4

"So, how was the party?" asked nobodez as their "sister" apparated into Alex Smith's flat.

Winona smirked, "Are you ready to find out?"

nobodez chuckled, and then stood from their workbench. "You're not going to tell me?"

"It's for me to know, and you to find out," said Winona. "So, time to get ready. I know you've got the turner."

"Of course I've got the turner," said nobodez, picking up the golden magical item from the workbench. "And aside from what's already out there, there won't be any more in Britain for a while."

"I know, but we're running out of time. It's nearly four hours since I met Sirius at Heathrow, and you've only got the one turner. So, get ready," demanded Winona.

nobodez rolled their head, about the closest to an eye roll they could get without any actual eyes, merely glowing red dots in the pit of their eye sockets. With a wave of their hand another Winona, naked, was standing on the flat.

"Need help with the clothes?" asked the older woman.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure I know the inspiration, and I'd rather not mess with time any more than we are," responded the younger woman. With another wave of her hand she was clothed in an outfit almost exactly like her older doppelgänger. the difference being four hours of wear on their otherwise identical outfits. "So, how do I look?"

The older Winona smiled, "No wonder Sirius couldn't get enough of us. Go, have fun, and say hello to Harry for me."

The younger Winona scrunched up her face in confusion, "What? Didn't you just … wait, ah, causality."

The older Winona nodded, "Backwards in time, yes. All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again."

"No wonder Rowling never used them beyond the third book," said the younger Winona. She pulled the golden necklace of the time turner over her head, and with a wink to her older self, spun four hours back in time.

Over the next year the lich would spend more and more time as their increasingly less fictional "sister". Their existing plots still continued, including a brief trip to Germany to pay a visit to the Chief Warlock's old flame. The knowledge and power received from the now dead leader of the Knights of Walpurgis, the purely magical arm of the Thule Society, and eventually the magical arm of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, the Nazis, was illuminating.

And so it was, on 31 July, 1984, that once again Winona Skrobanek apparated into Alex Smith's flat after spending the previous four hours at Harry Potter's birthday party.

"You look happy," said the Emperor, looking up from the Daily Prophet he was reading.

"I am happy," said Winona, nearly floating as she sat down opposite her younger self.

"So, the party went well, did it?" asked the Emperor. He'd recently returned himself from securing an estate outside of Lezhë, Albania, giving him a foothold in the country that harbored the remaining spirit of Tom Riddle.

Winona nodded, "Quite."

It was then that the Emperor noticed that Winona was consciously hiding her left hand under her right. He was just about to ask when Winona spoke a single word.

"Spoilers."

Shocked, the Emperor said nothing else while looking at his older, temporally shifted self.

"Go, get ready, I know this is something that we were hoping for, and it is going according to plan. We've got till the heat-death of the universe to achieve our plans, what's a few decades delay?" asked Winona.

"The Plan," said the Emperor with a sigh. "Well, it'll still work, and I admit, we do enjoy Sirius' company. But really, I guess, well …"

"All of this has happened before …" said Winona.

"… And all of this will happen again." said the Emperor, completing the saying. "I assume he'll be picking us up at the normal place?"

"Of course, now, go get ready, and most importantly, have fun," said Winona.

The next year saw the lich spend more and more time as Winona, and less and less time as the Emperor or one of their many muggle and magical cover identities around the globe. While the "reformation" of Sirius Black as well as assisting with the raising of Harry Potter kept the lich busy most of the time, they still found time to advance The Plan.

Using both magic and money, nobodez sought to grow entities akin to the European Union, creating pan-national entities that could grow into supra-national governments, heading towards the eventual unification of Earth and the human race. Two standout operations were in Northern Ireland and Central America.

