Author's Note: This story begins during the Second year at Hogwarts, during the Chamber of Secrets and will continue as time goes on. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic and along with my friend, ElfFlame, we are writing a series of four stories, which begins with ElfFlame's story- True Revenge. All four of these stories are interrelated and for the best understanding of the characters as we see them, they should be read in conjunction to each other. As always, I own none of this wonderful world that JK Rowling has created.
Author's Note: At this point in time I would just like to say that in telling events of this story from Lucius Malfoy's point of view, I am merely showing his frame of mind. I do not in any way condone or promote the things he does.
Spoiler Warning: This story contains spoilers, both minor and major from all five Harry Potter books.
TavingtonRose: Glad you enjoyed the chapter, here's another one for you to enjoy!
Wicked Lee: That last chapter actually made me cry while writing it, so I understand completely how you feel. This chapter should be a little happier, I hope! Enjoy!
Arsinoe3: I agree that Voldemort needs to be killed! Here's another chapter for you to enjoy!
The Bore War
Lucius's life became a routine of pain, pain, and more pain over the next few months. Whenever he wasn't being subjected to torture, he was sleeping. It was a pitiful existence, and Lucius knew it, though he kept that thought to himself. He'd learned to keep many things to himself, or so he thought. He didn't realize just how much information his master had gleaned from his mind.
The Dark Lord wondered how best to use the knowledge of Adriana, to bring her to him. To the best of that knowledge, Lucius didn't know about her daughter, and there was no proof that the baby was Lucius'. He thought he'd keep that quiet though, perhaps there would be an appropriate time for this to be revealed to Lucius.
Severus had to find a way to bring Renata into the school with nobody noticing the fact that he was carrying a baby and had a huge trunk trailing behind him. Fortunately, when he arrived back at Hogwarts, the students were in the Great Hall eating dinner, so he was able to smuggle her in with nobody catching him. When he arrived at his room, he let the trunk settle to the ground with a soft thud, while he held Renata tightly in his arms. Listening carefully for the first sign of students returning from their meal, he began unpacking Renata's belongings and putting them out on his bed. She sure had a lot of stuff. When he heard voices, Severus went to his door, opened it enough for his head to fit through, and summoned one of them over to him. He sent Pansy Parkinson off to get Albus from the Great Hall for him. Several minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Albus called out to Severus. Slowly opening the door to make sure none of the students could see inside his room, he ushered Albus into the room and quickly shut the door.
Albus saw Renata lying on the bed, walked over to her, and looked curiously at Severus. "What's going on? Where's Adriana?" Severus explained to Albus everything that Adriana had told him about the Dark Lord, and how she had left the baby in his care. Albus paced around the room while he took all of this in. After a while, Albus left the room and went to Adriana's. He returned later that evening feeling as confident under such circumstances as possible.
Albus had gone over to Adriana's property the same evening she'd dropped Renata off with Severus. Severus told Albus everything and he'd immediately apparated over to her house. Albus agreed that the best thing for Renata was to stay hidden, and amazingly enough, he didn't try to convince Adriana that she needed help from the Order. After he left Adriana's house, he walked around her property, looking for the detection devices. As he found the broken pieces of one, he knew that was how Nagini had been able to get inside. Apparating to the Order Headquarters, he found a new device, apparated back to the property, and replaced the broken one. Albus thought Adriana would be relatively safe after this, as long as she didn't do anything stupid.
Adriana was unable to sleep for the first week after Renata went to Hogwarts. She found herself wandering the house at all hours of the day, always ending up in the baby's room, gazing into the empty crib. During these times, Adriana would take the gray tam out of her pocket, and hold it against her cheek, comfortingly.
All this waiting was driving Adriana mad. When would Riddle come for her? She wanted to get this over with, so she could bring Renata back home again.
Several weeks later, during one night when Adriana couldn't sleep, she walked outside. Slowly walking up the hill, and standing under the olive tree, Adriana looked up into the sky. "Riddle, I'm ready for you! Just come to me, you want me to join your side? I'll show you what happens to people who threaten my child! I'll make you regret the day your mother ever brought you into this world!" After her tirade, Adriana was able to sleep peacefully for the rest of the night, and every night after that.
