Fife - Mother.
To the same time, deep in the woods, somewhere near London, a crying woman ran through the trees, not looking where she stumbled, bloody scratches and bruises all over her abused body. Once she had been beautiful.
But since she had lost her road, everything went down. Right after she had graduated from school, her Lord had called for her. She got the mark and participated in the meetings a while, when she was invited to the Inner Circle. At this time she was only but a mere shell of herself, every drop of warmth bled out of her body, night after night watching people die, partly because of her. She had loathed her life, after her Lord had raped her and she conceived, but the child had been such a sweet, innocent boy, lovely to hold, and short after his birth the Dark Lord had fallen and she had been free for a period of time.
Together with an old friend and later lover, she had raised her son far from the darkness, but after his rebirth his father had claimed him back and she had fallen back into depression, with her lover gone and her son preoccupied by his father.
But the boy had stood against the monster and left, finding shelter with her former love. Now it was only her, lost in the forest and alone - hopefully!
Her clothes were wet from the rain that just had passed, and she shivered violently. Rubbing her hand together she leaned back against a tree trunk near the house.
The dark building had been her home for so many years, but it was not safe anymore.
Pulling her wand, she entered the manor and looked for her dearest belongings, including some of her sons. When everything was shrunk and thrown into a bag, she took it and left the house silently, taking her broom with her before she apparated into Hogsmead.
It was early in the morning, around 5 am. She mounted the Nimbus and flew into the direction of the castle - it was her only hope.
-
Deep below the stone, inside the dungeons, a certain Potions master chopped some last indigents for Lupin's Wolfsbane potion. The professor had returned to Hogwards this year - obviously because it was too difficult to find somebody to trust. But in that case, Snape had to admit Dumbledore was right - at least you could "trust" the Werewolf completely!
His attention was caught when the alarms set on. It could only mean one thing: "Death Eaters on Hogwarts Grounds!" He quickly put out the fire and walked towards the entry-hall.
-
Outside the doors of Hogwarts, she dismounted her broom and knocked. When nobody opened, she pulled the doors open. Only in this moment, she barely could fight a curse back. A black shadow emerged out of nowhere and pulled her down. "Severus?"
"Bellatrix?"
"Sev! Oh god, I missed you so much - how's Tom?"
"Bella, what are you doing here?"
She sighed. "I know, my appearance set on several alarms, but I need help!"
"Why?"
"Severus Snape! What do you think? Of course, because he knows it! HE KNOWS!"
"But you didn't tell me anything!"
"I didn't, but do you think he believes that? Even if he did - you are a traitor and I slept with you, that makes me a traitor as well!"
"Maybe he's jealous?"
"This is a serious situation!"
"And you are here to ask for help."
"Yes - could you please get off me?"
The man smiled and stood up, giving her a hand as well.
"Still the gentleman, Mr. Snape?"
"Always, of special people."
They headed for the headmaster's office, when Dumbledore came up on them. "Severus, why did you let her in? She's a parent, but still a follower of the dark side!"
Bellatrix cleared her throat. "I was at his first rising, but never after that. I tried to get rid of him, but I had to think of my child - please help us both!"
The old wizard sighed. "I was harsh, I'm sorry - but the alarm woke me from a rather pleasant dream so you'll have to excuse my behavior. Tea?"
"Sure, thank you."
"Severus, will you accompany us?"
"Yes, Albus. I'd be glad to do that."
"So the rumors are true then?"
"What rumors?"
"That you had an affair with Voldemort's first lady behind his back."
"I bed your pardon - she never was HIS lady, but mine!"
"She was married!"
"Her husband was a bastard, who dragged her down to his level - without much avail!"
"COULD YOU STOP SPEAKING ABOUT ME AS IF I WASN'T HERE?"
"Sorry" they said in sync.
She sighed and they left for Dumbledore's study for a long talk and a cup of tea.
"Sherbet lemon?"
"No, thank you Albus. Could we come back to the point?"
"Yes, of course. I may repeat the information again?"
"Sure, Professor."
"So- You were pregnant with Tom, when Voldemort fell and you lived with Severus, while he was on vacation after the first war for two years. Afterwards, you have seen each other on weekends, what explains your sudden absence on those, Severus, and raised Tom together, while you were in love for the whole time, I assume up to now. When the Dark Lord came back two years ago, he claimed the boy as his and you broke up, or at least stopped seeing each other for both of your safety. You, Bellatrix, didn't want, but had to go back to Voldemort to safe your child, but something unforeseen happened: Tom opposed Tom and went to Hogwarts and Tom senior chained you to the wall, because you raised him to good."
