Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, references, etc. belong to the goddess J. K. Rowling.  My limit of ownership is Marie Daladier, Etienne Daladier, Septimius Snape, and Severus' past here.  I do not own Severus himself.  Now that we have that behind us…

Brother Mine

by Saerry Snape

"Severus!  Boy!"

A tall, gangly, rail-thin boy took the steps down a staircase carpeted in green two at a time, pausing at the center to look down at his father.  Shoulder-length black hair was drawn back into a ponytail and intelligent black eyes looked down into angry one's of the same shade.

"Yes, Father?"

"Don't speak to me in that tone, boy!" snapped Septimius Snape.  "Go tell the house-elves to ready the room across from yours.  We will have company soon."

"Yes, Father."

The thirteen-year-old continued down the staircase, turning and walking around it towards the kitchens as he reached the bottom.  Septimius yelled after him, "And make it quick, boy!  Or it's the whip-lash for you!"

"Yes, Father," said the teen again, opening the kitchen door and entering.  As he closed it, he hissed softly, "As if I've not been whipped before."

"Master Severus!" cried a voice at his knee suddenly.

Severus Snape looked down and saw the house-elf at his knee.  The tiny elf was dressed in what appeared to be a flour sack and was looking up at him with wide, frightened blue eyes.

He smiled and knelt down beside the shaking elf, placing a fine-boned hand on her head.

"It's alright, Ossy."

"I – I heard Master Septimius talking about the – the whip-lash!"  The elf's eyes widened further as she continued, "Is he going to use it on Master Severus?"

"Undoubtedly," said Severus in a bland tone.

"Oh, Master Severus!  I does not want Master Septimius to use the whip-lash on you!"  The elf hugged his knee and Severus smiled slightly, patting her thin body.

"I know, Ossy.  But now that – that Mum's not here anymore, he can do whatever he wants to me."

"Oh, Master Severus!"

"Shh, Ossy," warned Severus, glancing over his shoulder at the door.  "He wants you to fix up the room across from mine.  The Gray Room.  Someone's coming to visit us."

Ossy nodded at the order, her ears flopping slightly.

"Yes, Master Severus.  The Gray Room.  You does not know who is coming?"

Severus shook his head and the elf sighed, closing her eyes.

"I wish Mistress were still here."

The black eyes hardened and the thin lips twisted into a frown.

"Don't we all, Ossy," growled Severus.  "Don't we all."

*~*~*~*~*

Later, Septimius stormed into his son's room to find the teen sitting on his bed reading a book.  He strode forward, slapped the book out of Severus' hands, then grabbed the teen by his shirt and threw him onto the floor.

"Get something good on, idiot.  Not that Mudblood mess.  I ought to burn every piece of it."

"Then why don't you?" snapped Severus, pushing himself up to a half-sitting position and glaring venomously at the excuse for a wizard that was his father.  "Go ahead!  Or are you afraid – afraid that Mother placed charms on them against such a thing?"

Septimius' eyes blazed and he punched the teen across the jaw, sending him sprawling.

"Get dressed and downstairs in five minutes," he snapped, "or suffer the consequences."

With that he strode out, leaving Severus alone in his room.

The teen slowly pulled himself up into a crouch.  When he lifted his head to glare at the door, blood dripped from his nose and lip.  He wiped his arm across his face then rose and headed for the bathroom to clean himself up.

*~*~*~*~*

Two minutes later, Severus was downstairs, leaning against the banister of the staircase.  He was dressed in a pair of black dress pants, a forest green shirt that looked like it'd come from the Dark Ages, and black knee-boots.  When Septimius appeared, he sneered at his son's attire but said nothing.  He himself was dressed in his second-best dress robe, which caused Severus to arch an eyebrow.   Not many people could get his father into any of his good dress robes.

They stood in silence until the manor doors opened and a woman entered.  She was tall and willowy with white-blond hair and warm green eyes.  Her thin figure was clothed in flowing white robes that were trimmed in gold.

"Septimius," she said as she entered and walked towards him.  Severus pushed himself away from the banister as she did so.

This was a well-taught woman – a woman from a pureblood family.  It was obvious from the graceful strides she took that this was so.  She was beautiful too.  But then again, Severus' mother had been all those things too.  And his father had never loved her.

