Snape Apparated at the gates without using his wand again. His daughters followed him and then transformed into women. Avalanche was telling the truth – similarity between him and them is striking. They are exactly as tall as him, slim and lean but apparently strong. Their faces are rather thin, their eyebrows have the same irregular shape as his, their eyes are as fathomless and mysterious as his and their skin is pale. Well, honestly speaking, white as milk and slightly glittering in the darkness, looking exactly like a hide of a white Fire Unicorn. But here the similarities between both girls end: eyes and hair of Aegnor are black like his, while Mearas is blonde. Her hair is fairer than Lucius’ and her big, wise eyes make him think of a sky on a frosty, bright day. They both wear the same clothes: trousers and shirts made of hide, leather boots and long cloaks. Of course, Mearas’ robes are white and her sister’s – deeply black.
*The Headmaster is not here at the moment. We are alone in the castle.* – says Snape – *so I can’t tell you today whether you’ll be hired. It’s his decision, not mine.*
*Where are we going to sleep?* – asks Aegnor.
*In my private rooms, if you have nothing against it. You on the bed and I on the sofa.* They reach his chamber and girls start to unpack. Well, all they possess are another set of robes and some books. Aegnor whistles and her pet bird appears out of nowhere. Snape’s jaw drops – it’s a phoenix, two times bigger than a swan! He’s seen only one in his life before – Fawkes but Dumbledore’s bird is purple-gold and this one is raven black and every feather is rimmed with silver. Fawkes is a Scarlet phoenix and this one must be a Dark one (also called Black) – the animal Snape was named after by Unicorns. He’s marveling the impressive beast with awe.
*That’s my friend, Ignis, the Black Phoenix.* These birds, unlike Scarlet ones, are carnivorous and very aggressive, especially when protecting their young or people they consider friends. However, their healing abilities are even more spectacular than these of Scarlet Phoenixes and they can overcome the meanest Dark curses and poisons. Ignis looks at Snape and starts combing his hair with her sharp, hooked beak. He touches her beautiful plumage gently and she squawks in approval, demanding more caresses. *She likes you, dad,* - smiles Aegnor. *So I don’t care being somebody who attacks you.*
*I must buy a pet, too.* - smiles Mearas.
*What?* - shouts Aegnor. *A cobra or a lethifold?* They all burst out with laughter. Very few people have ever had the opportunity to see Severus Aquilla Snape laughing but for the girls it’s normal.
He spends nearly all night in his lab, working. When he finally comes back to his bedroom, he sees his twins in his bed, asleep. He is standing motionlessly for a moment, just looking at them. Avalanche was telling the truth – they are really his daughters, literally. Their features resemble his so much…. He would love them even if they weren’t his children biologically but somehow it’s pleasant to know that they are his flesh and blood. Right, their human forms at least, Blizzard and Anor are parents of their Unicorn part. Three parents, you may say. Well, Sanguis Magia is strange, even for wizarding standards.
July 19th, late
Snape successfully passed his Veritaserum test and Voldemort was even merciful enough not to punish him this time. Being trusted again makes Snape glad a bit – he’ll collect more information as a reliable supporter but on the other hand it means that he’ll be given a new task soon. Of course, Dumbledore and he have their ways and means to help people he is ordered to kill but he is aware of the fact that some will die. They are able to save most of his “victims” but not all... New letters have come as well. One from Naya Zabini (Slitherin girl, graduated last year, now flying for Harpias as a Beater) another form Marcus Flint (working for the Ministry). They are both Death Eaters’ kids and his spies. Though they both were brought up to detest Muggles and Muggleborns it haven’t made them blind: they realize what Voldemort will bring to wizarding world and don’t want to take part in it. Of course, they have been staging for a few months they are craving to support him but it’s nothing but a pack of lies. Snape memorizes the information, then (again without a wand, it slowly becomes a custom to him) whispers a spell “Tibi et igni” and letters turn into ashes. Now it’s his turn to look into the Palantir. He, his daughters and Lea Dumbledore (daughter of Albus), being the only people in the castle, share this duty. They observe every place they consider important round the clock, mostly houses of Death Eaters and people that could be attacked first.
