Hello again, as promised another chapter. I realise in the last chapter I brought the whole thing with lily and Severus forward a year. This was intentional. Ive been re-reading the fic and I noticed my work goes up and down and I am sorry for this I'll try and work harder ;) let me know what you wanna see more of or any ideas you have for chapters and stuff.

Chapter 9 – Choices

Sydney Snape sat quietly hidden in one of the many archways in the castle grounds. Next to her sat her brother. His grubby hair falling over his eyes and his silver and green scarf tucked up around his chin against the cold of early November. "I hated you for leaving" he said quietly. "I really did. You just up and went and I never saw you again" he added his dark eyes to the floor. "It's not like I had a choice after what happened. Mum didn't want me bad in the house. Uncle Alex wanted to take you on to but mum wouldn't let him she said she needed you" Sydney whispered her eyes fixed sadly on him. "I wouldn't have gone anyway. That guys married to one of them" her brother whispered spitefully. Sydney rolled her eyes in annoyance. Clearly he meant a muggle.

"Alison isn't that bad. Not all muggles are like him you know Russy" Sydney sighed kicking her feet against the pile of leaves on the ground. She had been in school just over a month. The time spent at Hogwarts had been so busy it had flown by. In the last week after her duel with Black she had spent most her free time with her brother trying to rekindle their relationship. However progress was very slow. "You know I suppose the ministry got involved. They had to erase dad's memory of the night as far as his aware you just ran away" Severus said his dark eyes now turned to her. "Shame I bet if he remembered he would be less of a git" Sydney remarked with a sly grin. Her brother frowned at her. "I know. I know. It's not funny" Sydney said with a sigh.

"You're so irresponsible" Severus muttered sourly. "And you haven't improved by living with that man. You act like a child, going around pulling pranks and annoying everyone. You're as bad as Potter and his cronies" he added firmly. His dark eyes fixed on his sister, she had changed over the years. It seemed they had gone in totally opposite directions. He had retreated into himself, books and magic. He kept his head down and acted how everyone else in slytherin house did. He hated muggles and mudbloods with the exception of lily. His hatred for his father had lead him to that. Sydney however seemed happy well mostly for what he heard around school she was liable to cry or lose her temper more than most girls her age. "I'm just having fun Russy and besides I don't go around bulling people like them or might I add some of your friends" Sydney said her eyes flashing angrily.

"Syd you and I are very different you realise that don't you?" Severus said coldly. Sydney ran her fingers through her hair in a frustrated manner. "I can't help that and I wish you would stop being so mean about it. It's not like you are any better. You called lily a mudblood for Merlin's sake! What has she ever done to deserve that?" she asked. "She fancies Potter" Severus whispered sadly. "She likes him more than me and she hardly ever hangs around with me anymore". "Ok. Ok. I can see why that would hurt but the term mudblood is cruel. There is nothing wrong with having muggles as parents. Just because you would rather be pure blood doesn't mean everyone else does" Sydney said her voice hushed.

"Says you. You left and got a nice upbringing" her brother grumbled. His sister sighed. "Look Severus I'm sorry. How many times do I have to say it?" Sydney pleaded her hands tight on his arm. "And how many more people are you gonna shun for what our dad did. Poor lily is worried about you" she said. "Yeah I know. I miss her but we can't be together can we? We're just too different" Severus mumbled sadly.

"That's griffin shite and you know it. All this talk of mudbloods and dark arts makes her uncomfortable so don't talk about it round her or even better stop altogether. And stop spending time with those horrible Slytherin kids they're worse than Potter and Black put together" Sydney said angrily. She realise far too late that was the wrong thing to say. "Well if they are so wonderful maybe you should go spend time with them instead" Severus snapped. "They are not wonderful. They're jerks, stupid arrogant jerks. Like that Malfoy and the others, they push you around just as much as everyone else does" Sydney snapped back. The two sat in a seething silence for a while glaring at each other.

Severus faltered first. "They are the only friends I have. I can't be seen with you or lily. I would be eaten alive" he said. "We have to stand by what we believe in. This is the path I'm choosing Syd. Just as Lily has chosen Potter over me. She doesn't know but I have seen them together. And I have no doubt you will choose some other Gryffindor to make you happy" he said. "That is if you haven't picked already" he added sourly. "I haven't picked anyone. I would have to tell them about the hole wolf thing wouldn't I?" Sydney sighed her posture slouching. Severus black eyes studied her. "So no one knows about that then?" he asked. "No. Well you, Lily, Raebeart and Ahsoka know but not anyone else" she added her face in a frown. It seemed she had told quite a few people after all. "Do you know what's wrong with those Lupin kids then" Severus asked causally. "What do you mean" Sydney asked too quickly.

