Chapter 13
As Snape had cradled the boy in his arms, he was filled with regret. This should be his son that he was holding, not the son of his sworn enemy.
*Flasback*
'My Lord? I.what.that is to say, what do you mean.dispose of them? They are not traitors. They are as loyal to you and our cause as I.'
The high, cold laugh is full of harsh mirth as the voice replies, 'I shouldn't hold yourself to that, Severus, my friend. Or you might find yourself suffering a similar fate.'
'But, but my Lord.Sean, he is only a baby.not yet one.he can not be a traitor.he is to young, he cannot even talk. And Drulisa, she wouldn't, couldn't ever.'
'Do not speak to me of that whore that you married, Snape. If I say she is a traitor, then she is a traitor. And as for the young one, he will follow in the footsteps of his hussy of a mother- but wait. why am I explaining my actions to you? I do not see why I should refer to you about how I should punish traitors. I do not see what gives you the right to question my actions. In fact I do not even recall permitting you to speak. You may be the best potion brewer in Britain and therefore not expendable, but that doesn't mean that I cannot punish you. I have no use for snivelling little turncoats in this field of work. Crucio.'
Snape falls to the ground, but he doesn't scream. He is to busy worrying about what his lord and master has said to even notice the pain. After ten minutes of the torture Snape's body cannot take the pain and he blacks out.
When he awakens he finds himself in a field. It is night time. He doesn't know how long he has been unconscious, he doesn't know how long he has been there, he doesn't know where he is, and he doesn't even know what day it is. He only knows one thing.
He has to get to Albus Dumbledore.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
'So Severus, you are a Death Eater, but Voldemort believes that your family are traitors, despite your son being only a baby and he wants to have them killed. Therefore you want to join the side of the light.'
'Yes sir. I want to become a spy for the side of the light.'
'And how do I know that you are trustworthy, Severus? I have administered Veritaserum to you, but you are a Potions Master. The best in all of Britain and one of the best three in the world, plus you have just admitted being a Death Eater. You may have found an antidote. How can I believe you? How can you prove yourself to me?'
'I. I can tell you of a plan, a plan involving one of my worst enemies. I can tell you of a family that Voldemort is planning to kill. I do not know why, but it sounds as though they could be threat to his power. Dumbledore, if I tell you this then you must believe that I have turned to your side. I would rather that he dies, but if it proves to you that I am loyal then I will tell you. Voldemort wants to kill the Potters. Something about their son. I don't know what. But you must believe me now, Albus. I hate James Potter.'
'Very well Severus. I believe you. We will talk more about this plan later. My first priority is getting Drulisa and Sean to a safe place.'
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
'Oh Merlin, fuck no.' Snape's voice is torn in anguish.
'Severus, calm down. You said that Drulisa was taking Sean out tonight. They may not have been in there.'
'They are always home by ten. Its one in the morning.'
'Wait here, Severus, I'll go in first, just in case.'
Snape stands trembling as he watches Dumbledore enter the smouldering remains of what used to be his house. The Dark Mark hovers over the ruins. He waits a few moments and then runs in to the house, unable to wait any longer.
He runs in and finds Dumbledore standing, facing what used to be the corner of his kitchen.
'No! No no no no no.'
'I am so sorry Severus.'
He falls to the ground in front of the half blown away wall. Up on the wall is strung the burnt and charred remains of what used to be Drulisa Snape. Her hair and skin has been burned away. Her whole body is black. Parts of her limbs are crumbling into dust. What can be seen of her once beautiful face is twisted up in terror. Part of her skull is gone and her eyes, which don't seem to be harmed are staring at Snape.
On the floor, covered in the blackened ash of his mother, is nine month old Sean Snape. He looks unharmed other than the fact that he is dead.
'At least he didn't suffer Severus.'
'No Albus he didn't. But he is dead, and she did suffer before dying. He will pay for this Dumbledore. He will.'
*End Flashback*
A tear ran down Snape's face as he tucked Harry into bed. He sat in the chair next to the bed. Although he had meant to stay awake he was asleep within ten minutes.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Outside the door the three adults and student were standing quietly.
