The Lily and the Serpent
Chapter 10
Asphodel Vita Snape was born on May 28th, 1996. She weighed a delicate but healthy six pounds and was just as pale as she could be, but her hair was raven black. She was a very pretty child. Snape had not thought it possible that he could love anyone more than Lily. But Lily's daughter, who was also his daughter, stole his heart in a way that was almost too much to bear.
The summer passed in relative peace. Harry visited a few times to see his mother and get to know his half-sister. A small handful of the Weasleys often came with him, particularly Mrs. Weasley, who helped Lily readjust to new motherhood. Still, these happy, albeit rather sleepless, months were tinged with darkness, and often Snape would have to leave in the middle of the night to meet with the gathering Deatheaters.
When the school year came around again, Dumbledore informed Snape that old Professor Slughorn would be the Potions Master now. He might have resented this, except he was given the class he'd always really fancied: Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Lily sent letters to both Harry and Snape quite often. One of Snape's letters read thus:
Sev,
I miss you a lot, my love, and so does Asphodel. It's definitely harder to be without you now that we have a baby. She gets only more beautiful every minute, by the way. I hope you can visit soon. Maybe this Sunday?
All my love,
Lily
P.S. I've been practicing my blocking every day, along with the spells you taught me. Try not to worry too much.
"Sectumsempra!"
Snape walked in on quite a scene in the boys' bathroom. Water was everywhere and Draco Malfoy was on the floor, gasping and bleeding. Harry stood a few feet away. Snape made eye contact with him. The boy certainly looked guilty, but seeing that his stepfather was not going to say anything, he ran.
Snape knelt over Draco and put his hand on the young Slytherin's chest. Slowly, the blood began to recede and the damage was undone. After a moment, he helped him up and guided him to the infirmary, water dripping from both. Neither said a word. Snape knew all too well what Draco was struggling with. He also knew for certain now that Harry was indeed in possession of his old textbook.
"Sectumsempra!"
Snape turned quickly and blocked the spell. Bellatrix hit Harry with a spell, knocking him over.
"No!" Snape rebuked her. None of them had any right to touch him.
He strode over to Harry, who was still on the ground. Even in the dark, he could see the look of horror and betrayal in the boy's eyes. If it had just been the two of them in that moment, Snape would have tried to make things right, to salvage what little respect Harry had ever had for him. But they were not alone, and Snape could only play the part he was assigned.
"You dare use my own spell against me, Potter? Yes…that's right. I am the Half-Blood Prince."
He looked at him a moment longer before following the other Deatheaters.
Harry yelled after him for a long time. "He trusted you! Coward! My mother trusted you! We all trusted you! You'll pay for this!"