A/N: Another chapter! Please review and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own. That by now should be obvious.
Chapter 25- Draco comes to visit
"Are we going to read?" Sarah asked as she tucked one leg underneath her and reached for The Magician's Nephew.
"In a moment" Severus took the book from her hands and placed it back on the table. Taking a deep breath, he sat next to her on the couch. "Draco is coming tomorrow, Sarah. He will be here for three weeks."
Sarah let out a long suffering sigh. "But he is going to ruin everything!" she complained, twisting her ponytail.
"Calm down" Severus put a hand on her knee. "And explain, but do so calmly and coherently"
"He is such a prat," Sarah groaned, "He always acts like he is better than every one else. We are going to end up fighting the entire time and then you are going to be angry at me and I'm going to get grounded and I haven't been in trouble yet and I've tried so hard to be good but he's going to ruin it"
Severus fought a smile. "You have been exceptionally well behaved this past week, Black. You ate your vegetables, went to bed on time, followed directions, even only complained a bit when I made you brew potions. In fact, you seem like an entirely different child from this past year."
"I am trying, Uncle Sev, but he makes me so angry at times. Why does he have to come?"
Snape frowned. "He's my godson, Sarah. He always comes to spend time with me in the summer. It is a special time for both of us."
"You will always take his side like you do at school" Sarah argued, shuffling in her seat. "It will be the two of you against me."
"That's nonsense and you know it. I'll be fair. I have explained to you many times why I have to treat you the way I do at school" Severus tried to remain calm as he ran a hand through his hair. "As far as his treatment of you, I will deal with that as it comes up. However, young lady, it was Draco who found you after your mum died and Draco who brought you to me when you were afraid to come by yourself. He does have some good qualities lest you forget."
"And it was Draco who got me in trouble with you last spring" Sarah shook her head. "McGonagall would never have found us: it was Draco who followed us and then told on us. I was grounded for a really long time because of him" she sulked until she caught her uncle's eye, whose face had hardened considerably.
"Excuse me?" Severus asked icily. "Why did you get in trouble this spring, Sarah? Did Draco pull you out of bed and drag you to the top of the astronomy tower? Did Draco force you to lie to me before that? You were quite fortunate that I was so forgiving. If I had known that you would refuse to take responsibility for those actions, I might have thought twice about that"
There was silence and Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, contemplating Snape's words before responding. "It was my fault" she whispered, her face flaming. "I wouldn't have gotten caught if I wasn't out of bed"
Severus reached over to rest a hand on the back of her head, massaging it gently with his fingers and Sarah relaxed under his touch. "This will be a good lesson for you, Sarah" Severus's tone softened. "Draco can't make you do anything. You will either choose to get along or you can spend the next three weeks in trouble. Draco has the same choice. But I will not tolerate you being rude or ill behaved, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir" Sarah sighed. "Can we read now?"
Severus dropped his hand and opened the book. "Certainly, Black" He leaned back on the couch and Sarah scooted closer to him.
"I'm sorry, I blamed Draco. I know that makes you angry"
Severus wrapped an arm around her. "You're forgiven- just don't do it again. Let's read"
--
Draco arrived the next morning with Narcissa. Severus had wisely sent Sarah upstairs and assigned her a lengthy chapter of reading from an old potions textbook in addition to study guide questions, knowing it would keep her occupied for a time, while he dealt with Draco.
"Hi Uncle Sev" Draco greeted his godfather with a hug, throwing his bag on the floor carelessly.
"Good morning" Severus hugged him back before eying him sternly. "Draco, go pick up your bag and take it to your room. Then you can come back down and say goodbye to your mother."
Draco sighed. "Can't the house elves do it?" he mumbled, but at Severus's raised eyebrows, he quickly obeyed. As much as he loved spending time with Uncle Sev, his godfather didn't spoil him as much as his parents. Actually, his godfather didn't spoil him at all, quite the opposite. But all the same, Draco would rather have time with Snape, than with his father who only knew he existed when he had something to gain. As he turned the corner to go to his room, he ran smack into a body, knocking the person backwards and onto the floor.