"Yes, Professor." the woman said bitter.
"And when you could escape a few days ago, you healed yourself, got some of your things and hurried to Hogwarts to ask for shelter and safety?"
"Yes." her voice wavered slightly, "I'm sorry. I was blind and stupid in my early days and afterwards it was too late. I'm guilty in every way, but I ask for help nevertheless, because I want at least to try to make up for my crimes. I have enough information for you, useful, of past and future, if you will only have mercy and let me stay."
"I see. While I will think about it, you are allowed to stay - under certain cautions."
"I'd be grateful."
"You won't leave the building, stay away from the roofs, where "people" might see you. You will stay away from pupils as much as possible. I will talk to them. Furthermore, Severus will have an eye on you. If ANYTHING happens, you'll be directly given over to the ministry."
"Understandable. When can I see my son?"
"He will be awake by now. Severus will lead you to his dorm, all right?"
"Only one question, headmaster!"
"Yes, Mrs. Lestrange?"
"Where will I sleep - if you'll take longer to decide."
"Severus, would you mind sharing your rooms with her temporarily?"
"No, Albus. It'll be all right."
"Then I will see you at breakfast. I will arrange for you to sit with your son, if you'd like that."
"Thank you for your hospitality, again."
"It's okay, Mrs. Lestrange. We all need help sometimes." he twinkled, when the door shut.
-
He knocked at the door to the seventh year boy's dormitory and waited for it to open. When a sleepy looking boy opened the door and saw his professor, he muffled a "Good morning." And opened the door wider.
Tom looked who was there, when Blaise had opened the door, and spotted his teacher. "What can we do for you, professor Snape?" he asked casually, "Is there something wrong. We heard the alarm last night, but nothing happened, so we went back to sleep."
"Mr. Lestrange, your mother is here."
Tom stared at him, and when the professor stepped to the side, at his mother.
"Mum!?"
"I'm here, darling." she smiled and wiped away a tear.
"Mum!" the boy screamed and jumped off the bed, running into his mother's open arms; "I missed you so. I haven't seen you for so long!"
She smiled sadly. "You have grown in these two years, my son. I missed you, too!"
"Mum."
To the same time, deep in the woods, somewhere near London, a crying woman ran through the trees, not looking where she stumbled, bloody scratches and bruises all over her abused body. Once she had been beautiful.
But since she had lost her road, everything went down. Right after she had graduated from school, her Lord had called for her. She got the mark and participated in the meetings a while, when she was invited to the Inner Circle. At this time she was only but a mere shell of herself, every drop of warmth bled out of her body, night after night watching people die, partly because of her. She had loathed her life, after her Lord had raped her and she conceived, but the child had been such a sweet, innocent boy, lovely to hold, and short after his birth the Dark Lord had fallen and she had been free for a period of time.
Together with an old friend and later lover, she had raised her son far from the darkness, but after his rebirth his father had claimed him back and she had fallen back into depression, with her lover gone and her son preoccupied by his father.
But the boy had stood against the monster and left, finding shelter with her former love. Now it was only her, lost in the forest and alone - hopefully!
Her clothes were wet from the rain that just had passed, and she shivered violently. Rubbing her hand together she leaned back against a tree trunk near the house.
The dark building had been her home for so many years, but it was not safe anymore.
Pulling her wand, she entered the manor and looked for her dearest belongings, including some of her sons. When everything was shrunk and thrown into a bag, she took it and left the house silently, taking her broom with her before she apparated into Hogsmead.
It was early in the morning, around 5 am. She mounted the Nimbus and flew into the direction of the castle - it was her only hope.
-
Deep below the stone, inside the dungeons, a certain Potions master chopped some last indigents for Lupin's Wolfsbane potion. The professor had returned to Hogwards this year - obviously because it was too difficult to find somebody to trust. But in that case, Snape had to admit Dumbledore was right - at least you could "trust" the Werewolf completely!
His attention was caught when the alarms set on. It could only mean one thing: "Death Eaters on Hogwarts Grounds!" He quickly put out the fire and walked towards the entry-hall.
-
Outside the doors of Hogwarts, she dismounted her broom and knocked. When nobody opened, she pulled the doors open. Only in this moment, she barely could fight a curse back. A black shadow emerged out of nowhere and pulled her down. "Severus?"
"Bellatrix?"
"Sev! Oh god, I missed you so much - how's Tom?"
