Author's Note: Okay, First Real Chapter. For now, it is very much following the sixth HP book, to establish the story a bit. Hope it's not too bad.
Disclaimer - I Do Not Own Harry Potter, Imagine The Fun If I Did.
Broken Frames
Chapter One - The Sisters
Her almond shaped emerald green eyes stared out of her dirty window, as Sariah Eileen Snape surveyed her surroundings. It was silent in the town of Cokeworth where she lived during the holidays with her father. Her eyes flickered, seeing a flash of green light, and she leapt to her feet, drawing her heavy black cloak around her body and letting out an involuntary shiver.
"Daddy, we're expecting guests," she said upon exiting her bedroom, and spying her father leaving the bathroom opposite. He inclined his head, and she nodded, a silent communication going on between the two Snapes. Severus beckoned to his daughter and they walked downstairs, hearing a knock upon the door. Sariah went into the sitting room, as her father answered the door and let two familiar women into the house, and into the sitting room.
The rich black leather of the books covering the walls of the sitting room sifted into Sariah's nose and she plucked one from the shelves, curling up on her armchair that sat opposite her father's between a rickety table. One of the witches threw off her cloak, and sat down, her hands white and trembling in her lap. This sister was Narcissa Malfoy, someone Sariah knew well from her friendship with Narcissa's son.
The other sister was Bellatrix Lestrange, who lowered her hood much slowly, giving Sariah a look of distaste and settling into a standing position behind Narcissa on the lounge. "So, what can I do for you?" Severus asked, as he settled himself down upon his armchair.
Bellatrix's eyes flickered to Sariah, who gazed up above her book with her own emerald ones, giving the elder witch a sneer. "My daughter stays, you know the Dark Lord trusts her as He trusts me," said Severus.
"We… we are alone, aren't we?" Narcissa asked quietly.
"Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail's here, but we're not counting vermin, are we?"
Her father pointed his wand at the wall of books where the one in her hands had come from, and with a bang, a hidden door flew open and revealed a narrow staircase upon which Wormtail stood frozen.
"As you have clearly realized, Wormtail, Riah and I have guests," said Severus lazily.
Wormtail crept into the room, and Sariah wrinkled her nose with distaste. She disliked the man severely… he occupied the bedroom down the hall from her own and he creeped her out.
"Narcissa!" said the mouse-like man in his squeaky voice. "And Bellatri! How charming –"
"Wormtail will get us drinks, if you'd like them," said Severus. "And then he will return to his bedroom." Wormtail winced.
"I am not your servant!" he squeaked, avoiding Severus's eye and finding Sariah's.
"Really? I was under the impression that the Dark Lord placed you here to assist my father," she said in a snake-like voice, lowering her book into her lap very slowly.
"To assist, yes – but not to make your drinks – and clean the house!"
"I had no idea," said Sariah in a silky voice, "that you were craving more dangerous assignments. But as the Dark Lord said, you are here to assist and I will not be spoken to the way you are speaking to me, Peter!"
Severus sneered. "More dangerous assignments can be easily arranged: I shall speak to the Dark Lord –"
"I can speak to him myself if I want to!"
"Of course you can. But in the meantime, bring us drinks. Some of the elf-made wine will do, and a butterbeer for Riah. And if you ever speak to my Sariah like that again, I will personally be in touch with the Dark Lord about you," said Severus, his voice deadly.
Wormtail hesitated, before turning and heading through another hidden door. There was banging and clinking of glasses, before he returned within seconds bearing a dusty bottle, three glasses and a smaller bottle of butterbear for Sariah. He dropped them upon the rickety table, and scurried off.
Severus poured out three glasses of the bloodred wine, and handed two of them to the sisters, before handing his daughter her bottle. Narcissa murmured a word of thanks, whilst Bellatrix remained silent, glowering at Severus, who looked amused.
"The Dark Lord," he said, raising his glass and draining it. Sariah wrinkled her nose at that, taking a measured sip of her drink.
Narcissa and Bellatrix copied Severus, and then as he refilled their drinks, and Narcissa's rose to her lips, she said in a rush, "Severus, I'm sorry to come here like this, but I had to see you. I think you are the only one who can help me –"
Severus held up a hand to silence Narcissa, pointing his wand at the concealed staircase. There was a bang and a squeal, followed by the sound of scurrying as Wormtail retreated to his bedroom.
"My apologies," said Severus. "He has lately taken to listening at doors, I don't know what he means by it… You were saying, Narcissa?" The woman took a breath and started again.
"Severus, I know I ought not to be here, I have been told not to say nothing to anyone, but –"
"Then you ought to hold your tongue!" snarled Bellatrix. "Particularly in present company!"