Draco smirked when he saw who was sprawled out on the floor, scowling vigorously. "Black, how do you like your view from the floor?" he grinned.
Sarah's face grew red with anger. "YOU were the one who caused me to fall, Malfoy!" She managed to get the words out without yelling, but Draco could tell she was angry.
"Well, maybe you should watch where you are going Black" he suggested haughtily.
"And maybe you should stop being such a prat!" Sarah's voice raised several notches.
"Draco, darling, why don't you be a gentleman and help this young lady off the floor?"
Draco turned at his mother's voice. The children hadn't realized that Severus and Narcissa had seen the whole thing. Understanding his mum's pointed look, he reached his hand down to help Black up. Sarah took his hand and rose to her feet. She was still scowling at him fiercely as her uncle moved to stand beside her.
"Sarah, what do you say?" Severus waited, his hand gripping her arm.
Sarah rolled her eyes at her uncle's request but Snape squeezed her arm to show her he wasn't asking and that he had seen her eyes roll. She was sure she would be scolded for that later. "Thank you Draco" she managed to spit out.
"There now" Narcissa smiled as if everything was better, "Draco, continue on your way" She gave him a little push and turned to Sarah. "Sarah, it is nice to see you again. Severus, I simply can't believe how much she looks like Gracie, all except her eyes. They remind me of her father's except, his eyes were greyer not blue, but still light like hers"
His hand still on Sarah's arm, he nodded. "She does, thank you Narcissa. Sarah, I believe I told you that I wanted you to stay in your room this morning and work on the potions reading I gave you" Severus gave her a disapproving frown.
"I was reading, but I needed help" Sarah explained. "I didn't mean to bother you" Severus noticed that she stiffened and was surprised that there was a bit of hurt feelings in her tone.
"That's alright. You know you can come to me for help at anytime. Why don't you go back to your room and I will come up shortly to help you" Severus lightly squeezed her arm now, his tone gentler. "And Sarah, while you there, maybe you can get control of your attitude before our noontime meal."
"I will try, sir, but maybe I should have it in my room" Sarah suggested. "That would save us time"
Both adults looked at her surprised. "What do you mean, Sarah?" Narcissa asked.
"Because I'm sure I will end up there anyways today" Sarah said dramatically and while Severus wouldn't acknowledge it, he had a sneaking suspicion that she was right.
"Not if you behave. Go now, please, Sarah" Severus instructed firmly.
"Yes, sir, it's nice to see you again Mrs. Malfoy." Sarah gave a small smile at the blonde woman.
"Likewise" Narcissa smiled as Sarah left. She was half way up the stairs when she turned around.
"By the way, thanks for helping Uncle Sev do my room. It looks really nice. If it was up to him, he would have probably painted the whole thing black."
Cissy laughed at Severus's mocked scowl. "You're welcome child. I'm glad you like it" she replied as Sarah turned back around and disappeared up the stairs. "Severus, my dear, you will have your hands full. Why exactly do my son and your niece hate each other?" She looped her hand through his arm as they went back into the study.
Severus chuckled. "Besides the fact that one is in Gryffindor and the other is in Slytherin and they are both headstrong?"
Narcissa threw back her blonde head and laughed. "Good luck these few weeks. I do not envy you. I'll be thinking about you while Lucius and I are off on holiday."
"I'm truly touched by your consideration." Severus said dryly. "You did talk with Draco about Sarah, did you not?"
Cissy patted his arm. "Of course I did, Sev. Part of the deal was that Draco would keep your secret about how you feel about Sarah. He understands the implications, especially in regards to the Dark Lord's possible return. He loves you, Sev, he wouldn't do anything that would put your life in jeopardy, even if it means keeping your secret from his father."
Severus sighed. "Good."
Narcissa unhooked her arm to turn and face him. "Sev, I think Lucius is up to something. He is trying to find away to bring the Dark Lord back. I don't know the details but I have a feeling that this trip is going to help."