When Snape had started to cry Hermione had tactfully turned away, not wishing to see her professor crying. She knew that if he ever found out that she had witnessed that event her life would be made a living hell for the next two years at Hogwarts.
Lupin was also staring at the ground shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
McGonagall had tears running down her face. 'Albus, I do believe that is the first time I have ever seen him display any emotion other that contempt. He didn't even appear sad when Drulisa and Sean.'
She broke off when she realised Hermione was still standing there.
'He didn't, even then, Minerva.' Albus sighed heavily.
'He couldn't. And not because of his spy status. He just refused to show how much he was hurting. All I ever saw was anger when he first found her and after that nothing. I kept a close eye on him, in case he ever snapped but he didn't. It was most peculiar. I know that he loved her, perhaps more that she did him but he never showed any sign. Even at the funeral he looked the same way he always had. When the other Death Eaters attacked and vandalised her tomb stone, he still did nothing. I was the one who went to clean it up and mend it. He didn't even react when I told him what had happened.'
'I think he was trying to wipe her from his memory.' interjected Lupin.
'That can't be it,' protested McGonagall. 'she was what made him turn a spy. He wouldn't try and forget her, because then he wouldn't have a reason for spying. He never does anything without a good enough reason.'
'That's not what I meant. You see, when James and Lily were killed and I thought that Sirius had betrayed them and then killed Peter I tried to forget about them. But not completely. I tried to pretend that I hadn't known them and that they were just some random killing. Although I could never do that completely it helped to numb the pain until I was ready to deal with it. I don't think Severus has done exactly that, but he has tried to do something similar. I think that he thought if he refused to acknowledge the grief he felt then he would cope much better. He always kept them in his head, but he tried to lock most of his love for her and Sean, and his grief about their deaths, away in this tiny compartment inside him. That way he could still access a small amount of his feelings when he needed a reminder about why he was doing what he was doing. He kept away the one thing that could break him, but left enough to control him when times were bad.'
The other three were staring at him, bewildered.
Lupin looked uncomfortable. 'I know I'm not articulate and that came out all jumbled up, but I know what I mean.'
'No, no, I think I understand what you are saying.'
'Well either way, I think we had better leave, before he comes out and hears us discussing him.'
All four turned to go to their separate abodes, but after Hermione turned a corner her curiosity got the better of her. She turned and ran back in the direction she had come.
Lupin was sitting at his desk marking some essays when he heard a tentative knock at the door.
'Come in.' he called. 'Ah, Hermione, what can I do for you?'
'Well, sir, I was thinking about that conversation you and the other two Professors were having and I know it is none of my business, but who are Drulisa and Sean?'
'They were his wife and son.'
'W- wife and son? That horrible oily man actually had a wife and a son?'
'Yes he did.'
'What happened to them?'
Lupin put down his quill and looked at her. 'I am about to tell you a story, but I don't want you to repeat it to anyone. Very few people know about it and I think that Professor Snape would like it kept that way. I will, however tell you because I know that I can trust you and you must be very confused.'
Hermione nodded. 'Thankyou, sir.'
'Sit down, Hermione. Ok, well I suppose this story begins when we were still at school. Drulisa Potter as she was then was James's younger sister. She was a year younger than us and very pretty.
James and his parents doted on her. She was smarter that James and Sirius put together. She was probably one of the most brilliant students that Hogwarts has ever seen. Everyone loved her, and she wasn't a bit vain about it. She was very down to earth, and unlike James, she never wanted to be the centre of attention.
When she came to our school we were in our second year and we had already become the Marauders and we already disliked Snape. So when it became obvious that he liked Drulisa our dislike intensified. We didn't worry, though because most of the males in our school would walk past her with their tongues hanging out.
When she was in her third year, and us in our fourth, to our horror she began reciprocating his feelings. Unbeknown to them, Sirius liked her as well, so when they started dating in our fifth year it was the last straw for Padfoot. He was totally in love with her, and I think that it affected his reasoning.
When he caught making out one evening he decided that he would take Snape out to teach him a lesson. A lesson that involved a full moon, the Whomping Willow and me.
