Disclaimer: We've been through this. Last time I'm doing this.
Authorish: I did post this earlier, but I noticed an error or two so I had to fix those… now read and review!
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4: The blind one-legged Belgian prostitute~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Harry, Ron and Hermione had gone around the outside of the building after being shut out of the room, to spy through a window. They'd arrived just in time to see Snape collapse and the girl throw her arms around him, crying hysterically. A few lonely tears had trickled down Snape's pale face, and he hadn't seemed to see anything when Madam Pomfrey had given the both of them something to make them sleep.
The three turned away from the window, leaning against the wall next to it. Hermione was the first to speak.
"Was Snape crying?"
Ron said tonelessly, "Uh-huh."
*-*-*
The three were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, mulling over the last hours events when the first rush of people started to return from dinner. Everyone was abuzz with speculations about who the girl was, and especially how she mgiht know Snape. Wild rumors about some sort of affair in Paris were already circulating, though few could figure who might have an affair with Snape.
Hermione was wondering what could make Snape cry, and look so… grieved. She had finally decided the Potions master had no real human emotions. But now… well, it wasn't comforting to have something so out of place in her world of clear cut facts as a crying Snape.
Ron was thinking about what to do with his last days; if Snape was upset like that the end of the world couldn't be far behind.
"So, Harry, what do you think?" Lee Jordan asked from nearby, making Ron and Hermione jump. They had been oblivious to the presence of the other Gryffindor's.
Harry blinked. "I have no idea."
"I tell you she's his bastard child by a blind one-legged Belgian prostitute!"
Slowly, everyone turned to face the Weasley twins. They sat down, Fred grumbling, "It could happen…"
A moment later, much to everyone's surprise, Professor McGonagall came in. Were they going to be told what was going on?
She looked about the room, making sure everyone got a taste of her stern look. She then said, "I suppose the lot of you have been coming up with wild cock and bull stories?"
George spoke up, "Of course not, Professor." He said it impressively innocently, too.
McGonagall snorted. "I know you, Mr. Weasley. You two are probably coming up with the best ones!
"Well, I want you all to know," she was stern once again, "no more. There are to be no more… speculations, about who the girl is. If it is seen fit I'm sure the Headmaster will inform you all."
She headed back for the portrait hole, popping her head back in before she closed. "Incidentally, Potions is canceled for the rest of the week."
The room was silent for a moment after she left. Snape couldn't torture- err, teach?! What was going on?! The silence was broken by a "Woo Hoo!" from one of the Weasley's, and that seemed to signal everyone to start up even taller tales.
Harry suddenly left the room, leaving the other two staring after him. He came back a moment later, a piece of parchment clutched in his hands. He looked like he was in a more than mild state of shock. Wordlessly, he beckoned them over to a quiet corner of the room--or, at least as close to a corner as a round room could have.
"Harry, what's wrong?"
"You look like you've seen you-know-who!"
Harry pointed at a spot on the parchment, which they could now see was the Marauders Map. He pointed at a spot in the hospital wing, where they had just come from.
One of the dots was marked "Sylvia Snape".
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Okay, I realize that it loses most of the dramatic effect because I told you who she is in the last chapter, but oh well. NOW REVIEW!! Also, I realize that I'm just layering shock after shock onto the characters, and it must be getting dull for the reader. I'm going to stop that pretty soon. And the story will get lighter! Though plenty of dramatic stuff too… and just you wait to see all the little romance angst there will be… mwuhahahaha!!