Severus groaned and reached to grab her hand. "Be careful, Narcissa. You need to watch your step. Whatever Lucius is attempting to do will probably be dangerous and I don't want you mixed up in that."
She laughed. "Oh, Sev, we made that choice many years ago to get mixed up. Now we will have to deal with that for the rest of our lives. But I will be careful. Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself"
Severus squeezed her hand. "I know better to doubt that you can take care of yourself. Still, Cissy, I don't know what I would do without you."
Narcissa smiled. "I do believe that taking care of Sarah has softened you, Sev. Now, don't look so offended, I didn't mean anything by it. It's nice to know that you value our friendship."
"I didn't realize you needed to be told that I value our friendship, Narcissa"
"I don't, but it is nice to hear it every once in a while anyways." She reached over to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Have fun. I'll keep in touch" She gave him one last look, before turning and leaving.
--
"Now" Snape snarled "We are not going to have three weeks of the two of you fighting. You children will play nice, do you understand?"
After Narcissa had left, Severus requested both Sarah's and Draco's presence in his study. He sat them down and began lecturing right away.
Both children remained silent. "Black, Malfoy!" Severus growled.
Sarah crossed her arms. "I will, only if he does."
"You will even if he doesn't Black" Severus responded firmly.
"Fine" Sarah scrunched up her nose, disgusted at the entire conversation.
"Malfoy?"
"Now, Uncle Sev" Draco began smoothly. "Of course Black and I will play nice. We just had a misunderstanding this morning."
Severus looked at him suspiciously and Sarah simmered at his obvious attempt to get on Snape's good side.
"Good. I'm pleased to know that you are choosing to listen, Draco. Now after our meal, we are going to spend the afternoon in the potions lab. Wipe off that look from your face, Black" Snape said calmly, deciding to ignore whatever his godson was up to at the moment.
Draco smiled. "Good, Uncle Sev. That sounds wonderful." He responded politely.
Sarah's face was slowly becoming red and she clenched her hands in her lap. She knew that she couldn't sulk now that Malfoy had responded that way. She would sound like a spoiled brat and Uncle Severus would scold, which is really want Malfoy wanted to begin with. Why couldn't he see this?
"Wonderful" Sarah stammered, digging her nails into her skin and Draco smirked.
--
The noontime meal proved to be another test of Sarah's patience and Draco wasn't helping.
"Eat your brussels sprouts" Severus instructed as Sarah was swirling them around on her plate. Draco and he had finished a few minutes before, but Severus liked everyone to be finished before they left the table, so they were waiting on Sarah.
"Do I have to?" Sarah asked, fighting hard not to start to whine.
"Yes, you do. Go on now" Severus gave her a frown. "We aren't leaving the table until you do."
Draco groaned. "Just eat them Black. They aren't that bad. I ate all of mine."
"Well, good for you" Sarah responded with a shake of her head. "You can have mine"
She reached to dump them on his plate, but Severus was quick. In one motion he grabbed the plate, set it down, and swatted her hand.
"You are beginning to seriously try my patience, Sarah" Severus scolded. "Eat them now!"
Sarah reached for her fork, but she stopped as an idea dawned on her. If she didn't eat her brussels sprouts, then she couldn't leave the table. Maybe Snape would even send her to her room. And if she was sent to her room, then she wouldn't have to spend an afternoon in the potions lab. Brilliant!
She dropped her hand. "Well, I guess we will have to sit here all day because I'm not eating them!" she replied adamantly.
Severus bristled, but then paused, lacing his hands together. "That would be most unfortunate Black. I know how…heartbroken you would be to miss our time in the potions lab. No, that would never do" He swept out of the room, leaving her stunned.
Draco smirked. "You got caught. You are in for it now. You should have just eaten them"
Sarah groaned. "Just shut it, ok?"
Snape returned with what looked like a glass of a thick, brown potion. He grabbed her hand, and wrapped it around the glass. "Drink" He gave her a look that Sarah had come to know well. Still, she shuddered at the thought of drinking what was in that glass.
