Love is hope: Life after sixth year

“The greasy git’s my dad…”

***

Hermione watched Amélie with growing horror… The greasy git? Snape? Snape’s her father? But that meant…

“Snape raped your mother? Amélie, I … I’m so sorry… But how? I mean I know he was …”

Hermione’s thoughts tumbled over each other fighting for making sense. She knew Snape had been a Death Eater, and as such he must’ve done terrible things… And she knew theoretically that during a war, women became toys for men more frequent then not.

And Death Eaters did raid Muggle families… But why would they attack Muggle families all the way in France? And Snape… urgh… that was one nasty picture in her mind… But Snape… He raped Amé-…

“No, he didn’t”

Hermione looked up at Amélie, thoroughly confused.

“She is correct Miss Granger,” Dumbledore startled Hermione for the umpteenth time, “Veritaserum brings out the truth like the person who’s taken it knows it… That is one of the potion’s crucial flaws. And even so, part of the truth is never the whole truth…”

Saying Hermione was lost was a gross understatement.

“I’ll take my leave now, Miss Granger, Miss Serkent,” with a slight inclination of the head to both girls, Dumbledore took his leave.

Hermione was still rooted on the spot in the middle of the hallway, trying to make sense of the whole thing. Amélie took her arm and guided her inside the room. Waving her hand in front of Hermione’s face.

“Hermione? … You know, it’s me who should be shocked into silence, not you…”

Amélie’s voice sounded mocking and jolted Hermione out of her stupor… Now she burned from curiosity, but in no way was she going to force the whole story out of Amélie. She had more respect for her than pestering her to spill a secret… Oh, to bloody hell with it!

“What in the world’s going on, Amélie? Did your mum lie to you? Did she just have a relationship with the greasy git and said he’d raped her or something? Mind you, I wouldn’t really blame her for not wanting everyone to know she had consented sex with him…”

Amélie’s expression broke away from the blankness. Scrunched up in irritation, her mouth let out:

“Hermione! That’s my father you’re talking about! And Mother didn’t lie to me: she was raped…”

“Ok, so she was raped by someone else, then? Not by Snape?”

Hermione didn’t really follow anymore. And Amélie started to get very agitated.

“No, not by your professor! He’s her brother!”

If Hermione thought she couldn’t tolerate any more severe shocks to her system, she was wrong, though she wouldn’t have minded fainting right now.

“What?! He had sex with his own sister, but he wasn’t raping her? And how can your mother be his sister? She’s a Muggle!”

Amélie started pacing.

“Ok, first of all, apparently, Mother isn’t a Muggle… Ok, I’m not prioritising the giving of this information very well. Listen, Mother isn’t my birthmother… Apparently my real mother was Severus’ fiancée, who’s been missing and thought dead for more then seventeen years…”

Hermione was overwhelmed. Pieces were starting to form a clearer puzzle right about now… She sat Amélie down and tried to calm both of them down. At last she had Amélie sitting in a chair, and having her tell the whole story…

Apparently Dumbledore had an Order member track down Amélie’s family as a part to control the situation of the Grangers and her being missing. Dumbledore was already suspicious about the whole thing with the house’s wards recognizing Amélie as a witch, and when he read the comment in the Order member’s report about that woman reminding him of Snape, Dumbldore went to investigate matters himself.

The woman Amélie had always thought about as her mother was Snape’s sister alright. Maligna Snape had always been a strange witch, and after her Hogwarts’ years she had changed for the worse… How she had come in contact with Catholicism, no one knew, but she had been travelling and had come back with a new belief: magic was unnatural, and the work of the Devil. Despite being raised in a pureblood family, she had somehow chosen to be with Muggles rather then ‘devil worshippers’.

She was cast away from ‘good society’, and had been declared mad, her family had of course disowned her, but Mrs. Snape had been blamed by her husband once again, and hadn’t survived that punishment. A so-called Death Eater attack cost the life of Snape Senior shortly after that.

All this drama happened during the time when the war was at its peak. Severus had been ordered by his Dark Lord to ‘mate’ with a pureblood, like most other high ranked Death Eaters. According to the rules of pureblood high society Snape had thus to get engaged first, following the rules.

Siska Serano had been quite the controversial Slytherin witch herself. Raised by her bitter Italian father, after her Russian mother had died giving birth to her, her father had blamed her for the death of his wife. The proud Italian pureblood had been cast away from the Italian high society for marrying the Russian ‘halfblood’ (Siska’s grandmother had been a Muggle-born witch).

The widowed cast-away, had fled to Great-Britain, thus his daughter had been sent to Hogwarts. Despite the bitter treatment, Siska had somehow grown to be an optimistic little girl with the ambition to change the world for the better. This blind determination got her into the Slytherin House.

