Chapter 19: The Secrets Of Identity

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Attic, The Sinclair Residence, Unknown World...

There had been quite a bit of time left over before Hermione and the children would make their appearance following the end of their day and even less time for Severus Snape to search the house in a bid to gain more information about the mysterious muggle bloke by the name of Sidney Sinclair. Seemingly all out of options after searching the house quite thoroughly, Snape dared to venture to the little used attic in a bid to find out more about the bloke who's life he now lived. The moment he let down the stairs leading to the darkened rooftop cellar, he had been bombarded with dust and cobwebs of every sort as he moved cursing the enchantress and wishing for his wand as he stumbled into a series of boxes with various markings. He finally reached the light sneezing in the wake of the fresh dust he had caused to stir in the air before settling just enough to notice what looked to have been the video camera Sidney had used for the various home movies he'd watched days prior.

Snape moved toward the camera which had been on the tripod and hooked up to an old television set. With a bit of fiddling, The former Potions Professor managed to turn the various machines on.

He had been shocked to see Sidney himself appearing on the screen directly without doing much directing. He had looked completely different in this video as apposed to his various appearances elsewhere in the photos and home movies. Snape had recognized the look of somber indifference behind his dark eyes as he clung to what appeared to have been a bottle of whiskey as he swayed in the lens of the camera.

{ "This is Sidney Sinclair...what's left of him anyway..."} he began looking directly into the camera. "If you are watching this...if you are watching this I would like you to do your utmost to care for my family in my absence...if you happen to be one of my aforementioned family members...then I am truly sorry that this is the last of me you shall see."}

Snape got an eerie feeling as he continued to watch the man that resembled him on the screen reflecting all the things he felt before being transported to this place as well as the all too familiar self loathing that appeared to be in his lack of regard for his own health.

{Sidney Sinclair's eyes had been heavy, his flesh a sickly pale, and his body weak despite the booze in his system. }

{"I've known for quite a while about my diagnosis and often wrestled between wishing to end my life on my own terms and fight to keep what remains of it...unfortunately my efforts had been proven to have been in vain and as a result I have decided to get all me affairs in order...by the time anyone sees this I will have taken back control of what remains of my life...Hermione if you are the one that discovered this tape...I am truly sorry for the pain that I have caused you and the children...none of what will occur has anything to do with you or our life together...it is simply a choice I made in an effort to end needless suffering your and mine alike. Despite what you may believe at this moment, I did love you...and our children very much and in time I hope that you will be able to forgive me or at the very least remember me fondly when it is all said and done...Well that's it for this video...that's it for me as well I suppose..."}

The video ended with Sidney attempting to switch off the camera but failing in his drunkenness before he had taken the holiday lights into his hand and moving toward the window. Snape shook his head. It was no wonder the family believed he had an accident after attempting to put up the holiday lights. they had not seen the video possibly due to sheer luck on Sidney's part.

One thing that came to mind after having witness Sidney Sinclair's attempted suicide had been COWARD.

Hermione had loved him more than anyone had ever bothered to love the selfish sod and he had the audacity to slink off into the shadows to end his life without her knowledge or at least enlightening her about his condition.

Snape had been besieged by rage as he set to work taking apart the camera in a bid to extract the tape before anyone saw it smashing the offending thing to pieces and throwing it into the fireplace downstairs for good measure.

Sidney Sinclair was quite the coward leaving behind his family with false justification due to fear of what would become of him in the wake of his illness worsening. Severus Snape was not such a coward and quite frankly resented Sidney in all aspects due to his actions.

He made the journey down from the attic in time to see Hermione and the children make their way through the front door.

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The Sitting Room, The Sinclair Residence, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

The boys rushed inside giggling and stripping out of their school clothes on the way toward the downstairs restroom.

"Hi Dad!" they shouted in unison before briefly hugging him and running off.

Snape shook his head trying his best to make due with his current situation after what he had seen of their now deceased father. They had deserved better. Each and every one of them, Hermione included.

"Hi Daddy!" said little Eileen rushing over toward him.

The happiness behind the sweet little raven haired girl's eyes had made him all the more infuriated with the likes of Sidney Sinclair, the girl had clearly favored him and would no doubt have been crushed to learn of his suicide.

Hermione came in behind her struggling with a few grocery bags, to which Snape rushed to assist her with stealing a rather grateful kiss from her in the process.

"How was your day?" she asked taking off her coat and snow covered shoes just as Eileen and the boys had.

"It was uneventful." replied Snape keeping the conversation casual despite his annoyance with the beautiful younger woman's idiotic husband's actions. "I suppose yours was better by comparison?"

Hermione smiled.

"It was the same as usual, cars, paperwork, and of course dealing with our children." she replied rather happily. "But the part that always seemed to make it all worth it is opening the door to find you waiting for me."

Snape smirked.

He had never heard anyone even whisper his presence had made their day being worth something, not even the various woman he took to bed could say the same.

Snape sat the groceries on the counter top and set about getting on with the business of the day's end he had made no mention of what he had truly been up to but the lingering cowardice of his doppelganger continued to aggravate him. He had so much to live for but did little to fight to keep it, giving in so easily at the first sign of trouble and not even having the gall to offer warning to his family before hand.