Chapter 3:
Now all three occupants of apartment 10G had a secret they weren't telling anybody about. Jamie kept sneaking out, claiming she had "work" to do with a group project. Classmates said there were no group projects yet. Lily would just disappear. Sam decided that the two had boyfriends that they didn't want the others to find about. And she had Lucius Malfoy, a broken older man who still had a regal appearance and wanted to be a part of her life. And for some reason, Sam was torn between choosing to let him in or tell him to go rot in hell. She hadn't heard from her parents yet about him, so maybe they hadn't heard.
A week after he had appeared in Lucy Priven's apartment building, Lucius had sent Samantha a note. He gave her an address and asked her over for dinner one night. He said she could send her reply using an owl. The only person who knew of this was Evelyn, who was distanced enough from the whole kidnapping history to be more objective. "I mean, I would be inclined to burn it because he kidnapped me. But there's a whole other layer to your story with him. He was your father for three months after all," Evelyn said.
"Because he brainwashed me. I didn't remember my real father for those three months."
"And now you're starting to remember him as your father."
"But he's not my father."
"No, he's not. But I think you should talk to him and see what type of relationship he wants. I'm sure he'll understand the whole 'I hate your guts' thing, but just give him a chance."
"Merlin, Evelyn, we're Slytherins!" Sam said. "We do things for ourselves, to help our own goals. What if that's what he's doing?"
"It could be, and you could also be using this for your own goals too. Haven't you been complaining that you really can't confide too many things in the people you grew up with, the people you trust because everyone is too connected and involved?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, maybe Lucius could be your new confidant."
"You. Are. Crazy."
"I know. Just go. Have a conversation and decide what is going on, okay?"
Sam sighed as she adjusted her black shirt, which billowed around the upper part of her black pants. The large shirt was tied with a green sash around her middle. She didn't know what to wear to this little dinner and was unsure of what to expect. She knocked on the door and Lucius opened it. "Come in, we've been wondering when you were going to knock."
Sam followed Lucius inside, admitting it was a nice house the Ministry had given him. "We?" she asked, taking in the living room with its couches. Sitting on one of them was a little girl, who looked like she did as Serena Malon, but appeared to be a year younger. The little girl was wearing a cute black jumper over a white shirt, which appeared to be in a set. Her blonde hair was braided and held back by a black ribbon. The little girl jumped down and ran to Lucius, grabbing his hand, looking at Sam. "Who are you?" she asked the little girl.
"I'm not suppose'ta talk to strangers," the little girl said, hiding partially behind Lucius' leg.
"Well, then. My name is Samantha Snape. You can call me Sam or Sammy, if you like," Sam replied, holding out her hand. "Now, I'm not a stranger. But you still are."
"I'm Selena Malfoy," the girl said, shaking Sam's hand. "This is my daddy. Mommy's in the kitchen makin' dinner. Are you our dinner guest?"
"Yes, I am."
"Selie, honey, why don't you go and see if Mommy needs any help, okay, sweetie?" Selie nodded and ran into the next room, giggling a little. Lucius turned back to Sam, who was watching with an eyebrow raised. "Why don't we go sit down? I still haven't had this leg checked out yet."
Sam nodded, instinctively holding out her arm to help guide Lucius to the couch. She sat across from him, legs and arms crossed. "You and Narcissa are back together?" she asked, picking up a picture of the couple and Selie as a toddler.
"Yes, the release project had us paired together and we were able to marry again. Fudge and Jolene divorced us."
"And married each other?"
"No, I don't know what happened to them. Don't care, either."
"So, you two remarried and have a five year old named Selena. What was her life like in prison?"
"She didn't think it was prison. And it didn't' feel like prison. It felt like a gated community," Lucius explained. "She's had a good life and will continue to."
"My father is not going to believe it when Selena Malfoy comes across the Hogwarts registry."
"No, I don't think he will. Speaking of Hogwarts, how were your years there?"
"What?"
"Look, Sam, I understand if you're not comfortable with me," Lucius said. "I kidnapped you. I brainwashed you into thinking you were my daughter, which were erased. I'm not trying to replace Severus, he's done a pretty good job of raising you. Much better than I did with Draco, anyway."
"I can't replace Draco. You failed miserably and that's why you're not seeing your grandchildren. And I'm not going to be your go-between to tell you how Jessica, Draco, Jr. and Louisa are doing. Okay?" Sam stated. "If I continue to foster a relationship with you at all."
"You need someone to talk to."
