Zelda - Then and Now

Disclaimers - See Chapter 1

Harry Potter was losing. But, then again, when it came to wizard chess against his best friend Ron he usually lost.

said Ron, smiling. they sat in silence for a while. They were enjoying the quiet of the Gryffindor Common Room. All that could be heard was the turning of pages in the corner. Hermione was studying as usual.

she said, all of a sudden. Ron and Harry looked up from the finished game of chess.

asked Ron.

said Hermione, as if she didn't realize she was speaking out loud. The potions assignment. It's so much easier the way Zelda explained it to me. Hermione's comment sparked the recollection of the days events, including Zelda Fenley's abrupt dismissal from class.

I don't understand, said Harry. Snape and Zelda were friends. But today they looked like they wanted to kill each other.

I think they were flirting, said Hermione.

'Mione, are you crazy? Snape flirting? Right. said Ron.

Well maybe not Snape. But I think Zelda was, Hermione replied.

I think it's something else, added Harry. I think their history goes back much farther.

What makes you think that, asked Ron.

The way Snape acted toward her when they brought her in from the battle. And the fact that she has a Dark Mark on her arm.

Hermione's face showed confusion. Zelda was a Death Eater?

I don't know, said Harry. I think it's time to do some research, though. There is something terribly odd about Zelda.



What is the first thing you can remember?

The light from the fireplace danced around in the half-emptied glasses of butter beer. Zelda Fenley sat quiet, thinking about the question posed to her.

My seventh birthday party. At the Fenleys', she said.

But you always knew they weren't your parents?

Yes. That part of the situation was never kept secret from me. But where I came from was.

And the Dark Mark?

No clue how I got it. I wasn't a Death Eater.

I know, said Severus. I would have remembered you. But still. There is something about you that makes me think back to the beginning of my stint as a Death Eater.

Do you think you knew me before I came to Hogwarts?

I don't know. But there may be a spell we could use to find out.

Zelda nodded. But then she yawned.

We'll wait until tomorrow, eh?

Zelda nodded again. She rose from the rug in front of the fire where they had both been sitting. But she had to know one thing before she left.

I just have one question for you, said Zelda.

Severus just looked at her.

I don't know why I never spoke to you after I graduated. Stupidity, I suppose. But why did you never contact me? Zelda didn't move after she spoke. She didn't feel like she could. She was terrified that Snape's answer might be horrible. She was also terrified that it might be exactly what she wanted.

I don't know, said Severus.

I don't believe you, Severus. You've never done anything without a calculated reason. Severus stood up. He walked toward Zelda until they were standing only a foot or so away from each other. He looked Zelda straight in the eyes.

I didn't contact you because I didn't want to restrict you to anything. You are a brilliant person. It would have been selfish of me to try to keep you with me. I was much too old for you. You were much too young. I wanted you to be able to do anything you wanted. I wanted you to be able to have anything you wanted.

Zelda stood quietly for a minute. She moved closer to Severus. Inches only separated them now. And then she did something Severus was not expecting at all. She kissed him. the kiss turned passionate, as if both had been starving for the taste of each other. And then Zelda broke the kiss. She stared deeply into Severus's eyes.

All I wanted was you, she said.

It was Severus who kissed Zelda this time. And it was as if the past eight years had never passed. As if Zelda was still attending Hogwarts. as if they had taken all the time spent alone back. And for the first time in those years, Severus regretted his decision to let Zelda go. He decided that he would never repeat that mistake.

Stay with me tonight, Severus said, while pulling Zelda into a tight embrace.

I can't. Not yet, you know that, Zelda replied. Besides, we have an important spell to perform tomorrow, right? Zelda smiled. You wouldn't want to keep me in the dark about my past forever, would you?

No, certainly not, Severus said, with disappointed yearning in his voice.

Well, then kiss me once more for the road, said Zelda.

And they did. And she left.

Severus headed for a cold shower.