A/N: This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction, so be gentle. It follows the
(well-used plot) of following Snape as he finds a conscience through a
child. I won't continue it unless I have reviews. *hint hint* Please, I
need feed back!! Special thanks to my loyal house-elf Babbitt!! Love ya
much.
Disclaimer: J. K Rowlings owns the Harry Potter universe but I have Snape bound and gagged in my closet. Don't worry, I take him out and play with him every night. *smiles*
"Every great decision creates ripples__like a huge boulder dropped in a
lake. The ripples merge, rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.
The heavier the decision, the larger the waves, the more uncertain the
consequences.__ Ben Aaronvitch"
Part One
"You start...and it's like starting a stone,
You sit quietly on top the hill and
Away the stone goes, starting others..."
Chapter 1:Journeys
The home was large and uninviting. It was hidden away in some dark corner of the forest where few people were brave enough to venture, even in the daylight. Once and a while a couple trekked through the woods to deliver supplies or food to the house. Sometimes they were leading others to the house but the others were rarely seen again. In the small village on the edge of the woods, the people gossiped in small, contained groups about the goings on in the woods but never had the courage to undertake the endeavor of finding out the truth.
Drucilla Dawson had always thought the mediaeval fear to be very assuming and presently, she smiled reassuringly at the elderly store-keeper who had warned her about going ons of the woods. "I'm sure I'll be find. I have protection."
The lady smiled as she placed the parcels into the large brown box. "Ah, I see." She was looking past her towards the store's entrance.
Drucilla turned and smiled.
Severus Snape had entered the store and rested against the frame. He was wearing Muggle clothes and had his ebony hair pulled into a pony-tail. He was donning a dark gray trench coat that flowed down to his calves. His shirt was the same color tucked into black pants that had a gray line down either side of his legs. He was wearing a solid sliver ring on his left hand. He almost looked normal, Dru thought and the idea brought on a giggle, well, normal for Severus.
"Quite the gentleman I bet," the lady said, her Irish eyes smiling. "But not so in bed...."
"I wouldn't know." She replied, sliding the box into her arms. She turned to Snape and gave him a confused look.
Snape smirked, a seldom occurrence. In fact, Dru was sure she could count all the times she had seen him smiled on one hand. "Let me get that." He had taken the box long before she had time to resist. He was heading for the car.
She followed him out, brushing away the folds of her scarlet and purple dress. She straighten her hair and grinned at him.
He leaned over and pulled a strain of her blond hair out of it's bun to hang over her crystal blue eyes. She stared into his black eyes and hesitated for a moment before reaching her hand behind his head and pulling the pony tail out, making his hair fall over his face. He looked slightly annoyed, but his smile remained.
"Come on," He said, jerking his head to the side. The black locks flew away from his eyes.
Drucilla laughed again as he opened the door for her. She glanced him fiddle with the ring on his hand. "How long where you wear that?" She asked.
Snape ignored the question.
"Severus," She began. "Melanie is dead."
Snape shot her an icy glare as he entered the car and turned it on. She sighed and accepted the silence. He'd never forget Melanie, she knew that, but half of her wanted to scream at him to move on. There was nothing wrong in moving on, not when someone was there who could love you just as much as your wife had. She felt blood flood her cheeks. She hated the way he tortured himself everyday. She knew he blamed himself for what had happened to Melanie. It made her so angry to believe there was no way she could convince him to forgive himself. That's just the way he was, too proud for his own good. She shook her head.
Severus and Melanie's story was one of those tragic love stories you read and never want to believe possible. The affair had been star-crossed from the start, even back when they had gone to Hogwarts as students. Maybe it didn't last because of his pride or maybe because of Melanie's own demons but it didn't last. They went their own ways, content to file their affair away as 'what could have been.' But Fate had another plan.
It was in Voldemort's service that they met again. Severus Snape was positioned as one of the Lord Voldemort's powerful companions, posed even to be his heir apparent. Snape was ruthless, cunning, and untouchable by both jealous Death Eaters and Aurors. He was in his prime. Nothing could change that.
Except Melanie coming back. She was one of Voldemort's assassins and many lovers. At first they avoided each other but the love they had tried to bury was still there. They couldn't escape it as soon a dangerous love affair began. Voldemort was a jealous lover but that fact seemed to have slipped both there minds. They were fools and Drucilla never would have believed it all happened if she hadn't been a witness to it.