“Evening” – he smiles entering. Lea smiles back. This woman really likes him but doesn’t get on well with his daughters. Well, she doesn’t even know they are his kids, all she knows is that they are Healers. The less people know their true origin the better. Safer for him and them. He starts scanning all the places they have on their list but nothing extraordinary can be noticed. Finally, pretty fed up with it, he decides to take a look at Potter’s house. Yes, a perfectly NORMAL, Muggle house. A garden, a garage, all that stuff. These three people are undoubtely his family: they must be spoiling this already bigheaded boy, like everybody. Can’t the see what they are doing? He is allowed to break all the rules and praised beyond reason! Sure, he’s already shown more courage, cunning and last year (though Snape would never admit that, even under severe tortures) also maturity but he’s still a child! One small mistake, one blunder and the only wizard able to kill Voldemort is dead and gone. Oh yes, his friends are so proud of him but do they realize the price he’ll have to pay for being the Boy Who Lived? Snape would be glad to see him as The Boy Who IS Alive. Potter must have enjoyed his fame but now, after Diggory’s death he is terrified, no doubt. Snape saw it in his green eyes – dawning comprehension that it isn’t an adventure anymore but WAR. Merciless, ruthless war against the powerful madman, ready to set the whole world on fire to make his crazy dreams come true. But wait... These people don’t look OK. The man is sober but he must have been drinking a lot lately. His scrawny wife looks furious, her hands are still shaking and that fat brat (probably Potter’s cousin) is terrified. Snape doesn’t like it. He scans the whole house carefully but he can’t find Harry there. This house has been put under Fidelius Charm so Voldemort won’t find the boy there but if this idiot Potter left... All Snape’s intuition tells him something is going wrong...
“Show me Harry James Potter” – he asks the Stone. The Palantir glitters and a new picture focuses inside it. Snape freezes, unable to move for a second. Then he leaps to his feet, darts out of the room, yelling: “LEA! QUICK!”
“What?” – the Hit Witch in her pyjamas bursts out of her room, terrified. Snape hands her a small bottle.
“Put my clothes on, you’ll find them in my wardrobe. Drink this – it’s Polyjuice with my hair inside and Apparate at Leaky Cauldron. Buy some beer or something and just BE there for two hours or so. If somebody – Death Eaters I mean, see you just tell them you are waiting for a messenger. The more people see you, the better. You know how to behave, we’ve trained that before.”
“You need an alibi?” – she guesses and he nods.
“Serious trouble?”
“Very. Hurry up, the time is running.” After a while she, now looking like him, comes back and meets him at the gates.
“Be careful, Severus” – she says, looking worried.
“You too. Quick!” She Disapparates. He’s waiting motionlessly for a few minutes and then Disapparates, too.
Harry thought life couldn’t be worse but he must have been wrong. He left the house and ran to the suburbs, near to the old, abandoned factory. He was careless enough not to notice three wizards Apparating in the nearby. Now the man slams him hard against the wall. They are in factory buildings; no one will hear him, no one... The wizards cast their hoods off and Harry gasps with shock. He’s seen them before, in the Pensieve. They were sentenced for torturing Neville’s parents. The most faithful Death Eaters... That means Azkaban must have been broken open! The curse makes him yell with pain, these three are gloating over him with insane satisfaction... The woman pins him with her boot to the floor and yells the curse out as loud as she can. She must be Lestrange and that tall wizard is her husband...
“Watch out, you’ll kill him.” – she hisses when he kicks Harry hard in the stomach.
“We are allowed to have some fun, aren’t we?” – he laughs aloud, kicking the boy again. “We’ve spent so many years in Azkaban because of him... The Dark Lord will understand when we bring this brat to him a bit bruised...” How long does this last? Seems to be ages...
Suddenly, they can hear some strange noise outside. Death Eaters freeze for a moment. While the Lestranges leave to check what’s going on, Harry is left alone with the third wizard. The man grasps him by his T-shirt and slams him against the wall.
“What a pity such a handsome boy must die...” – he hisses, licking his lips. His eyes are shining with lust, he runs his fingers down Harry’s cheek... They boy is too weak to fight him.
“DORIAN!” – the wizard turns on his heel, letting Harry go. Harry slides down to the floor, noticing another tall man in black cloak with his hood covering his face.
“VIPER?”
“Yes, Dorian, my friend. So many years...”
“You made that noise?”