Northern Ireland was something that, as a former American, the lich nobodez knew very little about, aside from the fact that the Troubles pretty much defined the 80s in the UK. Using the Imperius and other less extreme methods, nobodez worked to calm the factions, pointing them towards diplomatic and political methods rather than terrorism. While it didn't solve the problem, by the summer of '85 the Troubles were mostly over, and the most extreme Unionists and Republicans, while not quite able to enjoy a pint in the pub together, at least could argue about the future, and past, of Northern Ireland without worrying about guns or explosives. It was seen that the European Union offered the best chance for the Republicans to achieve a "unified" Ireland, while the Unionists kept their loyalty to the Crown.

Central America was the second part of the lich's plan for the 80s, or rather, the CIA's actions in Central America. Rather than attempt to stop any particular operation, nobodez worked towards controlling up and coming CIA bureaucrats, such that, rather than extolling that "Whatever is good from American Business is good for America", nobodez's agents pushed a "Democracy, even if socialist, is better than despotism and fascism". It also helped that nobodez bet the market to gain money from the falling fortunes of the likes of United Fruit.

Luckily most of these operations could either be handled with a quick flight across the pond on the Concorde or a quick apparition to Northern Ireland, allowing Winona to become the default persona rather than the Emperor (though due to time turner shenanigans the Emperor did come into play now and again).

Unfortunately nobodez had to put their plans into hibernation, as for Harry's 6th birthday party, the newlyweds announced that a new generation of Blacks was to be born by the end of the year. While Sirius hoped for a boy to continue his House, appease his grandfather, and give Harry a godbrother, Winona, using a bit of magic, ensured that her firstborns would be fraternal twins, a boy and a girl.

It was at Harry's fifth birthday party, held once again at Ebon Hall, that, during a conversation with Narcissa Black (after he husband's murder she'd adopted her maiden name, though Draco remained a Malfoy), the next step in the lich's plan revealed itself.

"Sirius," said Narcissa, watching as the assorted four, five, and six year olds played amongst themselves, "I know you never really got on with him, but as Draco's godfather, I'm worried about Severus."

"What's Snivellus done now?" asked Sirius.

Winona Black rolled her eyes, "Now dear, it's been what, nearly a decade since you left Hogwarts? Can't you leave the past behind and let this silly rivalry go?"

Sirius smiled and pecked his wife on the cheek with a kiss, "I'll try, for you." He then turned to his cousin, "What's Severus done now?"

"He's not leaving Hogwarts," said Narcissa. "I mean, I know he hates it there, dealing with the children, but at least he used to have the summers free to escape Hogwarts and develop his potions. Plus he usually spent time with Draco, helping him learn the basics that Lucius can't teach him anymore."

"But with the news that's he's likely one of only two former Death Eaters still alive, aside from Highmaster Karkaroff of Durmstang," she further explained. "And with even some of Grindlewald's old lieutenants showing up dead, he's worried for his life."

"If he hates teaching so much, why is his still at Hogwarts?" asked Winona.

"Well, originally it was because only Dumbledore would give him a job, since he was the one that vouched for Severus at his trial, but now it's because it's the only place he thinks he's safe," explained Narcissa.

"And what did you want me to do?" asked Sirius.

"Go and talk to him, see if you can talk some sense into him," pled Narcissa. "I know you two never got on, but you've kept Draco and I safe from Lucius' old enemies." She looked over, and saw the nearly impossible situation of her blond haired son playing alongside one of the ginger Weasleys without fighting. "Perhaps you can let him stay at one of your less used properties. I mean, your mother died a few months ago, it's not like you're using your childhood home on Grimmauld Place."

Winona turned to Sirius, "Siri, I think this is a good idea. Show him, and Albus especially, that you've grown up. And it'll be one final defeat you can hand him, that you've done well enough that you can let him shelter from his enemies in one of your homes, that you've done well enough that your rivalry doesn't even matter to you."

Sirius stroked his goatee, and nodded, "It's got possibility." He then turned to Narcissa, "I'll send him a letter tomorrow offering him the use of Grimmauld Place when Hogwarts isn't in session."

