So here is how I would have ended it….AN means Authors notes, peppered in are some scenes I had already written. I tried to make it flow easy. So here goes….

AN- Blaise got hit by stepping in front of a curse his father had aimed for a Hufflepuff.

Once back at the castle the boys are sent off to their dorms to get ready for the masked ball……

*~*~*~*

"Blaise will be fine." Dumbledore said gently, which made him sound all the more sad. "Minor injures. Nothing more serious…yes…Minor. But enough to keep him out of the ball tonight. You three must have enough fun for him tonight."

The news was good, Harry thought cryptically, but all the same, he swore he could see tears in the headmaster's eyes.

However, he had now spent enough time in Slytherin to know not to question things here and now.

That would wait till Theo, Draco and himself were safely sequestered in their dorm room, silencing charm in place.

"I don't understand why not cancel the dance? I mean Blaise is…But Harry couldn't finish." Harry asked innocently.

"There are larger things happening here Neil. Bigger things to protect."

Harry obviously didn't understand. Therefore, Draco spelt it out.

"What do you think would happen if ole Dumbles canceled the dance and pronounced that all was not safe?"

"Auror's would come and protect the school." Harry answered

Idiot, Harry heard Theo expel under his breath.

Draco in turn sighed. It wasn't the kids fault really, he didn't come form the same environment the rest of them did.

"See if you could follow…The headmaster explains that a student was attacked, a Slytherin student…The board of governors would be notified at once, and as such my father."

Draco paused a moment letting that thought sink in before he brought his point home.

"We are all, this year, within marking range."

Harry looked up sharply and heard the underlying message. Every day, every minute away from his father was the only safety he had. The only safety any of them had. And then, the true reason came crashing down hard on Harry…If Dumbledore explained the extent of the injury to Blaise his parents were likely to come get him…. And if his father had been the one to curse him, well Zambini Sr. was sure to kill him for stepping in front of a Hufflepuff.

Harry closed his eyes and drew a breath.

"We do care Neil," Theo whispered softly, "Even if we have to pretend otherwise."

Harry nodded his head. He understood.

Still the rest of the day passed slowly for Harry. It was hard to get ready for a dance when you didn't have a date and a friend in a hospital bed.

But still he got dressed and took the special Halloween mask from Draco.

~*~*~*~*

AN—So Blaise is in the hospital wing slowly being turned into a statue. Harry takes polyjuice potion to look like Draco who in turn takes some to look like Theo so that he can talk to Hermione. Harry feeling guilty about being at a party cannot stay long and decided to go upstairs to visit Blaise, only to discover he is on deaths door.

Dumbledore is at Blaise's bedside. Snape is there as well, offering him pain potions. He tells Harry that the last thing to go is the eyes and the heart.

Blaise asks to speak to Neil alone. He can see that Neil is really Harry, and wants to know if Harry was just acting as their friends or if he really is one. Harry assures Blaise that he is their friend, and that he will look out for Draco and Theo.

Blaise happy in this dies.

Dumbledore tells Snape cryptically that he must alert Blaise's father at once. And that he will be using a school owl to inform the father that he should come to the castle at once, instead of simply informing the man via floo that his son is dead. He hopes that this will buy them some time.

Snape tells Harry that he needs to go back to the party while he still looks like Draco.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

"It doesn't seem right…" Harry heard himself mumble.

"What" Snape Asked?

"All this happiness, Blaise is dead. Draco and Theo's parents might take them away tonight, so they can become Death Eaters. Everything is falling apart and there is a masked ball going on upstairs. I can't go back to the party Sir."

"You have too," Snape said sternly. "And somehow you will smile, and somehow you will laugh. And you'll pretend that nothing has happened."

"But," Harry tried to counter with tears in his eyes.

"You do this to keep them safe. To keep you safe. Come, its almost midnight. Time to reveal yourself to the world." Snape said handing him a silver mask.

It was a simple carnival mask but somehow in the firelight, it looked like a death eaters mask. And for a moment, harry wondered if that was what it was like to be Snape. To go on dancing while your friends died or were forced to hide

"Come "Snape asked again.

And Harry, still shaking, Donned the mask and smiled. But it only seemed to make his tears fall harder.