"Marie," purred Septimius, taking the woman's hand in his own and kissing it.  His dark eyes drank her figure in as he said, "Welcome to Ashdeir Fierion."

"It is a lovely house," said the woman – Marie.  "Just as you said in your letters."

Letters? thought Severus.  His mother was naught three days dead and his father brought this woman into the house?  She was quite obviously his mistress, his way to ease himself when Shalay Snape had become ill.

Or perhaps from before then.

The woman then turned and beckoned at someone standing outside the doors on the steps.  A ten-year-old boy entered, his hair the same white-blond as this Marie's but his eyes – oh, his eyes spoke wonders.  They told exactly who he was.

The eyes looked at Severus, who scowled immediately.  Those eyes were as dark as his.  His father's eyes.

This boy, this intruder in the house that had been his for the three years since he'd begun his schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was his half-brother.

"Tien," said Marie, stretching her hand out towards him, "this is your father.  Septimius, this is Etienne, our son."

Septimius looked at the boy with pride in his eyes and Severus laughed bitterly inside.  Oh if this boy only knew what this demon in a man's skin really was!

"Hello, sir," said the boy, bowing slightly.

"Please," said Septimius, "called me Father."

The boy looked at little uncomfortable at that but hid it well.  He nodded and said, "Yes, Father."

"Good.  Severus!"

"Yes, Father?" said Severus, placing one booted foot on the step below the one he stood on.  Marie looked at him then at Septimius.

"This is…?"

"My late wife's.  Severus, this is Marie.  She will be staying with us for a while."

"A pleasure to have you in our home," said Severus, bowing slightly to her.  Merlin's beard, if he could have spat in his father's face without getting beaten, he would have.  To bring this woman in the house his mother had made her own!  It upset the very wards of the place!  Shalay Hart-Snape had been a gifted witch.  She had been a Parselmouth, a thing kept secret except from her son, who she had taught to understand some of the language before her death but had not had a chance to teach him how to speak it.  And she had had a gift to "talk" to things.  Spells cast ages before that had long since dulled into their potency leapt back to life when she touched what they had been cast on.  The wards had listened to her voice and responded.  God knew Severus had heard the effects of that several times when she had not been as bed-ridden as she'd been in her last days.  He had heard a sound like a thunderclap and then his father had been thrown out of her bedroom.  And Shalay had been sitting in her bed, gray eyes blazing with a fire that had eventually been beaten out of them, not the cause of this occurrence.  How he missed her…

Marie smiled at him.  And now this woman was here, here to take his mother's place.  Slytherin help her if she tried anything.  Either the wards or Severus would get her.  He could scare her out of the house by force if he wished.  Ten years in an orphanage in Knockturn Alley did not teach a child nothing.  And the wards – who knew what the wards would do?  They responded to no one but his mother anymore.  And she was dead now.

"Severus, take young Etienne up to his room," ordered Septimius, making it sound kind.  But Severus heard the threat behind it.

He nodded and looked down at the boy, who was watching him.

"Come," he said simply, turning and heading up the stairs.  Etienne looked once at his mother then followed.

"You have a very handsome son, Timius," said Marie after the two boys had vanished upstairs.

"His mother, I assure you," purred Septimius.  "Enough of the boy.  Come, my beauty.  I have missed you."

"And I you," said Marie, smiling.  "Shall we find some secluded corner?"

"I can do better."

"Really, my love?  How so?"

"My bed."

"Oh," purred Marie as he wrapped an arm about her and she leaned into his embrace.  "It sounds – delicious."

*~*~*~*~*

"Severus?  Severus, wait up!"

Severus paused and watched at the boy ran up to him, black eyes wide.  And innocent.  Gods, for innocence.  Severus hadn't seen innocence in his own eyes since he was four.

"Don't walk so fast," breathed Etienne as he stopped in front of the older boy.

"Hmm," said Severus.  "Come on.  The house-elves should have your room ready by now."  He began walking again and Etienne walked beside him.

"I have my own room?"

Severus looked at the boy in surprise and said, "Where did you live before this?"

"France," replied Etienne, lifting his chin proudly.  "Mother's from an old family.  We were living in a Muggle apartment.  With another family.  I was stuck with three girls."

"You'll find many pureblood families are from old families," said Severus scathingly.