She swallowed. "Can't I just eat…"
"Absolutely not" he replied. "You should have done so when you had the chance."
"What is it?" she knew that Snape's patience was thin, but she couldn't help but try to stall.
"It is a nutritional potion filled with the nutrients you would have gotten by eating your vegetables. Now, drink before I tilt your head back and pour it down your throat" he threatened and Sarah glanced at Malfoy who was giving her a smug look.
Sarah closed her eyes, gripping the glass. Taking a deep breath, she drank the potion. She could only drank half of it before gagging. "I can't drink anymore, Snape, I swear"
"Don't swear. Drink some water" Snape handed her a glass of water. Sarah took the water gratefully and drank the whole glass. "Now finish it"
Sarah groaned and Draco responded. "You should have drunk all of it at once" He told her. "That would have gotten it over with"
"Stop it!" Sarah glared, picking up the glass in her anger and drank the rest of it. Severus conjured more water for her to drink.
"That was the most disgusting potion you have ever made me drink" Sarah scrunched up her nose.
"Well, that's the point of it" Severus said with a pat. "Well, I suppose we can all leave the table now. It's time to brew some potions" Severus put his arm around her. "Next time, just eat your vegetables, Black. Draco knows that from first hand experience, but he whined a whole lot more than you and ended up grounded"
"Uncle Sev!" Draco protested and Sarah smiled.
--
"No, Black. You have to stir three times counter clockwise, not clockwise." Malfoy reached over to grab her arm to stop her.
Sarah yanked her arm away from him. "Does it really matter?" She huffed angrily.
Severus didn't look up from the potion he was brewing. "It does. It changes the consistency, which is why your potion was so runny on your exam" he said absently engrossed in his potion making.
"Snape!" Sarah exclaimed as Malfoy chuckled. She knew she was bad at potions, her grade certainly reflected that, but she wasn't about to let him make fun of her for it.
Sarah glared at him and hissed, "You are just trying to make me look bad just like earlier."
Draco shook his head, "actually, this time, I was trying to help. I wouldn't want to get blamed for the bad potion. Why can't you just read the directions, Black?"
"And when will you stop being a brat?" Sarah whispered furiously. "If you know it all and like it so much, then you just do it" Sarah leapt off the stool she had been sitting in and made for the door.
"Black, don't you dare" Severus growled. Sarah whipped back around. Snape had taken three giant steps to stand in front of her. "Go finish your potion."
Sarah's feet remained glued to the floor. There was no way she was moving.
"Move it, Black." Severus reached to grab her arm, but Sarah jerked away from him.
"NO! I'm not going to. You know I hate making potions. And I hate how you two are teaming up on me telling me what I'm doing wrong." Sarah's lip began to quiver.
"Alright" Snape said calmly though there was a distinct displeasure in his voice that he was sure his young niece would hear quite clearly. "You will go up to your room and spend the rest of the afternoon there. Draco and I will finish here and then go flying."
"WHAT?" Sarah screeched.
"You heard me." Severus replied. "You made the choice. We are going to put an end to your stubbornness Sarah. First the vegetables, now this"
"That's not fair. I didn't do anything." Sarah argued.
"That is precisely my point. I asked you to do something and you refused. Hence the punishment"
Sarah glared at Severus's calm explanation.
"If my mum were here, she would NEVER do this. She would understand me. She would be on MY side" Sarah tugged at her braid in agitation.
Snape took a step closer to her and was now towering over her. "That was dirty Sarah" he said in a low voice. "Do NOT use your mother's memory to try to get what you want."
"It's true Snape" Sarah glared.
"No, it is most certainly not. You will now remain in your room for the rest of the night. Would you care to argue more?"
"I really do hate you Snape." Sarah said, tears rolling down her face.
"At the moment, I am sure you do." Snape replied evenly. "But that won't change your punishment. Go."
Sarah turned around and marched out the door. Severus and Draco could hear her stomps and finally the door slam loudly. Severus turned to his godson.
"Are you satisfied, Draco?" Severus asked quietly.
Draco stood up and shifted in his place, suddenly very uncomfortable.