"'Present company'?" repeated Severus sardonically. "And what am I to understand by that, Bellatrix?"
"That I don't trust you, Snape, as you very well know! And the same of your daughter!"
Narcissa let out a dry sob, covering her face with her hands. Severus set his glass down, and sat back, his hands upon the arms of his chair, smiling into Bellatrix's glowering face. He nodded at Sariah.
"Mrs Malfoy, I think we ought to hear what Mrs Lestrange is bursting to say; it will save tedious interruptions. Well, continue, Mrs Lestrange," said Sariah in a silky voice. "Why is it that you do not trust a Snape?"
"A hundred reasons!" she said loudly, striding out from behind the sofa to slam her glass upon the table. "Where to start! Where was Snape when the Dark Lord fell? Why did you never make any attempt to find him when he vanished? What have you been doing all these years that you've lived in Dumbledore's pocket? Why did you stop the Dark Lord procuring the Philosopher's Stone? Why did you not return at once when the Dark Lord was reborn? Where were you a few weeks ago when we battled to retrieve the prophecy for the Dark Lord, your daughter leading us? Why does your daughter look so much like that snivelling Potter brat? And why, both of you Snapes, is Harry Potter still alive, when you have had him at your mercy for five years?"
Bellatrix paused, her chest rising and falling rapidly, the colour high in her cheeks. Severus smiled, nodding again at his daughter. He was allowing her opportunity to show her own power within the ranks, starting with dear Bellatrix Black Lestrange.
Sariah smirked.
"Before I answer you – oh yes, Mrs Lestrange, I am going to answer! You can carry my words, and my father's words back to the others who whisper behind our backs, and carry false tales of my father's treachery and my parentage to the Dark Lord! Before I answer you, I say, let me ask a question in turn. Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked my father each and every one of those questions? As for why I look so much like Harry Potter, do you not remember my parentage leaking out after the end of last year with the Daily Prophet's meddling after I told Potter myself that night in the Ministry? The blood that runs in these veins is shared by that boy. And do you really think that, had my father and I been able to give satisfactory answers, that we would be sitting here talking to you?"
Bellatrix hesitated.
"I know he believes in you, but…"
"You think he is mistaken? Or that I have somehow hoodwinked him? Fooled the Dark Lord, the greatest wizard, the most accomplished Legilimens the world has ever seen besides my own daughter?" snapped Severus.
Bellatrix said nothing, and Severus did not press the point. He lifted his drink into his hands once more, sipping it and continuing where his daughter had left off, "You ask where I was when the Dark Lord fell. I was where he had ordered me to be, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because he wished me to spy upon Albus Dumbledore, and allowed me enough room to watch my daughter grow into a powerful witch. You know, I presume, that it was on the Dark Lord's orders that I took up the post?"
The dark witch nodded almost imperceptibly, then opened her mouth, but Severus forestalled her.
"You ask why I did not attempt to find him when he vanished. For the same reason that Avery, Yaxley, the Carrows, Greyback, Lucius" – Severus inclined his head slightly to Narcissa – "and many others did not attempt to find him. I believed him finished. I am not proud of it, I was wrong, but there is… If he had not forgiven we who lost faith at that time, he would have few followers left."
"He'd have me!" said Bellatrix passionately. "I, who spent many years in Azkaban for him!"
"Yes, indeed, most admirable," said Severus in a bored voice. "Of course, you weren't a lot of use to him in prison, but the gesture was undoubtedly fine –"
"Gesture!" she shrieked. "While I endured the Dementors, you remained at Hogwarts, comfortably playing Dumbledore's pet!"
"Not quite," said Severus calmly. "He wouldn't give me the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, you know. Seemed to think it might, ah, bring about a relapse … tempt me into my old ways."
"This was your sacrifice for the Dark Lord, not to teach your favourite subject?" she jeered. "Why did you stay there all that time, Snape? Still spying on Dumbledore for a master you believed dead?"
"Hardly," said Severus, "although the Dark Lord is pleased that I never deserted my post. I had sixteen years of information on Dumbledore to give him when he returned, a rather more useful welcome-back present than endless reminiscences of how unpleasant Azkaban is…"
"But you stayed –"
"Yes, Bellatrix, I stayed," said Severus, his face betraying a rare bout of impatience. Even raising Sariah, he was never impatient with her. "I had a comfortable job that I preferred to a stint in Azkaban, and a five month old daughter to raise. They were rounding up the Death Eaters, you know. Dumbledore's protection kept me out of jail, and my daughter out of an orphanage; it was most convenient and I used it. I repeat: The Dark Lord does not complain that I stayed, so I do not see why you do."