"I have my friends. And family. I don't need you," Sam said, standing up. Lucius held his hand up to her, grabbing her hand. She sighed and sat down, this time next to him. "Alright, maybe I do need to talk. But I really can't trust you."
"Nobody trusts Slytherins, least of all Gryffindors."
Sam chuckled, a tear falling a bit. "You can say that again."
"You having trouble with a former Slytherin? I'll go stop them."
"Actually, I'm having slight trouble with a former Gryffindor. My best friend, Jamie, is still a little suspicious. House rivalries die hard," Sam explained, taking the tissue Lucius offered her. "We've been friends our entire life and Lily's fine with it, she's not. She's too much like our Uncle Sirius."
"Well, look at his family. They were all in Slytherin and didn't have the best reputation. His anger and loathing at the house is more of his own hatred towards his own family."
"When did you become a psychologist? And how did you ever figure it out before Jamie, the psychology major?"
"When they made me go in for counseling."
"And you liked them?"
"At first, no. Then I realized they could help me."
"Slytherin to the end, Lucius?"
"And your reason for coming here was just to please me? You wanted someone to talk to and I saw through that right away. Gryffindors don't hide their emotions well enough, Sam."
"Then I'm a lousy Slytherin, I guess," Sam replied, leaning back into the couch as Selena re-entered the room. The little girl walked over to the guest, hopping up in between her father and Sam.
"What's the matter, Sammy?" Selena asked, concerned. Sam smiled at the girl.
"Nothing. Just a little friend problem your father was helping me with."
"My daddy is very smart."
"I'm sure he is."
"Selie, honey, did Mommy have anything to say about dinner?" Lucius asked his daughter. Selie nodded and stood up, trying to act very official.
"Yes. Dinner will be served in ten minutes and to wash our hands."
"Why don't you go do that?" Lucius suggested. Selie nodded and ran out of the room. "She's a bundle of energy."
"Most five years old are."
"You were an active six-years-old, though very studious. She's smart too, and clever. She's gotten me to do many things for her."
"But that's not alone to Slytherin. Every little girl knows how to wrap her father around her little finger. My father will be the first to admit, under one of the Unforgivable Curses that is."
Lucius laughed. "I guess that's so. You had me around your finger and you weren't my biological daughter. Come on, before Selie drags both of us to the table. I'm sure Narcissa has a good meal."
"Wait, they did teach her how to cook? Because I've heard stories…"
"Don't worry. They taught her to cook. And I know as well, so if anything possibly goes wrong, I know something quick and easy to whip up. We're doing well without money and servants," Lucius explained. "We're different. We want to be in the neo-Slytherin group, Sam."
"Neo-Slytherin?"
"Yes, the new breed of Slytherins. The ones who are removed from the Dark Lords and Dark Magic. The ones who use their cleverness to advance themselves but don't get too power-hungry. The Slytherin your father turned into, the one Draco turned into, the one you were raised to be. I've been watching you Neo-Slytherins and you're all going far, I know. And not in a dark sense. I can't erase my past; your father knows something about that. But I can do what he did and try to make a better future."
"Well, no offense, Lucius, I'd rather be the judge of that," Sam said.
"Of course," Lucius said, slightly taken aback. He then chuckled. "In control. I like that."
"Thank you. I learned well."
"I see. Come, dinner's ready."
Sam had to admit Narcissa did know how to cook; her mother and Aunt Eden would be surprised after some of the awful food the Malfoy woman had made them eat. Or attempt to eat. The group had a civil conversation, steering clear of the kidnappings of twenty years ago. Actually, Selie did most of the talking as she was about to start kindergarten and was very excited. She could already read and write due to the pre-school program she went to while the Malfoys were still in the Irish prison, so she would be far more advanced than her peers. In fact, Sam thought, Selie could probably already go into first grade. But that was up to the school's discretion and what the Malfoys wished for their little girl.
Much to her surprise, Sam enjoyed herself. She felt like a proud older sister to Selie, who had taken to Sam quickly. By dessert, the little girl was sitting on Sam's lap and stealing pieces of the Snape daughter's pie. Sam was locked in a fork battle with Selie to prevent the young girl from stealing more, but was laughing all the same. Both Lucius and Narcissa were relaxed, watching the two with smiles on their faces. Finally, the two had equal amounts of the slice and Narcissa chased her daughter off to get ready for bed. "It's that late?" Sam asked, searching for her watch to check the time.
"No, no, Selie's bed time is seven-thirty. What happened to your watch?" Lucius asked.
