Chapter 11

Snape's Secret

Ginny slept better that night then she had in a while. Pulling herself out of bed, she started to get ready for class. She had a habit of waking up before all the other girls in her dorm and leaving just as they were waking up. This prevented her from having to talk to them, something she never did if she could help it.

Walking down stairs, she headed for the portrait hole, and stopped. It was always habit for her to leave, and finish breakfast before people got there. This was going to be a very different year. She walked back up the girl's stair case and knocked on the forth year door.

Lavender opened the door, and looked at her. Ginny could tell she was half way putting on her makeup. She could see Parvati behind her doing the same. Hermione was laying on her bed reading a book.

"What do you want?"

Hermione looked up from her book, and saved Ginny from answering. "Hey Ginny, I'm coming." Hermione jumped up, and followed Ginny out the door. They walked down the stairs together.

"It's nice to have somebody who's up as early as me," Hermione said smiling.

"I kinda had a feeling you'd be ready."

"It's the boys who always sleep late."

"I know, I have six brothers."

While the girls started their breakfast the boys walked in sleepy eyed, and yawning.

"Good morning."

"Mornin'" Ron said sleepily.

"What have we got today?"

"We have Defense first, then Charms, and then Potions after lunch."

"I have Muggle Studies, Defense, and then Trans."

"Oh, I miss Muggle Studies."

"We know Hermione," Ron said rolling his eyes.

When Ron, Hermione, and Harry walked in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Professor Deleve was painting her nails. The three sat in the middle of the room and watched. Sally came up on Harry's wrist, making the Lavender and Parvati squeal, and move to the other side of the room.

When everyone was seated Professor Deleve stood and gave her hands a shake. She looked at the class.

"The first thing I must tell you is never, ever, call me Professor Deleve. I have always despised my last name. I put up with being known by it as a child, but I refuse to stand it as an adult. You will all call me Professor Heather, or just Heather in private if I like you.

"Second, I think I'll call role." She picked up a piece of parchment, and looked at it. She turned is sideways, then upside-down, then sideways again. "I can't read this," she said tilting her head, "they're all last names!" She crumpled the parchment, and threw it over her shoulder where it landed in the trash can.

"Now for all of you who are worried, I am twenty-nine, and perfectly capable of teaching this class. Oh, I smudged it!" she said looking at her right index finger. She picked up her wand and tapped it. "All better. As I was saying, I can teach, on the first class, I chose not to. I didn't come here to teach. I was asked to stay. I agreed because it gives me another year to make Professor McGonagall crazy. I will go around, and you will tell me your first name, and something about yourself. Today, I'm only getting to know you all. Chances are I'll forget all of you before next class."

She started to go around the room. After a while she reached Hermione.

"My name is Hermione, and I like to read."

Ron snorted. "Like? How about, love, or adore?"

Heather turned to Ron. "And your name is?"

"Ron."

"And I trust you know Hermione very well?"

"Yeah," Ron replied, clearly wondering where this was going.

"Hermione, what does Ron like to do?"

"He loves Chess."

"This is true Ron?"

"Yeah."

"Well now I know two things about both of you," Heather said with a smirk.

"What?"

"Well, Ron loves Hermione and chess, and Hermione love Ron and Reading!"

"What?!?"

"No!"

Heather only laughed, and patted them both on the head. She moved on to Harry, who was still chuckling at the site of their faces. Harry opened his mouth to say his name, but he didn't get a chance.

"Harry! Oh, my I didn't realize you were in this class. Oh, love, you're a sight. I feel like I'm seeing James again." Harry looked up at her, surprised. "Ah, but those are Lily's eyes."

"You knew my parents?"

"Oh, Harry. Lily and I were best friends. She was three years older then me, but it never mattered. The summer you were born, I practically lived in your house. I would have been your godmother had I been old enough. I only left your side to go back to school. But I saw you as much as possible. Padfoot used to sneak me out of school on his bike."

Harry suddenly realized why she looked so familiar. She was in a lot of the pictures in his album.

Heather's voice became suddenly hushed. "You are the reason I came here, Harry. You were my only reason for living after I lost all of them. It was only Moony and I left. Moony could tell you anything you wanted about Prongs, but Dumbledore reminded me that he didn't know Flower very well. I came very close to losing it when they sent you to Flower's sister. I know your Aunt, and I'm sure life has been hell for you."

Harry was stunned, but lapped up all the information hungrily. "My mother's nickname was Flower?"

