Author's note: Here we go again! And see, I tried to be a bit quicker, only two weeks instead of two months.
A BIG thank you to my beta! I'm sure she lost a lot of hair trying to make sense of this…and that you people actually read it. I'm ashamed! I need to go up to the attic and dig up my English spelling and grammar books. Still I hope you enjoy the story…in Flemish/English or in normal English. Thank You Zardi for all your work…
As always, Enjoy!
Title: Untold Past, Unknown Future
Author: Dagmar De Meyer
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that is the property of J.K. Rowling. I only borrowed what she started and had them play in my mind twists. One character however will be of my own creation, you'll soon find out.
Rated: Better make it PG although I still think it is G. Don't want to offend anyone with certain expressions.
Reviews: Oh, yes please… For better or worse I suppose.
Summary: My take on 'Severitus's challenge'. What if Severus Snape is Harry's father?! Voldemort is still on the loose and who is the lady with the violet eyes!
Before I let you continue with the story, a few review thank yous …
Charlie Girl : Thank you, and I'll try! I know the last chapter was late… I'm going to finish it one way or the other but sometimes life gets in the way and 24hours are not enough!
Madame Padfoot : Taking a bow! vbg Yes you are going to find out about the curse! I'm just a mean person and just love keeping that part in the dark for as long as I can. The real reason that I haven't 'told' Violet's story yet is that I don't want to have to write it down three times. If all goes well and my muse doesn't take me for a D-tour it should be told in chapters 14-15… No promises though!
Kazza : Bon appetit! The next course.
Avide Reader : I intend to… and here is chapter 12, to make you even more impatient. vbg or so my friends keep telling me.
SilverMoon : I'm getting there; I'm getting there… LOL Yes, Voldemort will find out, although not yet. It won't be pretty though!
Charma1219 : Thank You! And Hey I was a bit quicker…only two weeks of impatience! vbg
demonic angel : Remind me to send your son a broom for Christmas! Chapter 12 for you both… I'm looking forward to Sunday… I'm not the only one that has found the fun in cliffies!
Kylee : I do my best…and thank you for the beautiful review! My own twist to the challenge…
Sailor Millennium : Madame Prince? You lost me on that one… Thanks for the review I hope you enjoy what is still to come!
Amy2k : Thank You Amy for all your reviews… I hope your eyes didn't hurt too much after all those hours of reading! Here's chapter 12… you're welcome!
And to all the anonymous ones…. Thank you to!
Untold Past, Unknown Future Chapter 12By Dagmar De Meyer
The Great Hall was filled with happy banter from the students who were having breakfast. Although the excitement over the Quidditch game had died down somewhat, most still looked forward to an exciting game. A betting pool run by the Weasley twins was in full swing. Who was going to win? And which player would catch the Snitch? In the beginning most had voted for Malfoy, but after 4 days of playing and no Snitch, more names had appeared on the list.
Fred and George were in the middle of explaining the new rules that Dumbledore had made up for the 'Hogwarts Quidditch fun', when Harry and his friends entered the hall. The entire Gryffindor table burst out in sheers. Their star had returned, and now Slytherin would lose for sure.
The Great Hall was soon filled with so much noise that Harry had to cover his ears and practically run to his seat, with Ron and Hermione right behind him. It was only when Dumbledore sent sparks into the air that everyone quieted somewhat. Though the Slytherins were still about to explode, and the Gryffindors could barely contain their joy, it changed when Dumbledore began to speak.
"Good morning to you all. Another beautiful day it promises to be. I'm also very happy to see that Mr. Potter has joined us again. However, I must make you aware that he will not join his team mates in the game today. He will have to join the rest of us in the stands."
Protests were heard from every Gryffindor. Even Professor McGonagall had jumped up in protest. Harry, on the other hand, had remained awfully quiet, more interested in his eggs than what was happening around him. He didn't know how he felt about this. He knew everyone wanted him to play, but somehow he felt that he wouldn't be able to. Something didn't feel quite right. He sighed and looked up, turning to face the head table. The entire hall was in an uproar. Harry met Dumbledore's eye and saw the Headmaster wink before turning back to listen to Professor McGonagall, who was no doubt arguing over the fact that Harry was not allowed to play. On the other side of Dumbledore, Harry noticed Remus looking at him as well, and although the man smiled at him, Harry saw that it was not all that convincing.