"It broke in a pillow fight between Jamie, Lily and I. Lil's keeping a secret from us and we were hoping to beat it out of her."
"Did it work?"
"No."
"Why don't you read her diary?"
"Because she's my best friend!"
"You're right, Sam, you are a lousy Slytherin."
"I've been tempted but there's the fact I'm living with two Gryffindors, one of whom is already suspicious of my house loyalties. So, picking any locks on anyone's diaries is off limits. Now, picking locks on people's closets…" Sam trailed off, letting Lucius fill in the rest. "Well, I think I'll go."
"I'll walk you out."
"You think the old leg can handle it?"
"Ha, ha, and ha," Lucius replied. Sam and he walked (or rather, Sam walked and Lucius limped) to the front door, but Selie stopped them. She slid down the banister, Narcissa yelling at her from the top of the stairs.
"Bye, Sammy!" she said, launching herself at the older girl. "It was great meeting you!"
"You, too, even if you did keep stealing my pie," Sam replied, hugging Selie.
"Can we hang out more?"
"I'll see. How's that?"
"Okay, I'm sure you're busy." Selie sounded disappointed, but hid it well as her mother came down.
Narcissa hugged Sam, who returned it awkwardly. "It was great to see you again. You've grown up beautifully."
"Thank you, for everything. I'll be in touch." With that, Sam left the Malfoy house just as confused as when she went in. She decided against going straight home, not wanting to go in because Jamie would want to practice her skills on Sam to figure out what was wrong with her friend. Sam wasn't ready for that, so she headed to a park nearby her apartment house. She sat down on a bench, watching people walk by and just thought about things.
Lucius Malfoy was supposed to be the bad guy. He was supposed to be a scary monster that would separate her from her family. He was supposed to be evil, cold, calculating, and uncaring. He was also supposed to be in prison, far away from her. But he wasn't. He seemed to be a good guy. He seemed to be someone who would protect her from the scary monsters of the world, just like her father did. He seemed kind, warm, loving and a good father. Serena had been happy; Selena was happy. All the Malfoys seemed happy. Draco wasn't going to reconcile with his parents, which was probably why Lucius was reaching out to her.
Sam loved her father and mother. Kiki and Severus had raised her well, she had a loving home and parents who supported her no matter what happened. She had a good relationship with them, she wasn't looking to replace them. She just needed someone older to talk to about them, especially during times when her father was being a prat and scaring off potential boyfriends. Of course, Lucius would do the same thing, but Narcissa would probably be a good person to talk to. Kiki, Harmony and Bianca always wrote it off as "Sam over reacting." She was not overreacting! Sam stood up and returned to her apartment, her mind a bit clearer.
A week after her dinner with Lucius, Sam was returning from her clerking position when Mrs. Privens called her in. "My dear, you should tell your secret admirers to be more careful," the older woman warned. "An owl came swooping into your apartment, startling your neighbors. You know they are both muggles, right?"
"Yes, Mrs. Privens. Did Lily or Jamie handle it?"
"No, no they didn't. They haven't been back yet. Do they have boyfriends?"
"If they do, they aren't sharing with the group at show and tell," Sam said, taking a package from Mrs. Privens' hand. "Did the owl bring this?"
"Yes, it did. Now, I told your neighbors it must've been a freak thing and you had left your window open. But just be careful."
"Thank you, Mrs. Privens. I'll warn the person who sent this. Thank you." With that, Sam turned and left. She returned to her apartment, not shutting her window since the weather was still nice out. She sat down on her bed and opened the envelope with her name written on it.
"Dear Samantha," the letter read. "You told me what happened to your watch so I bought you a new one. You don't have to accept it, I would completely understand the rejection. Nothing would be hurt. But, my little Slytherin, you do need a new watch. Sincerely, L. Malfoy."
He had her there. But, she was more willing to accept Lucius now. She had come to the conclusion he was not trying to replace her parents and she wasn't doing the same, but just trying to have an adult friendship with the family. She opened and found a very beautiful watch there. It was simple, silver with a green band around the face, but beautiful all the same. She put it on her wrist as she prepared to write a response.
"Dear Mr. Malfoy," she wrote. "Thank you for the watch. You were right; I did need a new watch. I would also like to pursue a friendship with you and your family on the agreement that you are not trying to take the place of my father. I hope this letter finds you well. Sincerely, S. Snape. PS: Do tell Selie that, if she likes, I would love to take her shopping this weekend for school clothes."
