Chapter 10
She looks at me differently, Snape realised with a start at breakfast on the day after the twins' birthday.
Adrienne studiously avoided looking at the man who had been revealed to be her father. Lianna, however, glared at him at every opportunity. 'To keep up appearances,' she had mumbled when Adrienne elbowed her. Snape was confused, but refused to act any differently. Pathetic little creatures, these children were- complete products of their mother.
None of the teachers knew what Hermione had given the girls for their birthday- and most would have been appalled if they had known. Many more would have gasped and taken a solid week to get over what she'd done. The protective instincts over the 'children of Hogwarts' (as they had somehow come to be called) went a long way to keeping them as ignorant as possible about their origins and the pain that went with them.
All of the teachers had noticed that the girls stood just a little closer together, and that their eyes were reddened from lack of sleep and crying. There were a few covert guesses as to what they had received, and, from Hermione's conspicuous absence, they were probably correct.
"Mama's still not back," Lianna hissed into her sister's ear, though Adrienne hadn't missed this fact herself. She nodded, but didn't reply to her sister- not while the other teachers could hear. She kept her tired eyes on the food before her.
Soon enough, breakfast was over. Minerva grabbed Adrienne's elbow when they were walking out.
"I'd like to talk to your sister and yourself, if you please?" Adrienne's eyes opened into a panicked glance, but she raised her chin slightly, set her face and nodded at Minerva.
Minerva wondered what had passed through the girl's mind when she had mentioned meeting with the girls. The terror that coursed through the girl's face spoke no more than her determined set of face when she nodded. Minerva squeezed the girl's elbow and let her go, turning and sweeping off into her own corridors. She wondered where Hermione was.
~*~
"I wonder if she knows?" Lianna mused out loud. Adrienne just walked beside her, knowing that she wasn't required to answer the question. "She didn't say anything, so I guess she might. But she didn't give any indication that she knew either, not even all through breakfast. I don't know. Ri, do you think we'll be ok?"
Adrienne just nodded her head- what could she say? It was Aunt Minerva, anyway. She'd never do anything to hurt the girls- couldn't if she tried.
"We'll be all right, Lianna." Adrienne murmured as they approached Minerva's door. She raised her hand and knocked on the hard wood, despite her calm words, her hand trembling slightly.
Minerva opened the door and ushered the girls in. "You both look so worried dears. Would you like some chocolate?" The chocolate was doled out, the girls' weary hearts heavy as they lowered their bodies into the chairs provided.
"Oh, Aunt Minerva, I could sleep in these chairs- they're just so comfortable!" Lianna exclaimed around her mouthful of chocolate. The fire was crackling happily, and Minerva's face didn't show any glimmer of distress that Adrienne may have expected if Minerva had known about the process the girls had endured just yesterday.
"I wanted to explore career options with you girls." Minerva began.
"Well, I think we want to tell you about our birthday, don't we, Ri?" Adrienne was taken aback at her sister's candid exclamation. Minerva smiled at the capricious little girl, wondering inwardly at what the girls would confide.
"I guess so, Li. We have to tell someone, anyway." Adrienne set her shoulders and her face before launching into the story. Lianna closed her eyes in her chair, trying to block out such recent memories.
~*~
Minerva was in wonder at the girls, and their ability to cope. To think their mother subjected them to the Dark Arts, just for their curiosity's sake! Minerva could feel her anger rising, but felt it stemmed by a sense of helplessness.
"Who were they?" She asked, her voice muted, her body slumped. Far too old to be dealing with this sort of thing, by far, Minerva thought to herself.
Lianna picked up her head from where she had been gazing intently at the floor. Her eyes were drowning in tears. "Draco Malfoy," she choked. She lowered her gaze to the floor again, seemingly unable to hold anyone's gaze.
Adrienne just gazed at the fireplace. There was distinct pain in her face. Minerva didn't need to be told; "Snape," she muttered, suddenly able to see. Adrienne nodded just once, convulsively. She shifted her gaze to the floor, also.
"Girls, I don't know what to do." Minerva stood, grasping both girls' wrists, pulling them up behind her. She embraced them both in her arms, feeling their tears soaking into her robes. She clutched them tight, vainly shielding them from the distress they had so willingly stepped into.
"I do, however," Minerva murmured, "think we should tell Snape. He'll find out anyway." Lianna looked up at the elderly woman's lined face, so careworn. Adrienne just kept her face buried in her shoulder.
"I agree, Ri. He'll find out. He noticed this morning. You never ignored him, but you did this morning. He's suspicious. Better to find out from us." Lianna's eyes were still wet, but there was empathy there as well. Adrienne pulled her head out of Minerva's shoulder to look at her sister and Aunt.
"I guess so," her voice broke slightly, and her eyes were swollen. Lianna hugged her sister again, giving her strength. Adrienne pushed her head up.
Okay, Adrienne, she thought to herself, time to stop this weakness and get out of this darkness. You're the strong one- and Li will want to tell her father as well. Wherever the hell he is. "Let's do it then, before I lose my nerve." Lianna pulled back from her sister, clasped hands of both Minerva and her sister, and led them from the room.
~*~
A/N: Thankyou to all my beautiful reviewers: you are the reason I write. The next chapter's on the way, so fear not for the dreadful cliff-hanger…
*kitten