'Feeling guilty, are you Lupin?' Harry thought, feeling the anger boil up in the pit of his stomach. It hurt. All this time, Lupin had known and not told him. Yes, he was angry, angry with them all. Turning his head back to his plate, and blocking out the yells, screams, and looks directed his way, Harry swallowed hard and started eating. He was angry, and he was going to let them know it.
* * * * * *
The dungeons felt cold. They usually were, of course, but now he actually felt how cold. Using a few hidden passageways, Snape made his way to his own chambers. He had woken up alone the second time, as Violet had gone before Madame Pomfrey made her rounds. The loneliness he felt surprised him, and he couldn't figure out whether this was a good or bad thing.
It had taken a lot of persuading, but Madame Pomfrey had finally, although reluctantly, agreed to let him go have breakfast and see his house team. She, too, was getting tired of having to fix up the players day after day. Jokingly she had added, "I'm starting to miss my daily visits from Mr. Longbottom. Besides, Severus, even if I tied you down to the bed you would probably find a way to disappear on me, bed and all."
He had reached his chambers and entered just in time, as he heard the students pass on their way to breakfast. Not really up to facing the school, he ordered his breakfast and ate in silence, with the Daily Prophet to keep him company. By the time the clock struck ten, he had enjoyed a well-needed shower, and felt almost human again.
"Time to go see those …" Snape sighed. Why had he ever agreed to this? He was not a people person, let alone one that was good at dealing with children.
'It's for your own good. You owe it to Albus,' he scolded himself. What he wanted to do right now was lock himself in his lab and brew potions...any potions...just to calm his nerves and get his thoughts, not to mention his emotional state, straightened out. But no, he had to go down and suffer through a day filled with children.
'Ha. Suffer. Really, Severus, after last night you should drop to your knees and thank whoever is looking out for you, if your reason for suffering now is merely that you have to deal with children.'
As he walked up to the chair in the corner to collect his cloak, he saw something shinny. He hadn't noticed it before, as he had thrown this cloak in the corner in favour of the other one, before answering his summons. Snape picked it up, and with a cling a small golden object fell down next to his feet. Seeing what it was, he started laughing and was still laughing as he made his way to the Quidditch field.
* * * * * *
"It's NOT fair…it's not I tell you!" Ron yelled.
"Ron, calm down," Harry sighed. "There's nothing we can do about it now. Besides, I'm not allowed to fly."
"Since when has that stopped you?" Angelina said as she pulled on her Quidditch gloves. Harry looked at Angelina. She was right…why should he not play? He was feeling much better: no more pain. Breakfast had been just what he needed. And besides, he was itching to get up there and do some flying. Maybe it would clear his head.
"Alright, but if Dumbledore…"
"YEAH!" the entire team cheered. "Don't worry about Dumbledore, Harry. I'm sure he didn't mean it!"
"Right," Harry said. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Ron asked as he walked Harry to the door of the changing rooms.
"To get my Quidditch robes. Where else?" With that, he passed through the doors and disappeared down the corridor.
* * * * * *
"I am very disappointed in you," a voice from the shadows said. It spoke only barely above a whisper, but had such force that everybody in the room heard it. No one moved, their eyes directed at the shadows near the door.
"Such a bunch of idiots…can't even beat a crippled team. One Seeker, and still no Snitch," the voice continued, cold as ice.
Draco was the first to find his voice and stepped forward as he spoke. "Welcome back, sir. How was your meeting?"
"None of your business," Snape snapped as he stepped forward and towered over Malfoy. "What is your business, however, is to explain to me...and this had better be good...how it is that after 5 days you are still PLAYING?"
Having no intention whatsoever to wait for an answer, Snape turned on his heel, his cloak almost knocking Draco off his feet, and walked to the door.