Drulisa had fallen asleep in her room and Sirius had locked the door. It was only by chance that James heard her banging on it when he walked past her room on his way to our room. He let her out and Peter told him that he had seen Sirius dragging Snape outside.
James and Drusila realised what he was doing. James was apparently going to leave Sirius to do what he wanted. I don't actually think he thought that Sirius would actually do it. When Drulisa became hysterical he went out just to please her and of course he saw what was happening and rescued Snape.
That was it. Drulisa hated Sirius from then on. She and James grew apart. She wasn't angry with him, but hanging around James meant hanging around the boy who had tried to get her boyfriend murdered and the werewolf that had nearly killed him.
She was offered a chance to skip a year and join us, but she turned it down without even thinking about it. It was a sore blow to her, because she was bored in all her classes, she didn't have any real friends in her year because they were jealous of her and Hogwarts doesn't ask people to skip a year on a whim. She was the first person to be offered the chance in nearly 150 years.
But I'm digressing. When we left school Snape and Drulisa became engaged at about the same time that Lily and James did. She wanted a double wedding and it seemed that Severus wanted to reconcile with him and is family but James wouldn't have it. He wanted Sirius as his best man and he didn't want him to have to go through the pain of watching his love marry his worst enemy. They had a huge fight and neither attended the others wedding.
They started speaking again when Drulisa became pregnant. Lily got pregnant soon after and everything seemed rosy. But it wasn't.
When Snape had told his father who he was engaged to his father flipped out. His only had refused to become a Death Eater and now he was marrying a Gryffindor. His father threatened Drulisa's life. The only thing that Snape could do to pacify his father was become a Death Eater. So he did.
He was going to keep it a secret from Drulisa but a year into their marriage she found out. Instead of leaving him as everyone expected she joined him. Drulisa Potter now Drulisa Snape became a Death Eater. She lasted six months before James found out. He immediately disowned her without a second thought.'
Lupin broke off with a far away look on his face. Hermione interrupted. 'So how old were you at this time? You must have been in your early twenties.'
'Let me see, Snape and Drulisa had got married straight after she finished school. She was only seventeen and he eighteen. Everyone was marrying young because no-one believed that they would live very long with the threat of Voldemort hanging over them.
They were only married two months before she fell pregnant. Lily and James had married when they were both eighteen, about a week after Drulisa and Severus's wedding. Drulisa became pregnant two months later and Lily, one month after her.
Lily gave birth a month prematurely at about the same time as Drulisa. They had been married 11 months by now. Then Drulisa became a Death Eater when Sean was about a month old.
Harry was six months when James found out that she had become a Death Eater. So they had been married about a year and a half. We were still in our teens. Nineteen bloody years old. Drulisa only eighteen.
Well as I said James disowned her. I think that was when she realised the enormity of what she was doing. Two months later she was running to James begging for forgiveness. She turned spy for our side but somehow Voldemort found out.
I guess, looking back that it must have been Peter. He had been behaving oddly but we never thought anything of it. We were to worried about Drulisa to take any notice of him.
Anyway when Harry and Sean were about eighteen months Voldemort killed Sean and Drulisa. It was horrible. Sirius and James were aurors and they, unfortunately were first on the scene after Snape and Dumbledore. James never got over it, not that he lived that long afterwards. He said that they had set her alight and she had burnt alive. Apparently she was strung up on a wall hardly recognisable.
So Snape became a spy. He was the one who told Dumbledore about the plot to kill Harry.
Lily and James were dead about eight, nine months later. They didn't need to die of course. They were just protecting Harry. For some reason Voldemort saw him as a threat. Maybe he was losing his marbles. But either way he killed them. Mercilessly too. Harry told me that he can hear them when the Dementors get to close. He can hear James trying to hold him off so that Lily could get away. He can hear Lily trying to sacrifice himself to save her. I think that we grew up faster in those final months than we had in our entire lives.
We were only nineteen fucking years old. That was what Voldemort did to people. Nineteen years old and three of us were dead, one a spy, one in Azkaban for something that he didn't do and one a traitor living as a rat.
And now he is back. According to Trelawny "greater and more terrible than ever before". Is it possible. I didn't think it could get any worse than that. But it's going to. And we are powerless to prevent it.'
