Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize
Don't forget to hit the review button (:
Violet shivered. She shivered inside, because she was afraid. She had to admit, she was more afraid than she had been standing in front of Voldemort, because she kind of knew what to expect from him. Now she did not know who was sitting in front of her. Well, she had heard of Dumbledore, of course, but what would he say to her, what would he be like? Having Snape sitting next to her did not make the whole situation better.
"So," Dumbledore began, cuffing the sleeves of his midnight blue robes up. "I'm glad to see you are all well, Violet."
This man had nerves, Violet thought. Well, she was well, yes, but she almost died. What was good about that? Something about Dumbledore annoyed her the minute he spoke his first words to her. Maybe it was the soft, gentle voice he spoke in, it did not seem authentic. Or it was the weird twinkling in his eyes that seemed to say: I already know you."
"I can imagine that today was one of the hardest and most exhausting days in your life, Violet, but I'm afraid I have to push you still a little further."
Violet groaned. All she wanted to do know was go to sleep and not listen to this annoyingly calming voice of Dumbledore. Weirdly enough, she really wanted to be in her bed at Malfoy manor, having breakfast with Narcissa and Draco the next morning and at least for some hours imagine they'd be her true family.
"What is it then?" Violet asked roughly, letting Dumbledore think what he wanted about her, she did not have the strength to impress an adult anymore.
"I have to tell you who your true parents are."
Suddenly Violet was so wide awake, agitated and there was suddenly no place she'd rather be and no person she'd rather talk to. Her parents, her real parents. She'd finally be able to find out where she came from, who she truly was.
"Tell me, Professor Dumbledore. Sir, please tell me!" Violet pleaded. She would not be able to stand one more minute sitting at a table with the person who knew who her parents were without having him tell her.
"Your mother my dear, I am afraid to say, is dead. She died fourteen years ago." Dumbledore had a sad look on his face now. His eyes showed so much empathy.
"But my dad, what about him?" Violet asked, voice shaking. She could feel Snape next to her clench, as if he did not want to be part of this conversation. She did not dare to look into his eyes, but was pretty sure he did not look pleased.
Dumbledore took a deep breath and his voice sounded a little hollow when he said: "He is sitting right next to you."
At first Violet could not process what she had just heard. The only person sitting next to her was Snape. But he could not be her father, it just could not be. He was just her potions teacher, he was Professor Snape, strict and unforgiving, hating students who were unable to succeed in his classes,he could not be her father. Trembling she turned her head around, but Snape was not looking at her. He stared at the window, right at the reflection of him and Violet.
"Professor Snape," Violet said softly. She just wanted him to turn around, look into her eyes, so she could see if he really wanted to be her father or if she was a disappointment to him.
Slowly Snape turned his head around. It almost seemed to pain him to look at her. "Call me Severus, will you," he said, nearly choking on the tears he tried to swallow.
"Did you know?" Violet asked, still trying to catch his dark eyes. She wanted to look into them.
Snape shook his head and Violet appreciated every second of this moment they shared together. She knew he was letting his mask down right here in front of her.
"B- but why did she not want me, Pro- Severus, do you know why she left me at the orphanage? I know that I came there as a baby, they told me. Why did she do that to me?" Violet finally could catch Snape's eyes and they were filled with tears, exactly like hers and Violet just could not hold back anymore and cried so desperately. She had rarely cried in her life and never had she cried about her parents abandoning her into an orphanage. But now it was all different, now was the time to mourn about it. Between Violet's sobs Dumbledore said something that Violet could not understand. But then she felt arms hugging her, the second hug she got today and she knew it was her father. He tried, he really tried to put some love in this hug, but he just couldn't. It was rather stiff and awkward. Violet did not mind, she wasn't alone anymore and that was all what mattered.
"Got to bed now, Violet," Professor Dumbledore said, gently grasping her shoulders. "Tomorrow you can talk to Severus. You have so much time with him left."
Violet got up, her legs shaking and she did not know if she was dreaming or not, when she walked up the stairs and fell into her bed.
Despite the eventful day that lay behind her Violet fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and awoke when the bright light, reflected by the snow, crept in her room.