Chapter 2
Albus pushed his way through the crowds, then jogged over to his friend who was sitting on a bench in the corner, surveying the action. Nerida Jane Snape, illegitimate daughter of Severus Snape's cousin Sam, didn't look very intriguing from afar. But when you got close, you were sure to be amazed. Her black hair, always in a long braid, shimmered in a way that has almost like water. She had sharp features and her eyes were dark pools, like chips of obsidian. She was tall for her age – but not quite as tall as Al – and had a well-built muscular figure under her green and black robes. She had been known to punch people who got on her nerves, and the fact that she was related to Severus Snape provoked much bullying and teasing from those older and stronger than her. Her chief tormenter was (guess who…) James Potter and his little band of bullies. She always tried to fight against them, but it's quite hard to combat 5 tough 6th years by yourself. Albus didn't know why his brother was never bothered by her – her punches hurt. A lot.
Albus sat down tentatively on the bench next to her, noticing the angry look on her face as she sat hunched over. "Uh, Nerri, you ok?" he said softly. She looked over and glared at him. He had felt that glare many times, the first time being when he was sat next to her in Potions class last year. She had expected more torment from him, of course, she saw him as a Potter, not a fellow victim of James' mean side.
"No. I hate parent's weekend. It's fucking stupid if you ask me," she grumbled. She was one of the few American kids in the school, and her accent and rough language had shocked everyone at first. Her mom, Julia, had fled to Detroit, USA, to avoid her family's shame after her boyfriend, Sam Snape, ran off and left her pregnant. Julia had always been very cold to her daughter. Nerri called it "looking-too-much-like-dad-syndrome."
"Um, is anyone coming for you? Your, uh, grandma or uncle or something?" Al winced, suddenly remembering who her uncle was. Her head snapped back away from him to look at the huge crowd.
"No, nobody's coming for me, douchedick. You really think my good ol' witch mommy would apparate all the way here just to see me? She's got her 'stuff,' remember? Anything to avoid seeing me. Speaking of avoiding me, shouldn't you be over there? With your family and Mister Perfect?" she spat.
Albus resisted the urge to ask if she meant his dad or James. When Nerri was in a mood like this, you don't mess with her. Ever. Al had learned that the hard way.
"Uh, no. The Weasleys are there, and mom's drooling over James, as per usual."
"Oh, the lovely carrot tops!" drawled Nerri, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Say hi to the bookish worm, lil Miss Ravenclaw, and the fat Snape hater for me! Oh, yeah, and the retard."
"Stop it!" Al said sharply. Nerri straightened up quickly, her face a perfect picture of surprise. Al had never talked back to her before. "You stop it right now! Aunt Hermione and Rose aren't weird, they're smart! Uncle Ron had good reason to dislike your uncle, and, in case you forgot, he helped save the wizarding world. And Hugo… he has autism, Nerida! One of the only disorders we don't have a spell for yet. And he didn't even come. Don't be nasty! Just because your mom doesn't care about you and your dad ran off doesn't mean you can make fun of my family!"
He saw her mouth shut with a snap, and she turned away from him. Albus deflated a little. "I-I'm sorry, Nerri, that was low, I didn't mean-"
"Oh, you meant it. Don't pretend you didn't," said Nerri softly. "It's true anyway." Albus realized she was sniffling. He shuffled closer, and put his arm around her. "You know what I got for parent's day? A letter. A damn letter. Look," she sniffed, and pulled an envelope out of her robe pocket. As Albus was reaching over to take it, a hand reached out and snatched the letter away. They both looked up to see James standing over them, holding the small white square of paper.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Snakes in love? Is this a mushy letter to your sweetheart?" James sang. "Al, the fam's all back there, so don't try to run and tattle. Also, that ruins the fun. Anyway, I'm only here for the miss. You do know what her dad did, right? Why are you even hanging out with Snapespawn?" He laughed at his own pun.
Nerri gritted her teeth and stood up. "For the last time, you pimply asshole, he was my uncle. I didn't even know him. Now give me back my letter!"
"Ooh, I'm sooooo scared," warbled James. "If you want it back, why don't you take it?" He stretched out his 6-foot frame to its limits, raising his arms so the letter was almost 3 feet above Nerri's head, well beyond her reach.