-AN- So Harry goes back to the party and Snape goes in search of Draco and Theo. The man has plans after all.

The music in this scene is the Peirces, Three Wishes…

~*~*~*~

Snape grabbed his wand. Before he even had time to open his hand, he yelled out "point me."

The music was soft in the garden; it was more like a soft mummer from the great hall.

"Dance with me." Draco whispered offering his hand.

Timidly Hermione took it.

…We'd be so less fragile… if we were made from metal…And our hearts from iron….

"Is this a trick?" She asked nervously.

"No." Draco replied softly, "It's a wish."

Firmly he took her in his arms, and with a formal precession danced her around the courtyard.

"You look beautiful tonight Hermione."

"Thank you," She replied blushing slightly. "I made the mask myself."

"I wasn't talking about the mask."

…you want three wishes…you want never bitter and all delicious… one your saving for a rainy day…

"And when will you remove yours?" She asked coyly.

"I cant." He said faltering his step.

…if your lover ever takes her love away….

"Why, don't you trust me?" She asked stopping. Gently she reached for his hands.

Draco looked down. Her hands fit so perfectly in his.

…and you want three wishes….

"Its not you I distrust, but the world."

Hermione didn't respond. She wanted to promise that no one would know, that they would be safe. But she knew it would be a lie.

"Maybe…after the war." He conceded. "If you forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?"

"The things I have said. The things I will say." He whispered.

She could hear the pain in his voice. "You're not going to join the…"

…and a clean conscious…and all its bliss's…

"No." he said looking up meeting her eyes. She noticed they looked brown and blue at the same time. "Sometimes, you have to pretend so that things…" his voice cracked, "things aren't forced upon you."

A small tear escaped her eyes. Without thinking, he reached up and gently wiped it away. "Don't cry Hermione, please, don't cry."

...and one true lover with a thousand kisses….

Suddenly a throat cleared.

"Miss Granger, I must ask that your dance partner follow me."

Draco turned to look briefly at Snape. The severity of his eyes told him that he was not being called away because of a stolen potion. The night he had feared was finally at hand.

"I have to go." Draco said turning back to Hermione. "Please, remember me. This way."

He noticed another tear on her face as she nodded her agreement.

She noticed that his eyes were definitely blue.

As she watched the two men walking somberly away, her heart remembered. Her heart knew those eyes.

"Wait!" she cried out running towards them.

"Miss Granger now is not the time." Snape sneered.

But Hermione ignored her professor. Instead, she leaned close to the masked boy's cheek and gave it a soft kiss. "Be safe Draco." She whispered as she closed her eyes.

…if her lover ever takes her love away…..

And in the next heartbeat, when she opened her eyes, they were gone.

"Do you trust me Draco?"

"Yes" the response was automatic, "Please, don't let him take me."

"Foolish child" Snape sighed as he as pressed a small coin into the boys hand.

"Tell me you don't want it."

"I don't sir, I don't want to be a death eater."

There was a pop and a fizz and Draco felt himself disappear. When next he opened, his eyes a pair of strong arms grabbed him and Draco felt himself being apparated away.

*~*~*~*~

AN- Draco is given a port key that takes him to the Weasleys, and it is Molly who grabbes him and takes him to Charlies house in Romania. Yes Romainia. Yes they apperated all that way. You see in my world it was possible because Molly has a house key to Charlies house and that allows her the travel. It is still very hard on the system and Draco nearly passes out and Molly gets sick. Molly only has one pepperup potion, cursing the fact that she did not have more on hand, she halves the potion with Draco. She rests for another minute before apparating back to the burrow to await the arrival of Theo.

Unfortunately, the boys parents show up earlier than either the Headmaster of Snape would have thought possible. I was thinking some sort of Child Parent clock or something I don't know….anyway….

Theo is taken by his Father and they leave the Castle. Albus gives Theo a book. It is really a port key that will activate outside the castle walls. (Albus does not break the same sort of light/dark magic that Snape does when he makes his port key.)

However as the pair approach the edge of the wards, Theo knowing what lies ahead of him stops. He refuses to go any farther with his father.

Nott Sr. pulls out his wand and casts the killing curse at the child.