“Me, sorry for frightening you. What do you have here?”
“Potter” – Dorian’s voice is full of pride.
“I see” – hisses Viper, his dark eyes shining wildly from below his hood. “At once the biggest bull in the herd. Congratulations!” They shake hands and Harry catches the glimpse of a blade. He sees it as in slow motion. Viper plunges his left hand into his robes, draws out a long, curved dagger and thrusts it into Dorian’s chest up to the hilt, turns it with one quick, powerful movement and rapidly pulls it out. Dorian slowly sinks to his knees, his eyes full of terror... Viper wordlessly watches him dying, then he wipes the knife in Dorian’s robes and strides towards Harry. He kneels beside him and forces some potion into his mouth. Pain disappears literally at once, it must be some strong Pain Potion. “Why the hell have you left your home?” – he whispers. “Heavens, professor Dumbledore should give you a lecture this time!” He lifts Harry easily and they Disapparate, landing at the gates of the familiar castle.
“What?...” – whispers Harry, when Viper carries him along the corridors.
“Hospital wing.” – is the curt answer. The voice sounds familiar...
“Professor Snape?”
“Sure.” – he barks. “Potter, why the hell have you left your home when this raving lunatic is after you?” Silence. Harry would rather die than tell Snape his own family was treating him like scum. Potions’ Master bursts into the room, talking to somebody. Harry doesn’t understand a word; he’s never heard such a language before. Snape lays him gently on the bed and Harry notices the person he was talking to. It’s a tall, pale, black-haired woman who could be Snape’s sister because they are so similar. She and Snape are whispering for a moment and then she sweeps out of the room, moving silently like he always does.
“She’s told me to strip you.” – explains Snape. “Without magic.” Harry recoils and Snape, misinterpreting his behavior, adds – “OK, not underwear but she can’t scan you properly when you are fully dressed.” Harry raises his eyebrows in surprise.
“Scan me?”
“Aegnor is a Healer. She can diagnose and cure with her hands. She’s left to fetch some potions but she’ll be right back.” Snape sits down on Harry’s bed and starts fighting the knotted shoelace. Harry doesn’t like it. Not that he feels pain, Snape has drugged him well, but he will see his bruises.
“I’ll manage, Prof...”
“Shut up” – snaps Snape. “You may have some internal injures, so don’t move.” He pulls off his shoes, then socks. His thin face twists with disgust. “Potter, why are you wearing these rags? Lupin’s worst robes look like royal attire compared to this!” Harry feels tears filling his eyes but he won’t let Snape see them, not him... Finally, Snape pulls his jeans and T-shirt off and his eyes narrow. “That explains everything.” He must have seen the bruises...
“These Death Eaters kicked me several times and...” Snape looks into his eyes, his lips curling into an ironic grimace.
“Death Eaters, you say? Are your uncle and aunt Death Eaters?” – he hisses. Harry stares at him, speechless. Cheating Snape has always been difficult and he failed this time again. “These bruises are mostly old. Few days old, some a week and I would bet my life some weren’t made with combat boots but a leather belt. It isn’t the job of Mary, Derek and Dorian, Potter, and you know it well. And who made you wear this...stuff?” – he kicks dirty clothes with disgust. “I’ve seen your cousin, these rags must have belonged to him once, according to their size. And you’re scrawny. Just don’t tell me you are deliberately on the slimming diet, boy. You didn’t have anorexia last year if I’m not mistaken. And your... family” – he spits this word out as if it were a curse – “kicked you out, finally, I think. Why on Earth haven’t you owled the Headmaster? They have nearly handed you to this madman!” Harry smiles a bit, hearing somebody calling Voldemort a “madman” and this moment Aegnor is back.
“I’m a Healer” – she explains – “and we’ll have a little session together. It won’t be painful, I promise. You don’t know me so maybe you want Severus to stay with you if you don’t trust me? He may also leave, if you prefer.” Harry doesn’t know what to say: if Snape has read so much from his bruises, a Healer would much more and she’d ask him some troubling questions, probably. Snape is not his favorite person to listen to this but on the other hand he’s a bit afraid of this woman, there’s something uncanny in her...
