1 The Secret
Disclaimer: Same as always. Patricia / Latisha's mine, the Estons are mine, Sirius' mother's, Snapes parents' and Quirrells' parents first names are mine. Well, not mine, but I named them.
AN: I said that this chapter was coming along well, but then I got distracted by the Metatron. My bad! *grins impishly* Oh yeah. This one is written like it's actually happening. Kinda like we're seeing what's happening when it's happening. Oh, I don't know how to explain it! Just read! :-)
Albus Dumbledore Apparated to the boundaries of the Eston Estate. He smiled half-heartedly at the sound of Raymond Estons dogs barking playfully. He opened the gate of the 150 – acre estate, and walked in. The weather today was perfect. A cool breeze relieved the heat from the sun, and in the distance Albus could see the Eston horses galloping by the shore of the pond that was on the property. Lanaya would be pleased. What a day for her daughter to be born on. He reached the door of the impressive yet inviting mansion and raised his hand to knock. The door flew open and he found himself staring into the excited eyes of Lanaya Eston. She threw her arms around Albus, albeit rather awkwardly, and whispered,
"Today's the day!" She pulled back and allowed Albus to enter the cool building. She led him to the living room where her husband Raymond, Alexander and Tatiana Snape, and a big black dog sat. Albus nodded to the dog and watched in hidden fascination as it shifted into Amarila Black, the woman who had become the mother of a prankster named Sirius. His eyes met the black eyes of a very pregnant Tatiana Snape, and she smiled at him in true friendship. He bowed to her with great respect and turned to her husband. He stood a moment, assessing Alexander's ability to be a father. The man would definitely provide for his son, although the boy would have to look to Tatiana for his emotional needs to be filled. Alexander stood up with his hand held out and Albus grasped it firmly in his own before turning to Raymond Eston. The current Lord of the Eston family gazed back at Albus with those blue eyes that would not be passed down to the child in his wife's womb. The child would have her mother's black eyes. Raymond sat back down beside his wife and Albus went to the chair that had been placed for him.
"My Lords and Ladies," he began. "It has been brought to my attention that you all have been approached by Lana Quirrell, with the request to allow the Lady Eston's daughter to the Lady Quirrell's son." Amarila stirred uneasily in her seat and looked disgusted.
"What do you wish to do about this, my Lord and Lady Snape?" Tatiana looked at her husband before she spoke.
"We would that t be our son who is betrothed to the Lady Eston's daughter."
"My Lord and Lady Eston?" Albus asked, well aware that the two Eston's viewpoints were different. Lanaya opened her mouth as if to speak, but when she glanced at her husband, she closed it and let him speak.
"We would that our daughter be betrothed to the Quirrell boy," he said firmly, drawing a gasp from Tatiana and a growl of displeasure from Alexander. Amarila rolled her eyes in further disgust and made to say something, but Albus quieted her with a gesture. "Yes, the Quirrell family would do quite well to receive our daughter in marriage-"
"Our daughter is not a *thing* that is to be passed around!" Lanaya said forcefully, cutting off her husband. Alexander looked at the black haired, black eyed beauty, respect for her growing in his eyes. It was now known that the Lady Eston did not agree with her husbands choice, but would allow the breaking of a standing tradition if it pleased him.
"Lanaya," Tatiana said quietly. "Would it be that you do not agree with your husband in this matter?"
"Yes, it would be. I do *not* agree with this. Our daughter was betrothed to your son by my grandparents. We do not have the right to break that agreement," She said forcefully, looking at her husband. He looked back at her blandly and smiled grimly.
"It's happening, Lanaya. There's nothing you or anyone else in this room can do about it. I've signed the agreement with Andrew Quirrell already. The agreement is binding, and nothing short of the child's death with stop my daughter and his son from marrying when they come of age." Lanaya narrowed her eyes and bowed her head, and Raymond rose and left the room. Albus raised an eyebrow at Alexander and the other man curled his lip.
"I'm not surprised that Andrew would do this. You do know why he's doing it, don't you?" he asked.
"To get to you," Amarila said quietly. She raised her eyes and looked at the two distraught mothers – to – be and smiled gently. "Do not worry, my dears. Lana won't get her claws into the lives within you that easily."