Everyone on the steps of the castle swear they actually see the grim swallow Theo whole before the curse hits.

Later that night, Snape tells Harry he will have to live the rest of term in 'the room'. Harry watches as Snape silently breaks down, Harry tries to help him, and even pours him a glass of brandy. but it of no use, as Snape tells him he "has to work tonight."

Voldie is pissed. Not knowing where Harry is, Losing Draco and now having to deal with Nott Sr. and the death of yet another pureblood male, he threatens Snape that if he does not find the missing children he will die.

Back at school, Aurs investigate the scene of the attack, but are unable to process Nott Sr. for murder since there is no body.

Charlie Weasley takes Theo's death very hard, and struggles to earn Draco's trust. Draco is afraid he will put the Weasley's in danger, and is worried that he will never be able to pay them back for aiding him.

Harry of course feels guilty. Luna tries to cheer him up.

Snape is on the verge of a breakdown.

McGonagall is in rare form, and acting very flippant over the death of a Theo. She goes around Snape saying things such as 'Forget me Not." She is also insistent that Snape ward her house. Snape tells her he will not, as he is one, pissed at the Not statements she is keen on speaking and two, because her husband is a ghost. Snape see's no reason for the wards to be protected.

Finally, after much angst, and broken potion vials, Albus orders Snape to McGonagall's house to ward.

And of course there is Theo, alive and well. Having not been swallowed completely by a grim, but rather transported by a cat. The recent developments have stressful to him however, and he has started cutting again. Snape moves him to Charlie's house.

Inter angst with Draco.

Charlie tells Snape that Draco is quiet and keeps to his room out of the way. He says that he has a hard time convincing the boy to study. Snape confronts Draco and tells him he is to study. Draco tells him he has no money to pay the tuition at Hogwarts, but that he can maybe become Snape's apprentice.

Snape tells him he does not have to worry about the tuition; he can attend school for free. In addition, that he will not become his apprentice.

When Draco asks how, Snape tells him that the children of Hogwart Professors always receive free schooling. And that he is to study hard to become a Barrister.

Draco looks shocked and Snape tells him that he has always seen Draco as his son. And that he is currently his heir.

Back at school….

Luna and Harry bond, followed by bonding of the hufflepuff kid that lived and Hermione. They get tired of not being able to sit together and make their own table in the great hall. They all discover that they were all almost sorted into another house. Harry you know, Hermione to Ravenclaw, Luna to Slytherin and the huffle kid to Gryffindor Neville is there and he is a hufflepuff.

They are gifted by the castle a real table, a founders table in the great hall, having represented the four founders and the secret fifth founder, the original headmaster….named Olive Hogwart. She died a shortly after the school opened, when all the houses were separating. She left a blessing on the students who would find the true meaning of house unity. Could this be the power the dark lord knows not Harry wonders?

Soon it is December, and the Holidays. Snape takes Neil to visit with Charlie and the other boys. Molly also goes over during this time to help the boys out, knowing how dirty men can be and asks Hermione to go with her. Hermione goes and the relationship with Draco blooms.

After the Holidays, Voldie is pissed. Snape having no new information is almost killed. Almost, because it is Falkes that flies in to rescue him and bring him back to the castle.

He is dying, the dark mark on his arm is slowly bringing him to death. Harry is upset, (naturally) and pissed that Dumbledore does not appear to care. For two days as Snape lingers closer and closer to death, Albus does not show up.

Finally in the evening of the second day he does. Harry, who has simply refused to leave the infirmary and taking up the bed opposite Snape is lying down when the headmaster walks in. He asks Harry to forgive him for what he is about to do, and promises that he will understand in time. Besides, Albus tells Harry, he is far too much a Gryffindor to be free.

So Albus cast a binding spell on Harry. Tying him to the bed.

Next Albus goes and spells Poppy asleep.

Then, he goes towards Snape's bed

Albus looks down at Snape, lost in a sea of memories…..

~*~*~~*.

Memory 1

"No!" Albus said forcefully, "I forbid it."

Severus brushed his hair out of his eyes and defiantly stood his ground. He would not show his fear. If he did the Headmaster would thwart his plan with good cause.