Sariah piped up then, and her father fell back into his chair silent. "I think you next wanted to know," she said in her quiet careful voice, "why my father stood between the Dark Lord and the Philosopher's Stone. That is easily answered. He did not know whether he could trust us Snapes. He thought, like you, that my father and I had turned from faithful Death Eater and daughter to Dumbledore's stooges. He was in a pitiable condition, very weak, sharing the body of a mediocre wizard. He did not dare reveal himself to a former ally in my father if that ally might turn him over to Dumbledore or the Ministry. Father regrets that the Dark Lord did not trust him. He would have returned ito power three years sooner –"
"As it was, I saw only greedy and unworthy Quirrell attempting to steal the stone and, I admit, I did all I could to thwart him," finished her father, and Sariah fell silent once more, her book long forgotten on the rickety table.
Bellatrix's mouth twisted as though she had taken an unpleasant dose of medicine, and Sariah smirked. "But you didn't return when he came back, you didn't fly back to him at once when you felt the Dark Mark burn –"
"Correct. I returned two hours later. I returned on Dumbledore's orders with my daughter by my side."
"On Dumbledore's –?" she began, in tones of outrage, and Sariah smirked again.
"Think!" said Severus. "Think! By waiting two hours, just two hours, I ensured that I could remain at Hogwarts as a spy! By allowing Dumbledore to think that I was only returning to the Dark Lord's side because I was ordered to, I have been able to pass information on Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix ever since! Consider, Bellatrix: The Dark Mark had been growing stronger for months. I knew he must be about to return, all the Death Eaters knew! I had plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do, to plan my next move, to escape and keep my daughter safe, to escape like Karkaroff, didn't I?"
"The Dark Lord's initial displeasure at my lateness vanished entirely, especially when he saw I had brought Sariah for her initiation. I assure you, when I explained that I remained faithful, although Dumbledore thought I was his man… that my Riah and I were under his thumb. Yes, the Dark Lord thought the Snapes had left him forever, but he was wrong."
"But what use have you been?" sneered Bellatrix. "What useful information have we had from the Snapes?"
"My information, and Riah's have been conveyed directly to the Dark Lord," said Severus. "If he chooses not to share it with you –"
"He shares everything with me!" said Bellatrix, firing up at once. "He calls me his most loyal, his most faithful –"
"Does he?" said Sariah, her voice delicate remembering the events of last year, when the truth had all spilled out about her being the long lost half-sister of the Boy Who Lived. She remembered fighting alongside Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy as a Death Eater's daughter, opposing her half-brother with all the anger she could muster. She truly hated Harry Bloody Potter, despite the feelings she had felt when the Dark Lord had possessed him, a simple moment of weakness. She had taken that back with the events afterward "Does he still, after the fiasco at the Ministry?"
"That was not my fault!" said Bellatrix, flushing, and sending a glare at the Snape daughter. "The Dark Lord has, in the past, entrusted me with his most precious – if Lucius and you hadn't –"
"Don't you dare – don't you dare blame my husband!" said Narcissa, her voice low and deadly.
"There is no point apportioning blame," said Severus smoothly. "What is done, is done."
"But not by you!" said Bellatrix furiously. "No, you were once again absent while the rest of us ran dangers, including your own precious daughter, were you not, Snape?"
"My orders were to remain behind whilst Sariah was to accompany Lucius," said Snape. "Perhaps you disagree with the Dark Lord, perhaps you think that Dumbledore would not have noticed if I had joined forces with the Death Eaters to fight the Order of the Phoenix? My daughter refused to join the Order, therefore what she did was her choice, not mine. And – forgive me – you speak of dangers… you were facing six teenagers, were you not?"
"They were joined, as you very well know, by half of the Order before long!" snarled Bellatrix. "And, while we are on the subject of the Order, you still claim you cannot reveal the whereabouts of their headquarters, don't you?"
"I am not the Secret-Keeper; I cannot speak the name of the place. You understand how the enchantment works, I think?' the Dark Lord is satisfied with the information I have passed him on the Order. It led, as perhaps you have guessed, to the recent capture and murder of Emmeline Vance, and it certainly helped dispose of Sirius Black, though I give you full credit for finishing him off."
He inclined his head and toasted her. Her expression did not soften.
"You are avoiding my last question, Snape. Harry Potter. You could have killed him at any point in the past five years. You have not done it. Why?"
"Have you discussed this matter with the Dark Lord?" asked Severus.
"He… lately, we… I am asking you, Snape!"
Sariah snapped again, "If Father had murdered Potter, the Dark Lord could not have used his blood to regenerate, making him invincible –"
"You claim, brat, that you foresaw his use of the boy!" she jeered at the girl.
