Forever Yours

Prologue 2: A Young Man Dreams

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry & Nick) are entirely my own.

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May 2, 1998 - New Salem School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Massachusetts

"Mom?" he asked quietly, as his mother knelt before him. "Do you really have to go?"

"I'm afraid so Septimus," his mother said, as she gently pushed his black shoulder length hair back behind his ear.

"And you won't be for Christmas either?" he asked, raising his head to meet her eyes.

"No sweetheart," his mother stated. "The research I'll be doing will keep me busy straight through the holidays."

"But you'll be home next summer, right?"

"I'll try to be," she said sadly. "But you know I cannot promise anything at this time."

"I know," he said sadly.

"Promise me that you'll be good for Elisa and Christoph," she whispered as she pulled him into a hug.

"You know I will be," he replied, hugging her back as tight as he could.

"I know...I know," she whispered into his black hair. "Just remember that I love you...always."

"Love you too mom."

Pale eyelids snapped open, revealing black orbs from within. The room around them was dark, except for the faint light from the moon that shone through the curtains of a four poster bed. A pair of long, rough hands ran through long shoulder length black hair then down a long face and over the eyes, rubbing the sleep away.

For fifteen year old Septimus Severus Prince, sleep had come in little supply over the past two years. It would be two years this July since he had last seen his mother. Of course she had sent birthday and Christmas presents, but it just wasn't the same as her being there.

Sighing heavily, Septimus rolled to his side to look for his clock. He knew it had to be early, for his New Salem dorm mates were still snoring away in their beds. Hitting the small button on the side of the clock's frame, the face began magically glowing, which not only revealed the said time, but lit up the small photograph standing on the side table.

The colored magical moving photo showed a young couple twirling gracefully on a dance floor. The wizard had black hair and eyes, with a long hooked nose; while the witch had blonde hair and ice blue eyes. The witch smiled softly up at the wizard, as they continued to dance in their spot; neither of them noticing that their picture was being taken. It was the only picture Septimus had of his father, and the only one he knew of that had both his parents in it together.

"Three fifty-five," Septimus muttered softly. "Just great." Quickly and quietly he untangling himself from his royal blue sheets and threw back the curtains from around his bed. Septimus grabbed his robe and slipped on a pair of socks, then silently padded his way out of the room and down the hallway towards the fifth year commons.

The large lounge was decorated in the school's colors, royal blue and white. The castle's stone floors were littered with soft blue rugs while black suede chairs and couches sat in a semicircle around the large fireplace.

Septimus sat down heavily on the sofa nearest to the roaring fire. He knew he would never get back to sleep now, so he started to pursue through the pile of magazines left on the coffee table in front of him. Upon finding "N.A. Quidditch Quarterly," he relaxed back into his seat and began flipping through the pages. But a soft noise from behind him made Septimus stop and turn around quickly.

"Helena?" Septimus frowned. A petite strawberry blonde stood at the entrance to the lounge in her nightgown and robe. Her hazel eyes glistening in the orange light from the fire, as she caught Septimus' gaze. "What are you doing up?"

"I thought I heard someone walk past my room," she said, walking slowly towards the couch. "And I thought it was probably you." Gently, she set herself down beside him and leaned into his shoulder.

Helena Fuerst had been Septimus' best friend since he could remember. Helena's parents were Christoph and Elisa, his mother's unspeakable and healer, but they had become more than that. They were his godparents, his mother's best friends, and became his surrogate parents during his mother's absence.

Over the past year, Helena and Septimus had become closer than just friends, but they still were not officially dating. Helena's younger brothers, Henry, who was in his third year, and Nick, who was a first year, seemed to tag along everywhere he and Helena went. Which made it even more difficult to get close to the girl.

"I'm sorry I woke you," Septimus said, as he gently put an arm around Helena's shoulder, drawing her closer to him.

"It's fine," she said. "Are you alright? Did you have a dream again? About your dad?"

"It wasn't dad," he said, blushing lightly. "I was about my mom, on the day that she left on her research assignment."

"Oh..." Helena whispered, snuggling in closer to him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Septimus muttered, staring off into the fire. "I just get this feeling that something's wrong. But maybe I'm just paranoid."

"No, you're not," Helena told him. "I know mom and dad are worried about something too, but there just not telling us what it is. I've seen the glances they share. They are worried about your mom too. We're all worried, especially with all the problems going on in Europe right now."

"I'm glad it's Saturday and we don't have any classes," he murmured, closing his eyes. "I have a feeling I'll be extremely tired later on. Especially with Quidditch practice at eight this morning."

"Yeah...well let's try and get a little more sleep then," Helena said, snuggling further into his side and closing her own eyes. "And Septimus?"

"Yeah Helena?"

"Happy sixteenth birthday."

"Thanks."