The fact that she had been a Slytherin, and a descended from a pureblood family, wasn’t enough to be considered a great ‘catch’ in the British high-society bridal industry after her Hogwarts years, but then again, neither was the sour-bad-hygiene Severus Snape… But she was sufficiently pure-blooded to be ‘acceptable’ for a Death Eater marriage.

Soon after the engagement, though, rumours started to arise. Supposedly it had been Severus who had killed his own father under the guise of a Death Eater attack. And when Siska’s father was killed shortly afterwards under the same circumstances, people started talking…

The wedding had never taken place. Siska Serano had mysteriously disappeared a couple of months after her father’s death. This was during the last two years Voldemort had been at full power before he was destroyed by baby-Harry. Times were chaotic, and one missing person more or less… Nobody knew what had happened to her, but most believed she’d killed herself, rather then having to marry Snape, or he had killed her for not wanting to marry him…

However Dumbledore secretly confirmed her heritage with a potion he’d made her drink during his and Amélie’s last conversation, and it was beyond a doubt that she was Severus’ and Siska’s daughter. That combined with the fact that Amélie existed and was alive, meant that Siska must’ve lived at least a few months after her disappearance…

Though how Amélie had ended up being in the care of Maligna Snape was still a matter of investigation. A few months after Siska’s disappearance, the Snape siblings had had a row about Severus’ involvement with the Dark Lord, and Dumbledore, and she had left shortly after, declaring she wanted nothing to do with wizarding kind anymore.

Now, all they knew was that she had changed her name (snake-snape, serpent-serkent) and married a Muggle, with which she raised her niece as her own. They also suspected that it was her who had cast the binding spells for Amélie’s powers, despite the fact that she was against using magic…

Amélie’s hands were clutching her armrests when she told the story. After voicing the suspicions on who had filled her body with dark magic she finally tore her gaze from the fire in the hearth.

It seemed that it was only now really sinking in. With tears in her eyes, she held Hermione’s gaze:

“I feel so… bad, Hermione… inside, you know. I was never really close to that woman, and she caused me a lot of pain. I tried so hard to please her… You know all of that… And she made me forgive her all of it by telling me I was a product of a rape… I pitied her, and felt guilty for being alive, and being a reminder for something horrible to her, and for disappointing her…”

Amélie closed her eyes for a second, visibly restraining herself. Hermione didn’t know what to do but stay still and give her time continue.

“I feel so much hate for that woman right now, and it’s killing me. I… I hate feeling this, Hermione! It’s like my heart is shrinking, and my chest is going to implode! It hurts so much, Hermione! How could she do that to me! And what did she do to my mother!”

Amélie was sobbing now. Her voice had increased in volume, but it broke when she spoke about her real mother. Hermione couldn’t stand to see Amélie so torn up inside, and she slid from her seat to hug her friend hard. Tears came to her eyes and both girls were sobbing in each others arms.

Minutes, which felt like hours crawled by, and Hermione comforted her friend. She didn’t try to analyse everything, but she felt a deep dislike for that Maligna Snape, akin to what she felt for the Dursley’s… How could they treat their family so badly, just because of what they believed? Harry and Amélie were very much alike about their childhood, and both had, despite the odds, turned out extraordinary loving people…

She didn’t know what to think about this, otherwise… Snape had a child. He’d been engaged at one time in his life… Had he loved this Siska? Dumbledore and Amélie seemed to believe he hadn’t raped anyone… But… Well… Snape was a bastard, but now Amélie… She was his daughter…

What about Snape’s father? Had Snape really killed him? It must’ve been hell watching his mother getting beaten by her husband… No wonder he was such a bastard… Had he killed Siska’s dad too then? As a means for him to threat Siska into marrying him?

“He loved her, you know…”

Hermione was startled. She had expected Amélie had fallen asleep from the exhaustion of emotional turmoil. Disentangling slightly from the hug, they looked into each other’s face.

“I could feel it. Snape’s… I mean my father’s feelings… There was so much pain…” Amélie’s face scrunched up in remembrance, “Especially when Dumbledore spoke of my real mum… And then guilt, too… that was when it was about the rumours about my grandfathers being killed… At first, I thought he didn’t really love her, that he was just… I don’t know… But then, when Dumbledore said they were going to investigate what happened to Siska and if she was still alive… Hope… It was brief, but it was stronger than even the pain he felt… I think he really loved her, Hermione… Tell me it isn’t just wishful thinking?”

Hermione looked into the pleading eyes of the girl, and didn’t want to disappoint her. However, she really didn’t know… So she whispered:

“If there’s any one who’ll find out if our Potion Master’s capable of loving someone, it’s going to be you, Miss Snape…”

At that they both smiled watery smiles…

“Thank you, Hermione…”

“You’re welcome, Amélie…”

The girls rested a bit more in each other’s arms, recovering from the new information… But hunger soon drove them to leave their spots in front of the fire. Getting up, they brushed their clothes straight and stretched their limbs. Brushing her cheeks dry, Hermione sniffed a bit and saw Amélie doing the same: trying to make themselves presentable.