The paramours met every chance they could. They hid away and spent nights together while during the day, they served their Master faithfully. Snape continued to gain esteem with Voldemort. But Snape's new found power brought enemies and his new found love brought him something he hadn't had before: a weakness. Another Death Eater exploited that weakness.
One night, after Severus had left his wife to do his Master's bidding, the Death Eater entered and attacked Melanie. Melanie was beaten, tortured and raped repeatedly. The Cruciatus Curse broke her mind and she was left blinded, insane and pregnant.
A baby girl was born nine months later. Melanie committed suicide before the child had been weaned. The girl was never named but turned over to Voldemort as he saw fit. The girl was the tie from that cursed past to the tormented present and to the secret of the house.
Drucilla turned her attention away from the story to study the road. That simple, dirt road was the only way towards one of Voldemort's most dangerous weapons. It was sheer craziness of that revelation that made Drucilla laugh every time she considered it. There were thirteen of them that made up the secret that could shift the tide of Voldemort' war, six children, and seven adult keepers. The child was one of those children; she came from a familiar history as the rest of the kids there. Every one of them had been born to Death Eaters, be it through a rape, marriage or mere breeding. The keepers were trusted and skilled followers of Voldemort. Its sole purpose was to establish the next generation of Voldemort's empire. They were called the "Coven."
The Coven House came into view. "One thing I never understood, Master hates Muggles yet he makes everyone involved in this dress in their clothing." Snape said to break the silence.
"He wants us to maintain an air of amenity with the outside village."
"Since when does he wants us friends with those..." Severus stopped himself. Something crossed his black eyes. It was clear even in his unreadable eyes; it was disgust.
She looked at him beneath her bangs. She had noticed that loathing swelling inside him for some time. It was a change that he was undergoing. His once assured gait and snide comments had lacked the fire that was his trademark. He had lacked it for a long time, since Melanie had died. He had changed, becoming even more reserved and jaded then usual. There was only one thing that sparked that fire and still allowed him some semblance of unblemished youthfulness.
"Alchemy!"
Alchemy was the girl child now bounding out of the house calling to him as excitedly as he was to her. She had wild black curls that framed her delicate burnished face. Her eyes were dark gray, almost black and they hid a world of power in them. She was already a powerful witch, despite her young age. Her eyes always frightened Drucilla and she had to force herself to remember she was just a child. Alchemy's slender arms were spread out wide as he swooped to pick her up. The calm of the forest was interrupted by the girl's giggling.
Drucilla enjoyed watching Alchemy and 'Sevie.' They looked innocent, like a family. The girl was named after Severus. Alchemy had been Severus' nickname in school because of his skill with potions. He had passed it on to the baby girl but only because she didn't have a name. The Coven's rules were strict and unyielding, a child was baptized into Voldemort's service at age five. They received the name when they became seven. When they reached the age of nine, they became apprentices to Death Eaters.
"Sevie! Sevie!" Alchemy was chanting. "My Sevie!"
"That's right." He replied. "Now, gimme a big hug..."
Drucilla started laughing already knowing by heart that game. Alchemy threw her arms about his neck and squeezed. Severus made choking noises before pretended to scramble for air.
"My turn!" Alchemy said. Severus complied and soon Alchemy was calling for 'Hair! Hair!'
Two of the Coven Sires had come out to greet them. Sires were the men who had fathered the children of the Coven (with the exception of Alchemy.) Four of the Coven adults were Sires, the other three were whet nurses. Only one of the women had actually been a mother, to twins that were now were Coven.
Declan, the taller Sire and father to the twins, was already unpacking the car and complaining about having to live as Muggles. Liam, his friend, was mocking him casually as he flirted with Drucilla.
"I'm going to be five!" Alchemy said proudly to Severus.
Drucilla saw Severus' smile fade for a moment. She saw the familiar battle going on with his features. He recovered quickly. His smirk returned as he trailed his hand over her face lightly. It barely touched her face and she giggled. It was a habit and Alchemy loved it.
"You two are staying for her baptismal?" Declan said, pulling Alchemy from Snape's hands. "You two are all she was talking about."
"I have business back at London." Snape said.
And as quickly as Snape had proved he was human, he disproved it by becoming his stoic usual self. "He's my ride." She said.
Alchemy looked concerned. "Please, Sevie. Please...stay ."
Severus stared at her with a look of defeat clouding his face. He was already a goner, playfully Drucilla began to count, 5...4...3...2...
"Alright." Snape relented. "We'll stay the night."
