So my choice is 'Or Death?' * = definition/explanation/etc at end of chapter
~ Do you like…bread? ~ = thoughts
Chapter 1
Fourteen years ago…
Flames of orange and red crested the black sky as the great manor built ages ago by Cadian Snape burnt. Those few wizards and witches that lived around only watched the fire for a moment before they closed their shutters and turned back to their lives.
The glowing green skull and serpent hovered above the house, showing all that could see it that Voldemort's Death Eaters had been on another raid and had killed again.
In the chaos of it all a young girl of six years of age stumbled away from the crackling flames. Tears turned her cheeks silver as she cried silently. She was the only survivor of the fire in Snape Manor, the only survivor of the murder. Her parents had been killed by one of the Death Eaters while she had hidden in her older brother's room. When the fire had started, she had fled. Even now she could hear the moving portraits screaming and the tinny shrieks of the house-elves.
She choked back a sob and gathered her blanket about her, sinking down into the grass. Then she heard a stick snap and looked up to see one last Death Eater standing there, not ten feet away from her. Scrambling to her feet, she ran for the forest, tears glistening as they flew about her face. Dark eyes wide and terrified, she looked back.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"NO!" shrieked a house-elf's tinny voice. "You shall not harm Miss Saerry!"
The girl turned at the sound of that voice and screamed in her own childish one, "Mabry, no!"
The Death Eater was frozen in the house-elf's grip, his mask falling off to reveal a face the young girl knew. She shrieked, "No! No NO NO!"
"Let go, worthless elf!" bellowed Lucius Malfoy, hood falling back to reveal his long blond hair.
"No!" yelled the house-elf Mabry. Though badly burnt, the little elf was protecting the young girl. She cried, "Run, Miss Saerry! Run!"
Saerry Snape, tears in her dark brown eyes, pulled her blanket tighter about her and turned to flee. At that exact moment, Mabry fell and Lucius was released. He turned cold, emotionless gray eyes on the fleeing figure of the girl and bent down to retrieve his wand. When he stood again, he aimed it at her back.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Saerry heard the sound of the curse and dove into the bushes, screaming as the curse flew overhead and struck a poor deer. She watched as it fell then heard Lucius' laughter, even after he had Apparated away. After a moment of lying on the ground, she sat up, pulling her now dusty blanket about her as she watched her home burn.
Tears welling up again in her eyes, she turned to the forest and began to walk forward.
* * * * * *
In front of the house an hour later, Severus Snape stood on the Manor's lawn, horror filling his black eyes.
His parents, his little sister, the house-elves. All gone. All – all dead.
His entire reason for living – gone. His father – he could have cared less for the man. But his mother and the light that was his angelic little sister…
No.
No tears. He was trying but he couldn't cry. His family was dead and he couldn't weep for them!
Severus' hands clenched, tightening until his fingernails broke through the skin of his palms and blood began to trickle down. Black eyes flashing with an otherworldly fury, he looked up at the dark sky and roared, "You'll pay for this Voldemort! If it takes my last breath, you will pay!"
* * * * * *
Three days later…
Severus Snape could barely believe his ears.
Voldemort was gone. Gone. And little Harry Potter had been the one to do it, when other wizards and witches could barely stand against the Dark Lord.
It filled him with a rage. A babe little more than a year old had vanquished Voldemort when so many more had tried and failed.
He had wanted to kill the bastard. His mother and sister were dead because of him, probably because of his true allegiances to Dumbledore. But why not just kill him? Why go after his family?
Severus smiled a cold smile, dark hair falling about his face.
He knew. Voldemort was a madman. And he knew that Severus wouldn't have given a damn if he'd been killed. So he went after what the young man cared about most.
His family.
"Damnit."
Severus ran his hands back through his hair, eyes gleaming with unshed tears. Even now he could not weep for them. And now he was alone. All alone…
* * * * * *
Fourteen years later…
A dark blur that almost faded into the darkness of the Forbidden Forest flashed through the trees, dodging this way and that around them. Its claws goughed the earth in deep grooves beneath it as it ran, panting hard. Behind it raced a tall, lean figure in a black cloak, its face hidden by a deep hood.
Suddenly a howl rang out from somewhere close and the hooded figure paused for a moment before continuing its chase.