“Professor, could you stay?” – he asks finally. Snape nods. Aegnor starts “scanning” – her hands are moving slowly over his skin, without touching it and she’s singing an incantation. After a while Snape joins her with his pure baritone. Harry feels her energy entering his body, pleasant warmth is creeping up his veins, his muscles relax... Aegnor puts the blanket over him to keep him warm and gives him a potion; he’s slowly drifting away, feeling safe... WHAM! The door springs open and another Snape bursts in. Harry gasps – if this IS Snape, who’s the...
“Polyjuice” – Snape (the real one) has noticed his confusion. “I needed a small alibi, you see.” Another “Snape” notices him and turns pale.
“So that was so urgent.” – he whispers. “Who’s this?”
“Famous Potter.” – explains “real” Snape. “The Boy Who Gets In Trouble All The Time.” Another Snape looks at him with mingled compassion and fear, saying nothing. “Let’s go” – “real” one breaks the silence. “You must tell me what you were doing and who you met. Then, please, let your father know what happened.” They sweep silently out of the room, leaving Harry and the Healer alone. They are both sitting in silence for a few minutes.
“Why is he always so sarcastic?” – finally whispers Harry quietly but she grasps the words.
“He’s a complicated man. Much pain, much anger...”
“I’ve seen him in my nightmares” – confesses the boy. “Voldemort...”
“He’s summoning me.” – Snape appears in the doorway.
“Damn!” Aegnor leaps to her feet and start talking to him abruptly, waving her hands angrily. Another woman with auburn hair and blue eyes enters.
“What are you two?...” – she stops dead, seeing a fireball materializing in Aegnors’ hands.
“Stop it.” Snape gently puts his hands on the glittering ball and it slowly fades. “He’s summoning me.” – he explains. The auburn witch looks literally petrified.
“No...”
“Yes. They were looking for Potter, I’ve told you. They haven’t found him by pure accident. He supposes that three to bring the boy to him.”
“He’ll be furious, Severus...” – she whispers. “Please, don’t go...”
“Don’t worry. Mearas and me will keep mental connection with him all the time.” – says the brunette firmly. Snape and the blue-eyed woman shake hands and then he turns towards Aegnor. They look in each other eyes for a moment and then she embraces him, whispering him something. And then he’s gone. “Now” – commands Aegnor – “Mearas is at the gates, keeping the connection and you stay with Harry, please. I must take a look into the Stone. Have you owled your father?”
“Yes.” The Healer leaves them alone. “I’m Lea Dumbledore, daughter of Albus.” – she introduces herself, causing Harry gasp with surprise. “What’s so strange in that?” – she smiles gently.
“Nothing” – blushes Harry – “I just didn’t know Professor Dumbledore has a family.”
“I’m his only child.” – she explains.
“And who’s this Healer, Aegnor?”
“They’ve come with Severus recently, Aegnor and Mearas. They look like twins but Mearas is blonde. I have no idea who they really are but Severus trusts them completely, you see. He’s always had many strange friends.” Harry grasps the irony hidden in these words.
“You don’t like them, Lea... Sorry, Miss Dumbledore.” “You may call me Lea” – she smiles. “And yes, there’s something strange in them. Have you seen that fireball? Mearas is more peaceful but Aegnor.... They aren’t telling us everything, I suppose.”
“You think they are up to something?”
“I don’t know...” – she hesitates. “Severus trusts them and they seem to be great friends with him. Maybe they aren’t but I think they do have their secrets they want to keep hidden. I’m worried about Severus.”
“You like Professor Snape.” – says Harry.
“He saved my life during the war with Voldemort.”
An hour later, or so, Aegnor comes back to them.
“Having a nice chat.” – she smiles. “It’s good to have you, Lea. I must go to help Mearas, I’m afraid.” Lea turns pale and leaps to her feet.
“What’s wrong? He... He isn’t?..” “He’ll be all right.” – says the brunette curtly. Her face is completely emotionless, like Snape’s. A mask you can’t see behind, hiding the real feelings. “He needs a strong connection, I’m afraid. But he WILL be back.” – she repeats, stressing the word “will”, as she sees Lea’s fear. Harry can’t fall asleep, seeing Dumbledore’s daughter so broken.