"There is no other way. To lose this," Severus said steadily, "is to lose a window of opportunity. We cannot afford to lose this type of information."

"I will not dispute the value of information, Severus; I will dispute the manner in which we get it. You have no idea what you are so casually offering. I do not think you understand the life it will lead too. Your potion professor tells me you have a talent few posses Severus. Why not peruse it."

"I have plans to obtain my Master's in Potions, sir. One does not rule out the other."

"He will hurt you Severus." Albus said shaking his head. "He is in no way a kind man."

"I've been hurt before." Severus replied trying to sound cold, but knowing his voice was shaking.

"And you never should have been." Albus whispered.

"I can handle it. Let me do this." Severus pleaded, "Let me be of value to this war."

"My child, you are of value."

"So you will let me?" Snape said eagerly, but suddenly disappointed as well.

"No. I will not sacrifice you to him. Not for all the information in the world."

***Memory 2

"Why…Oh my child why?" Albus said through saline eyes staring at the permanent mark of evil on the boy's arm.

"You couldn't make the decision. It had to be done." Severus said with blank eyes.

"Did he hurt you."

"No" Severus said weakly and Albus could see his chin quiver.

****Memory 3

"He's mad Albus….so much more than we could ever imagine. And now they are gone, dead and gone. All with the information, I supplied."

"We thought they were safe." Albus offered.

"But they weren't. None of us ever were." Snape said bitterly, "none of us are….he's going to come back isn't he."

"I'm afraid so." Albus resigned.

"What a waste." Severus said shaking his head in disgust. "I was useless."

"Severus, please, you did more than…." Albus started, but Severus cut him off.

"But not enough," Severus.

"You did this for her," Albus asked

"No." Snape said blankly, "I did it for the idea of her. And you. I couldn't be like the others. But I wanted to make you proud. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry to have failed you like this."

***present time.

Albus stared at that offensive mark with disgust. He wished he was more recovered from the battle, but he didn't have the time. He reached down and grabbed the Mark. It burned against his hands but he didn't care. He knew he couldn't banish it. He had tried once, when he was younger. There were no spells for that. It's hard to make something disappear, but to steal something, that is often easier.

Out of his mouth came a soft mummer of Latin. Tears formed at his eyes as he forced his old mind to recall every memory of his son. Latin words with memories of love and pride filled the headmaster's soul. His knees buckled under the strain, but his hands remained devoted.

Suddenly something snapped. The burning moved slowly, painfully to his left forearm. There was no more struggle; he had stolen the mark. He could feel the black tendrils of darkness rise up and encircle his heart. He could not fight it; there was nothing left to fight with. He was dying.

His breath was becoming rugged. His heart was beating irregular, missing beats and making them up. His head felt dizzy. But kneeling there in front of Severus he could not move. He needed to be sure it was not in vain.

His efforts were rewarded with a breath. Severus heaved deeply, his black eyes opened. He was alive.

"My son." Albus whispered relieved.

"Albus?" Severus said softly. He had never seen the older man in such a state, there was no color in his face. Immediately he was out of bed and at the other man's side. "POPPY" Severus screamed.

"Sh she's a sssleep." Albus said trying to catch his breath.

"Let's help you lie down on the bed then I will wake her."

"No Ti..me. spelled heer."

"No." Severus despaired, "Don't do this."

"I've lived well."

"Albus" Severus said pained

"Only wish…."

"What." Severus asked eagerly, he knew he would do it, no matter what the headmaster asked Severus would do it.

"Wish you were mine. I..I…I love you my son."

The last word Albus Dumbledore heard before dying on the cold stones of the infirmary was the one word he had longed to hear for the past thirty years.

And Severus, cradling the man in his arms, thought it a cruel trick of fate, to have the greatest man he had ever known die with a dark mark on one arm, and a scar warning against lies on the other. But his heart was broken in so many places that he hadn't the strength to pick him up and place him on the bed.

"Father." He cried out, "Oh father."

*~*~*~*

AN- Albus was late to Severus's side because he was busy getting his affairs in order. He sent copies of the memories to the Courts and the Papers, exonerating Snape.