It was only now that Hermione paid any real attention to the room they were in.

“Where are we anyway?”

Amélie looked up: “Oh, I reckon these are Snape’s quarters?”

Hermione saw a second door, opposite the one to the hallway. Pointing to the door she said:

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“That blond boy’s there, yes, I feel him… You know, these Headquarters have a habit of sheltering tortured souls. With him, it’s more of a dull pain…” lowering her voice to a whisper she confided with Hermione, “and it’s not just the physical pain… I think, he doesn’t really want to fight it… you know… like he’s hurt emotionally, too much, too hard to bear…”

Hermione could tell Amélie was seriously concerned, but she couldn’t help a snort: “Malfoy doesn’t have emotions…”

“Hermione! He’s still a person!”

“A person who tried to kill me! More then once! And a person who killed his own father… Although that was good riddance!”

“Hermione! Do you hear yourself? I’m not saying I don’t value your life, on the contrary! I know he harmed you, in more ways then one! You told me so! But that doesn’t mean he’s not a person, just making the wrong choices! He’s not a monster! He has to have feelings!”

Hermione mellowed; sighing she admitted: “You have such strong belief in the ones around you… I wish I could still have your optimism in believing Draco was only a spiteful little ferret because of his upbringing… But, he’s responsible for his mistakes, no matter what, and if he wants redemption for his actions, he’ll have to prove himself… But I strongly doubt that ever happening…”

“It will happen, if he has the right guidance, and is supported with care…” Amélie stated determined.

Hermione smiled and linked her arm through Amélie’s, steering her to the door: “And now we know from who you get that rock-steady faith in human goodwill. And let me tell you this: it sure as hell isn’t from your dad!”

Giggling they made their way downstairs.

Reaching the kitchen, they saw Ron and Harry already down there. Hermione’s heart lifted when she saw Ron wolfing down his breakfast. She’d never believe she would ever be relieved to see Ron misbehaving with bad table manners… Harry must’ve gotten him out of his depression somehow…

Looking at Harry, she saw him wink at her. To her own small horror she felt her heart skip a beat and heat rising in her cheeks. Since when did she give in to the irrational part of being in love? Pushing those thoughts away, she forced her gaze back to his face and smiled back. He was looking at her quizzically but then regarded his other best friend with a content smile.

“Oh! Blueberry pancakes, my favourites!”

Amélie exclaimed to the joy of Winky. The House-Elf set to work immediately to make more, and Harry smiled:

“Yeah, you best watch it, Amélie! With Ron’s insatiable stomach, you may have to fight to protect your share of pancakes!”

Ron looked up at that, and spoke with his mouth full: “Hey! I’m not that bad!” spraying Hermione with bits of half-mashed food.

“Urgh! Ron!” she exclaimed in disgust, but added quickly: “Yes, you are that bad! Remember after that one Quidditch practise? You almost bit my finger off when you stole my fudge…”

Ron swallowed heavily and tried to protest while the rest burst out in laughter.

“I did not!” Ron finally managed to say.

“Oh yes you most certainly did!” came Ginny’s amused voice from the doorway.

Luna followed her in. Both girls looked alright, they were smiling with the rest of the youth.

“I even remembered a time you were so hungry, you ate a box fool of the twins’ trick candy. You just popped one in your mouth and waited for the effects to die out before eating the next one!”

They all exploded in laughter, and Ron’s face was red. Nudging a chuckling Harry, he said mock-serious:

“Hey, mate. You can’t side with the bloody girls, we’re already outnumbered! Next you know they’re going to take over!”

“Oh, Ron, you’re such a wuss!” Ginny teased, flinging a piece of her pancake at her brother.

The piece landed right in the middle of his forehead, sticking there. They all went silent and watched amused how Ron took the piece from his face, and put it in his mouth. While he munched on the food, he reached for the bowl of whipped cream and dragged a spoon through it purposefully.

Ginny regarded her brother coolly: “You wouldn’t dare…”

No sooner were her words out, or he had flung the contents of the spoon in Ginny’s direction. Unfortunately, the cream didn’t stay consistent in one blob, but sailing through the air it divided itself into several mini-blobs, hitting not only Ginny square in the face, but also Luna.

Before Hermione had a chance to call it a halt, a full fledged food fight had started. After Ron dumped the bowl of whipped cream over her head, though, she gave as good as she got! Winky fled the kitchen screaming and lamenting, but the adolescents had a minute of carefree fun, and as such, couldn’t care less.

Laughing and squealing, they kept flinging food at each other. But the boys, despite being outnumbered, had the greater advantage: they could use magic! Food was accio’d back to them for more ammunition, or levitated above the girls… Harry would’ve been disabled long ago, if it weren’t for the strong impervious charm he cast on his glasses, making sure no food obstructed his vision.