Hermione watched with tears running down her face as he put his head in his hands. He seemed to have forgotten that she was there. He was lost in his memories. She realised that he hadn't mentioned himself in the whole story.
*It must have been terrible for him.* she thought to herself. *He was the only one left. He thought that his two friends were dead and one a traitor. He had to live for twelve years, shunned by the wizarding world for what he was, with no-one to turn too. Those years must have nearly been as bad for him as they were for Sirius.*
She stood quietly. 'I'm sorry Professor Lupin.'
She was leaving the room when his voice stopped her. 'It's ok, Hermione. I have never actually talked to anyone about that time. It was just hard to relive. I'm sorry about my language earlier.'
'That's ok sir,' Hermione smiled. 'You can't really expect me to be shocked when I've been friends with Harry and Ron for the past 5 years.'
'I guess not.' Lupin laughed. He suddenly stopped.
'Harry.'
'I've tried to stop thinking about it. It's not going to help him if we keep going to pieces on him. He feels enough guilt as it is.' Hermione said quietly.
'Well I'd better go. I have an essay to do for Snape on the importance in clean cauldrons.'
She was halfway out the door when a thought struck her and she turned around aghast.
'Snape married Drulisa who was James's sister. Which makes Snape Harry's Uncle! Oh fuck. What will Harry say?'
'Um. well I, um. that is. he might, well. er' 'Are you trying to tell me that you haven't even considered that Harry might want to know that he has living relatives. Even if it is Snape. But that's not the point, why the hell did Dumbledore make him stay with those muggles? He said it was because he was protected in the care of his relatives. Snape is his bloody uncle.'
'Hermione calm down. I hadn't actually considered that aspect of it. Not even when Dumbledore told me he was going to Lily's side of the family. It didn't even occur to me that Snape was his uncle, and remember that you promised not to let anyone know that you know. You can't say or do anything. And under no circumstances are you to tell Harry. Do I make myself clear Miss Granger?'
Hermione cringed at his unusually stern tone. 'Yes, sir. I think I will go to bed now. Sorry to disturb you.'
She ran out before he had time to say anything else.
As Snape had cradled the boy in his arms, he was filled with regret. This should be his son that he was holding, not the son of his sworn enemy.
*Flasback*
'My Lord? I.what.that is to say, what do you mean.dispose of them? They are not traitors. They are as loyal to you and our cause as I.'
The high, cold laugh is full of harsh mirth as the voice replies, 'I shouldn't hold yourself to that, Severus, my friend. Or you might find yourself suffering a similar fate.'
'But, but my Lord.Sean, he is only a baby.not yet one.he can not be a traitor.he is to young, he cannot even talk. And Drulisa, she wouldn't, couldn't ever.'
'Do not speak to me of that whore that you married, Snape. If I say she is a traitor, then she is a traitor. And as for the young one, he will follow in the footsteps of his hussy of a mother- but wait. why am I explaining my actions to you? I do not see why I should refer to you about how I should punish traitors. I do not see what gives you the right to question my actions. In fact I do not even recall permitting you to speak. You may be the best potion brewer in Britain and therefore not expendable, but that doesn't mean that I cannot punish you. I have no use for snivelling little turncoats in this field of work. Crucio.'
Snape falls to the ground, but he doesn't scream. He is to busy worrying about what his lord and master has said to even notice the pain. After ten minutes of the torture Snape's body cannot take the pain and he blacks out.
When he awakens he finds himself in a field. It is night time. He doesn't know how long he has been unconscious, he doesn't know how long he has been there, he doesn't know where he is, and he doesn't even know what day it is. He only knows one thing.
He has to get to Albus Dumbledore.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
'So Severus, you are a Death Eater, but Voldemort believes that your family are traitors, despite your son being only a baby and he wants to have them killed. Therefore you want to join the side of the light.'
'Yes sir. I want to become a spy for the side of the light.'
'And how do I know that you are trustworthy, Severus? I have administered Veritaserum to you, but you are a Potions Master. The best in all of Britain and one of the best three in the world, plus you have just admitted being a Death Eater. You may have found an antidote. How can I believe you? How can you prove yourself to me?'
