Disclaimer: Anything created by JK Rowling (I know I only used like one of her characters, but it's based in her world) belongs not to me, but to the benevolent goddess of Hogwarts.

Author's Note: I'm doing my best not to stray out of character for Severus. I do hope I'm doing a good job with him. I'm about to complicate the plot by including the O'Connell family (mentioned in my fanfic Harry Potter and the Keeper of Secrets, and Kieran O'Connell was a character in it), and start bringing in those secrets mentioned in the title. It would be a good idea to read HP&theKoS before reading this, since this is the summer after that and events from that story will be mentioned. Also, it'll help you understand several of the characters a little better (I hope). Anyone looking for Harry should turn back now, I can't think of a good reason for him to be in France, and he's not needed.

Thanks to:

Dedicated to:

~*~

Chapter Three: Dancing, Disaster, and Jonathan O'Connell.

~*~

**Severus's POV**

I was going to complain about the muggle clothes, but I decided not to when I saw how futile it was. Morganna's a very determined woman in her fashion. ((a/n*: no pun intended.))

Time passed irritatingly quickly, and soon we were all preparing for the party that Lucia saw fit to inflict on us.

Morganna was in her dressing gown doing her makeup when I was already ready. She tsk-tsked at me – a new habit of hers which was going to get very old very fast – and insisted that I do something with my hair.

There was the underlying threat that if I didn't, she'd cut it all off.

I gave in and let her tidy it into one of those daft ponytails for me.

Which of course meant she took even longer to get ready herself.

Women.

Admittedly, the end result of her labors (on herself, not on me) was worth the wait. I'm not sure what exactly she called the thing she did with her hair, but it looked nice.

However, if she could learn to do that in less than two hours, I'd be ecstatic.

~*~

**Morganna's POV**

I was a little nervous about this; I hadn't been to one of Lucia's parties since my fifteenth summer. But I didn't look nervous, and that counted for something.

I wore my mother's pearl and diamond choker, the one I loaned to Morag for the Yule Ball, with matching earrings. I was proud of my hairstyle, it took forever and it looked great, with ringlets flowing down the back and a braided bun at the back of my head. My dress was a silver version of the one given to Jenni, and it had been Gloria's.

Everywhere I went in this house, I encountered her belongings. Even among my effects.

It got somewhat irksome, but I wasn't about to say that around Renè, who had been loyal to her even over Papa.

~*~

**Morag's POV**

The dress Renè provided was lovely. It was a white strapless dress, with a full skirt that reminded me of the girl in that muggle story, Cinderella.

Luckily there weren't any glass slippers. Knowing my luck, they'd have broken.

No, instead there were matching white satin heels, with what appeared to be diamonds set on the toe. Very chic. There were the loveliest long white gloves, and a white fur wrap.

Renè seemed to have a thing about symmetry, because Babette was wearing the same ensemble in black. This may be petty, but I was secretly pleased that there were no diamonds (I checked with Renè, that's what they were. Mother's family must have been insanely rich, from the way people spent money like water) on her shoes.

Este had a similar dress, in green. Only hers was gathered under the bust, rather than at the waist.

I wore my locket, the one with my parent's pictures in it, and a bracelet that Renè told me belonged to my Aunt Gloria.

~*~

**Lucia's POV**

I watched them all come into the ballroom, I was standing close to the stair. Morganna looked lovely in her dress. It had been Gloria's, but she'd never worn it.

I wore a simple black strapless silk dress, straight up and down, it suited me fine. I caught sight of some of the other wizarding folk who I'd deigned to allow come.

I suspected that Morganna's poor husband was going to have a fit when he saw who walked in after he escorted his wife in.

I couldn't exactly not invite Kathryn O'Connell and her husband, she was one of the biggest fans of Les chiffons aux Richesses, she came to all our shows, bought all our robes, and she just HAD to meet the lovely owner, my darling little sister.

I'm betting she didn't know that Anna Montaque (the name Morganna used for owning the wizarding fashion house) was none other than Morganna Snape, the mother of her husband's 'little accident' as she so delicately termed it.

I always wanted to punch her when she called Morag a 'little accident'.

Severus always felt like an Unforgivable Curse or three when anyone mentioned Jonathan O'Connell.

