Author's note: First a big thank you to my beta reader Zardi, who did find time in her busy schedual (exams and stress) to tackle this! 13 months have passed since I started this little story. I never ever thought that this would be the result when I started it. Remind me never to accept a challenge again! Although I still enjoy it, I myself get ticked of that it takes me WAY TOO long to finish the story. But as long as I still have fun writing I'm sure that one day I can share the ending with you all. Enough of my babbling. Enjoy chapter 16… What's going on with Draco?
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!
THANKS to all my reviewers…
Ivy Crane : You're welcome! A play with words. Severus arrived with Lily; he was badly hurt, severe burns all over his body. I just had the Malfoy family give Voldemort a dragon. Draco was named after Voldemort's pet dragon.
Demonic Angel : I've given up promising when I would get the next chapter out. It seems as if it is not up to me anymore. Pfff… I'm glad you liked it. I'll go into hiding and continue writing! How does that sound?
Sakura Le : You bet!!! I feel the same way… Usually I tend to grumble with cliffies; still it makes me even more curious about the story. Thank you, thank you… The emotions are not always easy. Especially Harry's, I'm glad I got it right!
As for the italic part… I type the story in word and save it as a web file. (web document) So far I have been lucky and the download to FF.net seems to keep the layout of the text intact.
Charma1219 : vVbg Thank YOU!
Ravven : Very, very…I'm now practicing my Snape look!
Momma-dar : Not to mention that time seems to fly! I'm always, pffff, YES I finished it. And now I'm gonna try and keep the updates more frequently. It is always 'try' and never succeed. Thank you for the review and I will do my best!
t.a.g : The wait is over…I finally managed the next part! Remus and Hermione will come back. Remus for Severus and Hermione for Harry… I can't have Harry go through this alone and Ron, well you know Ron… They were there for a reason…
Sandtr : Thank You! I thought Lily – Death Eater was not bad either. Who said James and Lily's marriage was perfect anyway?!
Amy2k : Me too! vbg I had 3 to choose from. But since Alexander and all it's variations seem to be the most popular I wanted something different and I like the SS thing! Thanks!
Gusha : Could be. That is personal I think. Thanks for the review… As I have the whole story in my head I can't be sure how other people view it.
Lady Lightning : I've never been called that before! vbg Here you go!
Angel : Sometimes even I wondered whether I would ever be able to continue… I did manage though! g I try to be original…
Anonymous? : You surprised me with this review… It completely slipped my mind, but yes over a year old! I'm shocked myself … I myself am not a fan of slash either…still to each his/her own. I just don't see it. And I will continue, let's just hope it doesn't take me another year!
Shannic : Thank You…For your reading pleasure… Chapter 16
Jeanne : When I started this story the first name that popped into my head was Alexander. However I was not the only one. vbg I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Jess : Yes, yes, yes… Still writing… I made myself promise (in writing) that I would finish this story no matter what. But since two people are working on it, me (whom takes her time, urgh) and my beta (who has to clean it up), it can take awhile. I can only say and ask, please be patient with me. When it comes it comes…
JoelIsHot : Will he indeed? Should he? I swear I WILL finish it… one way or the other.
Untold Past, Unknown Future Chapter 16Dagmar De Meyer
With a gasp, Harry bolted upright, looking frantically around him. His breathing was coming in gasps and his heart was racing. He barely registered the voice calling his name. It wasn't until he felt two strong hands grab his shoulders that his head snapped up and he came face to face with Snape…his father. Involuntarily, Harry cringed.
"Harry, Harry, it's OK, you are all right. Harry, Harry…look at me."
Slowly, his head turned back towards the voice and emerald looked into black. It wasn't as cold in there as it usually was. Concern shone through along with something else, but Harry refused to dwell on it. He looked away and swallowed hard, and in a voice barely above a whisper he managed, "I'm fine."
Reluctantly, the hands released their grip and Severus moved away. Harry still refused to meet the man's eyes and looked at everything except him. Finally, the boy noticed the other person in the room and stiffened.