"Yea!!" Alchemy said bouncing out of Declan's arms and running into the House. Liam and Declan followed her into the house. Drucilla and Snape trailed.
Disclaimer: J. K Rowlings owns the Harry Potter universe but I have Snape bound and gagged in my closet. Don't worry, I take him out and play with him every night. *smiles*
"Every great decision creates ripples__like a huge boulder dropped in a
lake. The ripples merge, rebound off the banks in unforseeable ways.
The heavier the decision, the larger the waves, the more uncertain the
consequences.__ Ben Aaronvitch"
Part One
"You start...and it's like starting a stone,
You sit quietly on top the hill and
Away the stone goes, starting others..."
Chapter 1:Journeys
The home was large and uninviting. It was hidden away in some dark corner of the forest where few people were brave enough to venture, even in the daylight. Once and a while a couple trekked through the woods to deliver supplies or food to the house. Sometimes they were leading others to the house but the others were rarely seen again. In the small village on the edge of the woods, the people gossiped in small, contained groups about the goings on in the woods but never had the courage to undertake the endeavor of finding out the truth.
Drucilla Dawson had always thought the mediaeval fear to be very assuming and presently, she smiled reassuringly at the elderly store-keeper who had warned her about going ons of the woods. "I'm sure I'll be find. I have protection."
The lady smiled as she placed the parcels into the large brown box. "Ah, I see." She was looking past her towards the store's entrance.
Drucilla turned and smiled.
Severus Snape had entered the store and rested against the frame. He was wearing Muggle clothes and had his ebony hair pulled into a pony-tail. He was donning a dark gray trench coat that flowed down to his calves. His shirt was the same color tucked into black pants that had a gray line down either side of his legs. He was wearing a solid sliver ring on his left hand. He almost looked normal, Dru thought and the idea brought on a giggle, well, normal for Severus.
"Quite the gentleman I bet," the lady said, her Irish eyes smiling. "But not so in bed...."
"I wouldn't know." She replied, sliding the box into her arms. She turned to Snape and gave him a confused look.
Snape smirked, a seldom occurrence. In fact, Dru was sure she could count all the times she had seen him smiled on one hand. "Let me get that." He had taken the box long before she had time to resist. He was heading for the car.
She followed him out, brushing away the folds of her scarlet and purple dress. She straighten her hair and grinned at him.
He leaned over and pulled a strain of her blond hair out of it's bun to hang over her crystal blue eyes. She stared into his black eyes and hesitated for a moment before reaching her hand behind his head and pulling the pony tail out, making his hair fall over his face. He looked slightly annoyed, but his smile remained.
"Come on," He said, jerking his head to the side. The black locks flew away from his eyes.
Drucilla laughed again as he opened the door for her. She glanced him fiddle with the ring on his hand. "How long where you wear that?" She asked.
Snape ignored the question.
"Severus," She began. "Melanie is dead."
Snape shot her an icy glare as he entered the car and turned it on. She sighed and accepted the silence. He'd never forget Melanie, she knew that, but half of her wanted to scream at him to move on. There was nothing wrong in moving on, not when someone was there who could love you just as much as your wife had. She felt blood flood her cheeks. She hated the way he tortured himself everyday. She knew he blamed himself for what had happened to Melanie. It made her so angry to believe there was no way she could convince him to forgive himself. That's just the way he was, too proud for his own good. She shook her head.
Severus and Melanie's story was one of those tragic love stories you read and never want to believe possible. The affair had been star-crossed from the start, even back when they had gone to Hogwarts as students. Maybe it didn't last because of his pride or maybe because of Melanie's own demons but it didn't last. They went their own ways, content to file their affair away as 'what could have been.' But Fate had another plan.
It was in Voldemort's service that they met again. Severus Snape was positioned as one of the Lord Voldemort's powerful companions, posed even to be his heir apparent. Snape was ruthless, cunning, and untouchable by both jealous Death Eaters and Aurors. He was in his prime. Nothing could change that.
Except Melanie coming back. She was one of Voldemort's assassins and many lovers. At first they avoided each other but the love they had tried to bury was still there. They couldn't escape it as soon a dangerous love affair began. Voldemort was a jealous lover but that fact seemed to have slipped both there minds. They were fools and Drucilla never would have believed it all happened if she hadn't been a witness to it.
The paramours met every chance they could. They hid away and spent nights together while during the day, they served their Master faithfully. Snape continued to gain esteem with Voldemort. But Snape's new found power brought enemies and his new found love brought him something he hadn't had before: a weakness. Another Death Eater exploited that weakness.