'I. I can tell you of a plan, a plan involving one of my worst enemies. I can tell you of a family that Voldemort is planning to kill. I do not know why, but it sounds as though they could be threat to his power. Dumbledore, if I tell you this then you must believe that I have turned to your side. I would rather that he dies, but if it proves to you that I am loyal then I will tell you. Voldemort wants to kill the Potters. Something about their son. I don't know what. But you must believe me now, Albus. I hate James Potter.'
'Very well Severus. I believe you. We will talk more about this plan later. My first priority is getting Drulisa and Sean to a safe place.'
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
'Oh Merlin, fuck no.' Snape's voice is torn in anguish.
'Severus, calm down. You said that Drulisa was taking Sean out tonight. They may not have been in there.'
'They are always home by ten. Its one in the morning.'
'Wait here, Severus, I'll go in first, just in case.'
Snape stands trembling as he watches Dumbledore enter the smouldering remains of what used to be his house. The Dark Mark hovers over the ruins. He waits a few moments and then runs in to the house, unable to wait any longer.
He runs in and finds Dumbledore standing, facing what used to be the corner of his kitchen.
'No! No no no no no.'
'I am so sorry Severus.'
He falls to the ground in front of the half blown away wall. Up on the wall is strung the burnt and charred remains of what used to be Drulisa Snape. Her hair and skin has been burned away. Her whole body is black. Parts of her limbs are crumbling into dust. What can be seen of her once beautiful face is twisted up in terror. Part of her skull is gone and her eyes, which don't seem to be harmed are staring at Snape.
On the floor, covered in the blackened ash of his mother, is nine month old Sean Snape. He looks unharmed other than the fact that he is dead.
'At least he didn't suffer Severus.'
'No Albus he didn't. But he is dead, and she did suffer before dying. He will pay for this Dumbledore. He will.'
*End Flashback*
A tear ran down Snape's face as he tucked Harry into bed. He sat in the chair next to the bed. Although he had meant to stay awake he was asleep within ten minutes.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Outside the door the three adults and student were standing quietly.
When Snape had started to cry Hermione had tactfully turned away, not wishing to see her professor crying. She knew that if he ever found out that she had witnessed that event her life would be made a living hell for the next two years at Hogwarts.
Lupin was also staring at the ground shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
McGonagall had tears running down her face. 'Albus, I do believe that is the first time I have ever seen him display any emotion other that contempt. He didn't even appear sad when Drulisa and Sean.'
She broke off when she realised Hermione was still standing there.
'He didn't, even then, Minerva.' Albus sighed heavily.
'He couldn't. And not because of his spy status. He just refused to show how much he was hurting. All I ever saw was anger when he first found her and after that nothing. I kept a close eye on him, in case he ever snapped but he didn't. It was most peculiar. I know that he loved her, perhaps more that she did him but he never showed any sign. Even at the funeral he looked the same way he always had. When the other Death Eaters attacked and vandalised her tomb stone, he still did nothing. I was the one who went to clean it up and mend it. He didn't even react when I told him what had happened.'
'I think he was trying to wipe her from his memory.' interjected Lupin.
'That can't be it,' protested McGonagall. 'she was what made him turn a spy. He wouldn't try and forget her, because then he wouldn't have a reason for spying. He never does anything without a good enough reason.'
'That's not what I meant. You see, when James and Lily were killed and I thought that Sirius had betrayed them and then killed Peter I tried to forget about them. But not completely. I tried to pretend that I hadn't known them and that they were just some random killing. Although I could never do that completely it helped to numb the pain until I was ready to deal with it. I don't think Severus has done exactly that, but he has tried to do something similar. I think that he thought if he refused to acknowledge the grief he felt then he would cope much better. He always kept them in his head, but he tried to lock most of his love for her and Sean, and his grief about their deaths, away in this tiny compartment inside him. That way he could still access a small amount of his feelings when he needed a reminder about why he was doing what he was doing. He kept away the one thing that could break him, but left enough to control him when times were bad.'
The other three were staring at him, bewildered.
Lupin looked uncomfortable. 'I know I'm not articulate and that came out all jumbled up, but I know what I mean.'
'No, no, I think I understand what you are saying.'