"Well once a month Remus disappears and I noticed Ahsoka did the same time last month. Right near the begging. Do you remember?" he pressed. Sydney avoided his eyes. "I don't know what you mean and anyway we are talking about us not them" she said hurriedly. Severus sighed and stared at the wall. "I thought we had been though this. You and me can spend time together so long as we don't get caught" he whispered. His head ached at the idea of the other Slytherin kids finding out about this. So far they had believed him when he said he knew of no relation between the two. "Does anyone else know about us" he asked her. "I told you who does and like I said no one will tell and even if they do just tell them they are lying it's not like I live with you and if they don't believe you just tell them you hate me" Sydney said her blue eyes watching leaves fall from a nearby tree. "You did that with lily didn't you. What's the difference with me" she added sadly.

"There isn't. We are for now on different sides" Severus said with a shake of his head. He had thought their ways were parted long ago and truth be told he would of preferred it if they had. All this secrecy was bound to lead to trouble and sooner or later heartbreak. Just like with lily the time would come when Sydney wouldn't forgive him and she would part ways for a second and final time. As negative thoughts consumed him fingers found his and Sydney's warm palm met his. "For as long as we can close we will be and no matter what you do you will always be my brother" she said quietly. Severus said nothing. He couldn't think of anything that would be a promise he would keep or that would be a comfort. He didn't believe himself to be as protective as her.

Sydney watched as her brother fidgeted. "Oh and while I think of it, no more fights about me with those brats how is this gonna stay secret if you go around smashing up half the school in my honour" he said suddenly. "Oh but that was fun" Sydney whined. Severus looked at his sister and she looked back, they shared a small smile. Even if it was a doomed friendship he couldn't at least enjoy it while it lasted. Even if it had to be kept secret.

...

Later that night Ahsoka sat in the common room along with her cousin, James, Peter and Sirius. James was recounting something about quidditch practice whilst Peter listened intently his watery eyes wide in wonder. Remus as usual had his nose in a book and as for Sirius he still glared at the fire in front of them. This had been his hobby the last few days since he and Sydney's big fight. She hadn't talked to him and the other boys since and he didn't deal well with this rejection. "Come on Pads cheer up" Ahsoka said prodding the boy in the head with her wand causing his long black hair to stand up on end. "Sydney will calm down soon as she's cleared things up with her brother. Then you can go bad to fighting like a pair of blast ended skrewts" Remus said without looking up. "Oh like I care about that I'm just wondering how to let down this girl I'm going out with. She's not as much fun as I thought she would be" he said waving his hand dismissively. "They never are" Peter squeaked.

James sniggered and looked up. "But you have only been seeing her three days don't tell me Pads the pervert is pining" he said with a chortle. "I'm not pining. I wouldn't be going out with other girls if I was" he grumbled. James and Peter looked at each other. "Denial" they both laughed. Sirius glared at them. "For your information we weren't even dating" he sighed. "No you weren't were you. She kept shooting you down didn't she?" Remus said trying to hide his smile. Sirius glared at him. "That's because there's something wrong with her in the head" he grumbled. Ahsoka rolled her eyes "Remusis right she will calm down eventually but it would help if you apologised and left Severus alone from now on. That goes for all of you. Time to grow up and stop being bullies" she said firmly. "Yes miss" Sirius and James said sarcastically. Remus cleared his throat. "She has a point. We not asking you to make up with him just ignore each other" he said mildly.

James glared at him. "Look if Snivellus is in my way I'm gonna move him" he said "Right pads" he added. "Right" Sirius mumbled. The boy got up from his chair and stretched. He glanced out the window two more nights and it would be a full moon again and then he could take his mind off things. In the meantime a walk might help. "I'll be back in a few" he said as he wandered away. The others watched him leave wordlessly. "Do you think his ok" Peter asked after he had gone. "His sulking cuz he never got Sydney to go out with him. I like her and all but I don't know why his so caught up on her" James said pushing his glasses up his nose. "It's because she's hard to get" Remus said "every other girl has fallen for him instantly. Sydney likes him one second and hates him the next. She's hard to work out and he likes that" he added nodding his head knowingly. "That and deep down he knows Sydney thinks his cute" Ahsoka said with a grin. The others stared at her. "I'm a girl I know these things" she said with smirk. "I also know Sirius has gone looking for her" she added.

