The Questions We All Have

Backmasking N.

The instinctive tendency to see someone as you knew them in their youth, a burned-in image of grass-stained knees, graffitied backpacks or handfuls of birthday cake superimposed on an adult with a degree, an illusion formed when someone opens the door to your emotional darkroom while the memory is still developing.

Hermione Granger

She should have been happy. This was everything that she wanted. A new, pretty dress, new pretty shoes, pretty hair, pretty makeup and even fancy accessories that she was able to afford without breaking her bank. She was around other beautiful woman and handsome, rich man. Even Lucius, Draco, his apparent girlfriend, and Narcissa were there. She was attending with Ronald, who was making a lively chat with the help more so than the other guests, a note that was brought up off handily when she politely greeted the Malfoys alone. Fortunately, this would be just the standard, single interaction that she would have with the family, though would catch each of the members glancing over at her, each with entirely different looks throughout the night. Narcissa looked as if she had questions she wanted to ask. Draco looked passive and more as if he was insulting her situation in his mind. And Lucius, though he didn't look often, looked over as the towering force above his family, his glare warding her away as if she had any inkling to say anything further.

But she was frustrated because Ron would not stand by her as Lucius stood by his wife. She was frustrated because he was not here to talk him up and make her feel as radiant as tried to look. She was upset because Ron made no attempt to join conversations with those his partner needed to create a good face to face acquaintanceship with. Instead, those same people would comment so casually that people find comfort with those most like them and that his type, the type she chose to present herself with, was one with more in common with the help. Hermione tried to ignore the fact they were talking about her boyfriend but it was hard to ignore the truth, even when others weren't pointing it out. Still, she felt back when she laughed at the joke. He wasn't there to hear her anyway. It's wasn't his party to enjoy... There was no reason for her to be this upset and she promised herself this would be the last glass as she finished her second. Ron though, well... that night ended with the very sober and full Hermione leading the swaying Ron out of the building feeling utterly infuriated but not saying a word.

She's preparing for this future behind her soft expressional mask. She had glanced over a moment ago and saw his glass was higher than the last time she looked. She also knew better than to think his version of fun came from fancy people and sophisticated gatherings. Hermione chases her down her already straining nerves with a very small sip of her crystal champagne glass as it has refilled the small amount which would be the last. She would give up the goblet with the passing of a floating tray that would pass by a short moment later.

"Oh. I wholeheartedly agree, Minister." She would comment charismatically, "I actually started a little organization I called, S.P.E.W., or the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, in my fourth year."

"Oh yes!" His eyes glanced at her and he gave a smile and rose his hand to give a notice before turning back to her. "I did hear about that. Very, very ambitious, Ms. Granger."

The look of genuine interest and agreement that was passed between the high ranking ministers was more of a sensation of euphoria than any of the last few weeks in bed with her significant other.

"Oh?" Hermione asked. "From who?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm not sure," He wasn't looking at her anymore, instead he was looking off to the side. "But I think it was that boy, Severus Snape." His voice was incredibly off-handed and he clearly didn't think about what he said and how it shocked her. He was already gone from the moment, his eyes on a target and a quick mouthing of words were passed between passing people.

"I'm sorry, excuse me, Ms. Granger. Someone seems to be in urgent need of me. Please, excuse me."

She smiled and gave another nod but as her eyes passed by with the walking away of the minister, she noticed in her peripherals the flash of red hair. She watched him, by the bar which wasn't odd in its self, but what upset her was who he was talking to. Behind the table stood a rather pretty woman with long blond hair and what looked like a pretty laugh. She laughed at Ron as he laughed also and with a sting to her heart, she watches him take another full glass from the very radiant, wide-smiling woman.

Her heart picked up when she saw Ron lean against the table. His eyes too focused on the bar miss, his attention to lost to notice her walk out the door in a rush. She walked from the castle, and under the open stone corridor around the impressive garden. The crickets and the toads make their own music that rivaled the beauty of the orchestra inside the party hall. She couldn't help but cry. She couldn't help her burning eyes that hurt more of an embarrassment than the fact Ron seemed to be enjoying himself with another woman. She cried because he did that in front of everyone she wanted to be. That night she would cry alone in the darkness of the empty, unlit courtyard just the same way she had that night of the Yule Ball. Feeling ugly, embarrassed, and angry.

A thought crosses her mind, the ending of which would only make her cry harder.

Why couldn't Ron just be a little bit more... like a Malfoy?

Aven Fields

Aven paced in his room that late afternoon. He was angry at the news of the travel, he was upset about the task, and it was taking everything he had to not knock the reason for all of it out cold. Putting Ember in that position... Snape was throwing away her safety without a care... With his fist balled and his teeth biting harshly on his cheek he turned to leave the room, throwing the shot glass he was holding against the nearby wall, shattering it. He would clean it up when he got back, he promised himself this as he threw the sling on the pack over his shoulder and roughly shut the bedroom door as he left.

