All right, hullo every one. First off, some review responses.
the great bumblebee: Lestrange is not as evil as you think. If I am able to construe any
one thing through this story, I hope it is that good and evil is not as clear as black and white. I'm glad you like the way I portray Salazar Slytherin. I believe that he was far from an evil man. Unfortunately, ambition is often blurred together with evil in the Potterverse. And fear not, for there will definitely be more Severus/Sirius conflicts to come.
J. L. Matthews: Lauralie would like you to know it took a great bit of self-control to keep
herself from turning her drink over onto Severus' head. She is quite proud she abstained from that, though I can't say that what she does in this chapter is any better. You will receive more information about the 'No Girls' rule here. And yes, it applies to all houses. I'm glad to hear my work is up to SR standards. That is about the best compliment you could give me.
I would like to thank all of you who reviewed the story thus far. I've been checking out all of your work, so don't be surprised if reviews from me start popping up in your inbox. Anyways, on with the chapter.
In this chapter: Professor Lestrange voices
concern about a student that you won't expect. Remus Lupin makes an appearance,
causing Lauralie to suspect that her brother's gang is up to something. And
something startling is uncovered about Severus' past.
Lauralie Black and the Cloak of Destiny (YEAR 1)
Chapter 5: Uncovering the Past
"Ah, yes, Miss Black," Professor Lestrange said, approaching Lauralie's perch, "Perhaps you should come with me."
Lauralie glanced at Narcissa who shrugged helplessly. "I was coming after you and I ran into her, literally," she whispered.
If Lauralie had felt miserable before, it was nothing compared to what she was feeling as she followed her Potions Master down the dank dungeon corridors to her office. She wasn't entirely sure whether the teacher knew entirely what was going on, but she knew she wasn't in the mood to hear here words of wisdom and comfort either. And so it was with apprehension that Lauralie shuffled into Professor Lestrange's office.
"Well, well. I hear that you and Severus Snape had a bit of a falling out this morning at breakfast," Lestrange said, piercing Lauralie with her deep brown eyes.
"Um, yes Professor, you see we had a disagreement about an unfair Hogwarts Quidditch rule," Lauralie says.
"Ah, you mean the very much unwritten rule that states that girls cannot play on any Hogwarts house team you mean," Lestrange said, in a knowing voice. "Yes, I had a feeling that rule would trouble you, as it troubled your mother when she was in school as well."
Lauralie felt as if she should say something to that but couldn't think of any words. Instead she nodded in what she hoped was a congenial way.
"You are very much like your mother my dear," Lestrange went on, "And I don't mean merely in looks."
"Everyone keeps saying things like that," Lauralie said,
"Everyone wants me to realize how much I have in common
"Yes, well, that's just the way things are," Professor Lestrange said, clearing her throat. "Listen Lauralie, I'm concerned. I was quite happy to see a friendship blossoming between you and Severus. That's exactly what the boy needs right now."
Whatever it was that Lauralie had expected her Potions Professor to say, that most certainly wasn't it. That is what Severus needs? She was expecting some hogwash about how it was good that Lauralie was making friends in Slytherin, and how happy she was that Lauralie was settling in OK. Not concern for Severus Snape, the boy who most definitely belonged in Slytherin above all other candidates.
"Severus has had a hard life," Lestrange mumbled, she had a hint of pity in her voice. Lauralie knew that Severus would despise the young Professor if ever he found out that she pitied him.
It was then, however, that Lauralie realized how little she really knew about her friend. He was good at the position of Keeper in Quidditch. And he loved Potions above all his classes, for he had a great knack for them. But did she really know anything about his past? The answer, of course, was no. It had been quite well established at that first feast that Lauralie had spent at the Slytherin table that he wasn't going to talk about his parents or his past.
"Where do you live Severus?" Lauralie asked,
taking delicate bites of her stew.
"Disney World," he answered sarcastically.
"No, I'm serious, where are you from?"
"NO WHERE OF ANY IMPORTANCE TO YOU! OR ANY ONE ELSE FOR
THAT MATTER," he shouted, allowing his fork to clang down onto his plate.
Lauralie's mouth snapped closed in surprise.
"Ok Severus," she said, soothingly, "If that's how you
feel."
"It is, thank you," Severus hissed.
Lauralie sighed. She'd stopped asking after that. She rather liked Severus' company, and didn't think that harassing him about his past was a good way to keep things pleasant. Not that it mattered now. To him she was nothing but a Gryffindor wannabe. She thought bitterly. He's had a hard life? Try getting disowned by you father and brother. See if that's easy, Sevi!
"Well, that's none of my concern anymore," Lauralie snapped suddenly.
"Pardon me?" Lestrange asked, looking quite stunned.
"I'm a talent-less Gryffindor to him, and not worthy of his friendship," she hissed, "And I'm supposed to care that he's had a hard life. Well my life is pretty rough right now too. If he needs something he knows where to find me."
"Miss Black, sometimes those of us who need the most help, are the ones who don't know who to ask, or how," Professor Lestrange said gently, "Severus is far too proud to ask for help. Sometimes you have to offer it."
"I've tried," Lauralie snapped, "And he's shut me out."
Professor Lestrange sighed. "If that's the way you feel, Miss Black."
"It is," Lauralie shot over her shoulder as she walked out of the office.