Metal flashed in the light of the full moon as the dark figure pulled a short, silver dagger from the folds of its robes. It threw the blade at the creature it was chasing then fled into the deeper, darker, less traveled parts of the forest.
The dagger buried itself in the dark furred beast's side, causing the creature to let out a blood-curling howl. It stumbled then let out a whimper and fell.
Sometime later, a huge shape lumbered out of the dark, a lantern swinging in one large paw.
The shape was Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creature's teacher at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked solemnly down at the fallen beast, his dark eyes sad.
"Poor 'ting."
The half-giant knelt down and gently picked the dark-furred beast up, not caring that it was a werewolf and would have killed him were it not hurt. The beast let out a soft whimper then fell silent as Hagrid turned and headed back towards his cabin.
* * * * * *
A half-hour later, Hagrid sat back and wiped sweat off his brow. He had done his best to staunch the blood flowing from the wound in the werewolf's side but as soon as the creature changed back, he'd have to take it up to Madam Pomfrey. The blade had been silver but luckily not pure, so there was no need to fear for the creature's health. It just needed that hole patched up and it'd be as good as new.
The half-giant was very glad that he had one of Professor Snape's sleeping draughts on hand. If that beast had woken up, he might very well be dead and it loose on the grounds.
Hagrid sighed and gave a shake of his shaggy head before he turned toward the fire and began to fix a pot of tea. As he sat back in his chair to let it steam, he turned his head towards the sleeping werewolf. The flames in the fireplace glinted off something very nearly buried in its thick black fur and he frowned, pushed himself out of his chair.
Kneeling beside the bed, he reached out and brushed some fur away to see a worn copper medallion. The tarnished metal was emblazoned with a symbol: a wand and a sword crossed with a snake coiled about the middle, its angular head resting on the blade of the sword. There had appeared to be words below it at one time but they were long gone and could not be read.
The teakettle whistled and Hagrid hurried over to the fire, his mind worrying over the medallion as he poured the tea.
He had seen that symbol somewhere before.
Only he couldn't remember where.
* * * * * *
Severus Snape sat in his office working on deciding what the schedule for the upcoming year's classes would be.
After a few moments of writing his hand cramped and he leaned back in his chair, rubbing one hand over the other. Absently he noticed the silver ring on his right ring finger. On it was an image of a wand and a sword crossed with a snake coiled about the middle, its angular head resting on the blade of the sword. Below this were the words Nunquam praeoccupor morte, Usquequaque ut bellum obviam Obscurum *. It was the Snape family crest.
Sighing, he picked up his quill again and began to write.
* * * * * *
Hagrid watched the werewolf slumber peacefully for an hour, his mind racing back and forth, trying to figure out where he had seen that symbol before.
Then it came to him, like a bolt of lightning. Professor Snape wore a heavy silver ring with that symbol on it. Hagrid had asked him about it once and the dark professor had replied that it was his signet ring then stalked off towards the dungeons.
The half-giant turned his shaggy head turned the sleeping wolf, frowning. Could whoever this werewolf was be a relation? If so, surely the Potions Master would want to know.
He started to rise from his chair then froze as one of the werewolf's paws twitched. Slowly he eased back down into his chair as Fang let out a whine. Hagrid reached one large hand down to pat the boarhound's head, his eyes on the werewolf.
If he left now, the werewolf might wake and escape. And then Professor Snape might be rather furious for him letting something bearing the professor's family crest get away.
Hagrid sighed and looked out the window, figuring there was only an hour or two to go until sunrise. Then he would go and find Professor Snape.
* * * * * *
When the sun rose an hour and a half later, Hagrid had his crossbow in hand, just in case the werewolf woke up during its transformation. The jet-black fur of the beast was melting away, revealing porcelain skin beneath. The wolfish face warped, the long fang-filled snout sinking into the face and becoming an aristocratic nose and a dainty mouth with angel bow lips. The furry ears lost their point and slid down the slowly becoming human head, losing their fur and becoming rounded as they settled into their place. There were whimpers of pain during all of this but the werewolf did not wake.
Long, elegant fingers curled in pain as they formed from the huge paws, the dark claws shrinking and turning clear before they could dig into the soft palms. As the dark fur disappeared from its torso, Hagrid blushed bright red and grabbed a blanket, sliding it over her. One hind leg kicked out from under the soft material, lengthening out into a slim leg ending in a dainty foot as the dark fur vanished. Hagrid gently pushed the leg back up under the blanket.