"What do you mean?" Lanaya asked uneasily.
"Albus and I can bind the souls of the two unborn children to each other so that although your daughter has to marry *her* son, she will always love the Snape child."
"But how will that work? No doubt the two will be both placed in Slytherin. They won't be able to stay away from each other," Tatiana said doubtfully. Amarila smiled and closed her eyes.
"The spell that would bind them, should you agree, would be worked so that their love won't surface until they were both of an age of your choice. The girl may be married to the Quirrell boy physically, but her soul and heart will belong to the Snape boy," Albus took over.
"Would it work on my daughter though?" Lanaya asked. "We all know she's not entirely human. Would a spell of that magnitude work on a descendant of a Dryad?" Albus nodded towards Amarila.
"This is her field," he said.
"It would work," Amarila said firmly. I would not suggest it if it wouldn't work. By the time the girl reaches whatever age you choose for the spell to complete, she will be mature enough so that she can choose between the two men. Have you decided on a name for the boy?" she asked suddenly.
"Severus," Tatiana said looking at her husband firmly. He looked at her a moment before smiling tolerantly and nodding.
"As you wish, my wife," he said.
"So your son's name is Severus. The Quirrell boy is to be named Jason. What is your daughter to be named?" Amarila asked a very pale Lanaya.
"Latisha," she whispered. "Latisha. I have gotten the feeling that she will change it before she turns 25, but her given name will be Latisha." Amarila nodded solemnly at Lanaya and tuned once again towards Tatiana. "In order for the spell to work, the girl's middle name must be the first name of her mate's mother. Is that all right with you?" Tatiana cocked her head and thought about it, finally nodding.
"So, my daughter's name will be Latisha Tatiana Snape?" Lanaya asked quietly. Amarila looked at the young woman and crossed the room to her.
"Yes. Is this what you want? They won't be married physically when they come of age, but your daughter *will* be married to Severus…"
"Morgan," Alexander said when Amarila looked at him.
"Severus Morgan Snape. It works. Anyway, Latisha Tatiana Eston will be married to Severus Morgan Snape eventually. Is this what you really want?"
Lanaya looked up at Amarila and then looked across the room at Tatiana.
"I'm sure," she whispered firmly. "My daughter will be married to their son, be it sooner or later." Tatiana smiled at Lanaya and nodded her thanks.
"Then it shall be done," Albus said, standing up.
"Oh, my, it certainly shall," Lanaya said suddenly. "When does it need to be done?"
"Before the babies are born," Amarila said.
"Then we'd best get on with it, hadn't we?" Albus and Amarila looked at each other and smiled. They hadn't worked together in years.
* * *
Four hours and one screaming baby girl later, Alexander and Tatiana left the Eston Estate for the last time, content that although Latisha Tatiana Eston would be betrothed to Jason Quirrell, she would belong to and marry their own son. Tatiana placed a hand on her belly and felt the baby kick furiously at having his newly formed bond to Latisha stretched apart. *Just like his father, this one will be* Tatiana thought, fondly looking at the man she was proud to call her husband.
* * *
Albus and Amarila looked at each other as they left the Eston Estate an hour after the Snapes had departed.
"And that, my friend, is why I much prefer talking to Tatiana or Alexander Snape than Raymond Eston," Amarila said with a shudder. The spell had been successfully cast upon the two unborn children, and Latisha had screamed like a banshee when Tatiana and Alexander had left (thus taking her bond-mate with them).
"And I as well," Albus replied.
"Did it work, Albus?" Amarila asked quietly.
"I think so. Those two children will be with each other for their entire lives. They will never be able to stay apart. They'll hardly ever fight though."
"Why?"
"Because, my dear girl, they will love each other beyond normal comprehension without knowing it. That spell we just worked is very old and very delicate. When Latisha screeched like that, I knew we had been successful."
"All right, old man, but you didn't explain to me why they'll hardly ever fight," Amarila said teasingly. Albus looked at her tolerantly and smiled.