"Fine, be that way." She muttered. She kicked his shin, and when that didn't work, she kicked him in the balls. James crumpled like a rag doll, and let go of the letter to hold his midsection and roll on the floor, groaning. Nerri grabbed the envelope and stood above the big 6th year, surveying her handiwork. By that time, the sight of Gryffindor's finest moaning on the ground with his younger brother and the boy's Snape friend standing over him had drawn quite a crowd, and at the front of the group was the Weasley/Potter clan, all wearing horrified expressions.
"SHE'S CURSED HIM!" screeched Ginny, clapping a hand over her mouth, as she ran over to her elder son and dragged him closer to the center of the room before kneeling beside him, wailing. Harry and Hermione just looked shocked, but Ron's face was a red mask of complete and utter fury.
"You-you-you-" sputtered Ron, pointing at a confused Nerri, "Like father, like daughter! She's cursed him, Gin's right! She probably wants revenge!"
"What the hell are you talking about? He's not even my-" Nerri started to say.
"SHUT UP!" yelled Ron, and barreled towards the shocked girl. Harry barely had time to grab his friend and hold him back, calling out "Ron, stop it Ron, she's just a kid, she's a kid, come on man, there's a reasonable explanation for this, I'm sure, come on, Ron-"
But while Harry Potter maybe could have held Ron Weasley back 20 years ago, Ron was much bigger now and Harry wasn't as young as he used to be. Albus's uncle broke free of Harry's grasp, and ran at Nerri, who was still standing, shocked at the commotion. Albus shouted and tried to pull her away, but Ron knocked the girl to the ground and was able to land a punch on her jaw before his brother Bill was able to grab him. Bill was even larger than Ron, and solid muscle. He dragged his brother back away from the crumpled form of Nerida Snape. Albus ran to his friend, who lay unconscious on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. The new nurse, Madam Richley, appeared suddenly from where she had been standing on the side of the Hall, and was levitated the poor girl and began walking quickly towards the hospital wing, Nerri in tow. Albus tried to follow, but his father put a hand on his shoulder and kept him back. "She'll be fine, Al." he said.
"WAIT!" yelled Ginny. The nurse paused and looked back at the hysterical woman crouching over the still-groaning boy. "WHAT ABOUT MY SON? SHE CURSED HIM!"
Albus was tired of that. "She didn't curse him!" He shouted at his mother. "Nerri wouldn't do that! She kicked him in the balls because he stole her letter and was being awful like he always is! He's constantly being mean to Nerri and me because her dad is Severus Snape! AND HE ISNT EVEN HER DAD!"
With that, Albus took off out of the hall, leaving almost three thousand shocked faces behind him. He heard footsteps behind him, but he didn't stop running until he reached the courtyard. He heard his dad come up behind him, puffing. "Al," he said quietly, after catching his breath. "Is that true? Your brother teases you and, ah, Nerri? He's a bully?"
Albus nodded, his throat too tight to speak. "Ha," Harry muttered. "Just like the first James."
"Will she be ok? Nerri, I mean?" Albus whispered, ashamed. He was sobbing like a five year old! He was 14, for God's sake. Al coughed and tried again. "Um, will Nerri be alright? It-it looked-"
"Yeah, I know. Nerri will be totally fine. Ron on the other hand…" Harry ran his fingers through his hair. "Ron was way out of line. Actually, 'out of line' doesn't even come close. I tried, but…God. Ron will most certainly be kicked out of parent's weekend, and he may face a trial, if Nerri presses charges. This is so severe that Ron could go to Azkaban. And it's a million times worse since he's the Great Ronald Weasley and she's Snape's blood. Christ."
"Nerri won't. Press charges, I mean. She-she's not like that." mumbled Albus. "Can I see her?"
"Let's head down to the hospital wing and see."
"Um, could I go alone?" asked Albus, looking at the floor. Harry looked a little surprised, but he nodded. "One more thing Al," he said. "Your mum, I'm sorry about-" "It's fine." Al cut him off. "I'm gonna go now, ok?" He turned and strided back towards the hospital wing without waiting for an answer.