Etienne looked up at him in surprise then snapped, "Well, you don't have to be so cold about it."

Severus stopped walking and turned to face the younger boy completely.  Etienne took a step back as he leaned down so that their noses almost touched.

"Look here.  This is not as grand a place as it looks.  There may be silver on the tables and gold on the walls, but Merlin knows that it's an illusion to cover the deeds done here over the centuries."  He jerked his head in the direction that they'd come and added, "Most to cover his."

"Father?"

"That is not a father to love," said Severus sharply.  "Never love him.  I guarantee you will never get anything in return.  He only loves himself."

"He loves my mother," said Etienne.

Severus laughed harshly.

"Oh, he loved mine too.  For the first few months.  I sometimes think he just chose her because of her beauty.  She was a beautiful woman, my mother.  It didn't save her from him in the end."

"He killed her?" gasped Etienne, eyes wide.

"Not he himself," said Severus, starting to walk again.  "Its what he did to her that brought about her death.  He beat her, you know.  Beat her until she was lying abed, waiting to die."

"You…you don't think he'd do that to my mother, do you?"

"He's a demon.  I don't know what he'll do.  And a Gryffindor!  Slytherin knows how…"

"A Gryffindor?"

"You know the Hogwarts Houses?" said Severus as they went up a small flight of stairs.

"Of course.  Mother made sure I learned them.  She went there and wants me to go."

"Hmm.  Yes, well, here we are."  Severus opened the door wide to the room, which had been dusted and cleaned furiously by the house-elves not an hour before.  "The Gray Room.  I'm still not sure why.  There's not a patch of gray in the entire room."

"The ceiling," breathed Etienne as he entered the room.

Severus looked up and there, on the ceiling, was a mural of a tossing sea, its waves all done in gray.

"Ah.  So that's why."

"You've never looked up?" said Etienne as he walked over to the bed and ran his fingers over the blood red cover.

"I found no reason to.  All I ever came in here for was to raid the bookshelves.  Good day."

As he began to close the door, Etienne cried, "Wait!"

Severus paused, door half closed, his body almost fleeing for the comfort of his room across the hall.  What little comfort it gave, that is.

He leaned back in slightly and eyed the younger boy.

"What is it?"

"Where is your room, Severus?  Maybe…maybe I can talk to you.  Sometime."

Severus looked at him for a moment then said, "Across the hall.  You may knock and ask to talk.  I won't guarantee I'll answer."

"Oh," said Etienne.  "Okay."

Severus looked at the younger boy, his newly discovered half-brother, saw the drooped shoulders, the sad posture – and sighed.

"Etienne."

The ten-year-old looked up in surprise.  It was the first time his half-brother had called him by his name.

"Severus?"

"I'll try to answer if you knock.  If I don't, just go back in your room and say the name Ossy.  She's one of the house-elves – the eldest of them – and came with my mother when she married my – our father.  I'll tell her to talk to you if you wish.  She listens well and if you get her going, you can have a conversation for hours."

"Okay," said Etienne with a smile.

Severus nodded and started to close the door again when Etienne said, "Severus."

The door opened a little again and Severus poked his head in.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Severus looked at him for a moment then said, "Your welcome."

*~*~*~*~*

Four weeks later…

"Sev, where are you going?"

Severus looked up at his door opened and Etienne slipped in.

"Shut the door!" he hissed, eyes blazing.  As it clicked, he added, "Quietly!"

Etienne, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, turned to study his half-brother.  His dark eyes flicked from the almost stripped room, to the broomstick in his brother's hand, to the trunk he was lashing to it.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

Severus sighed and stopped tying his trunk to his broomstick, closing his eyes.  When he opened them, he looked at the younger boy.

"I'm going to Hogwarts, Eti."

"Hogwarts?  But Father…"

"That man can died for all I care," snarled Severus venomously.

"Sev!"

"He as good as killed my mother, Eti.  And while he was married to her, he was with your mother!"

Etienne stared at him for a moment then ducked his head, looking at his feet.

"You hate me," he said, shuffling his feet.

Severus looked shocked at this and moved towards the younger boy.  He knelt in front of him, placing one hand on his shoulder.