Violet's eyes were closed and she lay motionless on the sofa. Her face was pale, and Harry could see pearls of sweat on her brow. However, it was not that that caught Harry's attention. He stared, eyes wide, at the faint outlining of a horn on her forehead. Childish curiosity getting the better of him, Harry stretched out his hand and made to touch it. He froze in shock as he became aware of his intentions and immediately drew his hand back.
Severus watched his son intently. The boy's face was a mask devoid of all emotion...a mask Severus himself wore and was unable to part with. No, Harry would not wear it.
His focus shifted to Violet. He felt the pull of the magic just like Harry did. He knew all too well, for he had been staring at it for the last four hours. For days he had fought with her about allowing her to use her powers. He had seen before how it drained her, but she wouldn't listen. Afraid that her words alone would not be enough to show Harry what he needed to know, they had fought and argued: tell him or not tell him? What to tell him? Ignore it? Obliviate him? One evening he had found her yelling and screaming at herself for her weakness and her desire to know her son, when he would have been better off not knowing! But he had to know. Maybe not everything: they were all entitled to some secrets. But the boy deserved to know the truth no matter how much he seemed to want to deny it. So they had agreed they would tell him and try to provide him with the evidence that he was sure to ask for. That should have been his clue to what she had planned to do. Merlin forgive him, he hadn't seen. So he sat and watched the minutes tick away, watched helplessly at the struggle played out on their faces and their bodies. Helplessness was something he hated, especially when it was his own. Severus turned his attention once again to the young boy, his son. So very young...it wasn't fair.
He was shaking, his hand in mid-air. Slowly, more on an instinct he never thought he'd posses, Severus extended his arm to comfort the shaken boy. To his surprise, Harry jumped at the sudden movement, his arms up in front of his face.
What was that for?
"Harry, Harry…"
The arms came back down but the emerald eyes were wide open.
Severus tried again, "Harry, are you all right?"
The words seemed to take effect. Somewhere, although very faint, the words registered in his mind. "Harry, are you all right?"
Outside, the setting sun had broken through the thick patch of clouds and the Scottish mountains where the décor of a play full of colours.
Ignoring the question, Harry stood up from where he was sitting, or at least he tried to. But as his knees gave way his arms went flying and the ground came rushing up to him. Shutting his eyes, Harry steeled himself for the pain, but it didn't come. He felt two strong arms grab him around his waist and pull him back to his feet.
Panic took hold and he struggled against the grip. "No, no…let me, let me go."
"Harry, calm down. You're all right, calm down." Severus tried, and although his voice was calm and cold as it always was, he desperately wanted the boy to calm down. After making sure Harry was stable on his feet, he let go and stepped back.
Harry gripped the back of the sofa and tried to fight the panic. This was absurd. He had to get out of here, away. Not looking back, not seeing the pain and regret in his mother's eyes, not hearing the panic in his father's voice, he ran. He pushed open the painting and flew down the stairs. Ignoring the students he passed, not even apologizing when he ran straight through Nearly Headless Nick, or when both he and Mrs. Norris went flying when he tripped over the snooping cat.
The corridors seemed endless.
* * * * * *
Swiftly and at a brisk pace Minerva McGonagall made her way through the halls of Hogwarts, nodding a greeting to students as she passed.
Reaching the end of the corridor, she saw the gargoyle, but paused in front of it. Was it really necessary to involve Albus in this? It was her job, after all, and the Headmaster had other things on his mind. Especially the last few days he had seemed distracted, even more so than normal. Maybe that was the reason he had failed to mention… Making up her mind, McGonagall stepped forward, gave the gargoyle his password, and waited for it to move out of the way so she could climb the stairs to the office above.
* * * * * *
The large trees sent the ground surrounding them into a nightly shadow. The snow abruptly ended at the edge of the forest were the trees prevented the white flakes from moving into their territory.
A cloaked figure moved amongst the trees, staying out of sight of whomever might be looking. The person was pacing up and down amongst the shadows, as if it was waiting for someone, or something. Suddenly, it froze in its tracks and stared into the distance towards the castle, where the doors had opened and two figures, cloaked against the cold, emerged into the evening air. One was a man, with a tall and masculine build, and the other was smaller and more refined, probably a woman or a girl. Both moved towards the gates and apparated as soon as they had left the grounds.