I wrote a bit of the will, it would have been something like this…

…….You have suffered Severus, more than anyone could possibly know. I pray, at the time of my death that you are free, happy and free.

I am willing the wizzardgomet a copy of my memories of you Severus. It is my hope that with their viewing, any lingering doubts about your good character would be put to rest. I know how you hate your privacy invaded Severus, but if you could just suffer this one last injustice, I know you will be free.

They say we create our own heaven. A place without pain and suffering. What a marvelous idea. I can see nothing grander, than living eternaily as your father. The idea of you living without pain makes me eager for the trip. I will keep a tea service ready for you, my son.

…..

Attached to the will is of course guardian papers for one Neil Cain. And a note attached from Albus stating "You know….Do what I never had the option to do." The note is written on the back of a adoption paper dated twenty some years ago, the child in question is Severus Snape and the hopeful adopter is Albus.

No sooner had Snape finished reading the will and the guardianship papers does the new headmistress walk in. McGonagall is in a fury, She has searched high and low in Albus's office for the location of Harry Potter but has found nothing. She begs Snape to tell her anything he might know.

The word the Albus had spoken haunt him, he is with my son.

Snape tells McGonagall that he has no idea where Harry Potter is. And after dinner he will help her go through the papers again.

He turns and looks at Harry. He knows.

McGonagall leaves and Harry starts to go back to his room.

Snape goes in after him and finds that Harry is staring at Snape's picture of Lilly.

Snape begins telling Harry that Lilly was his friend in school. And that when Snape was thinking about joining the Death Eaters, she sensed something was wrong. She kept pestering him to tell her what was going on, but Snape feeling the need to be stoic never confided in her. Finally as a means of silencing her questions for good, and to give him some space from her, he called her a mudblood.

He tells Harry, that looking back; he wishes he had told her, he thinks it would have made things easier.

Is there anything you want to tell me? Snape asks Harry.

Harry freaks out and runs out of the room. He runs out of Snape's quarters and finds himself in front of the room of requirement.

Walking back and forth three times, he asks the room for somewhere safe.

When the doors open, he finds himself inside a replica of Snape's living room, the only exception being there is a staircase in the middle of the room. And under the stair case a cupboard.

Harry falls to his knees and starts crying.

Snape follows him into the room a moment later. Snape holds Harry and tells him it is all right. That he knows. "No matter how you disguise those eyes," he tells Harry, "they will always be your mothers."

After some angst, Harry asks Snape when he knew. Snape answers honestly, he has known for some time, he just could not admit it to himself.

They decided to keep Harry as Neil, until after Voldie has been defeated. Snape and Harry have hot kinky sex….oops wrong story…Snape adopts Harry, and since by this time the other two have come of age, Theo and Draco as well.

Sometime later, Voldie attacks the castle. But this time, Harry realizes he does not have to face his demons alone. He has learned the power of love, the bonds of friendship and the secret power of House Unity. Harry, Neville, Hermione, Draco, Luna, and that Kid from Hufflepuff unite and with the aid of the teachers send Vodie to the dark hereafter.

There would have been an epilogue that would find, Dr. Harry and his wife, Luna (sorry, I know I said I wouldn't but things change) meeting Snape at his house for Christmas. Draco a Barrister and Hermione who is a researcher of ruins, married. Theo is reluctant to come to the dinner, he is a teacher, and social worker now, working with abused kids. He is scared to admit to Snape that he is gay. But Snape doesn't care in the end and invites the boyfriend Oliver Wood over as well.

They all lived Happily ever after.

Here are some odds and ends.

Luna is a dream walker. Nargles are actually pieces of dreams people still hold onto in the waking world. That was how she could tell when the death eaters attacked. They all dreamed of their gallant victory.

Ron was a puzzle piece for me. In some threads, he remained Harry's faithful friend. But I can't see him getting past all of it, Harry a Snake, Adopted by Snape, brother with Draco, who married his girl. I think having so little he would have felt betrayed by all of it, especially with his family helping. I pictured him dying a stupid death trying to prove something.

Neville of course becomes the Herbology Teacher and has a rather elicit affair with Mrs. Sprout.

And somehow, somehow….Snape and Lupin end up together…..If only.

Thank you,

Melissophobia