Sam placed the letter on her window sill, knowing an owl would swoop down and pick it up during the night. That normally didn't draw any attention from her muggle neighbors. She settled down to do her homework when, an hour later, she heard the door open. She slunk out into the hallway. "Hello?" she called.
"Sam, is that you?" a familiar voice called from the kitchen. Lily walked out, dressed in a nice dinner dress. "I didn't think anyone was here. I thought you would go out with the mystery person from last week."
"No, nothing of that sort. But where are you going dressed like that and with who?"
"It was a dinner out with a bunch of the other interns," Lily explained, taking a sip of bottled water. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to go do some homework. Oh, and get out of this dress. You think I need to wash it or will Jamie not notice if I stick it back in the closet as is?" Lily twirled around slowly for her friend to access the dress.
"It looks clean. It'll do. Besides, Jamie's the queen of oblivious. She would think she stained the dress and accidentally hung it up."
"Good. Alright, see you later, Sam." Sam nodded and returned to her bedroom. She noticed that an owl had taken her response to Lucius, but now another owl sat in its place. This one had a letter that was attached to a red rose. She let the owl perch inside her room, giving it a treat as she opened the letter.
"Roses are red, violets are blue, someone out there loves you…but who?" she read. "Interesting secret admires note." She picked up the rose and had to admit the flower was beautiful. She conjured up a vase and took it to the bathroom to fill with water. On her way back, she ran into Jamie. "Hey, where have you been?"
"Library," came the response. "How about you?"
"I've been here. Doing homework."
"Is Lils here?"
"Of course she is. She came in about fifteen minutes ago."
"What's with the vase? Do you have a secret admirer? Lily, get out here! Our little Sammy has a secret admirer!" Jamie called into the shared bedroom. She turned back to Sam as Lily tumbled out of the room. "Who is he?"
"I don't know. He's secret, remember?" Sam said. "Now, I've got a rose to put in a vase, okay?"
"Do you have any ideas who it might be?" Jamie wasn't going to let her go easily, obviously.
Sam's cheeks took on a red tint as she remembered her run-in with Will. Was he her secret admirer? "I don't," she answered, not turning around.
"Yes, you do!"
"Is it the same person who sent you that nice new watch?" Lily now joined the conversation. She lifted up Sam's left arm to show her sister the watch. "I saw it on you earlier but didn't want to say anything."
"No, it isn't the same person who sent me the watch. The watch was a gift from another friend," Sam asserted. She knew that Lucius wasn't her secret admirer since he had Narcissa and Selie. "I don't know who the rose is from. Now, good night."
"Touchy!" Jamie yelled out after Sam.
Lily hit her sister with a pillow. "Right, like you're not hiding something from us?"
"What? I have NO clue what you're talking about, Lils."
"Oh? Sam and I aren't idiots. We may not go to the muggle university you do, but we know your friends and they have told us that you do not have any group projects due yet."
"Yet. We're preparing for them in advance."
"Right, because you read your professors' minds and now know the projects well in advance?"
"You know I can't read minds. Sam can do that."
"Can you two leave my occlumens abilities out of this argument, please?" their friend pleaded.
"Of course she can," Lily replied. "Or we can have you go in there to find out what is really going on."
"Uh, you know I don't like going in to find gossip."
"At least someone respects my privacy! Maybe I should have her invade yours and find out who YOUR mystery lover is."
"WHAT?" This caught both Sam and Lily off-guard. Sam nearly dropped her vase, rose securely in it, and put it down. Lily was turning a shade of red to match the Gryffindor common room décor. "I have no clue what you are talking about, Jamie Marie," Lily said through clenched teeth.
Jamie smirked in response; she loved irking her sister. "I think you do, Lily Rose," she teased. "I mean, you keep going out dressed very nicely and keep claiming to have dinners out with fellow interns. But dear Aunt Bianca has told me that there were no such dinners. So, who are you really eating with?"
"That is none of your business!" Lily walked into her room and slammed the door.
"Fine!" Jamie called, slamming the door to the room she just walked into. The locked clicked and Sam sighed, still slumped over in a chair. Until she realized something very, very important.
"JAMIE! THAT'S MY ROOM!"
A/N: Okay, I had a quiz today in one of my classes and halfway through it, the fire alarm went off. How fortunate is that? Okay, not really since it didn't last the entire class and we had to go back in and finish the quiz. But it was a nice breather…and a few of my classmates think our French teacher is crazy while I think the dry-erase markers are starting to get to her. Anyway, I know there are people reading this so could someone else review? SarahtheBardess' reviews are getting lonely and want company! --Mac