The dark figure stared over the empty grounds, his hands balled in fists, his entire body shaking with rage.
"Why…her?"
* * * * * *
"No, no, no…ah…no…"
The open door surprised Minerva. Albus never left his door open. Slowly she stepped forward, wand at the ready.
A gasp of shock escaped her as her eyes wandered around the Headmaster's office. Parchment was everywhere. Books covered every inch of the floor, the desk, the coffee table, and even the chairs and sofa. Her eyes widened even further as they fell on Fawkes, covered in socks. The phoenix's golden eyes glowed, and not exactly from pleasure.
What had happened here? Unable to move, Minerva only gawked around the room. It wasn't until Fawkes screeched his malcontent did she snap out of it and move to free the phoenix from his predicament.
"Fawkes, what happened here?" she whispered to the angry phoenix. An answer was not forthcoming, for as soon as his wings were free the phoenix took flight and soared through the open window.
"No…Ah, oh…no."
Whirling around, Minerva pointed her wand towards the parchment-hidden desk.
"Who's here?" she barked.
"Ah, Minerva, how are you today?" a voice answered.
"Albus?"
"Yes." A head peaked above the desk and two twinkling eyes regarded her over half moon spectacles.
"Albus…what happened?" Minerva gestured around her. When she looked back, Albus had disappeared again, though now she could hear him mumbling.
"No, not that either."
A book went flying.
"Headmaster!" she yelled in a voice that would even make the Weasley twins think twice.
Albus' head appeared again, his pointy wizard's hat barely on his head.
"Oh, hello Minerva. I didn't see you there. What can I do for you?"
Her mouth open in shock, Minerva stared at her friend. Her very old friend. Maybe people were right, and Albus really was loosing it. A small chuckle brought her back to the things at hand, and she found the Headmaster staring at her, eyes twinkling.
"What?" she snapped.
"Nothing, you just reminded me of a goldfish I once owned."
"Albus, this is not the time for jokes."
"Au contraire Minerva. Jokes and fun are needed, especially in times like these."
Her lips pressed together, McGonagall regarded the Headmaster sternly. "Mr Parkinson came to pick up his daughter. He presented me with papers signed by Minister Fudge himself. She won't be back before Christmas holidays. This is unheard of Albus."
As soon as the words had left her mouth the happiness that covered every inch of the Headmaster's office seemed to be sucked out by an unseen force.
The Headmaster's blue eyes stopped twinkling as he pushed himself up from the ground. Slowly, he lifted his arm and waved his hand at one of the top shelves. A scroll of parchment floated down and landed on Dumbledore's outstretched hand. McGonagall stepped up to read it.
"Albus, these are all names of our students!"
"Yes, this list was provided by Severus. These are all the children that were branded by Voldemort after they were born." Dumbledore ignored the gasp of shock that escaped here and continued. "Three months before their 16th birthday, its power fades away and they receive their truthful Dark Mark."
"That's awful. But if you knew, why didn't you do something to stop this? Albus, these are children."
"We tried, believe me, we tried."
A silence followed as both looked down upon the parchment and slowly watched the name of Pansy Parkinson change colour from a deep burgundy red to a poisonous green.
"It is done." Dumbledore whispered but if felt like a bomb had been dropped.
For a long time both watched as the names changed colour, from black to burgundy red, so far only the Parkinson girl stood out in green.
"Miss Zabini and Mr. Malfoy are next. We must keep an eye on those two."
McGonagall could only nod.
* * * * * *
As darkness fell over the castle and the students made their way towards the Great Hall for dinner, nobody noticed a cloaked figure mounting a broom and flying towards the dark edge of the Forbidden Forrest.
* * * * * *
"Harry!" he heard himself call. Not Potter…no, Harry. It still sounded so strange to him, yet he no longer hesitated. He heard himself call again but that was all he did. He couldn't follow. Maybe later, but not yet.
"Severus…" The voice was faint, barely above a whisper but he heard it none the less. He was besides her in an instant, on his knees his hand on her forehead.