"I don't hate you, Eti.  I just wish your mother had never come here.  She may have just signed her own death warrant and yours.  If you can – if you can, tell her to get out of here.  I spent my first ten years in Knockturn Alley.  My mother was already half-dead by the time my "father" took me back in.  Save yours before it's too late for her too."

Etienne nodded slowly then softly said, "Your not coming back, are you, Sev?"

Severus shook his head.

"Hogwarts is more my home than this place.  I – I've got people there; people who care for me."

"I care for you!"

Severus smiled and ruffled the white-blond hair on his half-brother's head.

"I know you do, Eti.  So do I.  Even thought we've just know each other for four weeks, I feel like I've known you forever."

"Me too," said Etienne.

"But…"

"You have to go."

Severus nodded and was surprised when Etienne leapt upon him and hugged him tightly.  The younger boy buried his face against his half-brother's neck and whispered, "I don't want you to go, Sev."

Severus hugged the small body tenavely and whispered back, "I know."  He gently pushed Etienne back and continued, "But I've got to.  Hogwarts is the only real place I belong.  You understand, don't you?"

"Will I see you again?"

Severus shrugged slightly and sighed.

"I don't know.  I suppose…I suppose only time can tell on things like that.  I hope we do.  I only have one brother after all!"

Etienne smiled and said, "Me too."

"Heh," said Severus, rising to his feet and ruffling the blond hair again.  He then strode back over to his trunk and broom and gave the cords one last tug.  Grabbing the cloak that was lying on his bed, he slung it on, trapping the ends together with a pin in the shape of a silver serpent.

As he got ready to sling his leg over his broom, Etienne suddenly ran to him and threw his arms about him again.  Severus returned the hug then pushed him back gently.  He started for the broom again then seemed to think better of it.  Turning back to his younger brother, he pulled at something about his neck – a chain.  He released the clasp then knelt in front of Etienne, putting the chain about his neck and clasping it.

Etienne looked down at it as Severus stood, his fingers moving up to trace the silver medallion hanging from the chain.

"It's a raven," said Severus softly.  "My mother always told me that she was a distant descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw herself.  That was hers – her good luck charm she said."  He frowned, eyes troubled as he said, almost to himself, "Though little good it did her."

Etienne touched his brother's arm worriedly and Severus gave a little shake, smiling down at him.

"Sorry.  I want you to have it."

"Sev, I couldn't…"

"You can, Eti, and you will.  My mother gave me that just before she left this world for the next and now I'm giving it to you.  Guard it with your life.  That's a family heirloom of the Hart's that you're wearing."

Etienne's eyes widened and he tucked the medallion and chain inside his shirt.  He patted it and said, "I'll take good care of it, Sev."

"Good," said Severus, squeezing the boy's shoulder.  "And keep an eye on Ossy.  She'll be sad that I'm gone.  Keep her company, okay?"

"I will.  Bye, Sev."

"Never say goodbye, Eti," said Severus with a sad smile.  "My mother always said you should never say goodbye to someone unless you know in your heart that you're never going to see them again."

"So what do you say?"

"She never said," answered Severus with a smile.  "Let's just not say anything.  Just promise each other that nothing we hear about the other, be it bad or good, we'll never believe unless we know its truth."

"Okay.  I swear."

"Me too."

The two grasped hands, hugged again, then Severus leapt on his broom and out the window.  Etienne moved to the window seat and sat on it, his left hand reaching under his shirt to rub the raven medallion as he watched the dark figure that was his half-brother disappear into the night.

*~*~*~*~*

Severus landed on the Hogwarts lawn a good many hours later and began to drag his broom and trunk up the steps.  He was nearly dead on his feet and could barely keep his eyes open.  Only sheer determination to get inside the castle and be safe and warm in his dormitory before his so-called father discovered his absence and figured out where he was kept him going.

He found the doors locked when he reached them and cursed.  Lifting a hand, he began to bang on them as loudly as he could.  Just as they opened, exhaustion took him completely and he collapsed.

Right into Headmaster Dumbledore's arms.

*~*~*~*~*

"Is he okay?"

Molly Bannon-Weasley looked at Lily Evans, who was standing beside her.  The third year Gryffindor had ran to the Hospital Wing as soon as she'd heard the rumor that Severus Snape had flown his broomstick to Hogwarts from the Snape's home in Ireland.  Molly could only imagine that flight.

"He's just exhausted," said Molly, brushing a hair off of Severus' face.

