[Disclaimer] As I have said repeatedly, I do not own anything created by JK
Rowling. If I did, I imagine I would be rolling in money, which I am not!
Author's Note: I figured chapter 13 would be a good chapter for things to start going downhill, as the chapter-title may suggest. I do have a general outline of what's going to happen in the next story, and in the next few chapters I'll be setting the scene for that until I finally get around to finishing this story and starting that one. As I've got quite a few other stories that I'm working on, don't hold your breath!
And time for me to remember there's such a thing as a P L O T, which means I better quit obsessing about pairings and get with the story. I will, promise, cross my heart! But Ron and Harry are still going to suffer…miserable and alone. Though Ron may cheer up a bit. Elena's a determined little Montaque.
Dedicated to: my best friend Erin. Happy Birthday! (Erin turned 15 on June 21st)
~*~
Chapter Thirteen: Trouble In Paradise
~*~
Morganna and Severus had decided on one boy's name and one girl's name. Well, Morganna and Jenni did and then Severus just agreed.
Isabella Christia Snape, or Severin Julian Snape. Both women had liked the idea of another little Sevvy running around. Morag had rolled her eyes and prayed for a girl.
Severus was just hoping nothing would go wrong.
But this is the Snapes, and there is Voldemort on the loose.
Perhaps that was just a little too much to hope for.
~*~
The girls had taken to having slumber parties almost every night, and tonight was no different.
"Can't you just see it, though?" Ginny grinned at her friends. Elena had been quickly accepted into the girls' circle, but Elysoun was not trusted and spent the nights in her own chamber, sleeping, or trying to listen through walls.
Hermione nodded, grinning, and threw her arms out wide. "George and Este Weasley cordially invite you to their 100th anniversary…" at which point she was stopped by a pillow to the head from Este.
"That's it! Pillow fight!" Morag shouted, and they all grabbed various pillows.
~*~
A good sound pillow-whapping* later, the girls were sound asleep and covered in feathers.
Except for Morag and Hermione.
The two of them sat there, in the silence, in the dark, thinking.
Well, brooding, if you want to be accurate.
"Can you still do it?" Hermione broke the silence.
"Do what?" Morag asked, as if she didn't know…
"Summon the Keeper."
Morag was silent a long while. And then she replied. "Yes. I can."
"I read up on it, when you were kidnapped." Hermione remarked quietly. "It's quite an amazing feat to be able to do that."
"I know." She paused, thoughtful. "The Keeper has Her limits, you know. They're just further away than anyone else's. If I really wanted to, I could probably have her write my name in the stars."
"I…wow. The risks you took when you tried…do you know what could have gone wrong if you'd failed?" Hermione breathed.
"Yes." Morag said simply.
"He's coming back, isn't he?"
"Yes."
"Do you think the wizarding world is prepared for that? Or the muggle world, for that matter?"
"I very much doubt it. We won that battle by sheer luck. The worst is yet to come."
~*~
"Vengeance will be mine." Voldemort told his loyal Death Eaters. "England is within my grasp! The WORLD is within my grasp! I will have my vengeance, and all will pay for the mistakes of the Snapes…none will defy Lord Voldemort!"
"Perrault has the key to the Snapes." Malfoy – yes, Lucius Malfoy – told his master. "She is on her way, master."
"Good. Let the word be spread – blood will be shed. Oh yes…blood will be shed."
~*~
The next morning, they ate in silence.
The summer had begun so…hopefully. As more people gathered at the Montaque mansion, so had hope, and happiness, and laughter.
As the cold, harsh reality hit them…all that hope began to fade.
No more laughter.
No more happiness.
No more hope.
Even Morganna's joyful news of pregnancy could not shake the dark cloud.
Severus's arm was around his wife's waist, protective. He was not yet sure what he protected her from, but it was definite, he would not lose her again.
Lillias made an attempt at conversation. The vibrant and vivacious Lillias Swann was full of life, she was always on the go. Nothing could slow her down, and she was determined that this summer would be a summer to remember with smiles. "Anna, have you picked any baby names?"
That certainly started the conversation.
Morganna nodded, and they all waited to hear them. "For a girl, Isabella Christia**, and for a boy, Severin Julian."
Molly nodded approvingly, thinking the names would suit a Snape. "I like the girl's name, Isabella Christia."
"My family can trace all the way back to the French royal court, and the first recorded magical Lady Montaque was Isabelle Montaque, and Christia was her granddaughter." Morganna explained. "I like using family names. Traditional, I suppose."