Suddenly Tonks’ head popped in the kitchen: “What in the blazing hell is happening in here?”

She didn’t sound angry, yet… But there was a piece of pumpkin pie levitating shakily above her head… Smiling she exclaimed:

“Oh! A food fight!”

No sooner had she uttered those words, or the pie fell on her head.

“Never mind,” she mumbled, shaking her head spraying the crumbs everywhere. She disappeared back in the hallway, and the occupants of the kitchen again burst out into laughter.

“We should wrap things up in here,” Hermione said.

Harry pointed his wand in the direction of the table and said: “Evanesco!”

It didn’t quite leave the table spotless, and Ron pushed Harry out of the way, using several charms and spells leaving the kitchen spotless. Unaware of the looks of amazement he got, he turned to find his friends gaping at him.

“What?”

Luna smiled broadly: “You’re going to make a very fine husband one day, Ronald Weasley!”

Before anyone could respond to Luna’s outrageous comment, the kitchen door opened to reveal Dumbledore. Looking around with twinkling eyes, he acted disappointed:

“Oh, am I too late for the food fight? Pity… Harry, could I have a word with you?”

When Harry was already in the hallway, Dumbledore turned and told the rest: “I’d at least change my clothes if I were you: you’ll stick everywhere if you continue to walk around like that!”

With a wink, the nutty professor was out the door.

Still giddy from the afterglow they trudged upstairs to use the bathroom. Ron disappeared in the boys’ dorm, while the girls discussed who got to use the bathroom first.

Hermione chose to just trade her clothes for a bathrobe while waiting for a turn in the bathtub. Getting out her tome on Tranfiguration, she set to study. Almost an hour later, Ginny and Amélie had already finished, but Luna was still in the bathtub, humming ‘Weasley is our King’.

She’d left some of her Potion’s notes in the drawing room, and considering she was covered enough and the house sounded quiet, she went down quickly to get them. Opening the door of the drawing room, she found Harry leafing through his own notes…

Feeling a bit self-conscious, any hope to leave without him noticing vanquished when he looked up. He smiled, and again she was left tongue-tied. Cursing herself for leaving her room with virtually nothing on but the bathrobe, except of course her knickers, she was rooted on the spot when Harry got up and advanced on her. She leaned against the wall next to the door, and waited for him get in front of her.

His green eyes mesmerizing her, again, glittered with amusement, but the trembling of his upper lip in his so-called confident smile, betrayed his nervousness.

“Harry…”

Hermione whispered, when he stood so close to her that she could feel his breath tickling her nose. If he didn’t move quickly, she was going to take matters in her own hands, or sneeze…

Just when she decided to bring her head closer to reach for his lips, he descended also. The result was a rather awkward and forceful meeting of two noses.

“Aw!”

Harry looked apologetic and a bit ashamed by the mishap, but Hermione grinned. Bringing her arms up, she took his head between her hands, and kept his face steady, while she tiptoed to brush her lips over his.

The kiss started with brief caresses of lips, but soon, Harry brought his arms around her middle and pulled Hermione closer. Kissing her soundly, Hermione felt her heart beat accelerate as if this was the first time they kissed.

Her arms went around his neck, with one hand pressing between his shoulder blades, and the other playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. Harry’s mouth travelled to her neck, and Hermione didn’t think to mind. It felt lovely for his mouth to travel along her pulse, kissing the hollow above her breastbone, and travelling back up again to the side. Gently pushing the cloth away, he kissed her bare shoulder, making her shiver.

Suddenly he stopped, bringing his head levelled with hers again:

“Hermione?”

Hermione regarded him unfocused: “Hmm?”

“Maybe…” he gulped, reaching up to cover her bare shoulder with a shaking hand. With an unsteady voice he continued: “Maybe we should stop…”

Hermione pouted: “Why?”

Suddenly, his lips were against hers again, in a heated kiss. Harry pressed his pelvis against hers, and Hermione could feel his… excitement… Too shocked to do anything, Hermione let herself just feel. Before she could come to a decision on how to respond, Harry backed away. Releasing her from the kiss she gulped in her breath, while he whispered in her ear:

“That’s why…”

While she shivered from his breath on her ear shell, he let go of her, and fled to the door. Hermione’s panting was the only sound in the room, though she couldn’t hear it over the buzzing in her ears. Her heart was going a mile an hour, though what surprised her the most, was that she wasn’t appalled by Harry’s… excitement… in the least. She wasn’t even that scared about the thought of what it implied.

What surprised her the most was that she had been properly aroused, an intense feeling new to her… But she had loved every minute of it…

***

So, I promised: not too long of a delay, H/Hr action, and no cliff-hanger… I think I did pretty well?

Please review?