Chapter 13 Snape's Tale Love and Betrayal

"Severus and I met many years ago when we were here at Hogwarts. I was 18 during that summer, fully matured and freshly graduated from Hogwarts. I, of course, knew Sev thru the Slytherin common room. Although he never noticed me, I definitely noticed him. We were sent to a special camp summer trip sponsored thru the Young Ministry Wizards Association. I was going to be an YMWA Counselor for girls 11-12.

"Summer camp? You mean wizards have that sort of thing?" Harry asked.

"Of course Harry. Surely you didn't think wizard mothers stay at home and take care of their kids 24-7 over the summer, or have house elves tend to them all the time. Most parents can't afford house elves and they have their children in regular daycares and educational systems thru their elementary school education until they are ready to pursue education at a wizarding school..."

"I just never gave it much thought really. Truly it really hasn't crossed my mind." Harry answered.

"It will in time Harry. I'm sure it will." Anaranë

Professor Anaranë shifted and sipped her tea, "Bus as I was saying, Sev and I met on that Dig outside of Cairo and it was sponsored by Gringotts Bank. There were having the YMWC try their luck curse breaking on the tombs. Sev's specialty was conjuring the various potions needed for the lock breaking once the curses worked. He was so young then. I was wearing Tan and pale green the day that stupid brat cousin of Sev's, Lucius Malfoy, came over and put a bunch of scarabs in my bag. Lucius was honeymooning in Cairo with is underage wife Narcissa. She was in our year at Hogwarts, of course. I had made the comment that Narcissa was only out for his package," Anaranë looked at Harry with a wink, "and I don't mean his pants my boy. No, it was Lucius' money that attracted her to him. Well, apparently Lucius didn't take too kindly to me pointing out his inadequacies. He put the scarabs into my bag and waited until I would put my arm in and then well, the scarabs would probably have eaten my arm and then some. Sev had figured out what he was doing and came rushing over to me and threw my bag into the oil fire just in a nick of time." A slight giggle came out of Anaranë's mouth, "I screamed so many bad words, Harry, I cursed him with a bunch of things I had learned form my parents. It was later that day when Sev was in the infirmary that I noticed he had been hurt from some of the oil that had splashed up on his arm. It scared his arms so severely that to this day, it is the reason why he wears long sleeves."

Harry sipped his tea in silence as he listened to Anaranë and Severus' tale. "Once I had realized the truth, I broke all ties with that fake blonde Narcissa, and brought Sev some tea and biscuits. He smiled at me and I offered to help him change his bandages. At first of course, he refused that stupid Slytherin pride and all that stuff. What is a girl supposed to do but help him forcefully?"

Professor Anaranë grinned with sere torture and torment, "Sev began to notice my soft hair as it brushed up against his skin and one day he leaned in and touched me on my face. It was at that moment I kissed his hand and then he pulled me closer to his lips."

Professor Anaranë began to drift off into a mentally blissful state as she finished speaking. "Professor. Professor!" Harry startled himself as he realized he yelled at her. "I'm sorry to be insistent, but you appeared to be dreaming." Harry stated.

"I'm so sorry Harry. Sometimes I still get a faint sent of breeze pop. I'm off somewhere else a thousand miles away to my youth and innocence." Anaranë smiled and said, "I promise to concentrate harder next time."

After another few sips of tea, she continued, "Severus was everything I thought he would be in a male companion, strong, and eager to please his lady. We married later that week. It was the most peaceful he had ever been. He still kept up the dark brooding side though. He often disappeared late at night from our tent and went out into the dig site for long walks. One night I followed him and what I saw sobered me to this day."

Harry's eyes went darker as he asked, "What was it you saw professor?"

"What everyone fears Harry. It was the darkest moment I had ever seen. My beloved Severus was on his knees. A book, the book of the dead was in Voldermort's hands and a dark green light was emanating from the book into Severus. Voldermort read the passage and tried to make Sev a deatheater. I caught Sev's eyes just before the final contact was made with the dark light. I watched on in horror as Severus' eyes met mine and the spell was broken. Voldermort never knew the better and neither did I. Sev later on had figured out later that he was forced to go to the Voldermort under the Imperius Curse. It was at that moment he contacted Dumbledore, and it was then that he turned into a spy against Voldermort. I ran away from Severus Snape before he could explain and went into hiding at that moment vowing never to lay eyes again on him. Well, that brings me to now. Harry, when Dumbledore contacted me and told me everything Sev had been doing for him, I just broke down. All the years of hatred vanished. I knew at that moment I wanted to back with him more than anything in the world. Then the unspeakable happened. During our reconciliation, Dumbledore sent Sev on a mission and he is now missing.

Harry's eyes lit up with concern, "Missing? For how long?" Harry's voice cracked.

Anaranë choked back her tears, which threatened to flow freely now, "For 3 weeks now. He has been missing. Harry, you have no idea what it is like to love someone and have them lost in a moment. "The stress had become too much for Professor Anaranë Snape. The tears flowed freely from her eyes now as she began to withdrawal again from the conversation and pull away from Harry. "Oh my it's that the time." Anaranë tried to gain composure by adjusting her celestial watch, "Well, your lunch period will be over soon, why, don't you get a move on now and get to class. I think I have bored you enough for today."

Harry realized the conversation was over for both of them. There was no use arguing with someone with the last name of Snape, it would only cost you house points. Harry gathered his things and moved towards the door. He noticed the hallway beginning to fill with students fresh from their lunch and paused at the doorway and said, "I know what it is like to loose someone you love more than anything in the world." Harry's eyes began to mist over like he had been staring at a television too long and a deep queasy feeling stirred from Harry's knees, "I know because I lost my family when I was a baby. I also know your husband is in danger because we are both hunted by the same man." And with that Harry pulled himself together and went out the door to Transfiguration.