"You're not well. You have a fever. I'm taking you to see Poppy. I told you...did I not tell you not to do this?"
"Severus."
"You shouldn't have used your powers. At one point, Violet, the horn was there in all its glory. I could touch it."
"Severus."
"I thought…"
"Severus, I'm fine."
"Don't do this to me again."
"I…"
"Promise me."
"You know I can't."
"I know." Snape sighed, stood up and sat down again on the sofa beside her.
"He ran out. I couldn't stop him."
"I saw. He needs time." She paused then, staring out the window. Suddenly, her laugh filled the silent room and Severus regarded her curiously.
"What?"
"'Time, he needs time.' I seem to repeat that quite often lately." She laughed, but her tears were not far behind. "Did we do the right thing?"
Severus didn't answer. He couldn't, for he had no idea if they had done the right thing. Time would tell.
"I couldn't stop it. I didn't want him to see it all." Her voice halted and for the first time tears started rolling down her cheeks. He took her in his arms and held her close. Her head nestled against his shoulder, his lips brushing her cheeks.
"Vi, I…"
"Go, I'll be fine."
Violet pushed herself out of his embrace and sat back. Her eyes closed as she swallowed hard against the nausea that had enveloped her. She heard the painting move on its hinges and opened her eyes. Severus stood in the opening watching her, his face an unreadable mask...and then, he was gone.
* * * * * *
Lies, lies, all lies. Unicorns, spells, hexes, potions, lies, dragons, curses…Voldemort. It always came back to him, it… It wasn't true, it was all a lie.
Lily, take him!
Flashes of light, the howling wind.
Vi...NOOOO.
A baby boy with blue eyes.
The baby was protecting her.
Impossible, the killing curse...she would be dead in seconds.
He was protecting her.
Take him.
Screams, so loud.
Pain, such pain.
Voldemort.
Sebastian, Sebastian…I love you.
The corridors had ended, the students had disappeared, the cold hit him hard...but he kept on running. Barely conscious, not aware of his surroundings, he ran. He could only run as his thoughts overwhelmed him.
A potion and a charm. You will change. I don't want to change. Then you will die.
I don't care…
Blindly, he ran across the Quidditch pitch, leaving behind a trail in the white blanket of snow. He passed the frozen lake, though he didn't see. Blindly he ran, until all of a sudden pain erupted all over his body and focused his mind.
Darkness, only darkness. He didn't care.
Yes he did. He didn't like the dark.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he frantically moved in all directions. He was on the ground, face down on the hard frozen soil. He pushed himself upward, getting to his feet as fast as he could. A scream escaped him and he fell back to his knees. He grabbed his ankle.
"Oh, this is just great," he mumbled.
Massaging his ankle, Harry took in his surroundings. He was in the Forbidden Forest. How had he gotten here? His mind was not exactly working clearly. He sighed and leaned against a large tree.
'Why? Why me?' He closed his eyes and tried to make all the thoughts swimming around in his head make sense. He now knew who he really was. But could he live with it? He had a mother and a father. Something he had never had and always wanted. A wish come true. Then why did it hurt so much? He wasn't the only one who was hurting. That had been made clear, perfectly clear. Still, 'why' was the one thing that hadn't been explained. A potion and a spell. The spell had something to do with his mo…Lily. What of the potion? Argh, so many questions answered, only to be left with still too much unanswered. He needed to find out more of what was wrong with him. A sharp pain ripped through his spine and he drew in a sharp breath. You will die… Snape's words sounded in his ears.
Could he go back and see them? Where was that Gryffindor courage when he needed it!?
Bracing himself against the tree trunk, Harry pushed himself up to a standing position. Not an easy task with only one leg to help him stand. After a few seconds of swaying drunkenly on his good leg, Harry found his balance and looked up towards the castle and the long trek he had ahead of him before he actually got there. Carefully, he placed his bad foot on the ground and tried to put a bit of his weight on it. He grimaced when a sharp pain shot up through his leg, but he swallowed it down. It was not exactly fast or elegant or wise, but Harry managed a few steps forward before he froze to the spot and his breath caught in his throat.