With a walkthrough of the ground floor, Aven stepped outside and quickly picked up the sound of his sister's laughter from the pond that lay out of view of the front porch door where he stood. He tried though, he tried to attempt to see over the hill and brush but alas, he couldn't see the shore. He chose to follow the noise of the one-sided chatter, and he listened to the splashing and laughter growing louder and louder, and Aven approached, knowing he would find who he was looking for on the other side of the brush. He would choose though, to wait and watched them from the cover of the nearby foliage. Ember was ankle deep in the large sparkling pond, with her pants hiked up to around her knees and her face directed to the shore. Her attention most likely on Severus, who was sitting on a beached log with a notebook on his lap, and a quill that moved in a sketching fashion. Aven watched as she called to Severus, extending her hand out as he looked up.

He denied without a word, but she was resilient as always and went on to pressure him to come in with her, seemingly arguing with him as if he was responding. He wasn't. Aven would know if he was. His body impulsively stiffened as he heard her pull the same voice she used on him but to Severus. That little girl pleading tone that seemed to have the same effect on Severus because not long after she started, he stood up. With an irritated look, he started from the log and walked to the bank, only bringing Ember to laugh aloud as he trudged into the water shoes, socks and all.

He trudged right up to her and grabbed her roughly at the base of the neck which brought Aven a step closer to exposure as he watched the man's next action with strict attention, his fingers grazing over the wood of his wand. Embers hand went around Severus's wrist as he gripped securely and pulled her backwards through the water at an arm's length. He then stopped, froze a moment while looking at her before slowly, with a straight, solemn expression he pulled her closer to him. Aven released the breath as Severus's harsh, narrowed eyed glare, ended with his forehead against hers and the dropping of his hand.

This was probably one of those private moments he shouldn't have had seen, but that wasn't new, and this wouldn't the first time a twin walked in on another.

He watched Severus turn away from the standing, smiling Ember and start back to the beach leaving her to smile then turn away. Aven watched his sister throw her hands up through the water as she pushes from the ground and starts off in a swim to the floating dock that was floating short ways out.

It only took Severus a few steps once on the beach when the man would slow and tense his shoulders. The brother's eyebrow would curve upwards until Severus, in a straight and intentional motion, turned at the waist and locked eyes with the violet-eyed man. Aven's eyebrow lowered as his lips broke into a dark, mocking smile as he felt the connection made. With a cocky grin, he leaned his shoulder against the tree trunk, his arms crossed and eyes glancing towards his sister who had made it to the dock. Looking back, Aven curved an eyebrow as a promise of testing and he watched Severus stop to check that Ember's attention was elsewhere himself before walking right past the log and into the shade and up to Aven's smirking form.

"What?"

Severus's harsh snap of words cracked through the space between them. Aven looked away and huffed a small laugh while shaking his head.

"I didn't say a word, Severus. I was just watching your little spree there with my sister."

Severus narrowed his eyes and popped his knuckles irritably with his thumb which made Aven's grin larger. In time, Avens eyes rose up the tree he leaned on.

"But since you asked," He breathed as he stepped closer to Severus, stopping eye level with the other man, sizing himself and pushing for the weaker to attack first or back down, "I like you, Severus, I do. We have a lot in common, I can handle living with you, and I enjoy your spanning friendship... however stressful it has become. But. I'll say this,"

Here, Aven drove his finger into Severus chest plate, into a scar that once saved his life,

"I don't like you touching my sister, and I suggest any ideas you have, need to be washed away with the lake water. She is not for you, she deserves better than some mute, x-teacher and murderer."

The smirk Severus gave only angered Aven further.

"What?!"

"Well, I would think that's up to her."

Aven's hand was around the front Severus's shirt, and he shoved the black haired man back, slamming his spine into the tree with enough force to crack his back and splinter the tree.

"Listen here, you fucking git." Aven spat near literal venom as he hung his face in front of the wincing mans. "You're 'going' to stay away from her like that. I still remember what's on your arm and the person you are deep down in that locked basement. I'm warning you... if anything happens to her on this trip..."

With another hard shove that was rewarded with a pained, guttural groan from Snape, loosening his grip Aven looked back towards the beach. Ember hadn't noticed and seemed to be distracted by a passing family of ducks she waved too. In the time he took to watch his sister, Severus had recovered as quickly as he could with what he had. Avens grip was loosened but still held and Severus would watch Avens eyes the man blink once and turn back. Aven stood over Severus though they stood at the same height and they stood staring at each other while the sound of Embers laugher echoed in from the lake. She was insulting the farm dog who had jumped off the dock and from what they heard, was swiming after the duck family.

"Anything, Severus." Came Avens voice, low and carried in the wind. "Especially, if you hurt her." Aven turned his head to look at Severus who could not meet his attention and who would just stare at Ember. "I swear to Merlin, Severus..."

"Your love of your sister is clear, I do not need to be threatened any further."

Aven gave a snarl and slipped away from the shade, his destination being his sister with whom he would never allow the pain of any kind to touch without the promise of a painful destruction and Severus would be no different. He had nothing more say to the man on the topic and walked away knowing that by the next day the two would be back to their normal cold selves towards each other.

It was an odd friendship, but a strong friendship none-the-less.