Renata's first night at Hogwarts was a bit rough, to say the very least. She missed her mother very much and made sure to let Severus know that. He had made some potions to feed Renata, and she didn't like them at all. She was used to drinking her mother's milk, and nothing quite compared. Severus was glad he was able to put silencing charms around his room, for the racket the baby made would surely be heard by the Slytherin students. Sometimes Renata was so loud, he was sure the Gryffindor students would be able to hear it.
The next morning, after a sleepless night, Severus was wondering how he would be able to go to breakfast without taking Renata with him, when he heard a small knock on the door. Opening it slightly, he saw a house-elf looking up at him. Letting the elf in, he listened as she explained why she was there. "I is Nili, sir, the Headmaster sent me here to look after the baby. He said I is not to tell anybody about the baby, and to keep her safe. I is to look after her when you is in class or eating, sir."
Severus thought he could kiss Nili, he'd had no idea how he would work out the details of keeping the baby here, and now all of that was solved for him. Though his first instinct told him not to leave the baby alone with a house-elf, Severus knew Albus would have chosen the right elf for the job, and chose to trust his judgment. Severus walked Nili over to where Renata was lying on the bed, crying. Renata's face was red, she was crying in what Severus thought sounded like an angry voice, and no tears were falling. She was clearly throwing a tantrum. Severus whispered to Renata that he had to go eat breakfast, but he'd come back before he had to leave again for his first lesson.
When Severus sat down in his seat at the professor's table, he thought he might fall asleep in his bowl of porridge. He didn't know how he'd get through the day. He'd never been more tired in his entire life. Severus wondered how many of the other professors knew about Renata; he wasn't sure he wanted all of them to know. Albus and Minerva were members of the Order, so it was all right for them to know, but he didn't want too many other people knowing about the baby.
Renata was still crying when Severus returned to his room. It seemed to be her favourite past time. Nili was ignoring the baby's cries with a tranquility that Severus envied. It wasn't until she ignored his questions for her, that he realized something was not right. Severus walked up to Nili and tapped her on the shoulder, and watched as she jumped and turned around. "Oh, sir, you scared Nili!" She said while taking pieces of cotton out of her large ears. Severus just had time to kiss the baby goodbye before leaving for his first lesson. Renata returned the favour by grabbing a handful of his hair and pulling several out by the roots. He couldn't help but feel very guilty for leaving her for such a long time. Poor girl, with no mother, nobody she knew around.
Severus' mind was not on his lessons that day. He was constantly worrying about Renata, and hoping she was all right. He was also so tired he could hardly see straight. There were lessons all day long, so he never had a chance to brew himself a reviving potion to wake himself up. His only consolation through the very long day, was taking 10 points from Gryffindor when Potter took too long to bring his potion up to the desk for examination. It's true that he was slowed down by the lumbering Crabbe in front of him, but Severus didn't care, it made him feel better to make Potter feel worse.
When Severus joined Renata in his room that evening, he sent Nili back to the kitchens for the night. Renata seemed to have exhausted herself from crying all day, and was much more subdued. Severus fed her, and even though she fussed the entire time, Renata was hungry enough to eat the potions he'd made. After carefully burping her with a towel on his shoulder, he held her close to his heart, letting her listen to the sound of it beating. As he gently rocked her, he hummed quietly, while looking down at her as her eyes began to droop. After several minutes, Renata fell asleep in his arms. She was so small and helpless. Severus felt momentarily overwhelmed at the thought of being responsible for her life.
Their second night was spent much more calmly. Renata woke every few hours for feeding, but slept peacefully in between those times. Breakfast the next morning was much more pleasant. Albus pulled him aside when they were finished eating, and asked him how things were going. He informed Severus that he'd told Minerva what was going on. Minerva joined them and told Severus that she would do all could to help him in taking care of the baby. Severus did think he could use some help looking after Renata. He didn't want her to be cared for by a house-elf all the time. On the nights he had to give Potter his Occlumency lessons, it might do Renata some good to spend time with Albus or Minerva.