One night, after Severus had left his wife to do his Master's bidding, the Death Eater entered and attacked Melanie. Melanie was beaten, tortured and raped repeatedly. The Cruciatus Curse broke her mind and she was left blinded, insane and pregnant.
A baby girl was born nine months later. Melanie committed suicide before the child had been weaned. The girl was never named but turned over to Voldemort as he saw fit. The girl was the tie from that cursed past to the tormented present and to the secret of the house.
Drucilla turned her attention away from the story to study the road. That simple, dirt road was the only way towards one of Voldemort's most dangerous weapons. It was sheer craziness of that revelation that made Drucilla laugh every time she considered it. There were thirteen of them that made up the secret that could shift the tide of Voldemort' war, six children, and seven adult keepers. The child was one of those children; she came from a familiar history as the rest of the kids there. Every one of them had been born to Death Eaters, be it through a rape, marriage or mere breeding. The keepers were trusted and skilled followers of Voldemort. Its sole purpose was to establish the next generation of Voldemort's empire. They were called the "Coven."
The Coven House came into view. "One thing I never understood, Master hates Muggles yet he makes everyone involved in this dress in their clothing." Snape said to break the silence.
"He wants us to maintain an air of amenity with the outside village."
"Since when does he wants us friends with those..." Severus stopped himself. Something crossed his black eyes. It was clear even in his unreadable eyes; it was disgust.
She looked at him beneath her bangs. She had noticed that loathing swelling inside him for some time. It was a change that he was undergoing. His once assured gait and snide comments had lacked the fire that was his trademark. He had lacked it for a long time, since Melanie had died. He had changed, becoming even more reserved and jaded then usual. There was only one thing that sparked that fire and still allowed him some semblance of unblemished youthfulness.
"Alchemy!"
Alchemy was the girl child now bounding out of the house calling to him as excitedly as he was to her. She had wild black curls that framed her delicate burnished face. Her eyes were dark gray, almost black and they hid a world of power in them. She was already a powerful witch, despite her young age. Her eyes always frightened Drucilla and she had to force herself to remember she was just a child. Alchemy's slender arms were spread out wide as he swooped to pick her up. The calm of the forest was interrupted by the girl's giggling.
Drucilla enjoyed watching Alchemy and 'Sevie.' They looked innocent, like a family. The girl was named after Severus. Alchemy had been Severus' nickname in school because of his skill with potions. He had passed it on to the baby girl but only because she didn't have a name. The Coven's rules were strict and unyielding, a child was baptized into Voldemort's service at age five. They received the name when they became seven. When they reached the age of nine, they became apprentices to Death Eaters.
"Sevie! Sevie!" Alchemy was chanting. "My Sevie!"
"That's right." He replied. "Now, gimme a big hug..."
Drucilla started laughing already knowing by heart that game. Alchemy threw her arms about his neck and squeezed. Severus made choking noises before pretended to scramble for air.
"My turn!" Alchemy said. Severus complied and soon Alchemy was calling for 'Hair! Hair!'
Two of the Coven Sires had come out to greet them. Sires were the men who had fathered the children of the Coven (with the exception of Alchemy.) Four of the Coven adults were Sires, the other three were whet nurses. Only one of the women had actually been a mother, to twins that were now were Coven.
Declan, the taller Sire and father to the twins, was already unpacking the car and complaining about having to live as Muggles. Liam, his friend, was mocking him casually as he flirted with Drucilla.
"I'm going to be five!" Alchemy said proudly to Severus.
Drucilla saw Severus' smile fade for a moment. She saw the familiar battle going on with his features. He recovered quickly. His smirk returned as he trailed his hand over her face lightly. It barely touched her face and she giggled. It was a habit and Alchemy loved it.
"You two are staying for her baptismal?" Declan said, pulling Alchemy from Snape's hands. "You two are all she was talking about."
"I have business back at London." Snape said.
And as quickly as Snape had proved he was human, he disproved it by becoming his stoic usual self. "He's my ride." She said.
Alchemy looked concerned. "Please, Sevie. Please...stay ."
Severus stared at her with a look of defeat clouding his face. He was already a goner, playfully Drucilla began to count, 5...4...3...2...
"Alright." Snape relented. "We'll stay the night."
"Yea!!" Alchemy said bouncing out of Declan's arms and running into the House. Liam and Declan followed her into the house. Drucilla and Snape trailed.