"Get me that Snitch," he hissed, and closed the door behind him.
"That should get them going," he sneered, walking toward the stands to look for Dumbledore.
* * * * * *
No one ever gets tired of Quidditch, or that's what people say. If the last few days were any indication, no truer words had ever been spoken. It seemed that the whole school was out to see the game. You could almost touch the excitement emanating all around.
Panting, Harry leaned against the door. His sprint from the Quidditch Pitch to the castle hadn't been such a good idea after all. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself a moment to catch his breath when a voice startled him.
"Ah, there you are Harry. Come along. You do not want to miss the game."
Harry's eyes flew open and he pushed himself off the wall, coming face to face with Professor Dumbledore. For the occasion, the Headmaster was wearing a large pointy hat in Slytherin colours, and a Gryffindor scarf was draped around his neck, although the latter was barely visible beneath his long grey beard. This combination, along with his scarlet red robes, which sported twinkling yellow stars, was, to put it mildly, astonishing. Harry had a hard time trying not to laugh.
"Come on! We are going to be late if we keep standing here," Dumbledore continued, placing his arm around Harry's shoulders and gently pushing the boy back into the direction of the Quidditch field. Harry, however, didn't move. Sensing the boy's anger, Dumbledore stopped and turned the boy to face him.
"Harry…" he started.
"No…" Harry stated firmly. "I don't want to hear it, sir. No matter what you tell me, I'm sure it's going to be another cryptic story full of 'when you're older you'll understand,' but you see, I understand perfectly. I'm just the 'boy-who-lived. Do with him as you please.' I don't know what kind of games you and Snape are playing, but count me OUT." Harry turned around with such force that he lost his balance and fell into the arms of the one person he really did not want to see: Professor Snape.
Making his way across the field, Severus noticed that Dumbledore was talking to someone. As he got closer, Severus realized that this person was Harry. Although his mind kept telling him to stay away, Severus's curiosity got the better of him, and walked up to the pair. His heart beating in his chest, Severus realized, with some amusement, that he was afraid of the boy. When he got closer and could hear his son's tirade, pain joined his fear.
'Stop it, Severus. Get ahold of yourself!' Then a pair of vivid, watery green eyes stared at him, and he felt another crack appear in his armour.
The face that looked down on him was pale and etched with worry. For the first time, Harry saw raw emotion on the face of his otherwise cold and emotionless Potions Master...professor...father. Firm hands held him and helped him back to his feet. He continued to look into those black eyes, staring until one looked away. To his surprise, it was not he. Harry suddenly felt very uncomfortable and stepped back, mumbling an apology as he took off towards the castle without looking back.
"What was that all about?" Snape asked as he watched Harry run away.
"Good morning, Severus!"
"Headmaster," Snape answered, still watching the retreating form of his son.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and was rewarded by getting Snape's attention. The young wizard looked lost...well, to Dumbledore he did. To most others he still looked like the ice-cold, dreaded Potions Master, but now there was something more...something Severus had a hard time dealing with. It was writing in his eyes...on his face. You just needed to know where to look for it.
"He'll come around." Dumbledore placed a reassuring hand on Snape's shoulder and, like he tried with Harry, coached him towards the stands. Only this time, he actually succeeded.
"How are you doing?" he asked. "I hope that talk with your wife went well."
"Ah yes Albus, thank you. It went really well, as you so nicely put it." Snape ran a hand through his raven black hair and sighed. "I can't believe it Albus…I just can't. All this time, all those years...gone...lost… It is all so much, so confusing. I … I don't know how to help her. And Harry, oh Merlin, Harry… I should talk to him Albus; I should run after him and talk to him. He's my son. The two most precious things in my life, what I had thought lost for so long, is right here in front of me. Merlin, forgive me, but I don't know what to do. My head and heart don't seem to want to agree. I'm locked in a room with the walls coming at me from all sides."
They had stopped in the shadows of the Slytherin tower and could hear the cheers and laughter of the students above. Dumbledore waited and stared out over the flowing landscape. Beside him, he felt his friend fight an internal battle. These occasions of emotional behaviour were rare and far-between. When he turned to face Severus, Professor Snape had taken his place.