The sun's first brilliant rays fell into the cabin in all their glory, illuminating the face of the woman. Her porcelain skin seemed to suck in the light, turning her face golden and strikingly beautiful in sleep. Long, dark lashes framed her closed eyes as she breathed deeply, a lock of dark hair streaked silver (not gray as the only other werewolf Hagrid knew) falling over her face.
Hagrid set the crossbow aside, staring at her. This woman was a Snape? Then again, he had once seen Arwen Snape when she had come to Hogwarts after Sirius Black had sent a much younger Severus Snape into the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack, where he would have met the full-grown werewolf form of one Remus Lupin had James Potter not stopped the other boy first. Arwen Snape had been a beautiful woman and if this young woman lying before him was her daughter…
Hagrid rose hurriedly to his feet. He looked at the slumbering woman for a long moment, then out his window towards the castle. If he hurried, he could tell Dumbledore about this and he could tell Snape. Yes. Yes, that would work.
The half-giant nodded to himself then bustled towards the door, telling Fang to stay there. As he pounded across the grounds towards the castle, Fang whimpered and took a few steps towards the woman. He nudged her with a cold, wet nose then began to lick her hand.
A pair of dark brown eyes opened slowly, blinking when they saw the big boarhound. Fang tilted his head to the side and made a questioning whimper. The woman smiled and reached out her now saliva covered hand to stroke the dog's ears.
"Hello, boy."
* * * * * *
Hagrid hurried through the castle, ignoring Professor Sprout's cheerful "Good Morning" as he made for the Headmaster's office. Barking the password to the gargoyle, he sprinted up the moving staircase and burst into the circular room.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
From the small observatory at the back of the office, the old wizard appeared, his long white beard tucked into his belt. His bright blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon glasses as they fell on the half-giant and he said, "Good morning, Hagrid. What seems to be the problem?"
"Something ye might want ter see, headmaster," replied Hagrid. "An' ye might want ter get Professor Snape too."
Dumbledore arched an eyebrow.
"Severus?"
"Yeh." Hagrid shifted from one foot to the other then said, "I'd better go make sure she's still 'ere." With that he was gone, disappearing down the staircase.
Dumbledore looked after him for a long moment then looked at the phoenix sitting on the golden perch behind his desk.
"It seems an interesting day begins, my friend."
The phoenix chirped in response and rustled his wings in agreement.
* * * * * *
Severus Snape was trying to decide what other immensely horrible things he could do to the Gryffindors in the upcoming year when there was a soft rap at his office door. He looked up, scowling at the heavy oak door and wondering who would be disturbing him.
"Enter," he said after a moment of pondering over to whether let whoever was outside in.
Dumbledore entered, smiling cheekily at the young man.
"Good morning, Severus. Lesson plans?" He moved around the desk and peered over the black clad shoulder, chuckling a little when he saw what the Potions Master was writing.
"Aren't you being a little harsh, Severus? Surely the Gryffindors don't deserve all of that in one year."
Severus scowled at the older wizard and earned a smile in return. Dumbledore patted the younger man on the shoulder and said, "Hagrid has something he wants me to see. He suggested you come along as well."
"Me? What would that big oaf want with me?" snapped Severus.
"I would not know," replied Dumbledore, not in the least bit put off by the man's manner. "Perhaps you will come with me and see?"
Severus grumbled something unsavory under his breath but set his quill aside and rose, stalking out of his office. Dumbledore followed him, taking a lemon drop from his sleeve and popping it in his mouth.
* * * * * *
Hagrid returned to his cabin and saw, to his surprise, that the woman was awake. To even more surprise, she was sitting outside his cabin, the blanket he'd draped over her wrapped about her torso with Fang's head in her lap. At his approach she looked up, her dark brown eyes flashing. Her lips drew back over her very white teeth in what could be determined as a snarl.
"Whoa," said Hagrid. "Easy there, lass. I'm na going ter hurt ye."
The woman narrowed her eyes at him then looked down at Fang. She bent down and whispered something in the dog's ear, which caused the animal to lift his head and let out a bark. Then she looked at Hagrid and spoke in a soft voice with a dangerous ring to it.