Jenni grinned. "If it's a boy, we'll have another Sevvy on our hands."
"What if it's twins?" Narcissa asked.
Severus groaned. "Don't even suggest that, Cissa!"
Gerad grinned at his brother in law. "Twins are a Montaque tradition, Monk- I mean Severus." Gerad stopped himself before he said 'Monkey Boy'. "I mean, there was Lucia and Annette – poor sweet, she died when she was a baby – Elena and Elysoun, there's twins all over the place."
"And me and Ame," Jenni put in. "You people are just surrounded by them."
"Piers and Avialle." Morag added. "They're twins."
"Sylph and Nymph Montaque." Lillias recalled the bitchy Sylph and quietly charming Nymph.
"Well, there you have it Sevvy." Narcissa said. "Twins is a definite possibility."
~*~
**Back in England**
"Pansy! Pansy!" Daisy called her older sister.
"What? I'm busy!" Pansy shouted.
"It's that Zabini girl." Daisy said impatiently. "And Rosy's being a pain, so you better get your act together. Mummy's going to be home tomorrow!"
"Get out of the way, Daiz." Blaise drawled. She was starting to regret saddling herself with Pansy Parkinson. Allying with Snape would have been the way to go. The girl was quality Slytherin, and Blaise respected her.
Daisy moved wordlessly, and Blaise sauntered into the Parkinson home like she owned the place. Blaise Margot Zabini learned at a young age that to get anywhere, she had to go somewhere. And go there in style.
"Blaise, I'm so glad to see you! Draco won't reply to any of my owls!" Pansy wailed.
"Gee, I wonder why." She replied sardonically. "Wake up, Parkinson. Snape claimed the prize before you left the starting line."
"Fuck you, Zabini."
"No thanks, Parkinson. I don't swing that way."
Pansy hated the way Blaise turned everything – including Pansy – into one big joke. Sarcasm and bitterness seemed about as close as you could get to manners and friendliness from Blaise Zabini.
"Quit fucking around." Pansy snarled. "This is serious."
"To you. To me, this is just light entertainment. The real fireworks start when Snape gets back from France. Watch your back, Parkinson. The girl's a coldhearted bitch, and you'd do well to remember that."
"I heard she wasn't so coldhearted after all. I also heard the Potter idiot is head over heels for the veela whore."
"You'd better change your tune before we get back to Hogwarts." Blaise advised. "Malfoy and Snape aren't likely to take kindly to you the way you are. Christ, Parkinson, you really, really need to wake up. We need them, they don't need us. Slytherin girls' social standing relies solely on what Morag Lillith Snape thinks of them. It's not like we're a popular house. Shit, we're probably lower than Hufflepuff when it comes to social standing. Relying on your looks is a bitch when you're not allowed out of Slytherin."
"I will get Draco back." Pansy vowed.
Blaise remained silent.
"I will." Pansy repeated.
~*~
**Back in France**
Harry turned away from the window.
Down by the lake – Harry could see – Morag and Draco were arm in arm, walking and talking, planning and dreaming…hoping and wishing…
Harry couldn't bear to watch them. But he was drawn to the sight…like a moth to a flame.
He watched as Draco wrapped his arms around Morag's waist, swept her off her feet and kissed her soundly.
Harry's heart twisted. That should have been him down there…her in **his** arms.
Ron laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Easy there, Harry."
"It's just…"
"I know." Ron said wryly. "Another guy's got his hand's on your girl. Know the feeling."
"Hermione?"
"Yeah." Ron went almost as red as his hair.
"She really likes Viktor."
"I know. I just want her to be happy."
"Guess so."
"Morag's happy with Malfoy. Hermione's happy with Krum. What a pair, eh? We've even got the same sort of girl trouble at the same time." Ron tried to lighten the mood.
"What a pair." Harry echoed.
"Well, you…be okay, okay?" Ron prodded his friend. "Okay?"
"Yeah. Okay." Harry nodded and Ron walked out of the room.
Harry turned back to the window.
~*~
*All hail my friend Rehan…never would have heard of 'whapping' if she hadn't whapped Arocan…golly gosh that's a cool word…whap, whap, whap! It's official! My new line is: Flamers will be whapped!
**In honor of my favorite Lily, one of Isabella's nicknames will be Chrissie, in the fine Montaque tradition of using middle names. Maria, Lilli…Chrissie! And Severin will – naturally – be another little Sevvy.