That first weekend together, Severus took Renata into Hogsmeade to do some shopping. She needed a crib, and some proper clothes. He couldn't believe Adriana dressed Renata in such inappropriate clothes: pants and shirts and other such articles of clothing. Severus bought a small collapsible crib and some green blankets for Renata to sleep in at night.
The next stop was at a clothing store. Severus bought Renata a few dresses, an infant sized robe, two pairs of shoes, a hat-since he couldn't find the little gray tam, and some headbands. Now he'd be able to dress her like a girl, as she should be dressed. Whenever anybody asked who she was, Severus told them Renata was his niece visiting for the week. He couldn't be too sure who was safe and who was not and wanted to err on the side of caution.
After a week, Renata seemed to have grown accustomed to living with Severus, he began to wonder if she missed her mum still, or not. She'd cry whenever he left the room for a meal or a lesson, it made him feel terrible to have to leave, but he had no choice. Whenever he returned to the room, his first action was to pick up the baby and give her a big kiss. Severus loved feeding her, there was a peacefulness between them as they looked at one another in silence. His favourite thing to do was to lay down on his bed, with the baby lying on his chest. Sometimes both of them fell asleep that way.
Renata had grown bigger, after a whole month passed. She liked to make sounds that Severus could listen to all day. He, however, did not find them quite as enjoyable at two in the morning. Renata seemed to be quite the night owl, amusing herself in the dark with the sound of her own voice.
One evening after an early dinner, Severus dressed Renata up for an evening with Minerva. He had Occlumency lessons with Potter, which he hated, but couldn't get out of, and she would be babysitting Renata. As all the other students were eating in the Great Hall, it was safe to take her out of his room, and up to Minerva's classroom. After knocking on the door and waiting for a minute, Minerva opened the door, and smiled at the baby. Minerva's smile disappeared and her brow furrowed as she saw what the baby was wearing. Renata was dressed in an emerald green dress, with ruffles, lace, and puffed sleeves. She had a little green headband with a silver ribbon on the top pulling back what little hair she had. She also wore her black robes, and patent leather Mary Jane shoes. "Oh, my, Severus, she looks just like a china doll!" Scrunching her nose, Minerva held her arms out for Severus to put Renata in.
Minerva held Renata while she packed up her things from the day, to take back to her office. She had her arms full while she carefully walked to her office. Not only was she carrying the baby and a heavy bag of the baby's things, but also a large stack of books. She'd gotten to the door and was struggling to open it, when the books tumbled out of her arms all of a sudden. This startled Renata, who began to cry. Trying to make it into her office where she could set everything and everybody down, she saw a student walking past her. Calling out to him, the boy reluctantly walked over to her. Without even looking, she shoved Renata into his arms and told him to follow her.
As McGonagall took out all the contents of the baby's bags and placed them on her desk, the boy continued to hold Renata. Renata was screaming, her whole body shaking in the process. It wasn't the type of cry that told a person she was hungry or needed a dry nappy, this was an anguished cry that told the entire world she was lonely and needed somebody familiar to hug her. The boy didn't seem too keen on holding this screaming baby, but didn't say anything. Perhaps he didn't want his house to lose any points.
Renata opened her eyes after a minute of crying and looked into his. She stared intensely at him, her little brow furrowed as though deep in thought. The boy looked at her and was amazed at what he saw. Renata stopped crying and reached her tiny hand out to brush the boy's cheek. He looked like somebody she knew, but who? She felt safe in his arms. He had the exact same gray eyes she had, and the identical shade of silver-blonde hair. He looked just like the man she'd visited in his dream. It was like looking into a picture of herself in several years.
McGonagall looked up after a few minutes to take Renata back and saw Draco Malfoy standing in front of her holding the baby. Her eyes opened wide with horror as he held his sister, unbeknownst to him. Why hadn't she looked to see who she'd handed the baby to first? Walking up to Draco, she ripped Renata out of his arms and sent him on his way, back to his house, telling him Professor Snape would be coming along shortly to speak with him.