“Don’t worry” – he whispers – “Professor Snape is cunning.” But he doesn’t believe his own words. Voldemort must be furious, livid... Harry knows he’ll have a nightmare if he falls asleep so he’s desperately fighting his fatigue. For the first time in his life he’s anxious about Snape! Lea is worried, too: she keeps pacing across the room in circles, her arms folded across her chest. Finally, they can hear hurried footsteps in the corridor. The door springs open when somebody gives it a good kick and Aegnor enters, levitating two people.
“SEVERUS!” – shouts Lea out, running towards him but Aegnor materializes a fireball in her hand and slings it at her. Lea falls on the floor, the blow was really strong.
“NEVER TOUCH A PERSON A HEALER IS CONNECTED WITH, IS THAT CLEAR?” – roars Aegnor with fury. “NEVER!” Then, noticing Lea’s fear and confusion, she adds more gently - “You mustn’t meddle with the connection between a Healer and her patient, it’s dangerous.” She puts Snape on the bed and Mearas on the other. They are both unconscious but Snape looks terrible: his robes are filthy and torn, blood is oozing from his mouth.
“What’s wrong with them?” – asks Lea urgently. “Mearas fainted because she had given him too much energy” – explains Aegnor quietly. – “She’ll wake up in few hours. And Severus” - she starts pulling filthy robes off him – “no internal injures or broken bones, luckily, I’ve already scanned him for serious damage – but I need to examine him closer.” She begins scanning again but this time her incantation is different. Harry notices that her job must be very energy-consuming because sweat starts running down her pale cheeks. After a quarter or so, she stops and sits by him, breathing heavily.
“And?..” – Lea breaks the heavy silence.
“No internal injures or broken bones” – repeats Aegnor with a monotonous voice, as if reciting something she’s known by heart for ages – “no serious beating, just few bruises and grazes.”
“So why he’s unconscious?” – shouts Lea, staring at her with disbelief. “How can you be so peaceful as if nothing had happened? Maybe he’s dying!!!”
“He’d have died, I suppose” – Healer’s voice is as emotionless as before – “hadn’t Mearas and me helped him. He would have told Voldemort the truth and that means death. Girl, do you think I don’t care? I love him, we love him” – she adds, pointing at Mearas – “more than our lives but a Healer must remain calm. I’ve seen a few wizarding conflicts and wars, friend. Victims of multiple Cruciatus, unsuccessful experiments with dangerous magic, rapes, car accidents, animal attacks, whatever you please! Worse things than this. If I break down who’ll help?” Lea and Harry stare at her for a moment, flabbergasted. “So” – continues Aegnor – “if you want to know he was cursed several times. That’s nothing terrible, I mean, nothing fatal.” – she adds hastily. “Voldemort used Memory-Breaking charms on him and Severus managed to build a shield protecting him but he spent most of his and our energy doing that. We must practice that later so he’ll be able to do that without our help. He’ll be unconscious till his energy is rebuilt and it will take a few days but he’ll be all right.”
“Memory-Breaking charms?” – asked Harry. “Hasn’t it ruined his brain?”
“It might have, hadn’t he made the shield” – Aegnor gently brushes Severus’ hair with her long fingers – “I wonder what happened to the others if he was treated like that. He had an alibi, after all.”
“Maybe he didn’t even have the opportunity to say that.” Aegnor stares at him for a moment with her enormous, fathomless eyes.
“Maybe.” She rests for a few more minutes before speaking again. “I must help him now. It may take me even a few hours. And PLEASE do not disturb me. This is an advanced healing magic, it may malfunction when interrupted.” She carries Snape to another room and slams the door shut. After a while they can hear her singing. The incantation is different, this time loud, harsh and full of wrath.
“Like a war song.” – murmurs Harry.
“Because it’s the war.” – answers Lea. “Her magic against Voldemort’s. It must be serious, I’ve noticed a Black Phoenix with her.”
“Black Phoenix?”
“Yes. Great at dealing with the Dark Arts, you see, not just poisons and wounds like Fawkes.”
Mearas woke up in the morning, terribly exhausted.
“Where are they?”
“She’s still singing.” – answers Lea quietly, not to wake sleeping Harry up. Luckily now the incantation is silent, it can hardly be heard. “Will she save him?” Mearas gazes at her with her big, bright eyes.
“He’s simply tired, Lea, extremely tired. All he needs is energy. He’ll be all right, I assure you. You care about him, don’t you?” Lea smiles wryly.