'Well either way, I think we had better leave, before he comes out and hears us discussing him.'
All four turned to go to their separate abodes, but after Hermione turned a corner her curiosity got the better of her. She turned and ran back in the direction she had come.
Lupin was sitting at his desk marking some essays when he heard a tentative knock at the door.
'Come in.' he called. 'Ah, Hermione, what can I do for you?'
'Well, sir, I was thinking about that conversation you and the other two Professors were having and I know it is none of my business, but who are Drulisa and Sean?'
'They were his wife and son.'
'W- wife and son? That horrible oily man actually had a wife and a son?'
'Yes he did.'
'What happened to them?'
Lupin put down his quill and looked at her. 'I am about to tell you a story, but I don't want you to repeat it to anyone. Very few people know about it and I think that Professor Snape would like it kept that way. I will, however tell you because I know that I can trust you and you must be very confused.'
Hermione nodded. 'Thankyou, sir.'
'Sit down, Hermione. Ok, well I suppose this story begins when we were still at school. Drulisa Potter as she was then was James's younger sister. She was a year younger than us and very pretty.
James and his parents doted on her. She was smarter that James and Sirius put together. She was probably one of the most brilliant students that Hogwarts has ever seen. Everyone loved her, and she wasn't a bit vain about it. She was very down to earth, and unlike James, she never wanted to be the centre of attention.
When she came to our school we were in our second year and we had already become the Marauders and we already disliked Snape. So when it became obvious that he liked Drulisa our dislike intensified. We didn't worry, though because most of the males in our school would walk past her with their tongues hanging out.
When she was in her third year, and us in our fourth, to our horror she began reciprocating his feelings. Unbeknown to them, Sirius liked her as well, so when they started dating in our fifth year it was the last straw for Padfoot. He was totally in love with her, and I think that it affected his reasoning.
When he caught making out one evening he decided that he would take Snape out to teach him a lesson. A lesson that involved a full moon, the Whomping Willow and me.
Drulisa had fallen asleep in her room and Sirius had locked the door. It was only by chance that James heard her banging on it when he walked past her room on his way to our room. He let her out and Peter told him that he had seen Sirius dragging Snape outside.
James and Drusila realised what he was doing. James was apparently going to leave Sirius to do what he wanted. I don't actually think he thought that Sirius would actually do it. When Drulisa became hysterical he went out just to please her and of course he saw what was happening and rescued Snape.
That was it. Drulisa hated Sirius from then on. She and James grew apart. She wasn't angry with him, but hanging around James meant hanging around the boy who had tried to get her boyfriend murdered and the werewolf that had nearly killed him.
She was offered a chance to skip a year and join us, but she turned it down without even thinking about it. It was a sore blow to her, because she was bored in all her classes, she didn't have any real friends in her year because they were jealous of her and Hogwarts doesn't ask people to skip a year on a whim. She was the first person to be offered the chance in nearly 150 years.
But I'm digressing. When we left school Snape and Drulisa became engaged at about the same time that Lily and James did. She wanted a double wedding and it seemed that Severus wanted to reconcile with him and is family but James wouldn't have it. He wanted Sirius as his best man and he didn't want him to have to go through the pain of watching his love marry his worst enemy. They had a huge fight and neither attended the others wedding.
They started speaking again when Drulisa became pregnant. Lily got pregnant soon after and everything seemed rosy. But it wasn't.
When Snape had told his father who he was engaged to his father flipped out. His only had refused to become a Death Eater and now he was marrying a Gryffindor. His father threatened Drulisa's life. The only thing that Snape could do to pacify his father was become a Death Eater. So he did.
He was going to keep it a secret from Drulisa but a year into their marriage she found out. Instead of leaving him as everyone expected she joined him. Drulisa Potter now Drulisa Snape became a Death Eater. She lasted six months before James found out. He immediately disowned her without a second thought.'
Lupin broke off with a far away look on his face. Hermione interrupted. 'So how old were you at this time? You must have been in your early twenties.'
'Let me see, Snape and Drulisa had got married straight after she finished school. She was only seventeen and he eighteen. Everyone was marrying young because no-one believed that they would live very long with the threat of Voldemort hanging over them.