"Oh yes. Though James called her Tiger, as in a Tiger Lily. She called him Lion, I never knew why. But none of us ever dared to use those names. They were pet names. When Prongs started teaching-"

"My father taught?"

"Only one year, he taught this class, because Flower wasn't out of school yet. They were a year apart."

Harry closed his eyes. "Wait, this doesn't make sense. If mum was three years older then you, and you're twenty-nine, then she was," Harry did some quick math. "She wasn't eighteen, was she?" That's what it added up to, but it didn't make sense.

"Yes, she was eighteen when you were born."

"But then, she was nineteen-" Harry stopped, unable to finish, or not trusting himself to.

Heather hung her head. "And nineteen when she died." Harry was beyond words. "We'll talk later Harry, I promise."

Harry only nodded in response. Sally hissed softly to him, and he responded just as softly in Parseltongue. As Heather went on, Harry spoke only to Sally in Parseltongue, though he was very aware of all the eyes flickering over to him.

When Heather was done with the names, she returned to the front of the room, and sat on the desk. "So, Severus is a teacher here? I suppose he is just awful?"

The class groaned in response. Heather smiled. "I can give you a lot of dirt on him. There was the time they turned his hair blue. And pink. There was when they turned his voice all squeaky."

Lavender raised her hand, and Heather waved it off. "Just call out, I don't care."

"Who's they?"

"Why the Marauders. Don't tell me the legend has died." Most the class stared blankly, while Harry, Hermione, and Ron grinned.

"Ah, I can tell that three of us here are more informed. Harry, love, would you like to enlighten us?"

"The schools biggest trouble makers. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. The Marauders, Remus Lupin, Peter Petigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter."

"Sirius Black!" cried Lavender.

"Yes Lavender, you all may fear him now, but he was once a child just like your selves. James Potter's best friend, Lily Evans, later Lily Potter's closest thing to an older brother. Later, he became Harry's Godfather. Padfoot was once a very close friend of mine, and he was a laugh. Boy he and James could cause trouble. And when Padfoot got that motorcycle, there was just no stopping them. Severus is very lucky he left school before Sirius could drive."

"Professor Heather, why did Snape leave school?" asked Harry.

Heather looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure, he only told Flower that his parents had other plans for him. I suppose he was home schooled after that."

"Why was he talking to my mother?"

Heather looked at him. "Oh, I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Moony probably wouldn't bring it up." She smiled. "I shouldn't say, Severus would never be able to live it down."

"Tell us, please!" cried Ron.

"Severus Snape was head over heels for Lily Evans."

"WHAT!" shouted Harry, causing the class to look at him. Heather laughed.

"Yes Harry. The pranks were not the only reason he hated your father. Lily was the only person to ever show Severus friendship. He was never more then a friend to her, but he loved her. She was the only one to ever care about him. Plus, she was drop dead gorgeous. I was always slightly jealous of those eyes. She could have chosen any guy in school. James was the same way. Of course so were Sirius and Remus. When James and Lily hooked up, Severus was murderous."

Harry hit his head on the desk. "Snape loved my mother. Ew, somebody please kill me now."

Heather laughed. "This is going to be an interesting year."

Harry shook his head. "You have no idea." The bell rang, and Harry stayed behind for a while.

"Professor Heather."

"Harry, love, call me Heather. I'm not a real Professor."

"Well, I'm going to see Hagrid at break tomorrow, I was wondering if you wanted to come."

"I'd love too." She smiled. "Now run along, the third years are arriving."

Harry waved to Ginny on his way out, and ran to prevent for being late for charms.

It was hard for Harry to concentrate on the charm they were learning.

He pointed his wand at Ron. "Kerid! What color is this?" Harry held up a blue square.

"Blue!"

"Mr. Potter has gotten his truth charm to work."

By the end of the class, both Harry and Hermione had gotten their truth charm to work, and Ron had people sputtering when they tried to lie. Professor Flitwick told them before class let out that they were forbidden to use the charm by Wizard law unless it is an emergency.

Ginny was waiting for them in the hall.

"I like the new Defense teacher. She told me I reminded her of her best friend when she was at school.

Ron and Hermione looked to Harry. "You can tell her, it's Ginny!"

Hermione quickly filled Ginny in on what had happened in their D.A.D.A class.

Ginny looked to Harry surprised. "So, she meant I reminded her of your mum?"

Harry smiled. "You do look like her. And from what I heard she has that same sweetness about her." Ginny blushed but Ron kept going.

