Author Name: Saerry Snape
Rating: PG-13, may be R in later chapters
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Inspired by Lady Erised's wonderful Snapefics (specifically The Prince Returns, When the Past Comes Back, and Betrayal), Constantine1453's Harry Potter and the Trials and of His Life, and my Snapefic Nothing But the Rain. The Dark Prince officially belongs to Lady Erised; I use him with her permission. Lady of the Night is the sequel to my fic The Dark Prince.
Summary: Sixteen years after Hermione Granger gave birth to a dark-haired, green-eyed little girl, the past has returned to haunt the victims of a time in September of 2002. The year is 2019 and The Dark Prince has been released…
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Haven't seen me latelyStaying hard to find
Well I know it ain't easy
But you know I don't mind
Theory of a Deadman – Invisible Man
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Chapter 5…seen me lately…
Helena's birthday passed as it usually did. The day was filled with presents and smiles from the various members of her "family". None of them were really related to her but that's what they were. They were her family. And any birthday with them was a large occasion.
The gifts ranged from a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beam from Ginny (unable to come because she had been called on a mission) to a Firebolt 3 (the newest, fastest broom) from Fred and George. Her most surprising gift was that of an asp from Cole and Caleb. Helena did not bother asking the two of them how they had gotten the venomous creature, though she suspected their mischievous uncles were involved.
Every other gift was the usual; a sweater from Mrs. Weasley (this one emerald green and bearing a snitch), something leather from Bill (a new jacket to replace her old one), a moving dragon statue from Charlie (her missing Hungarian Horntail), a book from Percy (this year a journal), a bag of Dungbombs from her friend Evan (Helena smirked mischievously at the sight of these before her godfather confiscated them), a bunch of Weasley Wizard Wheezes from Natasha and Ron (carefully charmed to look like a blanket), a tin of lemon drops from Dumbledore (new sweets every year), and a book from her godfather (Dark Arts Spells and How to Defend Against Them by Orion Cluster). There was also a handy penknife from her father's godfather Sirius (which she stuffed into her pocket before her own godfather could get it), a box of treacle fudge from the Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid (Helena winced and considered using them for paperweights), and – surprise, surprise – her grandfather's invisibility cloak from Remus.
Severus winced at the sight of the cloak and immediately threatened, "If I happen to catch you out of your common room after curfew with that on, I will not hesitate to take points."
"Of course, Uncle," said Helena innocently as Ron smiled vaguely. The teenage girl had, of course, already acquired the Marauder's Map from Remus and Sirius (who were also not at the party along with Hagrid) and would be certain to avoid her godfather. Severus knew this yet let the girl keep the items, something he would have never let her father do. But then again, her mother had entrusted the child to him. So he let her have a little fun. But only a little.
"Thank you all," said Helena to those around her with a broad smile, her eyes shining. She ran her hands over Firebolt 3, the asp from Cole and Caleb wrapped around her bicep, and asked a second later, "Can I try this out?"
Severus' mouth opened to say no but Mrs. Weasley gave him a scowl and his jaws closed with an audible snap. Helena chuckled inwardly at her godfather's obedience to the Weasley matriarch then grabbed the broom and under the supervision of eleven full wizards, she mounted it and kicked off the ground.
Many times Helena had been told that her father had been the best Seeker Hogwarts had ever seen. She had the same innate talent on a broom as he did and played Seeker for her own House, earning them the Cup for four years in a row since her second year and admittance to the team. Her heart soared whenever she flew and one could almost swear her eyes grew brighter to almost glowing green whenever she was in the air. And the Firebolt 3 was much better than her old broom (her father's own Firebolt, which had been left in his trunk at the then abandoned Black Manor).
"Slow down!" screamed a voice from her arm and Helena laughed. She had forgotten the asp was there.
"I'm sorry, Hekate," she hissed to the shaking snake, leaning down and sideways to send the broom into a slow spiral. "I should have asked you before I took off."
"Indeed you should have!" snapped the snake, his dark eyes flashing. "I do not like that speed."
"Is this better?"
"Much, thank you."
"You okay up there?"
Helena grinned down at Fred, who was the one who had yelled at her (for George was standing with his wife Angelina). She gave him a thumbs up then looked at her godfather, whose surly expression clearly said 'Come down'.