I felt like yelling 'Now's your chance, Sevvy, let the prat have it!'

But I didn't want to get in trouble with Morganna, since she'd just given me my job back.

Sigh.

"Mother," it was Clayton. I wondered where his father had gotten to. "Mother, don't you think it was rather tactless to invite the O'Connells?"

"Clayton, darling, you are far too intelligent for your own good." I smiled patronizingly, the way I always did when I knew he was catching on and I wasn't prepared to say anything aloud.

He gave his usual response, ("But you love me anyway.") and went off to find Babette.

A girl I have always thought truly was too intelligent for her own good. One day, Babette LaJoie was going to find that her mouth would get her into a situation she wouldn't be able to talk her way out of.

In the meantime, I meant to enjoy my party to the full – especially the anticipated fireworks between the Snapes and the O'Connells.

~*~

**Kieran's POV**

Mother was ecstatic when she found out that we were invited to a party at the Montaque Mansion. We were in Paris for yet another one of those fashion parades she so adored, and Ms. Montaque's sister's secretary sent us the invitation.

So here we were. Father looked as though he knew something Mother and I didn't – and then I saw Mrs. Snape.

And remembered the name on the picture I've always carried.

Montaque.

Oh, shit.

~*~

**Kathryn's POV**

The first person I saw when I walked in was Morganna Snape.

What on earth was she doing here? The silly idiot that carried my husband's baby fifteen years ago. I didn't quite understand.

"Kathryn?" Jonathan asked me. "What's the matter?"

"Isn't that your ex?" I demanded scathingly, pointing at her. I could hardly believe she could afford what she was wearing.

((a/n: Kathryn has a very low opinion of Morganna. Now, for all you pedants, yes, Kathryn did know Morganna at school. But no, Kathryn was not smart enough to bother knowing Morganna's last name. Which is how it's possible for her to be so stupid and not know that Anna Montaque and Morganna Snape is the same woman.))

Jonathan glanced past me. He looked speculative – evidently he liked what he saw. I stepped on his foot. "What is she doing here, Jon?"

"Dancing with her husband." He replied promptly. Pedant.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." I snapped. Realizing that my husband was not going to be forthcoming – or he just didn't know – I asked someone else.

"What is she doing here?" I asked the first person I saw, an elderly butler from the looks of things.

He looked offended. "Miss Anna is here because it is her house, madam. Surely you knew, the party is for Miss Anna."

My jaw dropped. "Anna?"

"Anna Montaque. Well, Snape now. But she uses Montaque for her business." The irritating little man was actually grinning at me now! "Was there anything else, madam?"

"No." I turned around, to see Jonathan with that same grin plastered across his face. "You knew!" I accused.

"Of course I knew, Kathryn." He said patiently. "You did want to meet the woman who owns the fashion house that created damn near all your robes, I just didn't tell you that you'd already met her. Much more fun this way."**

"You can't let Kieran see that daughter of hers." I snapped. "We're leaving."

That wiped the smirk of his face. But it was back pretty quickly, to my surprise. "Kieran knows already. He found out during the year. He's quite fond of his older sister." He looked as though he was keeping something back from me. I decided that I really didn't need to know what.

~*~

**Babette's POV**

Morag walked past me, chatting with that friend of hers, Este. Este didn't seem used to all the servants here to cater to her every whim, but Morag was adapting fast.

I guess it was in her blood or something, because Miss Anna looked to be in her element.

Clayton came up behind me. "Jealous, Bette?"

"Of that creature?" I snorted derisively. "Don't be stupid."

"Admit it." his tone was wheedling. "She's got what you want. Her family's rolling in money, they're 'respectable', and she could probably get a small country for her sixteenth birthday if she asked nicely."

"You've got that too." I pointed out.

"Yes, but I'm your friend, you've known me forever."

"How I wish I didn't." I replied, irked.

"Oh, that hurts. That really hurts, Bette." He said, mock-hurt. I tried my hardest not to laugh, but failed miserably.

Clayton beamed as Morag turned to see what the commotion was about.

"Curiosity killed the cat, cousin mine." He said pompously to her.

Morag muttered something to her friend and turned around with her nose in the air.