"That reminds me, since you're not living in the normal heir's residence, even now that your mother has finally passed on, where are you two living now?" asks Narcissa.

"It's a nice estate my brother gave us for our wedding," said Winona. "It's a nice valley up in Scotland, a few leagues from Hogsmede. You should come and visit."

"I assume it's connected to the floo?" asked Narcissa.

"Of course, though it's a mixed magical muggle home, since my dear wife simply can't live without her computers," said Sirius.

Winona smiled, "I've finally got him to say it right. I've been working on him and Arthur for nearly two years now, and while Sirius is almost speaking like an expert, Arthur is still having problems with 'electricity'."

Sirius smiled with pride, "Come on over tomorrow, bring Draco, and we can go out flying over the loch."

"What's the floo address?" asked Narcissa.

"Skyfall," said Winona. She couldn't resist naming it that, she'd even made sure that the gate was flanked by a buck, though only on the left, for a grim like her husband, as well as the ravens for the Blacks and the sheep and crook for the Emperor's cover identity were in evidence as well. In addition to being a place for just the two of them, and their children, it also offered a safe place for Remus during his "monthly visitor", though she'd been able to teach Sirius and Remus both how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion, so it wasn't quite as dangerous for their future children.

In fact, she realized that Sirius, with his experience with potions for his pranks during his time at Howarts, and now with the Wolfsbane, could likely teach the subject at Hogwarts if Severus were to join his fellow Death Eaters. She'd only left him alive since she didn't want Slughorn to return to Hogwarts, but if Sirius took over for Severus, it'd provide a layer of addition security for when Riddle finally made his play for Harry.

"What do you want Black?" sneered Severus Snape as he opened the door to his private chambers. Standing in the hall were Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, and Narcissa Black.

Sirius looked from Severus to Narcissa and back, "Are you talking to me or her?"

"Come now, there's no reason for any more hostility between you two," said Albus in his grandfatherly way.

"I stand by my question, what do you want?" asked Severus again.

"I'd like to offer you the use of my late mother's abode," said Sirius.

"Like I'd take anything from the likes of you," sneered Severus.

"It was my idea Severus," said Narcissa. "I'm worried about you, it's not good for you to keep yourself holed up in this castle during the summer. Draco misses his godfather."

"I have missed seeing him this summer," said Severus. "But I won't accept a handout from the likes of him." He pointed angrily at Sirius.

"Fine by me, it's not like I really care about what you think. I'm doing this for Cissy and Draco, not for you," said Sirius. He reached into the pocket of his robe and removed a set of dark iron keys, and handed them to Narcissa, "Here, these will allow you to get into Grimmauld Place. If you can get him to accept them, then he'll have a safe place to relax, otherwise, it's yours to do with as you please."

Sirius then turned and walked away, leaving Severus a bit surprised.

"He's just going to leave, just like that?" asked Severus.

"He's mellowed a bit," said Narcissa. "As much as I dislike that she's both a Colonial and a Muggleborn, his wife has been good for him."

"He got married?" asked Severus surprised.

Narcissa looked surprised, "I told you in a letter two months ago, they married a week after his mother died, one final concession to allow her a bit of rest, not having to see her surviving pureblood son 'sully' himself by marrying a 'mudblood'. Arcturus is surprisingly supportive of the union."

"And with the infamous wards of the Blacks, you will be nearly as safe there as you are here, Severus," said Albus. "Let the petty rivalry between the two of you go. He's moved on with his life, isn't it about time you moved on with yours?"

"How can I when I'm forced to stay here by the likes of you?" asked Severus.

"It's for the Greater Good, Severus. Although nearly all of Voldemort's Death Eaters are dead and gone, and all of Grindlewald's surviving Knights of Walpurgis as well, there's still a chance that Voldemort will return," explained Albus.

"Surely you don't think that he survived, do you?" asked Narcissa.