“I do.”
(Six days later)
“Is he still in coma?” – Harry slips into the room.
“Yes” – answers Mearas. “Aegnor says it may last a few days more but he’ll be all right. He simply needs time to rebuild his energy.” Harry takes a sit, staring at unconscious Snape. He’s always been slim but now he’s so thin his hands resemble animal claws.
“You know” – Harry’s got familiar with both of them already, especially with Mearas – “He’s a strange man. He hates me because he had a quarrel with my dad and his friends but he saved me the second time. I bet he knew the consequences.”
“Severus has always been like that, as far as I can remember. Always taking great risks.” Harry doesn’t know what to say, he’s just watching her running her fingers down Snape’s cheek. There’s so much love and care in her eyes that Harry feels a jolt of envy – why has never anyone treated him like that? Snape murmurs something and Harry looks at him. There’s something on his chest, something glittering. Harry takes a closer look and gasps with surprise – it’s a tattoo but not heinous as the Dark Mark – it’s a beautiful, silver unicorn, rearing.
“Wow” – he whispers – “What’s that?”
“What?”
“The unicorn.” Her eyes widen as she notices it. “Haven’t you seen that before? I thought you...” – he blushes.
“What?” – she rises her eyebrows, slightly surprised.
“Nothing, sorry.”
“What?” – she insists.
“Nothing. I just thought... you seem to love him so much... I saw you kissing him yesterday and... Well I thought you are lovers.” To his surprise, she bursts out with laughter.
“Lovers? No, we are not. Neither me, nor Aegnor. Isn’t it obvious who we are?” Harry stares at her for a moment, surprised.
“Well, you’ve even brought him flowers... I have never seen such before. They are wonderful.”
“Can you see them? Most humans can’t.”
“You aren’t a human?” She smiles and bright sparkles appear in her eyes.
“Half-human, I think. But you haven’t answered my question. Can’t you see who we are?” It takes Harry a few minutes to realize.
“You three look the same. Siblings?” She shakes her head, amused.
“Well, that was closer. I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone. I think you should know.”
“Promise.”
“We are sisters and Severus is our father.” Harry’s jaw drops.
“Impossible. He’s too young to be...”
“How old do you think I am?”
“20-25.”
“Wrong. 17.” Then she explains Harry the blood-sharing.
“So you are a real family, though you are not.” – he says, after pondering over her words. “His blood though you had another parents. Strange.”
“Indeed. I think they all three are our real parents.” – she replies. “That’s why he’s got this tattoo, It wasn’t visible before. He’s developing more and more our traits.”
“Our? Who are you? No prying, just...”
“Just curiosity. Well, if he didn’t share his blood with us, I wouldn’t posses this form at all and wouldn’t be able to talk to you. Who am I? LOOK!” Harry has never seen anything like that before. A winged unicorn, literally shining, surrounded by golden, sparkling aura, emitting small lightings.
“Good heavens! Fire Unicorn!” – professor Dumbledore stops dead in the doorway. “Impossible.”
“You’ll see another one, black, soon.” Snape opened his eyes and is staring, quite amused, at the Headmaster. “These are my daughters, Headmaster. Two Fire Unicorns.”
(The next day)
“You’ve done it!” – laughs Lea. “You’ve done it!” It’s the bright, summer day and she’s teaching Harry to swim.
“Do us a favor and drown him.” – cold, silky voice interrupts them. They haven’t noticed Snape coming and now he’s standing, looking at them with his fathomless eyes. “Your father is calling you.” Lea nods and leaves Harry and Snape alone. It’s a strange sight – Snape without his billowing cloak, just in black jeans and barefooted. “Don’t drown yourself” – he snaps angrily – “I’m fed up with saving your neck lately.” Harry doesn’t answer him, just sighs – six days in coma haven’t certainly altered Snape’s behavior. He’s as sarcastic as ever. He’s observing this man, musing. Snape has saved his life again... And obviously still hates him. Snape sprawls on the sand, enjoying the warmth, smiling lightly. Harry has never seen him smiling like that before, without irony, without cruelty. He simply looks pleased with his life.
“Professor?”
“Yes?” – he murmurs, without opening his eyes.