They were only married two months before she fell pregnant. Lily and James had married when they were both eighteen, about a week after Drulisa and Severus's wedding. Drulisa became pregnant two months later and Lily, one month after her.
Lily gave birth a month prematurely at about the same time as Drulisa. They had been married 11 months by now. Then Drulisa became a Death Eater when Sean was about a month old.
Harry was six months when James found out that she had become a Death Eater. So they had been married about a year and a half. We were still in our teens. Nineteen bloody years old. Drulisa only eighteen.
Well as I said James disowned her. I think that was when she realised the enormity of what she was doing. Two months later she was running to James begging for forgiveness. She turned spy for our side but somehow Voldemort found out.
I guess, looking back that it must have been Peter. He had been behaving oddly but we never thought anything of it. We were to worried about Drulisa to take any notice of him.
Anyway when Harry and Sean were about eighteen months Voldemort killed Sean and Drulisa. It was horrible. Sirius and James were aurors and they, unfortunately were first on the scene after Snape and Dumbledore. James never got over it, not that he lived that long afterwards. He said that they had set her alight and she had burnt alive. Apparently she was strung up on a wall hardly recognisable.
So Snape became a spy. He was the one who told Dumbledore about the plot to kill Harry.
Lily and James were dead about eight, nine months later. They didn't need to die of course. They were just protecting Harry. For some reason Voldemort saw him as a threat. Maybe he was losing his marbles. But either way he killed them. Mercilessly too. Harry told me that he can hear them when the Dementors get to close. He can hear James trying to hold him off so that Lily could get away. He can hear Lily trying to sacrifice himself to save her. I think that we grew up faster in those final months than we had in our entire lives.
We were only nineteen fucking years old. That was what Voldemort did to people. Nineteen years old and three of us were dead, one a spy, one in Azkaban for something that he didn't do and one a traitor living as a rat.
And now he is back. According to Trelawny "greater and more terrible than ever before". Is it possible. I didn't think it could get any worse than that. But it's going to. And we are powerless to prevent it.'
Hermione watched with tears running down her face as he put his head in his hands. He seemed to have forgotten that she was there. He was lost in his memories. She realised that he hadn't mentioned himself in the whole story.
*It must have been terrible for him.* she thought to herself. *He was the only one left. He thought that his two friends were dead and one a traitor. He had to live for twelve years, shunned by the wizarding world for what he was, with no-one to turn too. Those years must have nearly been as bad for him as they were for Sirius.*
She stood quietly. 'I'm sorry Professor Lupin.'
She was leaving the room when his voice stopped her. 'It's ok, Hermione. I have never actually talked to anyone about that time. It was just hard to relive. I'm sorry about my language earlier.'
'That's ok sir,' Hermione smiled. 'You can't really expect me to be shocked when I've been friends with Harry and Ron for the past 5 years.'
'I guess not.' Lupin laughed. He suddenly stopped.
'Harry.'
'I've tried to stop thinking about it. It's not going to help him if we keep going to pieces on him. He feels enough guilt as it is.' Hermione said quietly.
'Well I'd better go. I have an essay to do for Snape on the importance in clean cauldrons.'
She was halfway out the door when a thought struck her and she turned around aghast.
'Snape married Drulisa who was James's sister. Which makes Snape Harry's Uncle! Oh fuck. What will Harry say?'
'Um. well I, um. that is. he might, well. er' 'Are you trying to tell me that you haven't even considered that Harry might want to know that he has living relatives. Even if it is Snape. But that's not the point, why the hell did Dumbledore make him stay with those muggles? He said it was because he was protected in the care of his relatives. Snape is his bloody uncle.'
'Hermione calm down. I hadn't actually considered that aspect of it. Not even when Dumbledore told me he was going to Lily's side of the family. It didn't even occur to me that Snape was his uncle, and remember that you promised not to let anyone know that you know. You can't say or do anything. And under no circumstances are you to tell Harry. Do I make myself clear Miss Granger?'
Hermione cringed at his unusually stern tone. 'Yes, sir. I think I will go to bed now. Sorry to disturb you.'
She ran out before he had time to say anything else.