"So says Fang. But I don't trust humans."
"I hope we can change that, my dear," said Dumbledore as he appeared beside Hagrid, a disgruntled looking Severus behind him. "My name is Albus Dumbledore."
"Ah," said the woman. "The schoolmaster. I've heard of you."
"I do hope that whatever you heard was good."
The woman let out a laugh at that. Her dark eyes however did not reflect her laughter they fell on Dumbledore.
"I doubt you would enjoy it."
Severus suddenly twitched, staring at the woman. His black eyes widened as he studied her, thinking that he was wrong, that he was seeing things. Finally he gasped, "Saerry?"
The woman's head snapped towards him, her dark brown eyes flashing.
"What did you call me?" she growled.
"Saerry," gasped Severus, his heart pounding against his ribs. "You – you survived."
"I don't know what you're talking about," snapped the woman, her eyes flashing. But there was something in her eyes, a dawning realization.
But Severus wouldn't give up. This woman, she looked so much like his mother, who had been of an almost angelic beauty. That face, the angel bow lips, the aristocratic nose, those almond-shaped eyes so much like his own. How could it not be his sister? She would be…twenty now? Twenty-one in October.
"Saerry," he said again, taking a step forward and dropping to his knees. Hagrid made to grab him but Dumbledore placed a withered hand on the half-giant's arm. When Hagrid looked down at him, he shook his head, his eyes focused upon the woman and the kneeling professor.
The woman shook her head, eyes full of fear now.
"No," she said, her voice suddenly shrill. "I – I don't know you. I don't…" She whimpered and put her head in her hands. "I don't…"
Severus reached his arm towards her – his left arm – and she grabbed it. Almost as though she'd done it many times before, she slowly unbuttoned the end of his sleeve and began to roll it up. Hagrid blinked as he watched this. Snape generally never let anyone touch him besides Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey. Yet here he was letting this woman rolled up his sleeve on the arm where…
The woman let out a little sob when she had rolled Severus' sleeve up to his elbow. There, on his pale skin, lay the Dark Mark, glistening as black as his eyes – just as it had since Voldemort's return. Her elegant fingers reached out towards it, running over the scarred flesh. Then she looked up at him, tears in her dark brown eyes.
"Sev," she whispered and immediately threw herself into his arms. Severus looked shocked for a moment then he folded his arms about her, pulling the blanket up as it slid down her bare back. Hagrid looked on in shock while Dumbledore smiled serenely, pulling another lemon drop from his sleeve.
* * * * * *
"His sister?" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey. "But, Albus, all of Snape Manor burned. There were not any survivors!"
"Apparently the reports were wrong," stated Dumbledore, his fingers steepled. All of the professors (with the exception of the Potions Master) had been called to his office. There they had been informed of the arrival of Severus' younger sister. "For she is Saerry Snape."
"Are we certain?" said McGonagall, concern in her voice. She had known Arwen Snape well (they had been friends since their school years) and had taught one of her two children, both of whom she had been familiar with since they were born. "It could be an imposter."
Dumbledore shook his head.
"No, Minerva. Severus made sure of that. He asked her questions for a half-hour. She is young Saerry." He chuckled and stroked his beard as he continued, "What other soul would know Severus' own soul as well as she does?"
McGonagall smiled at that. What Dumbledore said was true. There were only three people that Severus Snape had opened his soul to and two of those three were long dead. The third had been thought dead as well and was now, in fact, alive and well.
"Is it true that she is a werewolf?" asked Professor Vector.
Remus Lupin looked up at that. Another werewolf?
Dumbledore smiled at the returning Defense professor then nodded in reply to the question. "Yes," he said, "she is."
"And living in the Forbidden Forest. The poor child…"
"There are packs in the Forest," said Lupin softly. He looked at Dumbledore and added, "Perhaps she was with them all this time, having no other place to go."
"But Snape Manor wasn't near the Forbidden Forest," argued Madam Pomfrey.
McGonagall shook her head and pointed out, "Yes, it was, Poppy. If I recall correctly, Arwen told me once that the forest out behind the Manor was the other half of the Forbidden Forest. The calmer half, she said."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very true, Minerva."
"What will she do now, Albus?" asked Madam Hooch.