The sixteen-year-old sighed heavily and tilted the broom down into a slow dive, grinning goofily as she relished the feel. Her father's old Firebolt dropped far too fast despite everything she tried and it had nearly lost her the snitch more than once.
"How was it?" asked Fred with a wide grin as she landed in front of him, his blue eyes bright.
Helena beamed in response and exclaimed, "Bloody amazing! Much better than my old Firebolt."
"Hey," said Fred, "that was the best broom in its time. It won Gryffindor more matches than I can count."
Helena smiled evilly and held up the Firebolt 3 in her left hand.
"Well, this one, is going to win a few more for Slytherin!"
"Give the Lions a chance!" yelled Cole from the main table set up.
"Ha!" scoffed Helena. "Just be happy I don't play dirty like the rest of the team!"
Cole glared at her and she returned it with a scowl.
Fred shook his head at her and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. He grinned down at her and said, "I still don't understand how you got in Slytherin with that mischievous streak."
"Blame it on him," quipped Helena, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder at her godfather, who frowned at her.
"Oh, no," he said, "don't you bring me into this, Lena."
"Or what?" spat the girl, turning to look at him, one eyebrow arched.
Severus smirked and replied, "Or I'll take points as soon as term starts and make sure that all of Slytherin House knows that you were responsible."
Helena snorted.
"I'd just get them back in the first Quidditch match!"
"I'd keep taking points."
"And let the Gryffindors win? Please." She scoffed and said, "I know you better than that, Uncle."
"She does have you there, Severus," said Mrs. Weasley with a smile to the dark clad wizard. Severus scoffed in response and leaned back in his chair, its front legs coming up off the ground.
Helena smiled at him then dug into the slice of cake that Natasha handed her.
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If I fall along the wayPick me up and dust me off
And if I get too tired to make it
Be my breath so I can walk
Matchbox 20 - Bent
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Chapter 6…dust me off…
"Hel!"
Helena looked up as she stepped through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, grinning when she saw her best friend Evan Longbottom running towards her. The tawny haired boy skidded to a stop in front of her, panting but with a wide grin on his face and a smile in his yellow eyes, which were some of the oddest Helena had ever seen. She and Evan had one thing in common: both had lost their mothers to the Darkness. Hermione Granger had been murdered before Helena's four-year-old eyes and Amanda Longbottom had been killed in a failed attack on Diagon Alley a year later. Their difference was that Evan's father was free. Helena's was in Azkaban.
"'Lo, Ev," said Helena, eyes dancing. She leaned on her trolley and asked, "Where's your father?"
"Over there talking to some old friends," replied Evan, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder at the figure of his father, who was talking to a sandy-haired man and a redheaded woman. He then looked over Helena's must taller shoulder and said, "Hello, Professor Snape."
Severus nodded at Evan, the mask he wore out in the open already in place. Helena looked over her shoulder at him and sighed. For all her trying she could never get her godfather to drop this charade of his. But, as he always told her, that was the man he had become. So really it wasn't a charade, was it?
"Good morning, Mister Longbottom," said Severus. He looked down the platform and spotted Evan's father, smirking. He tilted his head slightly towards Helena and said, "I will return momentarily."
"Where's he going?" asked Evan as the dark Potions Master stalked down the platform, robes billowing behind him.
Helena shrugged and replied, "Probably to torment some old students. C'mon, let's get my trunk on the train. Where's your stuff?"
"Already on. One, two, three…HEAVE!"
Evans stumbled as he picked up one end of the trunk while Helena grasped the other. He groaned, "What in Merlin's name have you got in here, a bloody kitchen sink?"
Helena laughed.
"Please. Its just the usual stuff."
"Oh? You mean your entire library?"
"Well of course. I have to have something to do."
"Yes," said Evan as they reached the train as he climbed aboard, pulling the trunk after him. "After all, you've read nearly every book in the Hogwarts library."
"I can't help it that I'm bookish," defended Helena, shoving her trunk up after him then clambering aboard herself. "I get it from my mum."
"I didn't say it was a bad thing, Hel…"
"Neither did I."
Evan rolled his eyes and said, "You never change."
"Should I?" quipped Helena, eyes shining.
Evan stood still for a moment, half bent over to pick up her trunk, thinking. Then he grinned at her and replied, "Nope!"
"I thought so." Helena picked up her end and the two of them carried her trunk down to the compartment Evan had already placed his things in.
