Chapter Fifteen: Your Mother's Eyes

The Slytherin Common room was empty but the Black haired girl that sat in front of the fireplace. She stared into the fire gripping the box that bore her name. "How'd it go," Draco's voice pulled her from her gaze.

"It's true," She said. Draco sat down next to her and pulled her closer. "They lied to me, Draco. For eighteen years, they lied."

"What's that," he asked looking at the box. "My mother left it. I haven't brought myself to open it yet," she said as her voice left her. "Would you like for me to open it," he asked. She nodded and with shaking hands gave the box to him. Slowly, Draco raised the top. They stared into the box. Her hands reached in and one by one revealed its content. First, she held a photograph of James, Lily, and her at three months old. She then reached in and pulled out a necklace. It was a silver locket. Inside it held a picture of James and Lily. Her eyes began to swell with tears as she placed it back into its place in the box. Third, she pulled an antique diamond ring from the box. Then she saw at the bottom of the box was an envelope. Slowly her hand reached inside and pulled it from the box. Hesitantly, she opened it. "What is it," Draco asked. "A letter," she replied as she stared at the paper with Lily's beautiful handwriting. "What does it say?"

"My dearest Audrey," she began to read. "I hope that you will never have to read this. My hope is that we are all together again. I want you to know that your father and I love you very much. We always wanted you. I have left you my most prized possession. The engagement ring from your father and the necklace he gave me on our first anniversary. Should you ever read this and we are no longer there, take care of your brother. He will need you in his life. And know that we are always with you."

She ran her fingers over the letter. There were smudges from tears and she could imagine her mother sitting writing this. She lays the letter back into the box and picks up the ring. "It's beautiful," she says looking at it sparkle in the fire light.

"What are you thinking," Draco asked.

"I have a brother," she said looking into his eyes. Draco smiled. "Who just happens to be your boyfriend's arch nemesis."

"Do you still love me though I'm not pureblood?"

Draco smiled as he pulled her close to him and kissed her passionately. "I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you. The purity of your blood means nothing," Draco said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Slytherin ring his father had given to him. "I know that we are both young, but I thought I was going to lose you today. I never want to have to live a day without you. Marry me?"

"Of course I will, Draco," she smiled as he put the heirloom on her finger. She kissed him. "We can wait til you finish here at Hogwarts if you want," she said.

"How about this summer," he smiled.

"Summer? That doesn't give me much time to plan," she said with a smile.

"I don't want to live another minute without you as mine. We barely escaped. You know the Dark Lord will be looking for you."

"As well as you and Harry," she brought to his attention. "And it's just a matter of time before my father hears that I left with you and Potter."

"Where will we go," she asked.

"Perhaps I can help," Snape said entering the common room. "Alec's will," he said handing her the parchment.

She reached her hand out towards it. Slowly she opened it and read it to herself.

The Last Will and Testament of Alexander Christopher Acerabus.

I, Alexander Christopher Acerabus, being of a healthy mind and able body do hereby bequeath all my property and belongings to Lily Audriana Potter, my adoptive daughter. Along with my home in Nottingham, I leave her the belongings of my late wife, and her adoptive mother, Drusilla Elizabeth Prince Acerabus. These shall include the home of Drusilla's father, Corvus Orion Prince located in the city of Broome.

Her mouth fell open in disbelief. "Alec wanted you to be taken care of," Snape said. "I promised him I would keep you safe."

"Why the lies," she asked. "Why not tell me the truth years ago, or after he was murdered?"

"You can't always trust everyone, Audriana," he said. It felt weird to have him call her anything but Mortifera.

"Why keep me so close? Why treat me so much differently then Harry?"

"You look so much like your mother," he admitted with a sigh. "And he looks so much like his father, who tormented me and teased me."

She couldn't speak as she watched Severus. "Your mother was my first love, my only love. We spent hours together in our childhood. We came to Hogwarts and though we were in different houses, I still loved her."

"What happened then," she asked.

"I was slowly becoming a Death Eater and soon I lost her. She ran into the arms of the one person I detested most. When you were born, I was still loyal to the Dark Lord. I knew nothing of the switch. I defected my ranks as a Death Eater and came to Dumbledore seeking protection for Lily, and subsequently Harry and James. Dumbledore moved them to Godric's Hollow. He sent me three days before Halloween to my cousin's home in Broome with a letter. When I arrived I saw you. You were wrapped in a silver blanket in Drusilla's arms. You were the most beautiful thing I had seen then I saw your eyes. I saw Lily starring back at me and I knew. I knew that you were your mother's daughter. When I returned on Halloween day, Dumbledore told me that James and Lily were gone. Harry had been moved into the Muggle world and it seemed that Voldemort was gone. I asked him about the beautiful baby girl that shared Lily's eyes. He told me everything. And I promised to protect you the way I couldn't protect your mother. Alec named me your Godfather, just as I am yours, Draco."

"Is that why you always called me your little Lily flower," she asked. He didn't say anything just weakly smiled at her. "I spent the last couple of hours trying to figure this all out in my head," she began. "I've spent 18 years as Mortifera Incita Acerabus, but that's not who I am is it?"

"No," Snape said. "You are and always have been Lily Audriana Potter."

"And my N.E.W.T.s?"

"Dumbledore has put everything the right way."
"So, Fera is gone," she said softly.

"Don't worry, my love," Draco began. "It wasn't ever your name that made people love you. It was you."

"Audrey," she said quietly. "I think I like it."

"Good night, Audrey," Snape said as he turned to leave.

"Uncle Severus," she began. "You shall call me Lily," she smiled.

A smile crossed his face too. Though she had her father's black hair, every other part of her screamed Lily. "Good night, my little Lily Flower," he smiled.

Harry packed his trunk. He was no longer alone. He had a sister, the girl he met in the robe shop that shared his mother's emerald eyes. She was Lily Audriana Potter.

"Harry," Ron's voice pulled him from the trance. "You have a sister, mate," Ron smiled.

"Yeah, I do," he smiled.

"I guess that means you don't have to go back to the Dursleys."

"I hadn't even thought much about it," Harry admitted.

"Where will you live," Ron asked. "There's always 12 Grimmauld Place. It'd be the safest place, what being the headquarters for the Order," Harry smiled. He visualized the tow of them sitting at the table enjoying breakfast and dinner like a real family. He would be able to have Ron, Hermione, and Ginny over at anytime. No longer a servant in his own house. "Harry," Neville's voice brought Harry out of his daydream. "Ginny's waiting for you downstairs."

Harry smiled as he raced down the steps to his girlfriend.

"I'm alright Ginny," he said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I was so scared I was going to lose you," she said burying her head in his chest. "Never," he said before kissing her. "I'm yours forever."