Indeed he was exhausted.  So much that he had not even twitched when Madam Pomfrey had examined him.

"So he'll be okay in the morning?"

"He'll be okay by tomorrow, Lily, dear."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course!" said Molly, looking scandalized.  "You doubt me?"

"No!" said Lily.  "I just…"

"Miss Evans!  If you would please head back to your dormitory and get some sleep so my patient may…"

Lily nodded and said meekly, "Of course, Madam Pomfrey."  She then looked at Molly and hissed, "Come get me when he wakes up."

Molly nodded then began to shoo her out.

"I will.  Now out, girl, out.  Before the dragon comes out of her lair."

"I heard that, Molly Weasley."

Molly snorted, causing Lily to laugh.  The older witch pushed the girl out into the hall and said, "Bed.  I'll come get you whenever Severus wakes up.  Or tell him to find you himself."

"Okay.  Thanks, Molly.  Good night."

"Good night, Lily."

*~*~*~*~*

"Mmm."

It was warm.  Severus rolled over, pillowing his head on his arm.  Warmth was good…

"Severus.  Sevi, little Sevi.  Little almond-eyed boy…"

That voice was familiar…

"Little Sevi.  Wake up, Sevi, or I shall begin tickling you."

Hmm, that was a threat.  He should wake up.  But it was so warm…

"Alright, you asked for it."

"Oh!"

Severus Snape sat up bolt right in the hospital bed and snapped, "Molly!"

"What?" said the twenty-four-year-old mediwitch in training.

"That was evil."

"I am a Slytherin, Sevi, dear."

"Please don't call me that."

"Dear?"

"Sevi," growled Severus.

"Lily calls you Sev."

"I let her."

"Aw…"

"Shut up," growled Severus with a glare.

"Aw…" said Molly again just to annoy him.

Severus grumbled something under his breath and threw the blankets back.  When he felt a shock of cold air, he looked down to see he was only clad in his boxers.

"Where are my clothes?"

"Right here," said Molly, picking them up and waving them at him.  "We washed them."

"Thanks," growled Severus, snatching them.

"Someone's in a bad mood."

Severus glared at her as he tugged his shirt over his head then sighed as he grabbed his blue jeans and slid off the bed.  "I'm sorry, Molly," he said as he shoved one leg into them.  "I had a rough night."

"Now your too young to be having rough nights, Severus."

Severus glared at her as he shoved his other leg into the jeans and pulled them up.

"Not that sort of bad night!  Merlin's beard!"

"So what?"

"I had to say goodbye to my half-brother."

Molly's eyebrows arched.

"You have a half-brother?"

Severus nodded.

"Since when?"

"Four weeks ago."

"Long story, I suppose?"

"I'll tell you about it sometime."

"I'll remember you said that.  And Lily's looking for you.  I told her I'd tell you to seek her out when you woke up."

"Thanks," said Severus.  "Where's my trunk?"

"Your dorm," replied Molly, readjusting the covers on the bed with her wand and handing Severus his boots and socks at the same time.  "You'll probably want those."

"Yeah."  He leaned against the bed frame and pulled his socks on hurriedly then shoved his feet into the boots.

"I'll see you later, Molly.  Say hi to Bill and Charlie for me."

"You can say 'hi' to them yourself.  Arthur's bringing them at lunch.  We're having a picnic on the ground."

"How romantic."

"You can come."

"No thanks.  By my calculations, Lily will want to talk my ear off all day."

Molly chuckled and patted his shoulder as he moved past her towards the door.

"Poor baby."

"Sod off."

Molly only laughed as Severus stalked out of the hospital wing.

*~*~*~*~*

Twenty-five  years later…

A cloaked figure stood on a hill looking down upon the lit premises' of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Shoulder-length white-blond hair was blown about their face by the wind as their eyes focused on the school.

Eyes as black as the night itself.

Those eyes were cold, unfeeling, even cruel perhaps.

A smirk crossed the pale features.

The figure's right hand snaked up to their neck and pulled a medallion out from under their shirt.  A silver raven flickered in the dim lights that fell upon the figure from the school.

"I've returned, brother mine," said the figure.

A/N: A ficlet written for fun really.  But there's something that'll be written more on soon.  You'll see what eventually.  ^_^