"I do not claim it; I had no idea of his plans; Father thought the Dark lord was dead, and I followed that. I am merely trying to explain why the Dark Lord is not sorry that Potter survived, at least until a year ago… The Dark Lord is not the only one who wants that boy dead!"
"But why did you keep him alive?"
Severus spoke then, "Have you not understood me? It was only Dumbledore's protection that was keeping me out of Azkaban! Do you disagree that murdering his favourite student might have turned him against me? But there was more to it than that. I should remind you that when Potter first arrived at Hogwarts there were still many stories circulating about him, rumors that he himself was a great Dark wizard," at this Sariah scoffed, "which was how he had survived the Dark Lord's attack. Indeed, many of the Dark Lords old followers thought Potter might be a standard around which we could all rally once more. I was curious, I admit it, and not at all inclined to murder him the moment he set foot in the castle.
"Of course," said Sariah, her voice low and deadly, "it became apparent to me very quickly that he has no extraordinary talent at all. Potter has fought his way out of a number of tight corners by a simple combination of sheer luck and more talented friends. He is mediocre to the last degree, though as obnoxious and self-satisfied as was his father before him. It amazes me to the best degree that we share a mother, since we are nothing like. Father has done his utmost to have him thrown out of Hogwarts, where I believe he scarcely belongs, but to kill him, or allow him to be killed in front of Father? He, and I, would have been fools to risk it with Dumbledore close at hand."
Bellatrix's head turned back to Severus. "And through all of this we are supposed to believe Dumbledore has never suspected you?" she asked. "He has no idea of your true allegiance, he trust you implicitly still?"
"I have played my part well," said Severus. "And you overlook Dumbledore's greatest weakness: He has to believe the best of people. I spun him a tale of deepest remorse when I joined his staff, fresh from my Death Eater days, a new father to a little girl needing a good upbringing, and he embraced us with open arms – though, as I say, never allowing me nearer the Dark Arts than he could help. Dumbledore has been a great wizard – oh yes, he has, the Dark Lord acknowledges it. I am pleased to say, however, that Dumbledore is growing old. The duel with the Dark Lord last month shook him. He has since sustained a serious injury because his reactions are slower than they once were. But through all these years, he has never stopped trusting Severus and Sariah Snape, and therein lies my great value to the Dark Lord."
Bellatrix stayed silent and Severus turned to Narcissa. "Now… you came to ask me for help, Narcissa?" he said.
Narcissa looked at the two Snapes, her face eloquent with despair.
"Yes, Severus. I – I think you are the only one who can help me, I have nowhere else to turn. Lucius is in jail and…" She closed her eyes and two tears seeped down her face.
"The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it," Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. "He wishes none to know of the plan. It is… very secret. But –"
"If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak," said Sariah quietly. "The Dark Lord's word is law."
Narcissa gasped at the sixteen year old girl's words, and Bellatrix looked satisfied, speaking, "There! Even the little Snape says so: You were told not to talk, so hold your silence!"
Severus had gotten to his feet, and strode to the small window that barely shed any light into Sariah's favourite room. He peered through the curtains and closed them with a jerk. He turned to face Narcissa, frowning, and Sariah smirked.
"It so happens that both my daughter and I know of the plan," he said in a low voice. "I am one of the few the Dark Lord has told. Nevertheless, had I not been in on the secret, Narcissa, you would have been guilty of great treachery to the Dark Lord."
"I thought you must know about it!" said Narcissa, breathing more freely. "He trusts you so, Severus…"
"You know about the plan? You and your sixteen year old daughter? You know?" snapped Bellatrix, her face outraged.
"Certainly," said Severus. "But what help do you require, Narcissa? If you are imagining I can persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind, I am afraid there is no help, none at all."
"Severus," she whispered, tears sliding down her face, and Sariah felt truly sorry for her. "My son… my only son…"
"Draco should be proud," said Bellatrix. "The Dark Lord is granting him a great honor. And I will say this for Draco: I can see he isn't shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect –"
Narcissa was crying. "That is because he is sixteen and has no idea what lies in store! Why, Severus? Why my son? Why not Sariah? She has far more experience in these matters! It is too dangerous for Draco! This is vengeance for Lucius's mistake, I know it! But it is a mistake shared by your daughter!"
Severus said nothing, his eyes on his precious daughter.
"That's why he's chosen Draco, isn't it?" said Narcissa. "To punish Lucius?"
"If Draco succeeds," said Severus, his face still staring at Sariah, "he will be honoured above all others."