"I really thought that you were growing up some. Since you have gotten here a few hours ago, you have tried everything in your power to goad Sarah into losing her temper. I did think we were past that, but obviously, I thought wrong." Severus made sure Draco heard the disappointment in his voice.
"But she hates me" he whispered. "I know I should hate her too because she is a Gryffindor, but…"
Sighing, Severus walked over to Draco. "Sit." Draco obeyed and Severus sat on the stool that Sarah had vacated.
"You have never given Sarah much of a reason not to."
Draco began to protest, after all, there were times when he was nice to her, but Severus held up a restraining hand.
"One minute you are nice to her, the other minute you are being a prat. It doesn't matter that what house the two of you are in. If you want to be her friend, then just be her friend."
"But what about Crabbe and Goyle? And Potter, Granger, and Weasel? Black would choose her trio of friends. A Slytherin can't be friends with a Gryffindor. Even you hate the Gryffindors and you are a professor" Draco argued.
Severus felt his words cut to his heart. Indeed, Draco brought up truth in his last statement.
"Draco, I feel that I have to be harder on the Gryffindors because they have an unfair advantage over our house. Students in the Slytherin house are…" Severus paused searching for the right words, "often misunderstood by other people. Do you understand that?"
Draco nodded and Severus continued. "However, there are good and bad people in all houses."
"But Slytherin is the best" Draco argued "Dad says so. That some people are better than others."
"Your dad does feel that way. However, I would caution you. If you continue to act that way around Sarah, she won't come to see you for who you are, only for what you do. This summer, there is no Slytherin or Gryffindor only the three of us. Try to remember that, ok?"
With that, Severus rose and walked over to finish his potion, "Finish Sarah's potion and then we can go flying. Not that you deserve it for your behavior."
Draco smiled and did as his godfather said.
--
Sarah Black was having a rough day. After her uncle sent her to her room, she spent the time wallowing in the injustice of it all. Why couldn't Uncle Sev just understand her? Why did he refuse to get that she just didn't like making potions? And why was Uncle Sev taking Draco's side? All of these questions ran through Sarah's mind as she cried into her pillow, hugging Paddy.
After sometime, Sarah wiped the tears off her face and walked over to her window. She felt trapped here. Whatever, Uncle Sev said, Sarah knew that her mum would have seen the situation differently. She needed her mum to make things better. Everything was so not right! Peering out the window, she saw Draco and Uncle Sev chasing the snitch. They looked like they were having fun, while she was stuck in here miserable.
Sighing, Sarah picked up a piece of parchment. She would write to her friends. Harry of all people would understand. She would write him first and then the Weasleys and then Hermione. She would have written Hermione first, but Sarah had a secret fear that she would side with Snape. The boys, she knew, would take her side in a heartbeat. This would make her feel better. Maybe they would invite her to come again and visit. That would show Snape that someone would want her! She furiously began writing.
--
Sarah was bored. Out of things to do, she opted for lying on her bed, sulking. She had written her letters, but now what? She was getting hungry too.
"Agh!" Sarah rolled over on her side facing her window. There was a knock on her door.
"GO AWAY!" Sarah barked. There was no way she wanted to talk to anybody.
On the other side of the door, Snape rolled his eyes. His niece was certainly in a mood. This promised to be a delightful conversation. He remembered why he distinctly disliked children. Balancing a tray of food on one hand, he opened the door with his other hand, walked in and quietly shut the door behind him. Sarah was on her bed, back to the door. Sitting the tray down on the desk, he noticed three letters. The top one read "Harry Potter" in his niece's loopy cursive. He could only imagine their contents and how he was portrayed. He was sure that he was the villain in his niece's dramatic tale of woe. Walking over to the bed, he sat down on the edge.
Sarah felt her uncle sit on the bed. "I'm not talking to you just so you know." Sarah said, back still turned and arms around her stuffed dog.