A cloaked figure had appeared before him broom in hand. The hood over his head concealed his face, but he was equally shocked by the other boy's appearance as Harry was.
* * * * * *
His robes billowing behind him, Severus Snape made his way through the hallways of Hogwarts. He had no idea where he was going. Where would a disillusioned 15-year-old boy go to in a panic? Deep in thought, Snape continued his search. He was about to turn and head for the Astronomy Tower when in the back of his mind, something started fighting for attention. Focusing on his surroundings, he turned back and looked around. He had seen...something. But what? As soon as the thought entered his mind, he saw it. There, on the ground beneath the window. He took two strides and stooped to pick up the object. It was a wand. Harry's wand.
"Damn…" He swore, hitting his hand against the wall.
Now, not only was the boy missing, but he was without his wand.
Movement below on the grounds caught his attention and he looked out the window. Living most of his life in the dark dungeons gave him a great advantage when it came to seeing in the dark. Snape tensed at the scene before him. There, near the lake, someone was running. Near the Quidditch pitch, someone mounted a broom...and he was sure he had just seen a shadow in the Forbidden Forest that did not belong there.
Instinct and adrenaline taking over, Snape turned and ran towards the Entrance Hall of the castle.
* * * * * *
It seemed as if time was standing still. Nothing moved, the wind had died down, no sounds came from the forest behind them, and the castle was too far away. Finally both snapped out of their stupor and regarded the other curiously. The atmosphere was tense, but not threatening. Suddenly, the boy in front of him moved. Harry reached into his pocket in search of his wand, only to come up empty-handed. Panic overtook him. Where was his wand? His eyes again fell on the boy before him, as two elegant hands appeared out from under his cloaked and moved up towards the hood. Harry could only stare, his hand still in his pocket feeling for his wand. The hood was flipped back and Harry's mouth fell open in surprise.
"Harry?" The boy's face mirrored Harry's.
Harry couldn't say anything. His eyes wandered over the familiar face as if seeing it for the first time. They had known each other for five years now, but both were staring at each other as if it they had just met.
"M…Draco?"
Malfoy. Was this Malfoy? Had he just called him Draco? Had Malfoy just called him Harry? This was defiantly not the Draco he knew. The superior air was missing, for one. He seemed, well, more human. The hair was still blond, but not slicked back and plastered on his head. No, instead it stood out in little spikes. It was, however, the eyes that caught Harry's attention. Those eyes that he always knew as being ice cold and almost a silvery blue were now a deep sapphire filled with a warmth that Harry couldn't phantom how it got there.
Draco himself was assessing the boy before him as well. Moments before he had been sure it was Potter. Now, he wasn't so sure anymore. And "Harry." He had called him "Harry." It felt right, and his heart leap when he heard his own name coming from the boy before him. Po…Harry was looking at him. His face was full of questions, and Draco knew all too well why. He himself had a hard time accepting what had happened. And now he dreaded what was ahead. He liked the new him. He liked the feeling of freedom, no longer being trapped inside a body which he had no control over. It would soon end, however, and it scared him to death.
A gasp filled with pain reached his ears and he focused on the sound. He looked out into the forest before him, finding that Harry was no longer there. He looked around frantically for the other boy when another gasp pierced the silence. Draco looked down, towards it. There, on his knees, Harry was breathing heavily, one hand pressed on his stomach, and the other on the ground, digging into the dirt. Draco was on his knees in an instant.
"Harry, what's wrong?" he questioned, but got no response.
"Harry, tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help," he tried again.
"Help?" The question came through gritted teeth. "Why on earth would you help me?"
"You're in pain."
"I can remember a time when that would have given you pleasure."
"Well, for the moment it doesn't. Now tell me what's going on so I can help you."
"I can't tell you because I don't know myself," Harry said more to himself than to Draco. His eyes were focused on his hands, which had started glowing.
"What the hell?"