"Okay, okay. In Latisha's eyes, Severus will never be wrong, and so she'll agree with him no matter what. In Severus' eyes, Latisha will never be wrong, and he will agree with her. It's rather hard to explain my dear. Now, it'll cause a few tiffs, but they won't argue unless one of them does something that the other cannot deny is wrong or stupid. Unfortunately it will be Latisha who does the things that cause the few fights they have, but her Dryad blood will not allow her to accept that Severus will be right in those circumstances. During these few times, her very diluted Dryad blood will take control and she will make more stupid choices until she makes one choice that is so stupid not even *she* will be able to deny the stupidity. Those two will protect each other with their very lives, even if they have other romantic interests at the time. I hope for your sake that your son does not give her or Severus reason to be angry. Together those two will either cause utter and total chaos, or… well…"
"Lanaya *is* the mother of Latisha. You really think she won't cause chaos? And Severus? He has the two people who were in detention most often when we were in school for parents. Albus, it's times like this when I am so glad I'm not the Headmistress of Hogwarts. I don't envy you one bit," Amarila said.
"Okay, so they'll cause utter chaos. I'll get through it. I hope."
"I have faith in you Albus," she said. "What else is there, Albus? Something's bothering you. What is it?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think that Lord Eston isn't Latisha's biological father."
"Well who else would it be?" Amarila asked in shock.
"Armadas Malfoy."
"That Lucius brat's uncle?"
"Yes. Lanaya always did have an attraction to him, and the cold intelligence that I saw in Latisha's eyes when she was born came from neither Lanaya nor Raymond. Between the three, I've only seen that degree of intelligence in Armadas. Yes, this spell we just wove was definitely woven around the right children. Severus will have both of his parents' cold, impartial, calculating intelligence. Latisha will have the characteristics of a Malfoy, since biologically she is one, and she will also receive the Dryad cunning from her mother. What a pair they will be. And the children they will eventually produce!"
"You're a nut, Dumbledore," Amarila said fondly, shifting back into the black dog. Albus nodded his farewell to her and she turned and loped away towards her own home. Albus continued out the gate and Disapparated back to Hogsmede. He had a lot of preparation to do, and he only had eleven years before Severus and Latisha would be waiting to be sorted. Into the same House, of course…
Disclaimer: Same as always. Patricia / Latisha's mine, the Estons are mine, Sirius' mother's, Snapes parents' and Quirrells' parents first names are mine. Well, not mine, but I named them.
AN: I said that this chapter was coming along well, but then I got distracted by the Metatron. My bad! *grins impishly* Oh yeah. This one is written like it's actually happening. Kinda like we're seeing what's happening when it's happening. Oh, I don't know how to explain it! Just read! :-)
Albus Dumbledore Apparated to the boundaries of the Eston Estate. He smiled half-heartedly at the sound of Raymond Estons dogs barking playfully. He opened the gate of the 150 – acre estate, and walked in. The weather today was perfect. A cool breeze relieved the heat from the sun, and in the distance Albus could see the Eston horses galloping by the shore of the pond that was on the property. Lanaya would be pleased. What a day for her daughter to be born on. He reached the door of the impressive yet inviting mansion and raised his hand to knock. The door flew open and he found himself staring into the excited eyes of Lanaya Eston. She threw her arms around Albus, albeit rather awkwardly, and whispered,
"Today's the day!" She pulled back and allowed Albus to enter the cool building. She led him to the living room where her husband Raymond, Alexander and Tatiana Snape, and a big black dog sat. Albus nodded to the dog and watched in hidden fascination as it shifted into Amarila Black, the woman who had become the mother of a prankster named Sirius. His eyes met the black eyes of a very pregnant Tatiana Snape, and she smiled at him in true friendship. He bowed to her with great respect and turned to her husband. He stood a moment, assessing Alexander's ability to be a father. The man would definitely provide for his son, although the boy would have to look to Tatiana for his emotional needs to be filled. Alexander stood up with his hand held out and Albus grasped it firmly in his own before turning to Raymond Eston. The current Lord of the Eston family gazed back at Albus with those blue eyes that would not be passed down to the child in his wife's womb. The child would have her mother's black eyes. Raymond sat back down beside his wife and Albus went to the chair that had been placed for him.