"He was one of the greatest students Hogwarts has had in the last century, myself included," admitted Albus. "That he turned to evil is perhaps one of my greatest failures. I fear that the defeat handed to him by the Potters shall not be his last, and that, one day, he will return, and once more turn his eyes to war and conquest."

"But without followers, what can he do?" asked Narcissa.

"The Dark Lord was very charismatic," explained Severus. "Be lucky you were never called to his service. While losing his Death Eaters would slow his rise to power should he return, it would not stop him. I fear that, should he return, I might not be able to deny him." Severus sighed, "If I remain here, though, I might just kill myself rather than risk whomever is killed the rest of the Dark Lord's followers."

Narcissa presented Severus the keys to Grimmauld Place, "Then take these. It's safe there, safer than Spinner's End, and it will do you good to get out of this castle."

"Yes, Severus, it would," added Albus. "And with you leaving, I too can return to my home. It's not good for us to linger here without the children."

Severus sighed, and then accepted the offered keys. He shuddered as he felt the old magic of the otherwise symbolic keys. "I shall have the elves pack my belongings. It might only be a month, but it would be good to be away from this castle."

"I shall visit you there tomorrow with Draco," said Narcissa. She then smiled, and stepped forward to give Severus a hug. "Let the rivalry go Severus, and get on with your life."

"Ah, Sirius, good to see you," said the Emperor upon walking into parlor of Skyfall.

"Jimmy?" asked Sirius, looking up from his clasped hands. "Where have you been man? I haven't seen hide nor hair of you for over a year now, not since last Christmas."

"I've been working," said the Emperor. "And do you have to use that nickname?"

"Your sister, my wife, and the mother of my children said I could," replied Sirus with pride. "If you have a problem, take it up with her."

The Emperor waved it off, "It's annoying, but arguing with her won't get me anywhere. So, are they out yet?"

"Within the hour, the healer says," replied Sirius. "I'm worried, there aren't that many twins in our world, and almost all of them are identical. What if something's gone wrong?"

"It'll be fine. From the letters Winnie wrote to me she's been seeing an OB/GYN as well as a healer, and the mundanes are pretty much experts with even the most complicated of pregnancies," said the Emperor, attempting to calm his 'brother-in-law'.

"So, what do you think, will it be Apollo or Artemis first?" asked Sirius. He and his wife had already agreed on what names to give their children, named after the twin Greek gods Artemis and Apollo, though with middle names of more traditional Black heritage, Arcturus for Apollo and Dorea for Artemis.

"I'm going with Artemis, five galleons," said the Emperor, utilizing his foreknowledge.

"I'll match your five. I'm sure that my son will be the first out," said Sirius with a smile.

"So, Winnie's letters said that you've decided on the godparents, but she didn't say anything more," said the Emperor. Although he knew the answer, he also knew that Sirius had wanted to keep it relatively secret until the births.

"Well, obviously my grandfather will be Apollo's godfather, and Cissy will be his godmother. As for Artemis, I persuaded Minerva to be her godmother, and Harry will be her godmother. Her middle name is from his grandmother, herself a Black. Sure, he'll only be five and a half years older than her, but I think it'll be fine," said Sirius. "Plus, with you around, it's not like he'll have to raise her if Winona and I kick the bucket like your parents did."

"I'll do my best to look after both your children should you and Winnie pass on, though I hope that won't be for years. Perhaps you'll break the curse the Blacks seem to be under, what with your grandfather lasting the longest going back to before his grandfather," said the Emperor.

Just then a nurse stepped into the room, "Congratulations, it's twins, a boy and a girl."

"Who was first?" asked Sirius.

"Your daughter was firstborn, Artemis Doria Black, while your son was second, Apollo Arcturus Black," replied the nurse. "If you'd like, you can come in and see your wife and children."

"Excellent," said Sirius. He then turned to the Emperor, "I'll get you the gold later."