~*~

**Este's POV**

I didn't think that Babette liked Morag very much, neither, for that matter, did Clayton. He seemed nice enough, though, like the Montaque's answer to Fred and George Weasley.

"Pompous arse." Morag muttered to me. I got the feeling that whatever it was they felt for her, it was mutual.

"I'm sure he's just joking around, Morag." I replied, not really wanting to be dragged into some sort of weird family feud the first day I was there.

"Sure." Morag sounded skeptical, but she dropped it.

I glanced back to see Clayton and Babette swirling out onto the dance floor among the muggles. Morag had turned to look as well – she looked positively envious. I guessed the sort of friendship Clayton and Babette possessed was something to envy, certainly.

~*~

**Morag's POV**

"Miss Morag?"

I turned to see Renè, the butler, beaming at me. "You like the dress, Miss Morag?"

"I love it!" I exclaimed, with complete honesty. It was beautiful.

"It belonged to your grandmother when she was younger." He told me. "She looked a lot like you, Miss Morag. The mistress was very nice to me."

I wasn't really sure what to say, but I did my best. "I never met my grandmother." I hoped that sounded polite. "But Mother's mentioned her a few times."

He frowned, and I thought for a moment that I'd offended him. But he was smiling again in a moment. "Miss Gloria would have liked you, Miss Morag."

I tilted my head, as Este looked curiously at me. "How did Aunt Gloria die, Renè? I got told it was Crohns, but I did the research, and her symptoms weren't the same as the advanced stages of Crohns."

Now I knew I'd hit a nerve. He almost literally flinched.

"Miss Gloria's father said she died of Crohns, so she died of Crohns." He responded in a tone that brooked no argument.

That was interesting. I knew she couldn't have – like I said, I did the research, and things didn't match up. So Grandfather was involved in her death? Montgomery never mentioned that…

~*~

**Jonathan's POV**

I was watching Morag. She stood with a friend of hers – from England, I surmised, as I'd seen the girl's aunt before – and that butler of Morganna's. He looked nervous, as if she'd said something worrying, and then he left them abruptly.

Kathryn was still scowling about how Morganna Snape was her hero, Anna Montaque. She watched as Morganna and that husband of hers danced, chatted, and generally fitted in.

Something Kathryn'd been trying to do all her damned life.

The perfect socialite, hostess, and trophy wife, my father had told me. She'd be a good hostess, she'd look good on my arm, and her family had all the right connections.

Quite frankly, I'd rather have married Anna.

I had a feeling that several people would have turned on me with wands if I ever expressed such a sentiment. Severus Snape, Kathryn, and of course, Anna herself.

Morag would probably have something to say about it as well. I know that Luci would laugh in my face and tell me all the different ways Snape would murder me. Whereas the other sister, Lacci, would skip the small talk and just murder me.

Lacci was a bitch, and she enjoyed tormenting her younger sisters. But she was also of the opinion that she should be the only person allowed to do so. That and she never liked me anyway. She'd kill for – pardon the pun – an excuse to murder me.

So, I watched 'my daughter' (I suspect that I'd be murdered for voicing that thought aloud as well), and was quite proud of what I saw. She took after her mother, clearly, but she had my eyes, my nose, and my tone of voice as well, from what I'd heard from her and other people. Kieran sounded frighteningly like me, and according to Luci, Morag was a female (and much prettier) Kieran.

She saw me watching her, gave me the strangest look, said something to that friend of hers, and walked over.

Thank the lord, Kathryn had gone off to talk to some other ladies. I could just imagine what she'd say if she saw Morag walked over to me.

Shit, for that matter, I could imagine what Severus would do…

But it was too late for those thoughts, because she was there already.

"So." She said, skipping the pleasantries. "You're my 'natural father'." Her tone of voice was mocking, and she made no bones about the fact that she didn't like me or trust me much.

She was honest, and I felt inexplicably proud of her. Anna and her husband did a good job of raising her.

"So they tell me." I replied urbanely. Her mother was a 'lady of quality', whereas my wife had money and no class. Snape definitely got the better end of the bargain.

She tilted her head and examined me. I automatically attempted to present my best side, and gave up when I saw the amused light in her eyes.

She reminded me of her mother, but bolder. Anna had those sorts of thoughts, but she never acted on them, or let them show. Well, she tried not to.