"My Lords and Ladies," he began. "It has been brought to my attention that you all have been approached by Lana Quirrell, with the request to allow the Lady Eston's daughter to the Lady Quirrell's son." Amarila stirred uneasily in her seat and looked disgusted.
"What do you wish to do about this, my Lord and Lady Snape?" Tatiana looked at her husband before she spoke.
"We would that t be our son who is betrothed to the Lady Eston's daughter."
"My Lord and Lady Eston?" Albus asked, well aware that the two Eston's viewpoints were different. Lanaya opened her mouth as if to speak, but when she glanced at her husband, she closed it and let him speak.
"We would that our daughter be betrothed to the Quirrell boy," he said firmly, drawing a gasp from Tatiana and a growl of displeasure from Alexander. Amarila rolled her eyes in further disgust and made to say something, but Albus quieted her with a gesture. "Yes, the Quirrell family would do quite well to receive our daughter in marriage-"
"Our daughter is not a *thing* that is to be passed around!" Lanaya said forcefully, cutting off her husband. Alexander looked at the black haired, black eyed beauty, respect for her growing in his eyes. It was now known that the Lady Eston did not agree with her husbands choice, but would allow the breaking of a standing tradition if it pleased him.
"Lanaya," Tatiana said quietly. "Would it be that you do not agree with your husband in this matter?"
"Yes, it would be. I do *not* agree with this. Our daughter was betrothed to your son by my grandparents. We do not have the right to break that agreement," She said forcefully, looking at her husband. He looked back at her blandly and smiled grimly.
"It's happening, Lanaya. There's nothing you or anyone else in this room can do about it. I've signed the agreement with Andrew Quirrell already. The agreement is binding, and nothing short of the child's death with stop my daughter and his son from marrying when they come of age." Lanaya narrowed her eyes and bowed her head, and Raymond rose and left the room. Albus raised an eyebrow at Alexander and the other man curled his lip.
"I'm not surprised that Andrew would do this. You do know why he's doing it, don't you?" he asked.
"To get to you," Amarila said quietly. She raised her eyes and looked at the two distraught mothers – to – be and smiled gently. "Do not worry, my dears. Lana won't get her claws into the lives within you that easily."
"What do you mean?" Lanaya asked uneasily.
"Albus and I can bind the souls of the two unborn children to each other so that although your daughter has to marry *her* son, she will always love the Snape child."
"But how will that work? No doubt the two will be both placed in Slytherin. They won't be able to stay away from each other," Tatiana said doubtfully. Amarila smiled and closed her eyes.
"The spell that would bind them, should you agree, would be worked so that their love won't surface until they were both of an age of your choice. The girl may be married to the Quirrell boy physically, but her soul and heart will belong to the Snape boy," Albus took over.
"Would it work on my daughter though?" Lanaya asked. "We all know she's not entirely human. Would a spell of that magnitude work on a descendant of a Dryad?" Albus nodded towards Amarila.
"This is her field," he said.
"It would work," Amarila said firmly. I would not suggest it if it wouldn't work. By the time the girl reaches whatever age you choose for the spell to complete, she will be mature enough so that she can choose between the two men. Have you decided on a name for the boy?" she asked suddenly.
"Severus," Tatiana said looking at her husband firmly. He looked at her a moment before smiling tolerantly and nodding.
"As you wish, my wife," he said.
"So your son's name is Severus. The Quirrell boy is to be named Jason. What is your daughter to be named?" Amarila asked a very pale Lanaya.
"Latisha," she whispered. "Latisha. I have gotten the feeling that she will change it before she turns 25, but her given name will be Latisha." Amarila nodded solemnly at Lanaya and tuned once again towards Tatiana. "In order for the spell to work, the girl's middle name must be the first name of her mate's mother. Is that all right with you?" Tatiana cocked her head and thought about it, finally nodding.
"So, my daughter's name will be Latisha Tatiana Snape?" Lanaya asked quietly. Amarila looked at the young woman and crossed the room to her.
"Yes. Is this what you want? They won't be married physically when they come of age, but your daughter *will* be married to Severus…"
"Morgan," Alexander said when Amarila looked at him.
"Severus Morgan Snape. It works. Anyway, Latisha Tatiana Eston will be married to Severus Morgan Snape eventually. Is this what you really want?"