Draco stared in astonishment at Harry's hands. Through the bandages he could see a slit of light: one purple, the other green. His eyes shifted from the hands to the face, and he jumped back in fright. Right before his eyes, he saw Harry morphing. His face started rearranging itself. Even his posture seemed to undergo the same process. The baby face was replaced by that of a young man: higher cheekbones, more refined, sharper eyebrows… not a trace was left of the scrawny little boy he had loved to tease and ridicule. And then, just as fast, it was gone, and the Harry he knew sat beside him.
Draco wanted to say something, but Harry beat him to it.
"You…did…not…see…this."
Draco opened his mouth to assure Harry he wouldn't, when he froze.
"Draco!"
Harry heard it too, a voice he knew well. He felt himself tense. 'Oh, great. Malfoy...and I'm without my wand. Splendid, just great. Now what?'
He turned his head to look at Draco. The boy was all tensed up. A twig snapped to their right and both boys turned immediately, peering into the darkness from which the sound had come.
Beside him, Harry felt Draco stand. It wasn't a bad idea. Pushing himself up with his two hands and his one good leg, he wobbled a bit but finally remained upright. Another twig snapped, and Draco's name was called once again. It felt even colder than the air around them.
"Be quiet," Harry heard Draco whisper. Harry turned his head to find the tip of Draco's wand pointed at his nose.
"Esto Occultus."
Harry opened his mouth to protest...yell...scream...anything, when a voice sounded behind him.
"There you are, stupid boy."
The sound of the voice was different...smooth and calm and cold...but the words were the same. Harry cringed. There, before him, stood the elder Malfoy...Lucius...cane in hand, looking…past him?
"Good evening, Father," Draco said, a slight tremble in his voice.
"You kept me waiting."
"I apologize, Father." Draco bowed his head and looked at his feet.
"You didn't answer when I called."
Silence.
"And you left a trail for someone to follow."
"I …" Draco started to protest. He hadn't left a trail, he had flown a broom. It must be Harry's. The broom lay forgotten and out of sight on the ground behind some bushes.
Harry watched in astonishment at the conversation between two of his enemies. Why didn't Malfoy acknowledge him? 'Draco! He must have cast a spell on me.'
So Harry watched and tried to be as quiet as possible, swaying on his good leg.
The slap was unexpected, but came nonetheless.
Draco staggered backwards and lost his balance, crashing to the ground.
"So this is what my son looks like?" Lucius hissed as he circled his son. "Pathetic, really.
Thank our Lord that it will only last for so long. I'm ashamed just looking at you."
The hand was raised again and came down with a blowing force. Draco clenched his fists, so he wouldn't scream. A trickle of blood dropped from his nose onto his robe.
Lucius kneeled down next to his son and cupped the boy's chin in his gloved hand.
"I'm so sorry my boy. It will be over soon. Soon, our Lord will summon you and you will be rid of all this and take your rightful place where I can be proud of you. That conscience you have now won't bother you much longer." Bending down, Lucius placed his lips on Draco's and kissed him.
"Don't disappoint me."
With a pop, the Death Eater was gone and Harry was left standing, invisible, next to a trembling and shaking Draco by his feet.
* * * * * *
As a professor, Severus knew a lot of secret passageways and prided himself in still knowing more of them than the Weasley twins. And yet, it was still taking too long. Time was passing him by and he needed to get to his son...and whatever trouble he had gotten himself into this time. Two cloaked figures so close to the castle was never a good sign. And then, to top it off, he had run into Minerva, who told him that one of his Slytherins had been collected and that Dumbledore was pretty sure it had something to do with Voldemort beginning to mark his new Death Eaters. Another corridor, another curse. Zabini and Malfoy were next. It was too soon… Voldemort was speeding up things. He had let his guard down.
Finally, he reached the Entrance hall and ran towards the closed doors. Pointing his wand at them, the doors flew open with a loud bang. He didn't stop to close them. He just kept on running towards the forest, afraid of what he might find.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
To be continued.
Author's note 2: Another chapter finished… I hope you all found it worth your time… Chapter 17 is finished and on its way to Zardi (no no pressure! vbg) Chapter 18 is halfway, although Severus is being a bit of an ass…and somewhere in there I have to write about Christmas when Summer is coming!
If you have the time, please review! Thanks!
Groetjes
Dagmar