Author's Note:
Okay, what you all think of the baby names? I like them…I was really, really tempted to name the girl something like 'Marie Susanna'…but I really liked 'Isabella Christia' so I stuck with it. In role-plays the twins are Christabel Lily and Luc Ti-Jean, but I decided against those names for the story. There will – eventually – be a story where Isabella and/or Severin will be main character/s, but between then and now will be as follows:
A sixth year story.
A seventh year story.
An 'After Hogwarts' story…the planning of Draco and Morag's wedding, the wedding, the reception and the messiness that follows. The insanity continues…!
After that story, I'll start working on Isabella and/or Severin's years at Hogwarts. I'm not sure if I'll do a complete series for the second Snapes, but I'll definitely think about it. I mean, in that one, of course, could feature Draco and Morag's children…yes, I think I might just do a really big series…look at it so far, I've got 'Once Upon A Time', which is where it all really begins, with Morganna and Severus. Next there's 'One Old Owl', which is just the reminisces of the Montaque owl, followed by 'Harry Potter and the Keeper of Secrets', where we meet Morag Snape properly. The next story is this one here, 'A Summer of Secrets'. I am planning to branch out and give various Montaques stories of their own. For example, what's with Lacrimosa Perrault? The vicious older Montaque sister, this woman has a mean streak a mile wide. She tortures…torments…taunts…not even Morganna can forgive the things Lacci has done.
Then there's Thamala Blake. Where'd she come from? Why's she the way she is?
Who's curious about Lucia Montaque's 'record'? It was mentioned briefly in Keeper of Secrets…you don't actually get told **what** the record is…Morag claims it wouldn't translate. I know what it is, and Morganna Snape blushes at the very mention of it. Tee hee…I'll let you keep guessing on that one, though looking at Luci's personality, the things she's reputed to do, it should be obvious.
So, clearly, I have big plans. I don't know if I ever will get all these stories done. I want to, definitely. Knowing me, if you let me go, I'd probably keep going until Draco and Morag Malfoy had grandchildren…! But, since this author's note has been so long and informative, I'd best get going. Review, please, darlings I live on feedback! Did you like my story? What do you think of my big plans? Got any ideas for me? Like, is there any particular thing you want to hear about? (Me personally, I'm a bit curious about the Sylph/Piers/Morag thing that was mentioned in chapter three of KoS.)
Toodles,
Adele Elisabeth
Author's Note: I figured chapter 13 would be a good chapter for things to start going downhill, as the chapter-title may suggest. I do have a general outline of what's going to happen in the next story, and in the next few chapters I'll be setting the scene for that until I finally get around to finishing this story and starting that one. As I've got quite a few other stories that I'm working on, don't hold your breath!
And time for me to remember there's such a thing as a P L O T, which means I better quit obsessing about pairings and get with the story. I will, promise, cross my heart! But Ron and Harry are still going to suffer…miserable and alone. Though Ron may cheer up a bit. Elena's a determined little Montaque.
Dedicated to: my best friend Erin. Happy Birthday! (Erin turned 15 on June 21st)
~*~
Chapter Thirteen: Trouble In Paradise
~*~
Morganna and Severus had decided on one boy's name and one girl's name. Well, Morganna and Jenni did and then Severus just agreed.
Isabella Christia Snape, or Severin Julian Snape. Both women had liked the idea of another little Sevvy running around. Morag had rolled her eyes and prayed for a girl.
Severus was just hoping nothing would go wrong.
But this is the Snapes, and there is Voldemort on the loose.
Perhaps that was just a little too much to hope for.
~*~
The girls had taken to having slumber parties almost every night, and tonight was no different.
"Can't you just see it, though?" Ginny grinned at her friends. Elena had been quickly accepted into the girls' circle, but Elysoun was not trusted and spent the nights in her own chamber, sleeping, or trying to listen through walls.
Hermione nodded, grinning, and threw her arms out wide. "George and Este Weasley cordially invite you to their 100th anniversary…" at which point she was stopped by a pillow to the head from Este.
"That's it! Pillow fight!" Morag shouted, and they all grabbed various pillows.
~*~
A good sound pillow-whapping* later, the girls were sound asleep and covered in feathers.
Except for Morag and Hermione.
The two of them sat there, in the silence, in the dark, thinking.
Well, brooding, if you want to be accurate.
"Can you still do it?" Hermione broke the silence.
"Do what?" Morag asked, as if she didn't know…
"Summon the Keeper."
Morag was silent a long while. And then she replied. "Yes. I can."