"But he won't succeed!" sobbed Narcissa. "How can he, when the Dark lord himself -?"
Bellatrix gasped, and Sariah's eyes were wide.
"I only meant… that nobody has yet succeeded… Severus… please… You are, you always have been, Draco's favourite teacher… You are lucius's old friend… Your daughter and Draco are well acquainted… I beg you… You are the Dark Lord's favourite, his most trusted advisor… Will you speak to him, persuade him -?"
"The Dark Lord will not be persuaded, and I am not stupid enough to attempt it," said Severus flatly. "I cannot pretend that the Dark Lord is not angry with Lucius. Lucius was supposed to be in charge after Sariah left. Sariah was only supposed to retrieve it, and if she was not able, due to a fight, she was to Disapparate to the Atrium, and head off anyone to appeared there. It is not my fault that Bellatrix was stupid… Lucius got himself captured, along with how many others, and failed to retrieve the prophecy when Sariah did not. Yes, the Dark Lord is angry, Narcissa, very angry indeed."
"Then I am right, he has chosen Draco in revenge!" choked Narcissa. "He does not mean him to succeed, he wants him to be killed trying!"
Narcissa stood, and staggered to Severus, seizing his robes, tears falling from her eyes. "You could do it. You could do it instead of Draco, Severus. You would succeed, of course you would, and he would reward you beyond all of us –"
Sariah stood, watching her father remove Narcissa's clutching hands. She spoke in a slow, careful sentence, "He intends me to do it in the end. But he is determined that Draco should try first. You see, in the unlikely event that Draco succeeds, Father and I shall be able to remain at Hogwarts a little longer, fulfilling our useful roles as spies."
Narcissa turned on the girl. "In other words, it doesn't matter to him if Draco is killed!"
"The Dark Lord is very angry," said Sariah quietly. "He failed to hear the prophecy. You know as well as I do, Mrs Malfoy, that he does not forgive easily."
She crumpled on the floor. "My only son… my only son…"
"You should be proud!" said Bellatrix. "If I had sons, I would be glad to give them up to the service of the Dark Lord!"
Narcissa gave a moan of despair, clutching her long blonde hair. Severus picked her up, steered her back to the sofa and poured a glass of wine, forcing it into her hand. Sariah stayed standing, her arms folding as she stared at the other women.
"Narcissa, that's enough. Drink this. Listen to me."
She quieted a little, taking a small, shaky sip. "It might be possible… for me to help Draco," said Sariah slowly.
She sat up, her eyes huge.
"Sariah – oh Sariah – you would help him? Would you look after him, see he comes to no harm?"
"I can try."
She flung away her glass, grabbed Sariah's hands and pressed her lips to them. Sariah pulled it back, her dark green painted nails entering her eyesight.
"If you are there to protect him… Sariah, will you swear it? Will you make the Unbreakable Vow?"
"The Unbreakable Vow?" said Severus slowly, his expression blank.
Bellatrix let out a cackle. "Aren't you listening, Narcissa? Oh, she'll try, I'm sure… The usual empty Snape words, the usual slithering out of action… oh, on the Dark Lord's orders, of course!"
Sariah stared at Narcissa, as Severus came to his daughter's side. This was not part of the plan. But he had long ago given up on controlling his little girl; she always defied him (sometimes on purpose).
"Certainly, Mrs Malfoy, I shall make the Unbreakable Vow," she said quietly. "Perhaps your sister will consent to be our Bonder. I will not have my father do it."
Bellatrix's mouth fell open. Sariah came forward and lowered herself so she was kneeling opposite Narcissa. Beneath the gaze of both Bellatrix and Severus, they grasped right hands.
"You will need your wand, Bellatrix," said Severus coldly.
She drew it, an astonished look upon her face. Sariah's emerald eyes were fixed upon Narcissa's tear stained blue ones as she smirked.
"And you will need to move a little closer," said Sariah.
Bellatrix stepped forward, so she stood over them and placed the tip of her wand on their linked hands. Narcissa then spoke, "Will you, Sariah Eileen Snape, watch over my son, Draco Lucius Malfoy, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?"
"I will," said Sariah.
A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire. Sariah inwardly winced, but made no movement.
"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
"I will," said Sariah.
A second tongue of flame shot from the wand and interlinked with the first, making a fine, glowing chain.
"And, should it prove necessary… if it seems Draco will fail…" whispered Narcissa, and Sariah's hand twitched. She did not draw away despite it and Narcissa continued, "will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
There was a moment's silence. Bellatrix watched, her wand upon their clasped hands, her eyes wide. Severus had a fleeting look of worry upon his face, as he eyed his young daughter.
"I will," said Sariah.