The Emperor waved it off, "Keep it, I'd just use it to get your sprogs a toy." He then followed the excited father into the delivery room.

Relaxing on the bed, which was a mundane hospital bed rather than the traditional wizarding birthing bed, since it was both more comfortable and offered better access for the healer, was Winona Black along with her two children. The one wrapped in a pink blanket had wisps of auburn hair, while the one in a blue blanket had nearly a full head of black hair already. Both were suckling at their mother's breast.

"Sirius, Jimmy," said Winona looking from her husband to her 'brother'. "May I present to you Aretmeis," she nodded towards the auburn haired, pink-wrapped baby on her right, "and Apollo," and she nodded to the black haired, blue-wrapped baby on her left.

Sirius was struck dumb upon seeing his children.

The Emperor just smiled.

"When did you get here Jimmy?" asked Winona.

"Just a few minutes ago, got here as soon as I could," he replied with a bit of a white lie.

"Got five galleons off me when he guessed right that Artemis would be first," replied Sirius, standing next to his wife. "May I hold one?"

"Here, take your son, he's finished," said Winona, pulling the back haired baby boy from her breast. Once Sirius took him, she covered herself up, then looked to her 'brother'.

"How'd your year of work go?" she asked.

"Well, I'm sorry I missed your wedding."

"As you can see, we've enjoyed your present," said Winona.

"I see, I assume you tested out each and every room?" he asked.

Sirius looked up, "At least once. She even insisted on trying out the cellar."

The 'siblings' chuckled.

"Well, I'm back for a while at least, though I wouldn't be surprised if I had to go on another extended trip in a few years," the Emperor added. "Unfortunately, I've finally lost my old flat on Knockturn, so I'll be looking at getting a place of my own. Likely up here in Scotland."

"Come, stay with us. It's not like we're hurting for room here," replied Sirius.

"Plus, you can be a live-in sitter for when Siri and I want to go out and have some fun," said Winona with a spark of laughter.

"Well, if you put it that way," said the Emperor.

"Plus, you'll get to meet Moony," said Sirius.

"That's your friend from Hogwarts, Lupin?" asked the Emperor of Sirius.

"Yep, he's living in the groundskeeper's house on the other side of the loch," said Sirius.

The Emperor looked to the healer and nurse still in the room, then back to Sirius and Winona, "I always thought it was odd that a man with his condition had such an auspicious name."

"It seems that most of Siri's friends at Hogwarts had such auspicious names. I think only James was saved from that fate. Remus and Peter both had names befitting their fate, and as well all know, Sirius is anything but serious," joked Winona.

The family talked amongst themselves for a few more minutes, before the healer and nurse finally made themselves noticed and got on with their jobs. Two hours later, once the twins has fallen asleep and Sirius had as well, the 'siblings' were alone once more.

"So, was it worth it?" asked the Emperor of his younger self.

"I should be asking you," she said. "How's it feel, not being stuck in this body?"

The Emperor chuckled, "I almost forgot how to be me for a bit, after spending a year as you, nearly messed up with Sirius when I got here."

"It felt so right, though, these last few months haven't exactly been comfortable," Winona acknowledged.

"Well, it'll be a few more years before we need to go through that again. I'd rather see Riddle disposed of before we do it again," said the Emperor.

"Instead we'll be living a double life, though at least we've got more than four hours of overlap," pointed out Winona.

"Yeah, it only took the Demesne two years to extend it to a day," said the Emperor with a sigh. "It'll be hard to deal with the looped causality though."

"There's always putting the memories away," pointed out Winona.

"But then, how would I know what to say?" asked the Emperor.

"Well, considering that before now, I'd always been the older one, I think it's better if we keep that up. You live the day, then turn back so I can live it too. My persona has always been better at handling the causal links," the new mother said.

"I still think it's unhealthy that we've separated ourselves as much as we have."