...

Sydney had left behind by her brother once he spotted people from his house heading their way. So she sat alone. The sun was starting to set and she was watching the last rays disappear behind the distant mountains beyond the lake. "You know this would be quite romantic if you had the right company" a voice said behind her. "Go away Black" the girl said without turning around. Sirius kicked snow as he walked over to her. "No" he said simply before pushing himself onto the seat next to her. Sydney sighed. "You have avoided me until now. Why start bothering me again?" she asked. Sirius grinned "I've been thinking" he began. "I wondered what that grating sound was" Sydney said with a wide grin.

"Very funny" Sirius said glaring at the girl. "I thought so" Sydney grinned back. The boy stared at her for a second before begging to fight his case. "What I have been thinking is that you have been unfair to me" Sirius said. Sydney glared now "How so?" she asked her voice edged in violence. "Well for starters you never told me you had a brother" he began. "Ah but you have one to, Russy told me all about him" Sydney retorted quickly her face smug. Sirius frowned and shook his head at her nickname for that slime ball. "Also you don't know the whole story about how he talks and you don't know the kind of details him and his cronies get up to" he said. "Yes I do and whilst I don't agree with it I understand it. Well sort of" Sydney said although her voice wobbled. "And so would you if you knew the whole story" she added. "I doubt that" Sirius snapped.

"Black if you don't like it leave me alone. Severus Snape is my brother and always will be. End of story." Sydney snapped back her anger rising. The two glared at each other in a strange recreation of her and her brother. "Fine have it your way" the boy said said finally folding his arms tight across his chest. "What is it with you guys I capable of being friends with you both if you would just leave each other alone" Sydney said heatedly. "Neither of you can make me chose between you. There are things I like and dislike about you both" she added. "I wasn't trying to make you pick" Sirius said defensively. "Yes you were and its not something you or him have the right to do to me" the girl grumbled. "I have enough problems without you two trying to tear me apart" Sydney sighed.

"Fine. Fine. Fine. I'm sorry but I wanted to make sure you knew what he was like" Sirius said. "And what? You though that then I would hate him too and applaud how you treat him. Don't you think that's awfully presumptuous of you" Sydney asked her eyes burning into his. Sirius looked back at her. "Ok maybe a little but it's not like me and him are going to be friends" he said. "Ever" he added firmly. Sydney sighed and slouched once more "Yeah I know. I know but if you can't accept that sometimes I will hang around with him rather than you and the guys then we can't be friends. His my brother and I have been separated from him for too long and the way things are heading with us I don't know how long we can be friends for" she said sadly. "I need to take this chance to spend as much time with him as I can. You must know how that feels you're in the same situation with your brother aren't you. Wouldn't you give anything to just put that behind you and talk to him" she added.

Sirius groaned. He understood how this felt but he always held back. His brother was easily pushed into his families ideals, which was something Sirius regretted greatly. He barely spoke to his brother anymore and things were so bad at home we was already choosing to stay here for Christmas. As the boy glared at the floor a small hand reached out to his. "Look. I Know you guys are still gonna fight and you know that if I find out about it I'll kick your ass. So let's just call it quits for now and try and give me some space" the girl. The boys silver eyes held her blue ones and he groaned again. "Friends" Sydney asked sweetly. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Ok you win. Friends" he said shaking her hand. The girl smiled at him and he smirked back "And eventually passionate lovers" he added with a wink. Sydney glared and pulled her hand away her face pink. "You're such a pervert" she muttered rising to her feet and pushing past him. "Aw come on let me have a quick kiss it's nearly Christmas after all" he called after her. "Just a quick Christmas friends snog" he added.

"I think your find most friends don't snog each other and besides its November" Sydney called back over her shoulder. "That's not true I kiss all my friends. Well the girl ones." Sirius said catching up to her. "So you kiss Remus then. He does look a bit girly" Sydney grinned. "I did once. He was shit at it. I offered to practice with him but he wasn't interested in fact he slapped me. Oh wait I think I'm confusing him with my last ex" Sirius scratching his head in a confused manner. Sydney chuckled as they made their way back to the common room. As much as he annoyed her she couldn't help but like him and the idea of choosing between her brother and her friends was more painful than the incident with her dad. Sydney wished there and then that it would never happen.