomis said with a smile, watching Severus become even more flushed. "I couldn't keep my eyes off of him all last year. Luckily I found some courage so I could talk to him this year." She moved over and put her hand in his and gave him a smile.

"Nokomis, Azreal says it's time to go," Mikahla said as she came over. Nokomis looked disapointed, but knew it wouldn't be wise to delay.

"I will see you next month Severus. I'll send you an owl with my address and when to come by," Nokomis said as a tear escaped her eye. "I love you."

"I love you too Nokomis," Severus said as he put his arms around her and held her close for a moment. "Please don't forget me."

"I'll write you soon enough," she answered with a small smile. "I could never forget you." With that she turned and joined the rest of her family, touched the portkey that Azreal had activated, and vanished.