"That's not all, Heather knew Snape, and he used to be in love with Harry's mum."

Ginny didn't look too surprised. "That sorta makes sense."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Well, the way he acts. He's, always has a sort of, soft spot I guess, for me. As soft as Snape can get. He's never yelled at me. He'll put down all the Gryffindors, but never me. If I remind Heather of Lily, I may remind Snape of her too. It must be the red hair."

It slightly surprised Harry that Ginny even knew his mother had red hair. "Huh, I didn't know that. Speaking of Potions, Ginny are you going to meet me after you go to Trans.? I don't want to be in the same room as him alone. He may take my head off."

"Yeah, I'll come Harry. He won't hurt me."

"Man, it's not fair she gets a free ride with Snape!"

They laughed at Ron, and Sally spoke up. "I would rather go to Transfiguration, then Potions."

"Then go with Ginny. Snape would pick on you anyway."

When they arrived at potions, Snape seemed to be in a bad mood. Harry was willing to bet it was Heather's return that put him in that mood. They all sat silent, waiting for him to begin. Snape's eyes fell on Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting together.

"Well if it isn't the return of the Dream Team." The Slytherins, whom the Gryffindors still had potions with, snickered. "Rumor has it that you've added a new member," he said with a sneer. They only sat silent, and stared back at him. He turned away after a moment.

"We will be making a color changing potion-"

The door opened, and who ever it was had not bothered to knock. Snape looked up hatefully at Heather.

"Good day Severus, I didn't realize you had a class."

He sneered. "Maybe you should have knocked."

Heather shrugged. "If you say so. I'm looking for something, and as soon as I remember what it was, I'll ask you for it."

"Well be sure not to strain yourself," he said sneering again.

"Oh well, I'll be back if I figure it out, or go for it and it isn't there." She flashed him a smile, turned, winked at Harry, and left.

Snape glared at the door for a moment longer. "We what are you waiting for! Get started!"

They all scrambled to collect their ingredients and open their books. Snape sat down at his desk, and looked at something in his hand for some time.

Malfoy had chosen the cauldron across from Harry, Ron, and Hermione's.

"How was your summer Potter?"

"Quite pleasant, thank you." Harry said with a smile, not even look up from the ingredients he was working on.

"What's this with you getting a snake? Wish you were a Slytherin?"

"No. If I had been a Slytherin I would have left school in shame."

"Who's ring is that, Potter?"

Harry didn't stuff the ring under his robes. He wasn't going to give Malfoy that satisfaction. Hermione and Ron looked up at him concerned. "It's none of your business." Harry told him in a way that got the classes attention, though he spoke no louder then normal.

"Oh but it is. Your girlfriend's maybe, that little Weasley brat?"

At this Hermione had to stop Ron from running at him. Harry looked up at Malfoy, and glared. "Wrong, guess again."

"I don't play guessing games, Potter." Malfoy took his wand out, and pointed it at Harry. "Kerid!" But Harry's Quidditch training paid off as he dodged the spell easily.

Unfortunately, Ron was standing behind him.

"All right then, if Potter wants to be difficult. Weasley, what's with Potter's ring?"

"The ring is Lily Potter's wedding ring," Ron replied though it was obvious he was trying not to answer.

Snape looked up and stood. "Twenty points from Slytherin for performing the truth spell on another student!" He walked forward, and picked up the ring from Harry's shirt. He studied it for a moment before Harry pulled it away from him by the chain. Snape turned, his face was hidden from the class. "I don't ever want to see that again, Mr. Malfoy," he said in a deadly whisper.

The rest of the class went past with little disturbance. When the bell rang, Harry let everybody run ahead of him. Just as the last few people were leaving Ginny walked in. Harry shooed Hermione and Ron ahead of them.

Harry and Ginny approached the desk. Snape looked up at Harry, his eyes hateful. "What do you want?" Then his eyes hit Ginny, and the hate ebbed away. Then as he looked at the two of them together, the hate was replace by something neither of them recognized as pain.

"Professor, we know that Basilisk parts are very useful in potions, but the shortage of them made people come up with substitutes. Although, there are still some potions that have not been able to be changed." Ginny spoke, which Harry was grateful for as he had very little luck with speaking to Snape.

Snape didn't respond, but simply starred at them. "Well, there's a rotting Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, and it needs to get out of there. Rather then waist it, we thought we would talk to you."

"I'll talk to Dumbledore about it." He said shortly, and they left quickly.