"I read up on it, when you were kidnapped." Hermione remarked quietly. "It's quite an amazing feat to be able to do that."
"I know." She paused, thoughtful. "The Keeper has Her limits, you know. They're just further away than anyone else's. If I really wanted to, I could probably have her write my name in the stars."
"I…wow. The risks you took when you tried…do you know what could have gone wrong if you'd failed?" Hermione breathed.
"Yes." Morag said simply.
"He's coming back, isn't he?"
"Yes."
"Do you think the wizarding world is prepared for that? Or the muggle world, for that matter?"
"I very much doubt it. We won that battle by sheer luck. The worst is yet to come."
~*~
"Vengeance will be mine." Voldemort told his loyal Death Eaters. "England is within my grasp! The WORLD is within my grasp! I will have my vengeance, and all will pay for the mistakes of the Snapes…none will defy Lord Voldemort!"
"Perrault has the key to the Snapes." Malfoy – yes, Lucius Malfoy – told his master. "She is on her way, master."
"Good. Let the word be spread – blood will be shed. Oh yes…blood will be shed."
~*~
The next morning, they ate in silence.
The summer had begun so…hopefully. As more people gathered at the Montaque mansion, so had hope, and happiness, and laughter.
As the cold, harsh reality hit them…all that hope began to fade.
No more laughter.
No more happiness.
No more hope.
Even Morganna's joyful news of pregnancy could not shake the dark cloud.
Severus's arm was around his wife's waist, protective. He was not yet sure what he protected her from, but it was definite, he would not lose her again.
Lillias made an attempt at conversation. The vibrant and vivacious Lillias Swann was full of life, she was always on the go. Nothing could slow her down, and she was determined that this summer would be a summer to remember with smiles. "Anna, have you picked any baby names?"
That certainly started the conversation.
Morganna nodded, and they all waited to hear them. "For a girl, Isabella Christia**, and for a boy, Severin Julian."
Molly nodded approvingly, thinking the names would suit a Snape. "I like the girl's name, Isabella Christia."
"My family can trace all the way back to the French royal court, and the first recorded magical Lady Montaque was Isabelle Montaque, and Christia was her granddaughter." Morganna explained. "I like using family names. Traditional, I suppose."
Jenni grinned. "If it's a boy, we'll have another Sevvy on our hands."
"What if it's twins?" Narcissa asked.
Severus groaned. "Don't even suggest that, Cissa!"
Gerad grinned at his brother in law. "Twins are a Montaque tradition, Monk- I mean Severus." Gerad stopped himself before he said 'Monkey Boy'. "I mean, there was Lucia and Annette – poor sweet, she died when she was a baby – Elena and Elysoun, there's twins all over the place."
"And me and Ame," Jenni put in. "You people are just surrounded by them."
"Piers and Avialle." Morag added. "They're twins."
"Sylph and Nymph Montaque." Lillias recalled the bitchy Sylph and quietly charming Nymph.
"Well, there you have it Sevvy." Narcissa said. "Twins is a definite possibility."
~*~
**Back in England**
"Pansy! Pansy!" Daisy called her older sister.
"What? I'm busy!" Pansy shouted.
"It's that Zabini girl." Daisy said impatiently. "And Rosy's being a pain, so you better get your act together. Mummy's going to be home tomorrow!"
"Get out of the way, Daiz." Blaise drawled. She was starting to regret saddling herself with Pansy Parkinson. Allying with Snape would have been the way to go. The girl was quality Slytherin, and Blaise respected her.
Daisy moved wordlessly, and Blaise sauntered into the Parkinson home like she owned the place. Blaise Margot Zabini learned at a young age that to get anywhere, she had to go somewhere. And go there in style.
"Blaise, I'm so glad to see you! Draco won't reply to any of my owls!" Pansy wailed.
"Gee, I wonder why." She replied sardonically. "Wake up, Parkinson. Snape claimed the prize before you left the starting line."
"Fuck you, Zabini."
"No thanks, Parkinson. I don't swing that way."
Pansy hated the way Blaise turned everything – including Pansy – into one big joke. Sarcasm and bitterness seemed about as close as you could get to manners and friendliness from Blaise Zabini.
"Quit fucking around." Pansy snarled. "This is serious."
"To you. To me, this is just light entertainment. The real fireworks start when Snape gets back from France. Watch your back, Parkinson. The girl's a coldhearted bitch, and you'd do well to remember that."
"I heard she wasn't so coldhearted after all. I also heard the Potter idiot is head over heels for the veela whore."