"Time, Severus…you all need time."
"That, I'm afraid, is a luxury we don't have."
Both men fell silent as a group of students passed and climbed the stairs.
"Well, now shall we go?" Dumbledore clapped his hands and motioned for Snape to follow him.
"Wait, Headmaster. Before you go, I have something here you should see," Snape said, climbing the steps to stand next to Dumbledore and reaching into his robe's pocket.
"I thought you might like this back," Snape continued as he held out his hand.
"What is it Severus?" Dumbledore asked, looking at the closed hand with curiosity plainly written on his face.
"I believe it is something you lost." Snape opened his hand to reveal a small golden ball with two beautiful white wings: the missing Snitch.
At first Dumbledore just stared, surprise clearly having taken over. But then he started to laugh, and was still laughing when he joined Professor McGonagall and the other professors up in the stands and took his seat.
"Good morning, Minerva… I do believe we have a bit of a problem."
* * * * * *
"Where is he?" Ron grumbled for the tenth time. "He better show up soon or I'll…"
"Or you'll what?" Katie asked.
"I don't know…but I'm telling you, he'll know."
"Being angry won't help."
"I'm just frustrated, okay?"
"Ron, we all are! We have never played like this before," Fred added as he took his place in front of the big doors, with George beside him. "Come on everyone. It's show time."
"But...hey, wait! What about Harry?"
"Sorry Ron, but I think we'll have to do this one without him. I fear someone has sidetracked him, and you know what Dumbledore said. 'Harry is not to play.' I'm sure he's up there in the stands somewhere as frustrated as we are. Now let's end this… WHO'S WITH ME?"
"YEAH!"
And off they went, soaring high above the ground, taking their places from the day before, while the Slytherin team did the same. A whistle sounded and the game began. No sooner was the Quaffle in play and the Bludgers flying, than a golden glint was seen hovering near the Headmaster's head.
"The Snitch!" someone yelled, and as agreed upon, Katie tossed the Quaffle to Angelina and went speeding towards the golden Snitch, soon followed by Malfoy. There was yelling and cheering all around: now the game had really begun.
* * * * * *
"You cheated Albus," McGonagall whispered.
"I know…" Dumbledore answered, ducking just in time as Malfoy and Angelina knocked his hat off. Eyes twinkling, he looked at McGonagall. "Let them play Minerva, as long as they are still able."
"Something wrong Albus?" McGonagall asked, hearing the worry in his voice.
His expression darkening somewhat, Dumbledore sighed. "Some of our young Slytherin friends are heading towards dark times...dark times indeed...and for some in particular, it will become irreversible and painful all too soon."
In silence both watched the game, clapping and cheering...even laughing as was appropriate...but neither really had their thoughts with the game.
* * * * * *
With everyone...well, almost everyone...at the game, the castle felt like it did at night: a nice and quiet place to wander with, of course, the inevitable battle...a war in your own mind. Three people were waging such a battle: one high up in the Astronomy Tower gazing at the world below, anger and fear the controlling emotions; another one, down in his dungeons, with anger and fear...but mostly guilt...so much guilt; and the third, in between, trying to control her own pain along with the anger, fear, and guilt of the others. What had she done? It had felt so good to finally share her story, her life, her pain and grief with Severus. But had it been fair to add to his burden? No, such an egotist she had been. She had felt his guilt multiply, and still she kept going, leaving nothing out. He had said nothing...just listened as he held her tight.
And then there was Harry. She would have to explain it all to him, too. Would he listen? Maybe one day…now she had to concentrate on getting Harry to listen to Severus, and vice versa. That was what needed to be done. She stopped in mid-stride and sighed, finally taking the time to look around, and finding herself at a loss as to how to explain how she had gotten there. A cool autumn breeze caressed her cheek, and before her, the Scottish mountains bathed in the setting sun.
"I knew you were coming," a voice said.
Startled, Violet turned around.
"H…How?" Violet stuttered, still trying to figure for out herself exactly how she had gotten there.