Outside on the platform, Severus walked silently up behind Neville Longbottom and the couple he was speaking to – who turned out to be Seamus Finnegan and his wife. The couple saw him, he knew, but neither said a word. Longbottom, on the other hand, was clueless.
"Five points from Gryffindor, Mister Longbottom!"
Neville jumped and whirled about, eyes wide. "Professor Snape!" He then looked at Seamus and said, "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I couldn't help but want to see your reaction," said Seamus in his Irish lilt. "Hello, professor. What brings you here?"
Severus smirked inwardly. A few years ago these once students of his would not have spoken to him in public. Ah, how things had changed…
"Helena," he replied. "She insists on riding the train though she could simply come to the school with me."
Seamus frowned.
"I forgot Hermione made you her daughter's godfather," he said, brow furrowed.
"Several people seem to," said Severus darkly.
Neville fidgeted somewhat then began, "Professor..."
"Mr. Longbottom," interrupted Severus, "it has been twenty-two years since you were my student. You no longer have any need to call me 'Professor'."
Neville looked a bit flustered at that then he coughed and straightened a bit. He was, by far, the shortest adult standing on the platform and even his son towered over him. But the years since his school days had been well for him as his nervousness had left him, leaving him confident and sure. Of course, his reaction to Severus' voice would never change.
"Er…well, Severus…is this year not Helena's sixteenth?"
Severus' face darkened severely as he looked down at his once student. He almost growled, "Your point, Mr. Longbottom?"
"Neville. And I think you know what I'm talking about, sir." Neville crossed his arms across his chest and glared mildly up at his once professor.
Severus and said to himself, I knew there was a reason this boy was a Gryffindor. He then said, "I do know what you are talking about…Neville. And I assure you that nothing shall happen to that child."
"Are you talking about…" Seamus trailed off, looking down at Neville, who nodded.
"Yes," he said, his eyes on Severus. "I am talking about Harry being released from Azkaban this December. The twenty-fifth, right?"
"Mr. Longbottom," said Severus.
"Neville," correct Neville. He then smiled a bit coldly and said, "Severus."
So, he does have a backbone after all… Severus nodded and said, "Neville. I assure you that I will not let anything happen to Helena. Miss Granger – Hermione – entrusted her daughter's care to me. Potter will never see her, will never come in contact with her, will never owl her."
"How can you be sure?" asked Seamus. "He was the…" He glanced about then lowered his voice and continued, "He was the Dark Prince."
"I know," stated Severus in a cold voice. His own part in the second Dark Prince's capture had been left out sixteen years ago. And it was not as though any of those he had taught in the nineties knew that he himself had been the first Dark Prince or a Death Eater at that. "I assure you, I know very well. And I also assure you that he is very much still the Dark Prince. I doubt Azkaban has changed his ways."
"Hard to believe," muttered Seamus. He then looked up and said, "That he was the Prince, I mean. He – he was Harry Potter."
"'Never judge a book by its cover'," quoted Neville. He then turned and saw Evan waving out a window at him and lifted his own in a wave, a grin spreading across his face. A second later Evan was pulled back and Helena appeared, her emerald eyes bright as she too waved.
Seamus blinked when he saw her. "She looks just like him," he whispered to Neville as they watched the last few students hurry onto the train then the crimson engine slowly make its way away from the platform, heading for Hogwarts.
"I know," said Neville. "She's Evan's best friend. But she's most of her personality is like Hermione's."
"Bookish?"
"Horribly."
"Bossy?"
"Not so much."
"Buckteeth."
"Seamus!"
"Well, she did," said the Irishman sheepishly. Neville frowned at him then shook his head.
"No. And she's got a mischievous streak a mile long."
"Worse than Fred and George's?"
Neville only nodded. Seamus looked at Severus and said, "I pity you."
"I assure you, Mr. Finnegan, that I can handle my own goddaughter. If you will excuse me, I must get to Hogwarts myself." With that Severus turned sharply on a heel and stalked off, disappearing through the barrier to King's Cross.
"Well," said Seamus as soon as he was gone. "He's more civil than he used to be."
"Maybe its just because we're older," said Neville.
"Maybe."
"Let's go, love," said Marissa Finnegan suddenly. "I'm certain my sister is tired of looking after our wild daughter."
"True," said Seamus. "I'll be seeing you, Neville."
Neville nodded a goodbye and watched them as they left. He stood on the platform for a moment longer then heaved a heavy sigh and turned to leave.