"Jimmy, we were already crazy, at least now we have an outlet for it," Winona explained.

"Now, let's get on with our lives. It's about time we dealt with Severus," said the Emperor decisively.

"He's under Siri's protection, I don't want to jeopardize his standing with Albus," pointed out Winona.

"Ah, but we've got two turners now, so rather than being in two places at once …"

Just then the lich nobodez appeared in the room, the golden chain of a time turner around their neck, "… we're now able to do three."

"Well, I guess I have my answer," said Winona, looking from her 'brother' to the lich, both older versions of herself.

"I think it best if we take care of him at the end of the year. I'd rather give Sirius the two months of summer to get ready for his position as Potions Professor than just two weeks," explained nobodez.

"Seems logical, and it'll give us time for me to get in good with both Albus and Severus," said Winona.

"And with nobodez doing the deed, and the lack of any known time turners in the UK, it'll keep his suspicions off of me," said the Emperor.

"Too bad we don't have another one, we could take out Karkaroff at the same time," said Winona.

"I'll send a note to the Demense to get another one ready by the end of June," said nobodez.

"Well, as much fun as this has been, I think we're putting enough strain on space-time as it is. I'll be both of you soon enough," said Winona.

"I'll take care of Sirius," said the Emperor, making his exit from the room with a turn of the golden hourglass, his body fading into that of the lich.

"This is so surreal," said nobodez.

"More so than the first time?" asked Winona.

"Much more, I think it's best if we use the memory extraction method for the next few years, separate ourselves further," replied the lich.

Severus Snape looked at the letter, sneered, and then crumpled it into a ball before tossing it into the fireplace. He watched it burn for a minute, and then returned his attention to his breakfast. He didn't want to meet with Black's bitch, even if the man had given him the safety and respite he so needed.

The latter had been the sixteenth that the Black woman has written him, and while he'd read each and every one, noticing how each was composed anew with differing reasons for why she thought he'd might like to talk to her. While some of her reasons were valid, he hated Black enough that he now hated Black's wife as well.

Ten minutes after disposing of the unwanted correspondence, Severus was broken from his concentration by a knock at the door.

"Kreacher!" shouted Severus.

With a pop the house elf appeared. While it was not quite as broken in mind and spirit as it would have been had its mission to destroy the locket horcrux lasted for nearly two decades, it was still its Mistress' elf, and so sneered at the half-blood, "What does the half-blood want of Kreacher? Is it not enough that half-blood sleeps in Mistress' house and eat's Mistress' food, but that the half-blood calls upon Kreacher to do more?"

"Quiet elf!" demanded Severus. "There is somebody at the door, find out who it is, return here, and tell me."

"As the half-blood commands," said Kreacher with a sneer, and then disappeared.

Severus spent the next minute cleaning up his work area, putting the potions supply away. He'd returned from Hogwarts for the summer a weeks before, and he looked forward to the seven weeks he had left until he'd need to return to Hogwarts once more.

Kreacher reappeared with a pop, "There is a skeleton at the door, hidden from the nasty muggles, but not from Kreacher."

"A skeleton?" asked Severus.

"Kreacher did not lie, did not mis-speak, so half-blood must be deaf," jibed the house elf.

"Well, in that case, ignore it," said Severus. He turned back to his potion ingredients, "I will be having dinner in an hour, prepare me something that I will enjoy and will not harm me in any way."

"As the half-blood demands," said Kreacher, before disappearing once more.

Ten minutes later Severus head something odd, the door behind him opening, "Kreacher?"

"Not exactly," said the dark voice from behind Severus.

Severus turned and saw what could only be described as a walking skeleton, wearing a black robe edged with red He stepped sideways, trying to put more distance between himself and the only exit from, and entrance into, the room, "Who? What? How did you get in here?"

"Who? I am nobodez. What? I am a lich. As for how I gained entry, when you told the elf to ignore me, I let myself in," said the self-described lich, still standing in the doorway.