She ventured up the steps, intent on going to the library and finding the Hogwarts' Quidditch rulebook. She was sure the rules had to be written down somewhere. And if Professor Lestrange was right, then there wasn't really a rule preventing girls from playing Quidditch after all. It just wasn't done.
So distracted was she, that she walked into Peter Pettigrew on her way down the corridor.
"Oh, hello Lauralie," he said, there was a slightly fearful quaver in his voice. He was gripping a rather large volume to his chest, and had obviously come from the library.
"What are you reading?" she asked, tilting her head so she could read the title of the book. Human Transfiguration for the Less Advanced Wizard by E. Z. Magic. Lauralie furrowed her brow. Animagi for Dummies, interesting, she thought. "Wow, what do you need that for? Human transfiguration? Blimey, I didn't think we started that till our sixth or seventh year."
Peter turned the color of the Hogwarts Express, mumbling something under his breath. He seemed to be searching for something to say to that.
"There you are Peter," a voice drifted down the hallway from behind Lauralie, "We thought you'd gotten lost. I mean it wouldn't be the first time, eh?"
Lauralie turned around to see Remus Lupin trotting down the hall from, what Lauralie guessed was, the direction of the Gryffindor common room.
"Oh, hullo Lauralie, how have you been?" Remus asked, smiling nicely. He looked rather pale, and the bags under his eyes seemed to be darker than the last time she'd gotten a good look at him.
"Hello Remus, I was just telling Peter here how odd it was that he had checked out such an advanced book from the library," Lauralie said, making sure the keep the tone in her voice neutral.
Something flashed in Remus' eyes. But she wasn't quite sure what it was. It almost seemed like pride for a minute there.
"Well, you know us," he said jovially, "Always looking to get ahead in our studies."
"I'm sure," she said, a hint of warning in her voice. Peter whimpered. Remus' smile didn't even falter.
"Well, I'm sure we've taken up far too much of your time any way," he said, "We'll just be on our way." He placed a firm hand on Peter's shoulder and steered him down the hallway, away from Lauralie and the Library.
Very interesting, what are my brother and his friends up to? She turned and walked into the Library.
~~~~~~~
"Just as I expected," Lauralie shouted triumphantly as she burst into the Slytherin common room that evening. It was a great deal empty, as dinner was still being served in the Great Hall.
"What exactly is just as you expected?" Narcissa asked, peering up from her History of Magic essay.
Lauralie flopped down a very old, very dusty book onto the table, and jabbed her finger at it.
"Not once in this rule book, anywhere, does it say that girls are not allowed to play on House Quidditch teams," she declared, "And I ought to know, because I've read the thing cover to cover today."
"So that's where you've been, sulking in the library," Narcissa said, raising an eyebrow.
"SULKING?!? I most definitely have not been sulking," Lauralie hissed, "I've been researching. What does it matter?"
"Well, try-outs are over, but we won't find out till Halloween who made the team," Narcissa said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm going to try-out next year, mark my words," Lauralie said.
"Oh please, like Ludo'd let the likes of you on his team."
It was Severus. He had just entered into the common room with Lucius. Lauralie frowned. She had pretty much talked herself into forgiving Severus during her time in the Library. After all, Professor Lestrange wouldn't have been concerned with out due reason.
"Severus, you know as well as I that I am quite good with the Quaffle, and…"
"FOR A GIRL, you mean," he hissed, "You are quite good with the Quaffle, for a girl. But it doesn't matter. Because you're still a girl!"
"But it isn't a written rule," she hissed back, "It's just a lousy tradition."
"TRADITION IS WHAT OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY IS BASED UPON, AND YOU SHOULD RESPECT THAT!" he shouted.
"I do, but some traditions are out grown in time, and this one is a perfect example."
"Just like your family's tradition, right Lauralie," he snapped, "You were just that much better than the rest of your family, because you decided to break your family's tradition."
Lauralie was shocked into silence. It wasn't fair. He knew that, too. He knew that she hadn't chose to break the family tradition. He knew that it wasn't her fault. Her mind seemed to move like molasses. She couldn't think of anything to say. She could hear Narcissa scolding him for being so insensitive. Finally, her mind wrapped around something to say. Something she knew would hurt him as much as what he had just said had hurt her.
"Where are your parents, Severus?"
He stopped then. His mouth still open from whatever he had been saying to Narcissa. His eyes grew wide with shock.
"Well, answer the question. Where are your parents, Severus?" she repeated.
"Lauralie…" he started, almost apologetically, but mostly frightened.
She didn't care. His words were ringing in her ears. The taunt about her family playing itself over and over in her mind.
"What do your parents do for a living, Severus?" she hissed, "Where do you live? Where do they live? Why don't you ever talk to them? Why don't they ever write you?"
"Lauralie, please…"
"No, Severus, answer the question. Where are your parents, Severus?"
"THEY'RE DEAD, ALRIGHT," he cried out, "MY PARENTS
ARE DEAD!"
Yes, such a very unhappy note to leave on isn't it. I know last time I said the Quidditch team would be announced, but it just didn't make it into this chapter, midway through Lauralie just decided to do what she wanted, and to throw any plotline I had in mind for this particular chapter aside.
Next chapter: Severus and Lauralie will
have a touching heart to heart. Halloween in the Slytherin common room, and
Quidditch players will be announced…I promise.