Draco looked startled as the baby was taken away from him so suddenly. McGonagall couldn't believe she'd done something so stupid! Severus was going to kill her! After Draco had gone, she stood rocking Renata, waiting for Severus to return, which should not be very long from now.
Severus safely returned Renata to his room before entering the Slytherin common room. As angry as he was, he had known it had only been a matter of time before something like this happened. What was he going to say to Draco? Please don't tell anybody that the half-sister you never knew about is now living in my bedroom? Especially the baby's father, because he doesn't know she exists? And don't tell the Dark Lord, because he's coming after her to get to her mother? And don't tell your mother, the shock would kill her? Somehow that didn't sound very good. He thought about a memory charm, but that didn't seem to be a very good solution either. Severus needed to talk to Draco, he deserved to have at least one adult in his life who spoke to him as the young man he was. This was a lot to take in, but Severus felt Draco did have the right to know about the existence of his sister, and the significance of keeping this very important secret.
Severus walked over to Draco, who was in the middle of writing something, and asked him to come to his office with him. After setting up a few silencing spells, the very same ones he used on Draco's sister, he spoke to Draco. Severus told him of the importance of keeping this quiet, and how he should under no circumstances tell his father about this. He could see the wheels in Draco's head turning as he realized Lucius didn't know he was a father for the second time. Severus was firm in his insistence on keeping this quiet, and he was both relieved and proud of Draco for agreeing to help him. He had the potential to be a good man someday, with the right help.
Later that evening, Severus sat in his room, massaging his temples, while listening to Renata's crooning. She loved to sing, and seemed to know when he needed to hear her sweet voice most. After a few minutes, Severus looked over at Renata, smiled, and spoke, "That's my sweet Renata, you don't have a care in the world, do you?" Renata stopped babbling, smiled at Severus, and blew him a few spit bubbles in response. That night, Severus held Renata against his chest, with his strong arms held protectively around her, while sitting in his chair. They drifted off to sleep, content with one another's love.
Historical Note: The chapter title, The Bore War, refers to the time period between September 1939, and May 1940, when the Second World War had begun, yet the fighting had not. Britain prepared for a tough fight, issuing gas masks, and evactuating children from the major cities to escape the bombings that never came. It was a tense period of waiting, and I thought that was appropriate for what's happening in the story right now.
Author's Note: At this point in time I would just like to say that in telling events of this story from Lucius Malfoy's point of view, I am merely showing his frame of mind. I do not in any way condone or promote the things he does.
Spoiler Warning: This story contains spoilers, both minor and major from all five Harry Potter books.
TavingtonRose: Glad you enjoyed the chapter, here's another one for you to enjoy!
Wicked Lee: That last chapter actually made me cry while writing it, so I understand completely how you feel. This chapter should be a little happier, I hope! Enjoy!
Arsinoe3: I agree that Voldemort needs to be killed! Here's another chapter for you to enjoy!
The Bore War
Lucius's life became a routine of pain, pain, and more pain over the next few months. Whenever he wasn't being subjected to torture, he was sleeping. It was a pitiful existence, and Lucius knew it, though he kept that thought to himself. He'd learned to keep many things to himself, or so he thought. He didn't realize just how much information his master had gleaned from his mind.
The Dark Lord wondered how best to use the knowledge of Adriana, to bring her to him. To the best of that knowledge, Lucius didn't know about her daughter, and there was no proof that the baby was Lucius'. He thought he'd keep that quiet though, perhaps there would be an appropriate time for this to be revealed to Lucius.
Severus had to find a way to bring Renata into the school with nobody noticing the fact that he was carrying a baby and had a huge trunk trailing behind him. Fortunately, when he arrived back at Hogwarts, the students were in the Great Hall eating dinner, so he was able to smuggle her in with nobody catching him. When he arrived at his room, he let the trunk settle to the ground with a soft thud, while he held Renata tightly in his arms. Listening carefully for the first sign of students returning from their meal, he began unpacking Renata's belongings and putting them out on his bed. She sure had a lot of stuff. When he heard voices, Severus went to his door, opened it enough for his head to fit through, and summoned one of them over to him. He sent Pansy Parkinson off to get Albus from the Great Hall for him. Several minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Albus called out to Severus. Slowly opening the door to make sure none of the students could see inside his room, he ushered Albus into the room and quickly shut the door.
