"Dumbledore," Constance said angrily, "tell me what went on 16 years ago
and tell me the truth."
"Yes," interjected Severus, "Please explain why Connie is alive. You told me she was killed."
"What!" exclaimed Constance, "I was under the impression that you were dead."
"Listen, both of you," spoke up Dumbledore, "there are some matters that have to be explained. 16 years ago I received a very reliable tip that your life, Severus, was in danger because of your relationship with Constance. Being the 4th black sister, and rejecting her family's desire for evil her sisters had it in for her. Her life was wanted, and I knew the safest thing to do was to split you two up...."
"But you could have told us, we would have hidden ourselves," Constance remarked.
"Really, because in my opinion, you and Severus were head over heels in love. Nothing would separate you. I needed to keep you safe, and your baby as well. She would have been a casualty in a family blood struggle. And indeed she almost was. Helibore got another one of his bright ideas to hide power inside of her, not thinking that the baby of Constance Black would be an open target. Luckily, for some reason unknown to me, she survived, but was lost, taken in the struggle. You two were separated by the fighting that had erupted and I knew the only chance for safety was to get Constance to my sister Aggie' s school, give her another name, and get her out of harms way. If she knew that you were alive Severus, she would have come back to Hogwarts immediately. And if Severus knew you were alive he would have mounted all odds to see you.
"You're damn right I would of," Constance burst, "I felt totally alone, shunned by the Black family, and I had lost the only family who I loved more than life itself. You had no right to lie to me."
"Connie," Severus spoke softly, "Your life was in danger and still is. Your family thinks you're dead, and that has saved your life."
"I know but..."
"Connie they killed Sirius."
She stopped mid sentence and stared at him with her big brown eyes. No one moved for a minute or so until she started shaking with sobs. "No..noo"
"I'm sorry, but you have the right to know."
"Yes and now can't you see that your life is in danger," said Dumbledore, "they killed Sirius without a question and if they knew you were alive.....they are already sure to come for Snape because he quit the death eaters." She sunk her head against Severus' chest and allowed him to comfort her. It had been so long. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her happy life had been broken up to save her life and Sirius....this was real.
"What about my baby," she stopped and looked at Severus, "our little girl."
"She will be safe here," said Dumbledore, "but I do advise that you don't make it widely known that she is your daughter. If the wrong family heard, well then that could lead to another separation for you two."
"I understand professor, we will do anything to protect her, and ourselves." Severus said.
The two left Dumbledore's office together in silence. It was as if they had only been apart for a day, nothing needed to be said. They went up to Constance's room to talk about a plan of action.
"Constance, I've never had any experience raising children, I don't think I would make a very good father now. I don't have your instincts."
"Oh sev, just love her as much as you love me. Don't worry about that anyways, we aren't going to tell her right away, we can't, we have to keep this as secretive as possible."
"I knew the moment I saw her Con, she looks exactly like you. She's beautiful."
She smiled at him and then kissed him, a fast passionate kiss that had been waiting for 16 years. He returned the gesture. Oh how he missed her.
For a moment, they were blissfully happy, not knowing what was ahead.
"Yes," interjected Severus, "Please explain why Connie is alive. You told me she was killed."
"What!" exclaimed Constance, "I was under the impression that you were dead."
"Listen, both of you," spoke up Dumbledore, "there are some matters that have to be explained. 16 years ago I received a very reliable tip that your life, Severus, was in danger because of your relationship with Constance. Being the 4th black sister, and rejecting her family's desire for evil her sisters had it in for her. Her life was wanted, and I knew the safest thing to do was to split you two up...."
"But you could have told us, we would have hidden ourselves," Constance remarked.
"Really, because in my opinion, you and Severus were head over heels in love. Nothing would separate you. I needed to keep you safe, and your baby as well. She would have been a casualty in a family blood struggle. And indeed she almost was. Helibore got another one of his bright ideas to hide power inside of her, not thinking that the baby of Constance Black would be an open target. Luckily, for some reason unknown to me, she survived, but was lost, taken in the struggle. You two were separated by the fighting that had erupted and I knew the only chance for safety was to get Constance to my sister Aggie' s school, give her another name, and get her out of harms way. If she knew that you were alive Severus, she would have come back to Hogwarts immediately. And if Severus knew you were alive he would have mounted all odds to see you.
"You're damn right I would of," Constance burst, "I felt totally alone, shunned by the Black family, and I had lost the only family who I loved more than life itself. You had no right to lie to me."
"Connie," Severus spoke softly, "Your life was in danger and still is. Your family thinks you're dead, and that has saved your life."
"I know but..."
"Connie they killed Sirius."
She stopped mid sentence and stared at him with her big brown eyes. No one moved for a minute or so until she started shaking with sobs. "No..noo"
"I'm sorry, but you have the right to know."
"Yes and now can't you see that your life is in danger," said Dumbledore, "they killed Sirius without a question and if they knew you were alive.....they are already sure to come for Snape because he quit the death eaters." She sunk her head against Severus' chest and allowed him to comfort her. It had been so long. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her happy life had been broken up to save her life and Sirius....this was real.
"What about my baby," she stopped and looked at Severus, "our little girl."
"She will be safe here," said Dumbledore, "but I do advise that you don't make it widely known that she is your daughter. If the wrong family heard, well then that could lead to another separation for you two."
"I understand professor, we will do anything to protect her, and ourselves." Severus said.
The two left Dumbledore's office together in silence. It was as if they had only been apart for a day, nothing needed to be said. They went up to Constance's room to talk about a plan of action.
"Constance, I've never had any experience raising children, I don't think I would make a very good father now. I don't have your instincts."
"Oh sev, just love her as much as you love me. Don't worry about that anyways, we aren't going to tell her right away, we can't, we have to keep this as secretive as possible."
"I knew the moment I saw her Con, she looks exactly like you. She's beautiful."
She smiled at him and then kissed him, a fast passionate kiss that had been waiting for 16 years. He returned the gesture. Oh how he missed her.
For a moment, they were blissfully happy, not knowing what was ahead.