"This," Harry said, holding up his right hand. Through the bandage, it was glowing a soft violet.
"How are you doing Harry?" Violet asked, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of the question.
"How am I doing? Good question. Everybody keeps asking me that, and I always say I'm doing fine. But you know? I'm not doing fine," Harry answered calmly.
Violet felt her son struggle to keep from running away or letting his anger out. 'Should she stay?' she wondered. As she was about to turn, his voice stopped her.
"Thank you," he whispered as he turned away to watch the sunset.
"You're welcome," she answered, not really knowing what he was thanking her for.
It was as if he could read her mind when he continued, "...for saving my life, yet again. Well, at least I think you did." Harry looked down at his hands. "Something is very wrong with me, isn't there?"
"Yes…"
"No, don't tell me. I don't want to know. Not yet. I can't…"
"It takes time Harry. Don't bottle it up. Confront your emotions. Be angry, yell and scream...but don't hide from them, or you'll end up …"
"Like Snape?"
"Like Snape, yes." A small smile appeared on her lips.
"I'm angry…with him, Remus, Dumbledore…you." Harry whispered the last bit, hiding his face in the shadows which danced on the wall behind him.
"I know you are. You have every right to be. I hope that one day you'll be ready to hear what we need to tell you." Not getting a response Violet turned and left, her heart reaching out to the scared young boy she left behind.
Harry remained where he was and pondered the conversation he had just had with…his mother. He felt at ease with her for some reason. Although he was angry with her too, he could not yell or express that anger like he had done with Dumbledore.
Oh no, Dumbledore! He should go apologise to the Headmaster...and Snape and Ron and Hermione and…
Urgh, not now. Harry wrapped his cloak around himself, guarding against the chill, and closed his eyes. Those were worries for tomorrow.
* * * * * *
The corridor was covered in dust after 15 years of not being used. Down it went. Still, the torches flickered to life, one after the other, as the party of three descended deeper inside the mountain. Nothing lived here...well, maybe a few rats that scattered the moment the intruders passed.
"Look Peter, relatives," Lucius sneered as he followed his Master.
"Quiet," Voldemort hissed as he stopped in front of a large oak door. He extended his hand and touched the cold wood with his palm. Instantly, the door moved, and slowly, without making a sound, it opened to reveal the dark interior. The smell of death emanated from the dark abyss, and a smile appeared on Voldemort's face as he stepped forward.
As they did in the corridor, torches flickered to life and flooded the room with an eerie glow.
"Do you remember, Luciussss, that night I killed Violet Snape?"
"Yes, my Lord," Lucius answered.
"Crucio!" Voldemort hissed, pointing his wand at Malfoy.
Malfoy fell to his knees and tried not to scream. The curse only lasted a few seconds, and Voldemort continued, "you know how I deal with liars, Lucius. She did not die. No, for some reason she did not, and she got away, as I recall. Now, how did that happen?"
The two Death Eaters were on their knees, neither wanting to be the one to answer, for it would not be the answer the Master was looking for.
"Both ssssso quiet," his voice hissed in their ears. "I have had 15 yearsss to think of thissss… Ssshe had been with child, sssomething Ssseverusss was unwilling to ssshare with me. The child is a Mudblood, but nevertheless, I was willing to let that go, jussst this once." He stopped mid-stride as he stared at a spot on the floor, his eyes glowing dangerously in the dark. A vicious smile appeared on his thin lips.
"All in due time…all in due time."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
To Be Continued
Author's note 2: So in a way one can say… the first part of my book, yep you could almost call it a book since I'm already over 100 pages all in total, is finished. A few lose ends and then we can start on part 2. Well that's how I see it in my head. Chapter 13 is an in-between and as I sort of promised to Madame Padfoot, chapter 14-15 should let us finally hear about Violet's curse. Also Harry will have to start dealing with even more. The story continues…
I do have a question for you… I'm in a bit of a discussion with my mother and myself… Who has to win the Quidditch Game? Gryffindor or Slytherin? If you review (please) I'd really appreciate the help!
Groetjes Dagmar