Albus saw Renata lying on the bed, walked over to her, and looked curiously at Severus. "What's going on? Where's Adriana?" Severus explained to Albus everything that Adriana had told him about the Dark Lord, and how she had left the baby in his care. Albus paced around the room while he took all of this in. After a while, Albus left the room and went to Adriana's. He returned later that evening feeling as confident under such circumstances as possible.
Albus had gone over to Adriana's property the same evening she'd dropped Renata off with Severus. Severus told Albus everything and he'd immediately apparated over to her house. Albus agreed that the best thing for Renata was to stay hidden, and amazingly enough, he didn't try to convince Adriana that she needed help from the Order. After he left Adriana's house, he walked around her property, looking for the detection devices. As he found the broken pieces of one, he knew that was how Nagini had been able to get inside. Apparating to the Order Headquarters, he found a new device, apparated back to the property, and replaced the broken one. Albus thought Adriana would be relatively safe after this, as long as she didn't do anything stupid.
Adriana was unable to sleep for the first week after Renata went to Hogwarts. She found herself wandering the house at all hours of the day, always ending up in the baby's room, gazing into the empty crib. During these times, Adriana would take the gray tam out of her pocket, and hold it against her cheek, comfortingly.
All this waiting was driving Adriana mad. When would Riddle come for her? She wanted to get this over with, so she could bring Renata back home again.
Several weeks later, during one night when Adriana couldn't sleep, she walked outside. Slowly walking up the hill, and standing under the olive tree, Adriana looked up into the sky. "Riddle, I'm ready for you! Just come to me, you want me to join your side? I'll show you what happens to people who threaten my child! I'll make you regret the day your mother ever brought you into this world!" After her tirade, Adriana was able to sleep peacefully for the rest of the night, and every night after that.
Renata's first night at Hogwarts was a bit rough, to say the very least. She missed her mother very much and made sure to let Severus know that. He had made some potions to feed Renata, and she didn't like them at all. She was used to drinking her mother's milk, and nothing quite compared. Severus was glad he was able to put silencing charms around his room, for the racket the baby made would surely be heard by the Slytherin students. Sometimes Renata was so loud, he was sure the Gryffindor students would be able to hear it.
The next morning, after a sleepless night, Severus was wondering how he would be able to go to breakfast without taking Renata with him, when he heard a small knock on the door. Opening it slightly, he saw a house-elf looking up at him. Letting the elf in, he listened as she explained why she was there. "I is Nili, sir, the Headmaster sent me here to look after the baby. He said I is not to tell anybody about the baby, and to keep her safe. I is to look after her when you is in class or eating, sir."
Severus thought he could kiss Nili, he'd had no idea how he would work out the details of keeping the baby here, and now all of that was solved for him. Though his first instinct told him not to leave the baby alone with a house-elf, Severus knew Albus would have chosen the right elf for the job, and chose to trust his judgment. Severus walked Nili over to where Renata was lying on the bed, crying. Renata's face was red, she was crying in what Severus thought sounded like an angry voice, and no tears were falling. She was clearly throwing a tantrum. Severus whispered to Renata that he had to go eat breakfast, but he'd come back before he had to leave again for his first lesson.
When Severus sat down in his seat at the professor's table, he thought he might fall asleep in his bowl of porridge. He didn't know how he'd get through the day. He'd never been more tired in his entire life. Severus wondered how many of the other professors knew about Renata; he wasn't sure he wanted all of them to know. Albus and Minerva were members of the Order, so it was all right for them to know, but he didn't want too many other people knowing about the baby.
Renata was still crying when Severus returned to his room. It seemed to be her favourite past time. Nili was ignoring the baby's cries with a tranquility that Severus envied. It wasn't until she ignored his questions for her, that he realized something was not right. Severus walked up to Nili and tapped her on the shoulder, and watched as she jumped and turned around. "Oh, sir, you scared Nili!" She said while taking pieces of cotton out of her large ears. Severus just had time to kiss the baby goodbye before leaving for his first lesson. Renata returned the favour by grabbing a handful of his hair and pulling several out by the roots. He couldn't help but feel very guilty for leaving her for such a long time. Poor girl, with no mother, nobody she knew around.