"How did you get through the wards? Albus told me nobody but a Black could get in here except with the permission of the key holder," asked Severus. He hastily patted his robe pocket, finding the no longer comforting shape of the keys inside.

"But I am a Black," replied the lich, taking the first step into the room, though still not leaving enough space for Severus to escape. "Said the vows and everything."

"Marriage? But the only Black that's been married recently is …" and Severus paused. He remembered where he'd seen robes similar to those worn by the lich. The colour photo that Draco had shown him of the wedding the previous spring, of Black to his new bride. The bride, as well as her brother, wore robes of black edged with red. "You can't be Black's bitch, you've not got the bones for a woman."

"Quite right, I've not the bones," said the lich. With a snap of a finger, which Severus had to admit didn't seem right for something without skin to be able to do, the lich was no longer standing between him and the door, instead Black's bitch was standing there, filling out the robe disturbingly well for someone, or something, that a moment ago was merely bones.

"But, Narcissa said you had children!" shouted Severus in alarm.

"I did, and I'll admit, it hurt like hell," she said, her voice no longer laced with the sub-harmonic echoes of the skeleton, but instead a bright and melodious quality that caused Severus severe cognitive dissonance. "There is more to magic than waving wands and saying garbled latin. There are beings in this universe, or perhaps even beyond it, that have power that you wouldn't believe. I'd hardly believe it myself had I not been made into a toy of one much being. I was once a flesh and blood person, not unlike yourself, though with much less anger. Then one night, instead of being asleep in my bed, I found myself in the middle of the Forest of Dean. I'd been made into what you'd seen before, and left to entertain the god that had stolen my life. And so, I did what I could, and made my plans. I knew where I was, and when I was, and so, I made an effort to right wrongs. I captured and destroyed five of your old master's horcruxes. I broke into Azkaban, killing all of the Death Eaters I found there save one, and assisting in my husband's escape. I then set myself a goal of killing all of the Death Eaters that had escaped Azkaban. I also killed Grindlewald, and after killing him added his Knights of Walpurgis to my list of targets. So far, only two Death Eaters remain, you and Karkaroff. He I will deal with eventually, but for my plans to succeed, I'll need you out of the way."

"What is you plan?" asked Severus.

"I could monologue, but I'd rather not, at least, not more than I already have," she replied. "Instead I will just tell you that from what I've experienced, while the process will be painful, it will not last long, and afterwards you'll not feel anything at all."

"So, I'm to die?" asked Severus.

"I will have your soul, so yes," the woman who was the lich replied.

"And what of Black, what are your plans for him?" asked Severus.

"I plan to have him installed as Potions Master of Hogwarts, taking your place. He'll mellow somewhat, the responsibility of teaching adding to those of marriage and children. He'll always be a rogue, but he'll be under control. I plan to have this identity die shortly after he does, and then I will continue my plan," she explained.

"And what if I stop you?" asked Severus.

"And how would you do that?" she asked with a chuckle.

"I have a wand, you do not, I could kill you quite easily," he answered.

"What is dead may never die," she said. "Also, we've been talking in your mind since before I entered the room."

"What?" asked Severus as the room around him faded into a white featureless plane. He looked around, and when he looked back, not only had the lich shed the illusionary form, it was no not an arm's length before him.

"Surprised that a natural occlumens like yourself could be surprised like that?" asked the lich. When all Severus could do was nod, the lich continued, "As I said, there is more to magic than waving wands and garbled latin. I've also stolen the memories of every Death Eater and Knight of Walpurgis I've killed. They've formed a gestalt, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. In moments your memories, your soul, and a not insignificant amount of your magic will be joining that gestalt."

"And if I resist?" asked Severus.

"I am nobodez. You will be assimilated into the gestalt. I will add your memories and magic to my own. Your knowledge will adapt to service me. Resistance is futile," said the lich.

And Severus Snape knew no more.