Snape's eyes narrowed. Severus knew that this conversation would be a true test of his patience. Regardless, he wouldn't let her get away with the disrespect. "You don't need to talk. But you will listen." Snape rolled Sarah over so she was facing him and she glared at him. Severus took Paddy out of Sarah's hands and placed it on the foot of her bed. He knew the toy gave her comfort and security, but at that moment, he wanted her to feel uncomfortable.
"You act like all of this is my fault, Sarah Grace. If you are going to be angry, the only person you should be angry with is yourself. All you had to do was follow a simple direction, that is all, but instead you acted like a child of five, not eleven and refused to do so. Not only that, right now you have been rude and disrespectful to me."
"You are so unfair! You know I hate making potions! You act like it's so easy, but it's not" Sarah argued, sitting up to lean against her headboard. She folded her arms across her chest and her black braids were shaking slightly as she shook her head.
"Silence" Snape growled. "I don't want to hear your excuses. You are never going to learn to become more proficient unless you practice."
"What if I don't want to become better?" Sarah sulked, her light blue eyes flashing with defiance. Severus had not seen Sarah this insolent since before she found out that he was her uncle. He wondered why they had taken two steps backwards.
"It's not a choice." Snape said firmly, putting a heavy hand on her knee. "Unfortunately for you, you are the child and I am the adult. Thus, though you may be loathed to admit it, your hands are tied. You might as well just accept your fate."
Sarah scowled, furious but remained silent.
"You will remain here for the rest of the night and if you don't correct your attitude, maybe tomorrow as well. I brought you some food to eat. Draco and I already had dinner."
"I'm not hungry" Sarah said stubbornly, sliding slightly down on her headboard, shoulders hunched, face scrunched.
"Fine" Snape briskly walked over to her dresser and shuffled through to get out a pair of pink pajamas. He threw them to her and opened the door to her adjoining bathroom. "Go, change, brush your teeth and wash your face. It's time for bed. Maybe when you wake up tomorrow you will be in a more agreeable mood."
"It's only 7:00 SNAPE!" Sarah protested as she caught her clothes and sat up on her bed.
"Yes, and that's the bedtime for naughty little girls who refuse to obey." Snape explained patiently. "If you continue to argue with me Sarah, there are other consequences that await disobedient children. You might do well to remember them." Snape's voice held a warning.
Sarah glared again, angry that he was so calm about the whole matter but walked into the bathroom anyways, doing as he said. "Really, what choice to I have?" Sarah mumbled.
After changing and getting ready for bed, she came back out with her dirty clothes, throwing them into the hamper in her closet.
Severus noticed that Sarah hadn't undone her braids and brushed her hair. He supposed he hadn't told her to do that, but he knew the child was simply being lazy. Still, he didn't want to be the one to untangle the mess of her hair in the morning if she slept on her braids all night. Reminding, himself to be patient, Severus sat down on her bed.
"Come sit down" he patted on the bed and Sarah grudgingly sat beside him. Snape turned her around and began undoing her braids.
Sarah tried to jerk away from him. "I can do it myself" She argued.
"Stop being such a brat." he barked at her, finally losing his patience.
Sarah fell silent, but the tears started coming. She clenched her hands trying to stop them. She wouldn't let him see her crying. Snape gently brushed through her hair, undoing her tangles. He heard her sniffles and his heart softened slightly. She was a good child; she was just in a terrible mood.
"There you go." Snape said, his tone gentler. "In bed now, Miss Sarah" He pulled back the covers and Sarah got beneath them, refusing to meet his eyes and wiping the tears away from her face.
Snape pulled the covers back up, tucking her in tight. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Sarah's stuffed animal. "Would you like to sleep with Paddy?"
Sarah's heart softened and she nodded, still avoiding his eyes. Severus handed Sarah the toy and she instantly snuggled it to herself.
Severus leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Tomorrow, I do hope you wake up in a better mood. You will be writing an essay about your atrocious behavior outlining it and ways you can improve it. I dare say you will have a lot to write about" He stood up and with his wand, flicked the lights off and closing the door silently behind him.
Left in her room, Sarah turned towards the window and began to sob into her pillow. She cried herself into a restless sleep.