"You'd better change your tune before we get back to Hogwarts." Blaise advised. "Malfoy and Snape aren't likely to take kindly to you the way you are. Christ, Parkinson, you really, really need to wake up. We need them, they don't need us. Slytherin girls' social standing relies solely on what Morag Lillith Snape thinks of them. It's not like we're a popular house. Shit, we're probably lower than Hufflepuff when it comes to social standing. Relying on your looks is a bitch when you're not allowed out of Slytherin."
"I will get Draco back." Pansy vowed.
Blaise remained silent.
"I will." Pansy repeated.
~*~
**Back in France**
Harry turned away from the window.
Down by the lake – Harry could see – Morag and Draco were arm in arm, walking and talking, planning and dreaming…hoping and wishing…
Harry couldn't bear to watch them. But he was drawn to the sight…like a moth to a flame.
He watched as Draco wrapped his arms around Morag's waist, swept her off her feet and kissed her soundly.
Harry's heart twisted. That should have been him down there…her in **his** arms.
Ron laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Easy there, Harry."
"It's just…"
"I know." Ron said wryly. "Another guy's got his hand's on your girl. Know the feeling."
"Hermione?"
"Yeah." Ron went almost as red as his hair.
"She really likes Viktor."
"I know. I just want her to be happy."
"Guess so."
"Morag's happy with Malfoy. Hermione's happy with Krum. What a pair, eh? We've even got the same sort of girl trouble at the same time." Ron tried to lighten the mood.
"What a pair." Harry echoed.
"Well, you…be okay, okay?" Ron prodded his friend. "Okay?"
"Yeah. Okay." Harry nodded and Ron walked out of the room.
Harry turned back to the window.
~*~
*All hail my friend Rehan…never would have heard of 'whapping' if she hadn't whapped Arocan…golly gosh that's a cool word…whap, whap, whap! It's official! My new line is: Flamers will be whapped!
**In honor of my favorite Lily, one of Isabella's nicknames will be Chrissie, in the fine Montaque tradition of using middle names. Maria, Lilli…Chrissie! And Severin will – naturally – be another little Sevvy.
Author's Note:
Okay, what you all think of the baby names? I like them…I was really, really tempted to name the girl something like 'Marie Susanna'…but I really liked 'Isabella Christia' so I stuck with it. In role-plays the twins are Christabel Lily and Luc Ti-Jean, but I decided against those names for the story. There will – eventually – be a story where Isabella and/or Severin will be main character/s, but between then and now will be as follows:
A sixth year story.
A seventh year story.
An 'After Hogwarts' story…the planning of Draco and Morag's wedding, the wedding, the reception and the messiness that follows. The insanity continues…!
After that story, I'll start working on Isabella and/or Severin's years at Hogwarts. I'm not sure if I'll do a complete series for the second Snapes, but I'll definitely think about it. I mean, in that one, of course, could feature Draco and Morag's children…yes, I think I might just do a really big series…look at it so far, I've got 'Once Upon A Time', which is where it all really begins, with Morganna and Severus. Next there's 'One Old Owl', which is just the reminisces of the Montaque owl, followed by 'Harry Potter and the Keeper of Secrets', where we meet Morag Snape properly. The next story is this one here, 'A Summer of Secrets'. I am planning to branch out and give various Montaques stories of their own. For example, what's with Lacrimosa Perrault? The vicious older Montaque sister, this woman has a mean streak a mile wide. She tortures…torments…taunts…not even Morganna can forgive the things Lacci has done.
Then there's Thamala Blake. Where'd she come from? Why's she the way she is?
Who's curious about Lucia Montaque's 'record'? It was mentioned briefly in Keeper of Secrets…you don't actually get told **what** the record is…Morag claims it wouldn't translate. I know what it is, and Morganna Snape blushes at the very mention of it. Tee hee…I'll let you keep guessing on that one, though looking at Luci's personality, the things she's reputed to do, it should be obvious.
So, clearly, I have big plans. I don't know if I ever will get all these stories done. I want to, definitely. Knowing me, if you let me go, I'd probably keep going until Draco and Morag Malfoy had grandchildren…! But, since this author's note has been so long and informative, I'd best get going. Review, please, darlings I live on feedback! Did you like my story? What do you think of my big plans? Got any ideas for me? Like, is there any particular thing you want to hear about? (Me personally, I'm a bit curious about the Sylph/Piers/Morag thing that was mentioned in chapter three of KoS.)
Toodles,
Adele Elisabeth