"Bella, what are you doing here?"
She sighed. "I know, my appearance set on several alarms, but I need help!"
"Why?"
"Severus Snape! What do you think? Of course, because he knows it! HE KNOWS!"
"But you didn't tell me anything!"
"I didn't, but do you think he believes that? Even if he did - you are a traitor and I slept with you, that makes me a traitor as well!"
"Maybe he's jealous?"
"This is a serious situation!"
"And you are here to ask for help."
"Yes - could you please get off me?"
The man smiled and stood up, giving her a hand as well.
"Still the gentleman, Mr. Snape?"
"Always, of special people."
They headed for the headmaster's office, when Dumbledore came up on them. "Severus, why did you let her in? She's a parent, but still a follower of the dark side!"
Bellatrix cleared her throat. "I was at his first rising, but never after that. I tried to get rid of him, but I had to think of my child - please help us both!"
The old wizard sighed. "I was harsh, I'm sorry - but the alarm woke me from a rather pleasant dream so you'll have to excuse my behavior. Tea?"
"Sure, thank you."
"Severus, will you accompany us?"
"Yes, Albus. I'd be glad to do that."
"So the rumors are true then?"
"What rumors?"
"That you had an affair with Voldemort's first lady behind his back."
"I bed your pardon - she never was HIS lady, but mine!"
"She was married!"
"Her husband was a bastard, who dragged her down to his level - without much avail!"
"COULD YOU STOP SPEAKING ABOUT ME AS IF I WASN'T HERE?"
"Sorry" they said in sync.
She sighed and they left for Dumbledore's study for a long talk and a cup of tea.
"Sherbet lemon?"
"No, thank you Albus. Could we come back to the point?"
"Yes, of course. I may repeat the information again?"
"Sure, Professor."
"So- You were pregnant with Tom, when Voldemort fell and you lived with Severus, while he was on vacation after the first war for two years. Afterwards, you have seen each other on weekends, what explains your sudden absence on those, Severus, and raised Tom together, while you were in love for the whole time, I assume up to now. When the Dark Lord came back two years ago, he claimed the boy as his and you broke up, or at least stopped seeing each other for both of your safety. You, Bellatrix, didn't want, but had to go back to Voldemort to safe your child, but something unforeseen happened: Tom opposed Tom and went to Hogwarts and Tom senior chained you to the wall, because you raised him to good."
"Yes, Professor." the woman said bitter.
"And when you could escape a few days ago, you healed yourself, got some of your things and hurried to Hogwarts to ask for shelter and safety?"
"Yes." her voice wavered slightly, "I'm sorry. I was blind and stupid in my early days and afterwards it was too late. I'm guilty in every way, but I ask for help nevertheless, because I want at least to try to make up for my crimes. I have enough information for you, useful, of past and future, if you will only have mercy and let me stay."
"I see. While I will think about it, you are allowed to stay - under certain cautions."
"I'd be grateful."
"You won't leave the building, stay away from the roofs, where "people" might see you. You will stay away from pupils as much as possible. I will talk to them. Furthermore, Severus will have an eye on you. If ANYTHING happens, you'll be directly given over to the ministry."
"Understandable. When can I see my son?"
"He will be awake by now. Severus will lead you to his dorm, all right?"
"Only one question, headmaster!"
"Yes, Mrs. Lestrange?"
"Where will I sleep - if you'll take longer to decide."
"Severus, would you mind sharing your rooms with her temporarily?"
"No, Albus. It'll be all right."
"Then I will see you at breakfast. I will arrange for you to sit with your son, if you'd like that."
"Thank you for your hospitality, again."
"It's okay, Mrs. Lestrange. We all need help sometimes." he twinkled, when the door shut.
-
He knocked at the door to the seventh year boy's dormitory and waited for it to open. When a sleepy looking boy opened the door and saw his professor, he muffled a "Good morning." And opened the door wider.
Tom looked who was there, when Blaise had opened the door, and spotted his teacher. "What can we do for you, professor Snape?" he asked casually, "Is there something wrong. We heard the alarm last night, but nothing happened, so we went back to sleep."
"Mr. Lestrange, your mother is here."
Tom stared at him, and when the professor stepped to the side, at his mother.
"Mum!?"
"I'm here, darling." she smiled and wiped away a tear.
"Mum!" the boy screamed and jumped off the bed, running into his mother's open arms; "I missed you so. I haven't seen you for so long!"
She smiled sadly. "You have grown in these two years, my son. I missed you, too!"
"Mum."