A/N: Okay, so off ff.net, I got another review. And three is enough for me to continue, hopefully more will come after this. I will continue posting this story and I hope everyone enjoys it. Please review if you read. As a side note, the more I've written the more I realize this story will have Harry as a secondary character and I've decided not to write in the Harry/Ginny relationship. And in case anyone didn't get it BW stands for Bill Weasley, so this story is Bill/Alathea, Albus/Minerva, and a smattering of past Severus/Lily, oh yeah and the obvious Lily/James.
Read and Review!!!! It's good for my ego!
Chapter 4: Not quite according to Plan
Harry stared at the scene in front of him, then up at Professor McGonagall. She smiled kindly at him and pushed him further in the door. "Alathea. There is someone here to see you."
Alathea pulled out of her father's warm embrace and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Then she turned to stare at her brother. "Harry?" He nodded but didn't speak. She climbed out of the chair and walked over to him. His green eyes narrowed and she saw a jaded, cynical edge to them. She recognized that look; it was the look in her father's eyes, it was a look she had acquired at the tender age of six. She longed to hug him, but the guarded look in his eyes convinced her not to. Instead she held out her hand. "I'm Alathea Snape, your sister."
Alathea looked at the door Harry had just stormed out of. She had tears in her eyes, but she was trying very hard to hide them. "Well, that didn't go so well." She said as jokingly as possible. Her father smiled sadly and rubbed her arm. "I guess, the story will have to wait for a while. Then she walked away from her father and Aunt Minerva. Althea curled up in the big wing chair by the fire place and stared into the flames.
Harry stormed back to the Gryffindor common room, angry tears blurring his vision. He barked the password to the Fat Lady and entered muttering. Waiting for him were Ron and Hermione as usual. "What did McGonagall want?" Ron asked, curiosity winning out over worry.
"She took me to Dumbledore's office to meet my sister." Harry managed to grind out.
"Your sister?" Hermione and Ron both looked shocked.
"Yeah. Alathea Snape."
Hermione's eyes grew wide, but Ron didn't quite get it at first. "Alathea…You mean your mom and Snape?!"
Harry nodded. He felt betrayal stinging in every part of his soul. This girl was a connection to a man he hated. And his mother had a child with him. He couldn't tell who he was angrier at, Alathea, for being gone and just coming back, Snape for having a relationship with his mother, or his mother for having a relationship with someone his dad hated.
But the benefit to having best friends is he didn't have to suffer alone. Ron was quite angry on his behalf, and Hermione immediately started coddling him. The three of them didn't go to bed until after midnight and Harry ended up tossing and turning and getting no sleep at all. None of them had noticed after they had left the common room the young red head who'd been sitting in one of the chairs listening.
Minerva stayed with Severus and Alathea for a few hours, before finally retiring from the office. She went the opposite direction from her chambers and looked up and down the hall for other professors, students, or even Peeves. She ended up meeting Sir Nicholas. She smiled. "Hello Nicholas."
The ghost inclined his head toward her. "Good evening Minerva. Going to see the headmaster?"
She nodded. Nicholas was a good friend to both Albus and herself and the only one in Hogwarts who knew all their secrets. "Nicholas, it may be a long night; Albus and I have a lot to discuss."
"I'll make sure Argus, Severus and Peeves hear about some students out of bed in the dungeons." He assured her.
"Thank you Nicholas." The ghost went on his merry way and Minerva gave the password to the Portrait of Merlin that hung in front of the Headmaster's chambers. Merlin didn't chat with her tonight, Albus must have told him what was going on. He simply swung open, then shut behind her. She looked around the living room. The crimson sofa, the chess set with a half finished game of chess, the pieces sleeping while they awaited their next order. There was a rug in front of the fire place with a ball of yarn and black and grey cat hairs on it, and a scratch post in the corner. There were pictures of his great-nieces and nephews and hers, as well as pictures of her brothers and sisters. There were two desks facing each other and on the wall behind her desk was a series of diplomas and awards they had both received. He was sitting as his desk writing, but when the picture shut, he looked up at her.
"Minerva?" He crossed to her and led her to the couch. She slipped off her shoes and drew her feet under her. Albus pulled her into his arms and took her hair out of its usual bun and began to massage her scalp. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Did anyone see you dearest?"
She shook her head. "I wish we didn't have to keep up these pretenses. The boys are more than all grown up, and it isn't like I don't have my own enemies at this point."
"But the boys have children Min." He reminded her. "And they'll be in danger."
"I know." And she did. The argument was as old as their marriage, older than their children. It hadn't changed and she wouldn't really ever even consider doing anything that jeopardized their family, but it was still exhausting.
"How did it go with Alathea and Harry?"
She pulled out of his arms and faced him. There were tears unshed in her dark eyes and he knew part of her was wondering what would happen when their children and grandchildren found out about them. "Badly. Alathea told Harry she was his sister and he stormed out. Harry's feeling betrayed and confused, and Thea's hurt. I don't think she expected, or even considered his reaction."
Albus took her hand. "It'll take time for him to get used to, but he will and they will be alright." She nodded and he pulled her close again. She snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes again. He adjusted his glasses and picked up a book from the end table. "Now where were we?"