Severus' mind was not on his lessons that day. He was constantly worrying about Renata, and hoping she was all right. He was also so tired he could hardly see straight. There were lessons all day long, so he never had a chance to brew himself a reviving potion to wake himself up. His only consolation through the very long day, was taking 10 points from Gryffindor when Potter took too long to bring his potion up to the desk for examination. It's true that he was slowed down by the lumbering Crabbe in front of him, but Severus didn't care, it made him feel better to make Potter feel worse.
When Severus joined Renata in his room that evening, he sent Nili back to the kitchens for the night. Renata seemed to have exhausted herself from crying all day, and was much more subdued. Severus fed her, and even though she fussed the entire time, Renata was hungry enough to eat the potions he'd made. After carefully burping her with a towel on his shoulder, he held her close to his heart, letting her listen to the sound of it beating. As he gently rocked her, he hummed quietly, while looking down at her as her eyes began to droop. After several minutes, Renata fell asleep in his arms. She was so small and helpless. Severus felt momentarily overwhelmed at the thought of being responsible for her life.
Their second night was spent much more calmly. Renata woke every few hours for feeding, but slept peacefully in between those times. Breakfast the next morning was much more pleasant. Albus pulled him aside when they were finished eating, and asked him how things were going. He informed Severus that he'd told Minerva what was going on. Minerva joined them and told Severus that she would do all could to help him in taking care of the baby. Severus did think he could use some help looking after Renata. He didn't want her to be cared for by a house-elf all the time. On the nights he had to give Potter his Occlumency lessons, it might do Renata some good to spend time with Albus or Minerva.
That first weekend together, Severus took Renata into Hogsmeade to do some shopping. She needed a crib, and some proper clothes. He couldn't believe Adriana dressed Renata in such inappropriate clothes: pants and shirts and other such articles of clothing. Severus bought a small collapsible crib and some green blankets for Renata to sleep in at night.
The next stop was at a clothing store. Severus bought Renata a few dresses, an infant sized robe, two pairs of shoes, a hat-since he couldn't find the little gray tam, and some headbands. Now he'd be able to dress her like a girl, as she should be dressed. Whenever anybody asked who she was, Severus told them Renata was his niece visiting for the week. He couldn't be too sure who was safe and who was not and wanted to err on the side of caution.
After a week, Renata seemed to have grown accustomed to living with Severus, he began to wonder if she missed her mum still, or not. She'd cry whenever he left the room for a meal or a lesson, it made him feel terrible to have to leave, but he had no choice. Whenever he returned to the room, his first action was to pick up the baby and give her a big kiss. Severus loved feeding her, there was a peacefulness between them as they looked at one another in silence. His favourite thing to do was to lay down on his bed, with the baby lying on his chest. Sometimes both of them fell asleep that way.
Renata had grown bigger, after a whole month passed. She liked to make sounds that Severus could listen to all day. He, however, did not find them quite as enjoyable at two in the morning. Renata seemed to be quite the night owl, amusing herself in the dark with the sound of her own voice.
One evening after an early dinner, Severus dressed Renata up for an evening with Minerva. He had Occlumency lessons with Potter, which he hated, but couldn't get out of, and she would be babysitting Renata. As all the other students were eating in the Great Hall, it was safe to take her out of his room, and up to Minerva's classroom. After knocking on the door and waiting for a minute, Minerva opened the door, and smiled at the baby. Minerva's smile disappeared and her brow furrowed as she saw what the baby was wearing. Renata was dressed in an emerald green dress, with ruffles, lace, and puffed sleeves. She had a little green headband with a silver ribbon on the top pulling back what little hair she had. She also wore her black robes, and patent leather Mary Jane shoes. "Oh, my, Severus, she looks just like a china doll!" Scrunching her nose, Minerva held her arms out for Severus to put Renata in.