"I presume that she will wish to learn what she never had a chance to learn," said Dumbledore. He looked at McGonagall and added, "Am I correct, Minerva? You knew those children much better than I did."
The Transfiguration professor smiled and said, "She will indeed wish to learn. I remember that she adored watching Severus perform spells after he graduated."
"But how?" asked Professor Sprout. "We couldn't possibly…"
"If she is as smart as Severus was," stated McGonagall with a smile, "which I do not doubt, she will be fine."
"Indeed," said Professor Sinistra, nodding slightly. "He was top of his class."
"Except in Transfiguration," mused Lupin, looking at McGonagall, who smiled at him.
"True, Remus," she said. Then she looked at Dumbledore and asked, "Where are they now?"
Dumbledore chuckled and replied, "To tell you the truth, Minerva, I have positively no idea."
"Albus!" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey, who had looked over Saerry the moment she'd been brought into the castle and was still worried about the young woman.
"I assure you they are fine, Poppy. Severus, I daresay, shall never again let his sister out of his sight."
"A truer thing had probably never been said, Albus," said McGonagall, earning a smile from the older wizard.
* * * * * *
"This is so – beautiful!" exclaimed Saerry as Severus threw open the large, heavy doors leading into the Great Hall. She stared about the huge room as she walked across it, her eyes drifting up to the enchanted ceiling, taking in the sunset that it showed. Turning about, she smiled cheekily at her older brother and said, "I see why you always loved coming here. The Manor was never this bright. Mother could never…" She trailed off suddenly, sadness in her eyes.
Severus strode forward and gently took her slim form into his arms. She buried her face in his neck as she used to when she was younger. Fourteen years in a forest could not change her reaction to his embrace.
"I still remember that night," she murmured into his ear. Severus nodded, stroking her long dark hair, fiddling with one strand of silver.
"I know," he said.
"He was there, you know."
"Who?" said Severus, pushing her back so he could see her face.
Saerry looked up at him in confusion and answered, "Lucy."
Severus almost laughed. He had forgotten his sister's nickname for Lucius Malfoy. But he didn't laugh.
"Lucius was there? The backstabbing bastard. Oh, nevermind, all the Malfoy's have been backstabbing bastards. Young Draco has yet to come into that trait."
"You didn't know?" gasped Saerry.
"Of course I didn't know!" declared Severus angrily. He let go of her and began to pace. "I never knew who had been involved in the attack. I just knew that Voldemort had ordered it! No wonder the blond buffoon was smirking behind my back for days after that."
"He thought he'd killed me."
Those words froze Severus in his pacing. He turned narrowed eyes on his sister, in which Saerry could see the beginnings of his temper raging. She could also see it in the almost unnoticeable squaring of his broad shoulders and the twitch in his wand hand.
"He – did – what?"
"He thought he'd killed me," repeated Saerry calmly. "He hit a deer instead."
"The son of a bitch! I'll kill him! I will cut out his heart and feed it to that damned three-headed dog!"
Saerry flung herself at her brother as he stalked angrily towards the entrance hall, grasping his arm. When his furious gaze turned upon her, madness gleaming brightly in his black eyes, she said, "No, Sev. Don't sink to his level. I know you're angry, but I'm alive, Sev. For all of his trying, I'm alive."
Severus looked down at her for a long moment, the longing to tear out Lucius Malfoy's heart gleaming in his eyes. Then it faded away but not without a fight. The Snape temper was legendary and generally when a Snape was angry, they did something about it.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, reaching up a hand to brush a lock of black hair out of her face. "I lost you once, little sister, and it tore me apart. I don't want to lose you again."
Saerry smiled and hugged him, burying her face in his shoulder as she felt his strong arms surround her slim frame. "You won't," she promised, causing Severus to smile and lay his cheek against her hair.
Outside the Hall, Remus Lupin was slack jawed. He had never known Severus to be anything like the man standing in the middle of the Great Hall, hugging the slim figure of his sister close. It was a surprise that the teenager who had traded insult for insult with Sirius had ever had such a heart.
But then again, had Remus ever really gotten to know him? ~ No, ~ thought the werewolf as he turned and walked as swiftly and silently as he could away from the Hall.
*Nunquam praeoccupor morte , Usquequaque ut bellum obviam Obscurum - Never to fall prey to Death, Always to war against the Darkness