"You did indeed," his father answered as they walked into the living room. They sat down both watching the clock that seemed to move with agonizing slowness and then just as both hands reached midnight the room suddenly began to shake violently. Severus quickly got up and pulled Harry up with him and put his arms around him to protect him. "What's happening, Dad?" Harry yelled.
"I don't know, Harry," Severus answered holding tightly to Harry.
Just as suddenly as it started, the room stopped shaking, but a large vortex appeared whirling madly and casting a light so bright that Severus and Harry couldn't look at it. When the spinning stopped and the light died, Harry saw his mum. She looked at the point of collapsing. Severus moved swiftly and caught her before her body hit the floor. He easily scooped her up and laid her on the couch. "Harry, get me a vial of the Elixir of Power and a vial of Strengthening Solution out of the drawer there, please," he asked pointing at the long table that sat back to back with the couch.
Harry opened the drawer and found the six vials labeled with his dad's spidery handwriting. He gave two of them to Severus who spelled them into Lily's system and then covered her with the heavy blanket he'd brought from his bedroom earlier. He cast a diagnostic charm over her and in a few seconds a piece of parchment appeared beside him. Severus took it and looked it over. He had taken two years of additional training after receiving his potions mastery and was a certified Medi-Wizard.
"How's mum?" Harry asked anxiously.
"Her vital signs are a bit low, but I am assuming that is to be expected. Her magical core is hovering around the dangerous level, but the Elixir of Power and Strengthening Solution should bring that up shortly."
Harry down on the couch beside Lily and took hold of her hand. "Mum's really pretty isn't she, Dad?"
"Yes," Severus agreed softly. "Even when she was your age; she was beautiful."
Something in his dad's tone made Harry look up at him and seeing his expression made him wonder if his dad's feelings for his mum were different than he was admitting to.
"Harry, will it be alright if I leave for a few minutes? I need to check on my house and make sure there was no damage and it didn't wake anyone up."
"Sure, Dad."
Severus was back in a few minutes. "Whatever we experienced in here apparently was not experienced anywhere else in the dungeon. Everything's quiet."
Harry yawned and looked at his mum again. "When will she wake up?"
"I expect sometime tomorrow possibly," Severus answered. "Why don't you get ready for bed?" With a wave of his wand he widened the couch so there would be room enough for Harry to sleep on it. "You can sleep here by your mother."
Harry went into his bedroom and changed into his pajamas and slippers and grabbed his robe. He gladly lay down beside his mum. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. How many kids were fortunate enough to get back a lost parent? He quickly fell asleep being very tired after all the day's excitement.
Severus stretched out in his favorite leather recliner. He dozed lightly waking up every couple of hours to check on Lily's condition. He gave her another vial of the Elixir of Power and Strengthening Solution at 4:00, did a diagnostic on her magical core and was pleased to find it was almost completely restored. He decided he would give her the last two vials at eight just to be on the safe side and made a mental note to brew more of both. When he woke at 6:00, he found Lily had turned over on her side and had her arm wrapped around Harry. He would need to wake Harry at 7:00 to get ready for breakfast. Since the first years only had a half-day of classes on Fridays Harry could get some sleep in the afternoon if he was still tired. He was thankful he didn't have that many classes either as he'd only gotten about four hours of sleep. He stayed awake, watching Lily and Harry until 7:00. He got up and gently shook Harry awake saying, "Time to get up, Harry."
Harry woke up and sat up and looked at Lily. "It wasn't a dream, Dad. Mum did really come back."
Yes, she did, Harry."
"Is mum doing better?"
"Yes, her magical core is almost back to normal, but I am going to administer the last vials of the Elixir of Power and the Strengthening solution in about an hour just to be on the safe side."
Harry got up, but seemed reluctant to leave his mother which was perfectly understandable given his history.
"She will still be here when you come back," Severus said softly.
Harry looked up at Severus. How did his dad always know what he was thinking? "But who's going to look after mum while we're gone today?"
"I think I may have the solution for that," Severus said. "You go and get ready for school."
"Okay," Harry nodded and went into his bedroom.
Severus grabbed some floo powder out of the china cauldron on the mantle, knelt down in front of the fireplace and threw it down, stuck his head into the green flames and said clearly, "Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire."
Lucius got up from his desk in his study, came over to his fireplace and knelt down. "Severus, why are you calling so early? Is Draco alright?" He asked suddenly alarmed.
"Draco is fine," Severus assured him. "Is Cissa up yet? I would like to talk to both of you."
"Yes, she's in the drawing room giving the elves their instructions for the day. I will go and get her," Lucius said getting up.
He was back in a few moments with Narcissa. "What is it, Severus?"
"Can you both step through? It will be easier if I show you rather than explain it."
"Of course," Lucius replied, nodding.
Severus stepped back so they could come through. When they stepped out of the fireplace, Severus bade them to follow him around the couch. Narcissa gasped as she saw Lily and dropped to the floor beside the couch. "Is it really Lily?" She asked taking hold of her hand.