Lanaya looked up at Amarila and then looked across the room at Tatiana.
"I'm sure," she whispered firmly. "My daughter will be married to their son, be it sooner or later." Tatiana smiled at Lanaya and nodded her thanks.
"Then it shall be done," Albus said, standing up.
"Oh, my, it certainly shall," Lanaya said suddenly. "When does it need to be done?"
"Before the babies are born," Amarila said.
"Then we'd best get on with it, hadn't we?" Albus and Amarila looked at each other and smiled. They hadn't worked together in years.
* * *
Four hours and one screaming baby girl later, Alexander and Tatiana left the Eston Estate for the last time, content that although Latisha Tatiana Eston would be betrothed to Jason Quirrell, she would belong to and marry their own son. Tatiana placed a hand on her belly and felt the baby kick furiously at having his newly formed bond to Latisha stretched apart. *Just like his father, this one will be* Tatiana thought, fondly looking at the man she was proud to call her husband.
* * *
Albus and Amarila looked at each other as they left the Eston Estate an hour after the Snapes had departed.
"And that, my friend, is why I much prefer talking to Tatiana or Alexander Snape than Raymond Eston," Amarila said with a shudder. The spell had been successfully cast upon the two unborn children, and Latisha had screamed like a banshee when Tatiana and Alexander had left (thus taking her bond-mate with them).
"And I as well," Albus replied.
"Did it work, Albus?" Amarila asked quietly.
"I think so. Those two children will be with each other for their entire lives. They will never be able to stay apart. They'll hardly ever fight though."
"Why?"
"Because, my dear girl, they will love each other beyond normal comprehension without knowing it. That spell we just worked is very old and very delicate. When Latisha screeched like that, I knew we had been successful."
"All right, old man, but you didn't explain to me why they'll hardly ever fight," Amarila said teasingly. Albus looked at her tolerantly and smiled.
"Okay, okay. In Latisha's eyes, Severus will never be wrong, and so she'll agree with him no matter what. In Severus' eyes, Latisha will never be wrong, and he will agree with her. It's rather hard to explain my dear. Now, it'll cause a few tiffs, but they won't argue unless one of them does something that the other cannot deny is wrong or stupid. Unfortunately it will be Latisha who does the things that cause the few fights they have, but her Dryad blood will not allow her to accept that Severus will be right in those circumstances. During these few times, her very diluted Dryad blood will take control and she will make more stupid choices until she makes one choice that is so stupid not even *she* will be able to deny the stupidity. Those two will protect each other with their very lives, even if they have other romantic interests at the time. I hope for your sake that your son does not give her or Severus reason to be angry. Together those two will either cause utter and total chaos, or… well…"
"Lanaya *is* the mother of Latisha. You really think she won't cause chaos? And Severus? He has the two people who were in detention most often when we were in school for parents. Albus, it's times like this when I am so glad I'm not the Headmistress of Hogwarts. I don't envy you one bit," Amarila said.
"Okay, so they'll cause utter chaos. I'll get through it. I hope."
"I have faith in you Albus," she said. "What else is there, Albus? Something's bothering you. What is it?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think that Lord Eston isn't Latisha's biological father."
"Well who else would it be?" Amarila asked in shock.
"Armadas Malfoy."
"That Lucius brat's uncle?"
"Yes. Lanaya always did have an attraction to him, and the cold intelligence that I saw in Latisha's eyes when she was born came from neither Lanaya nor Raymond. Between the three, I've only seen that degree of intelligence in Armadas. Yes, this spell we just wove was definitely woven around the right children. Severus will have both of his parents' cold, impartial, calculating intelligence. Latisha will have the characteristics of a Malfoy, since biologically she is one, and she will also receive the Dryad cunning from her mother. What a pair they will be. And the children they will eventually produce!"
"You're a nut, Dumbledore," Amarila said fondly, shifting back into the black dog. Albus nodded his farewell to her and she turned and loped away towards her own home. Albus continued out the gate and Disapparated back to Hogsmede. He had a lot of preparation to do, and he only had eleven years before Severus and Latisha would be waiting to be sorted. Into the same House, of course…