“I’d like... I mean... Thank you.” Jet black eyes spring open, filled with surprise. “Thank you” are words rarely heard by a spy. Many people he’s saved have never learnt about that, many that have would still say “Throw this criminal to Azkaban.” “You saved me again, Professor Snape, and I bet you’d known the consequences.”
“No, Potter, I didn’t.” What the hell makes him say that? But the pain will strangle him if he keeps it inside a little longer... The kid raises his eyebrows in surprise. “I didn’t. I mean, I knew he would be furious but... Avery killed at once, Pettigrew beaten to unconsciousness (I helped that...), Green insane...”
“What?”
“Insane, like the Longbottoms.”
“So you know about Neville’s parents...”
“I’ve shown the Aurors the hiding of people who did that to them.”
“I had no idea, Prof...”
“There are many things you have no idea about, Potter” – snaps Snape and, after a while continues, more to himself than to Harry – “Nott tortured to death. Idiot! Hadn’t he confessed, he’d have been still alive.”
“Confessed? What?” – Harry’s eyes are as big as plates.
“That he helped you escape, of course.” – barks Snape, as if it was obvious. Harry gasps, not understanding a thing.
“He... helped...me?” – he splutters. “But it was you!”
“Correct.” – Snape’s face twists into a nasty grimace. “Voldemort knew you were somewhere near Surrey but he couldn’t break the defenses so he put his spies round the city hoping you’d leave and show yourself. And what? No Potter and three most faithful servants missing, probably dead. Explanation? They got you but somebody helped you escape. So he QUESTIONED” – Snape’s voice is filled with sarcasm – “everybody involved in this action, and of course, me. He trusts me after his Veritaserum test but he thought Professor Dumbledore put me under Imperius curse or something. That’s why he tried Memory-Breaking Charms on me. Luckily with the help of my daughters I managed to build a shield to protect my memories. But the Lord wanted confession and kept cursing us and Nott gave. Couldn’t endure the next dose of pain. Stupid git, I tell you. The best way is to repeat the same thing all the time. Finally he gets bored and leaves you alone.” Harry is shocked. He knew Voldemort was merciless to his enemies and brutal to his servants but to treat your own supporters like that? Unbelievable.
“He’s mad.” – he whispers.
“More than that.” – replies Snape quietly. They just stare at the lake in silence for a few minutes, before Harry breaks the silence once more. The question is dangerous but he has to know...
“Do you still hate me, Professor?” Snape gives him a puzzled look.
“I’ve never hated you, Potter.”
“But you... you LOVE taking points away from me, give me detentions...”
“Oh, THAT.” – Snape is pondering for a while, as if thinking whether he should tell the truth. “OK, maybe you should know. I’ve never hated you. Dislike, yes, I admit that. But not hate. The only people I hate is the Dark Lord and his mad followers. True, I’ve always considered you a bigheaded brat, spoiled by everybody, pampered by his family – and I was wrong about that – but hate you? I don’t like you but I’ve never wanted you dead. I know, I’ve always favored Malfoy and his gang but it’s been my cover. I’m not blind, I know Miss Granger has more brains than the whole Slitherin and Gryffindor Houses together but it would be idiocy to say that aloud when you don’t know who’s listening to you. Or when you know.” Harry nods in understanding but there are another questions he’d like to ask. All right, Snape won’t drown him in the lake!
“But why are you bullying Neville like that?! You know his parents are...” Snape’s face darkens suddenly, his jaws clench tight...
Flashback. Snape’s POV
Azkaban has always been a terrible place, especially with these Dementors prowling around... I’m sitting on the cold, stone floor, with my head pressed against my knees, trying to concentrate on some positive memory but it’s hard, so hard... The most terrible moments of my life are coming back. I see my mother beating me, the first time Aurors cursed me, myself killing Griffin, the Auror I tortured because I enjoyed it... Pain, death and destruction. I was arrested with a group of Death Eater recruits. I’ve framed them in and I know Professor Dumbledore will help me and this thought keeps me sane but how long? I’ve spent a week here already and have been listening to people yelling and then going silent, only raving in their sleep. I’ve never shrieked, at least not when I’m awake. I don’t break. Not yet. My blood doesn’t allow me to. My ancestors were bastards but not cowards.
