The Unknown Hero


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Enjoy Chapter 9!


Chapter Nine:

Questions


The sound of glass colliding with solid ground barely reached the ears of an elderly woman in the kitchen, not once realizing that the cup of water had fallen from her gasp as she held a copy of her morning newspaper. Glass scattered in different directions, while the cool liquid spilled all around her, creating a small puddle. Her body began to shake as tears started to form in her eyes.

"Eileen?!" an elderly man appeared from the living room, quickly rushing to side, "Are you al-"

The man's eyes widened at what he saw on the newspaper, slowly taking it from the woman as he held it close to his face.

Eileen Snape was lost in her state of shock, somehow managing to walk to the nearest chair at the small table in the corner of the kitchen to sit down.

Tobias Snape was filled shock as he leaned against the fridge, his hands tightening around the newspaper, breathing heavily.

"How?!" he demanded. "They told us he was dead!"

Eileen could barely hear him, let alone understand what he was saying.

Slowly getting himself together, Tobias sat the paper down on the counter and walked over to his wife, kneeling before her.

"Eileen… our boy… he's…"

Eileen shook her head, "That's not possible. We saw his body. They killed him."

"But he's alive, Eileen!" he started to smile as tears fell from his eyes. "Our son is alive and out there, somewhere."

Eileen began to sob as a wave of pent-up emotions overwhelmed her.

Tobias moved his arms around her and embraced her, crying alongside her as he began to laugh.

"We need to go back," he declared. "You know where to find your kind. Maybe they'll let us be there when he comes back."

Eileen shook her head, "They'll never allow you anywhere near their establishments. It'll be best if I went and talked with the Aurors, as I'm sure they'll be looking for me."

"I'm going too," he looked into her eyes, determined. "I… I need to be there… when he comes back… I need to speak with him… To make things right…"

Eileen smiled, cupping his face as her forehead connected with his, "We both need to."

They barely slept that night as they packed their belongings before getting into their small car once the crack of dawn came. They drove from the cabin, heading down the gravel road alongside the coast, lost in thought about the revelation they had read from the newspaper.


Dumbledore sat in his chair as Moody and Minchum argued.

"How can we not announce this to the world?!" Minchum demanded. "They deserve to know!"

Moody growled, tapping the floor with his wooden staff, "And what do you think the repercussions will be if we do? It is widely known that Miss Evans was once friends with Mister Snape."

"That's what you and Crouch are here for!"

Moody glared at him.

The door opened and a man entered, making the three of them turn their attention to him.

"Ah, good to see you could make it, Crouch."

"Is it true?" Bartemius Crouch Senior approached Dumbledore. "Does that book tell us what he did?"

Dumbledore stared into his eyes, deep in thought before he nodded, "Yes, it's true."

Crouch released a breath that he had been holding, "Then we must tell them."

"Exactly what I've been trying to tell them."

Crouch's eyes widened at the Minster as he turned to Dumbledore again, "You don't wish to announce it?"

"We're against it for a reason," said Moody.

"And what reasons are those?"

Dumbledore rose from his chair, the Phoenix oblivious to their conversation in the background as it ate its nighttime snack, "Because if we do, we'll be placing not only Miss Evans at risk, but also his parents too."

Moody snarled, "After reading that book, I say good riddance."

"Have we been able to locate the Snapes?" Minchum asked.

Moody shook his head, "They moved out of their house about three months ago. My Aurors were able to find out that after their son's disappearance, the father had a change of heart and begun to get help. As for the mother, apparently, she had received an inheritance from her wizard family."

"You mean the Princes left everything to her? I thought they had disowned her."

"According to the goblins at Gringotts, Eileen is still disowned."

Minchum and Moody frowned at him, while Dumbledore kept his expression neutral.

"The inheritance never came from the Princes' vaults. There's no record of any inheritance being given to Eileen Snape."

Crouch's confusion was written all over him, "Then where did it come from?"

Moody rolled his eye.

"It appears that Mister Snape has been keeping an eye on his parents from beyond the grave," Dumbledore said with a hint of curiosity. "He may have been closer to home than we originally thought."

"If that's true, then why hasn't he shown himself?" Crouch asked.

Dumbledore sighed, "We'll only know when and if he comes back."

An elf popped into his office, "Sir, Regulus has been seen walking down the stairs of the seventh floor."

The headmaster nodded, "Thank you. You may leave."

Once the elf left, Dumbledore walked around his desk and towards the door, "Time to see what Mister Black has to say about all of this."


Regulus walked around the living room, retracing his steps without knowing it.

Jessica watched him from the couch, "Are you going to keep pacing around until the floor gives away?"

He ignored her, lost in thought before coming to a stop next to the window, overlooking the city of London.

"Why'd you do it?"

Jessica took a drink of her wine, "The answer should be obvious."

He turned to her, "You knew I would come right to you when his name was chosen. You used me."

"If you're expecting an apology, then you truly don't know me."

Regulus remained silent, struggling not to unleash his feelings at that moment.

"It won't be long before they know about my involvement. I suspect Dumbledore may already know."

"Don't worry, kid," she poured herself some more wine. "Severus taught you well enough to hold your mind against someone like Dumbledore."

Regulus raised an eyebrow, "You've sure been drinking a lot. Tyrion would be proud."

"Who do you think is my drinking buddy?" she smiled. "And besides, I'm going to need it once Severus finds out."

"Your problem, not mine," he waved her off, walking towards the exit. "I need to get back before they notice I'm gone."

"See ya!" she cried out before the door shut behind him.

Getting into the cabinet, he whispered, "Harmonia Nectere Passus!"

Emerging from the cabinet and into the Room of Requirement, he went for the exit and quickly made his way down the stairs of the hallway, managing to keep quiet until he made it to the entrance of the Slytherin Common Room, where he was met with a surprise to see four wizards standing in his way.

His heart skipped a beat at the sight of Headmaster Dumbledore, Alastor Moody, Bartemius Crouch, and Minister Minchum.

"Mister Black," Dumbledore smiled. "Would you be so kind to join us in my office?"

Bringing up his mental shields, he nodded, "Yes, sir."


Sorry for this being short. Meant for it to be longer. But after watching Game of Thrones 8x05 "The Bells"... I've been depressed about how things are going for my favorite tv show right now. So I don't trust myself to write at the moment. Need to process what I've seen.

Apologies for the spelling errors. I'm trying to correct them.

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I'll see you guys in Chapter 10!