"You're not much to look at. Why'd Mother go anywhere near you?"

I winced. That was blunt enough.

"I'm told she was unhappy at the time and flattered at my attention." I offered.

Morag shrugged. Evidently she'd heard that too. "Maybe she was just out of her mind at the time." She decided aloud – possibly for my benefit – and went back to her friend.

~*~

**Jenni's POV**

I saw that O'Connell prat, whatshisname. What was he doing there? I wondered what Severus would do when he saw him. Nothing good, I imagined.

A movement on the other side of the room caught my eye.

And went still.

It was Severus. He'd seen O'Connell.

I wouldn't have changed places with Morganna or O'Connell for all the galleons in the world.

~*~

**Morganna's POV**

I was discussing comparative magical law with my sister's ex-husband's brother, Antony Thorne, when Severus turned to say something to Antony's wife, Cecelia, and stopped.

"What's the matter with Severus?" Antony asked me, curious. I suspected that tales of my husband had been carried around the family by my sisters, and wondered which one got to Antony first.

Probably Lucia.

Which would make Antony's curiosity the sort of curiosity one had about a particularly strange new life form.

"Oh, he probably just saw someone he knows." I replied lightly, turning.

Perhaps I have some sort of talent in divinity, for my guess was closer than I thought.

Jonathan O'Connell was here.

I wondered if I should consider fratricide, and all the different ways I could argue justification in court.

There were several people who would be begging for Lucia's head on a plate before the night was over.

Severus among them.

"Morganna, love, what is O'Connell doing here?" Severus at his silkiest. I winced.

"I don't know, Severus. I'll find out, though." Oh yes, yes I would.

Lucia…

…was walking towards us.

"Anna, Anna darling!" she called. "Old friend of yours over here, come say hello, you too, Severus, come, come," she was dragging Kathryn and Jonathan.

Could the night have gotten any worse? I think not.

"Jonathan," I greeted him, somewhat distantly. Severus was like a walking iceberg behind me. He clamped his arm possessively around my waist, and I knew Jonathan hadn't missed it.

"Anna, Severus, how lovely to see you." He looked as though he might offer his hand to Severus to shake, but evidently thought twice. Severus had once embarrassed him by ignoring his hand before, not even Jonathan was stupid enough to try the same thing twice.***

"O'Connell." Severus said, coldly. Not distant, obviously icy.

Who could blame him? I didn't.

"Well, Anna, how are you? I saw Morag earlier," and I felt Severus's arm tighten around me. Any tighter and I was going to have trouble breathing. "she looks lovely. Just like you at her age."

"Thank you, Jonathan. And Kathryn, how are you? I saw you at the last Les chiffons show, will you be attending this summer's collection?" I asked, in an attempt to change the subject. I didn't want to discuss Morag, Kathryn didn't want to discuss Morag – I suspect Severus just didn't like hearing Jonathan say her name.

I could've really used a glass of wine right then.

Or a tranquilizer.

~*~

Author's Note:

When I started writing A Summer of Secrets, I hadn't yet finished Keeper of Secrets, so it was all still fresh in my mind. It might help get a clearer picture of Morag if you read Keeper of Secrets first, just in case you haven't already.

A lot of the names are coming from people at my school, their middle or first names. For example, Clayton and Antony are from the same person. His first name is Clayton. I'm not sure that I've spelt either name correctly, but I don't care. I need some more names, so if you know any you think I could use that would fit, if you'd stick those in a review, I'd be very grateful. Names already collected:

Caroline, Rose, Joseph, James, David, Anne, Janice (my sister's name), Stephanie, Erin, Jessica, Justine, Finau (it'll be tough to get that one in, but I'm gonna try), Elli, Natasha, Lee or Leigh.

*What a lot of author's notes I am using. Nyah, nyah, nyah, expect more.

**Jonathan seems to take childish pleasure in this sort of thing. Some people just never grow up.

***Another thing from a role-play. They crop up a lot in my stories, be warned. Though, in the role-plays, Morganna and Severus have baby twins…poll! Who thinks the Snapes should be gifted with more children? Say so in a review and maybe the Snapes will be once more hearing the pitter- patter of little feet. Though clearly any babies would not be able to be born in this story…it's only the summer long…