Suddenly, I can hear other prisoners swearing. I know what it means. The Aurors are hauling new fodder for the Dementors. The girl, literally petrified with fear, must be younger than me... I’m 22. The Aurors are laughing at her, calling her names... “Dark Lord’s bitch” is the kindest... I’ve heard similar ones. I hate them. God, I HATE THEM!!! One of them halts in front of my cell. “Still sane, Snake?” – he hisses and the others jeer. Of course, Crouch’s mongrels... They think they are the law. I wonder how many of them would face me in an equal duel, one to one. The man pulls out his wand and points it at me. “Beg mercy, filth” – he commands. NEVER. I’ve been put through more terrible ordeals Frank. Do you think in your Gryffindor pride that only members of your House are brave? CRUCIO! Double curse, cast by two wizards at once... And they say Slitherins are cruel. No, it doesn’t depend on the House. People from all the Houses can turn good or evil. Even Gryffindors (though relatively rarely, to give them their due) may turn to the Dark Side, like Griffin. Of course, other Gryffindors don’t want to admit it. Frank, you’ve paid dearly for all you’ve done to me and to other prisoners. I swear, had I known these madmen were after you I’d have saved you and your wife in spite of all my hatred. Not for you, for Dumbledore. But I can’t forget. I will never forget. And they are wondering why I always give the Gryffindors a kick in the ass. I know your son is innocent, Frank, but I can’t help it when I see him, so similar to you. Dumbledore was talking to me about it several times and now Potter. I know I shouldn’t but I simply can’t help it. I still see you jeering, I hear people screaming, I can’t wipe your scathing words off my memory. I hate you still, Frank Longbottom.
End of flashback
“Professor?” Harry interrupts Snape’s musings.
“Well” – Snape decides not to tell the whole story – “let’s say Neville’s father worked very hard to make me rot in Azkban, even when Professor Dumbledore told him I were his spy.” Silence. It’s difficult for Harry to understand. He’s always believed that Aurors were OK but now... It’s obvious Snape had serious problems with Mr. Longbottom. Sirius said once that Crouch was as ruthless as Death Eaters. Sirius was thrown to Azkaban without a trial! Sirius... He must have said that aloud, because Snape suddenly stares at him, surprised.
“Missing him?” – he asks. Harry nods before he can stop himself. “I saw Pettigrew that night...” – Snape’s voice is very low now – “for all these years this rat was cheating us.”
“So you believe now Sirius and Remus are innocent?” A long minute of silence and finally:
“Yes.”
“Still wanting to bite their heads off?” It was rather insolent... Snape glances at Harry in such a way that the boy recoils.
“That’s my own business, got it, Mr. Potter?” Harry nods, not wanting to make Snape even more livid. “Do you think I hate your father and them only because of that idiotic joke? He wanted me to see me kissed by a Dementor though I risked my life for him! What do you think would the Lord do to me if he knew?! I’ve seen him killing traitors before and it still makes me sick! Your holy father! I was nothing but a piece of filth to him!” The coma made Snape talk more than he’d like to. Some healing potions make you rather talkative as a side effect. “Shouldn’t have said that.” – adds Snape with his usual voice, seeing Harry’s eyes wide with shock. “I know you love your father deeply but nobody is flawless, even Gryffindors.”
“I know” – Snape is surprised, hearing this whisper. “Pettigrew was in Gryffindor. I didn’t know my Dad was... unjust to you. And...” – he hesitates for a moment. “Sorry.” Snape, the Master of Scathing Remarks, is staring at the boy, speechless.
“Sorry?” – he asks finally.
“I... I have nightmares sometimes, with Voldemort. I’ve seen him... and you.” Snape’s black eyes widen in shock. Poor boy... “Now I know why Professor Dumbledore trusts you. Let them say whatever they want but you don’t deserve Azkaban.”
“The boy speaks like another Albus.” – thinks Snape. He’s more mature than he looks. He slowly puts his hand on Harry’s arm. Harry looks up at him, surprised.
“Come down to the dungeons, I’ll prepare some Dreamless Sleep Potion for you, all right?” The boy nods and they both return to the castle, both pondering over their conversation. There are so many things they don’t know about each other...
Meanings:
“Ignis” means “fire”
Naya is derived from Latin: “naja” (I just changed one letter because I think it sounds better) means “cobra”
“Tibi et igni” means “for you and fire” so “read and burn”...