Minerva held Renata while she packed up her things from the day, to take back to her office. She had her arms full while she carefully walked to her office. Not only was she carrying the baby and a heavy bag of the baby's things, but also a large stack of books. She'd gotten to the door and was struggling to open it, when the books tumbled out of her arms all of a sudden. This startled Renata, who began to cry. Trying to make it into her office where she could set everything and everybody down, she saw a student walking past her. Calling out to him, the boy reluctantly walked over to her. Without even looking, she shoved Renata into his arms and told him to follow her.
As McGonagall took out all the contents of the baby's bags and placed them on her desk, the boy continued to hold Renata. Renata was screaming, her whole body shaking in the process. It wasn't the type of cry that told a person she was hungry or needed a dry nappy, this was an anguished cry that told the entire world she was lonely and needed somebody familiar to hug her. The boy didn't seem too keen on holding this screaming baby, but didn't say anything. Perhaps he didn't want his house to lose any points.
Renata opened her eyes after a minute of crying and looked into his. She stared intensely at him, her little brow furrowed as though deep in thought. The boy looked at her and was amazed at what he saw. Renata stopped crying and reached her tiny hand out to brush the boy's cheek. He looked like somebody she knew, but who? She felt safe in his arms. He had the exact same gray eyes she had, and the identical shade of silver-blonde hair. He looked just like the man she'd visited in his dream. It was like looking into a picture of herself in several years.
McGonagall looked up after a few minutes to take Renata back and saw Draco Malfoy standing in front of her holding the baby. Her eyes opened wide with horror as he held his sister, unbeknownst to him. Why hadn't she looked to see who she'd handed the baby to first? Walking up to Draco, she ripped Renata out of his arms and sent him on his way, back to his house, telling him Professor Snape would be coming along shortly to speak with him.
Draco looked startled as the baby was taken away from him so suddenly. McGonagall couldn't believe she'd done something so stupid! Severus was going to kill her! After Draco had gone, she stood rocking Renata, waiting for Severus to return, which should not be very long from now.
Severus safely returned Renata to his room before entering the Slytherin common room. As angry as he was, he had known it had only been a matter of time before something like this happened. What was he going to say to Draco? Please don't tell anybody that the half-sister you never knew about is now living in my bedroom? Especially the baby's father, because he doesn't know she exists? And don't tell the Dark Lord, because he's coming after her to get to her mother? And don't tell your mother, the shock would kill her? Somehow that didn't sound very good. He thought about a memory charm, but that didn't seem to be a very good solution either. Severus needed to talk to Draco, he deserved to have at least one adult in his life who spoke to him as the young man he was. This was a lot to take in, but Severus felt Draco did have the right to know about the existence of his sister, and the significance of keeping this very important secret.
Severus walked over to Draco, who was in the middle of writing something, and asked him to come to his office with him. After setting up a few silencing spells, the very same ones he used on Draco's sister, he spoke to Draco. Severus told him of the importance of keeping this quiet, and how he should under no circumstances tell his father about this. He could see the wheels in Draco's head turning as he realized Lucius didn't know he was a father for the second time. Severus was firm in his insistence on keeping this quiet, and he was both relieved and proud of Draco for agreeing to help him. He had the potential to be a good man someday, with the right help.
Later that evening, Severus sat in his room, massaging his temples, while listening to Renata's crooning. She loved to sing, and seemed to know when he needed to hear her sweet voice most. After a few minutes, Severus looked over at Renata, smiled, and spoke, "That's my sweet Renata, you don't have a care in the world, do you?" Renata stopped babbling, smiled at Severus, and blew him a few spit bubbles in response. That night, Severus held Renata against his chest, with his strong arms held protectively around her, while sitting in his chair. They drifted off to sleep, content with one another's love.
Historical Note: The chapter title, The Bore War, refers to the time period between September 1939, and May 1940, when the Second World War had begun, yet the fighting had not. Britain prepared for a tough fight, issuing gas masks, and evactuating children from the major cities to escape the bombings that never came. It was a tense period of waiting, and I thought that was appropriate for what's happening in the story right now.